I saw another post a week or so back where someone claimed that analog signals traveled through electromagnetic waves (true), while digital signals traveled through the air instead in bits .
In reality, your antenna doesn't know the difference between analog and digital. As mentioned above, the digital channels are located on higher frequencies, but still in the range already covered by your antenna.
The broadcasters are not using the lower frequencies (channels) because lower frequencies suffer from more atmospheric 'noise' and that produces interference and errors in the DTV data stream, creating defects in the image.
Jeff
P.S.- One could argue that a 'DTV antenna' could be designed to cover ONLY the spectrum used for DTV transmissions. Not having to create an antenna with such a wide bandwidth could increase the efficiency on the necessary channels, giving you better reception. I think at this time most manufacturers have upgraded their antennas to digital by affixing a label stating "Digital Ready".
1994 Coachman Catalina 280RK behind a 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD 6.0L + Equalizer 10,000# + Prodigy brake controller
I have a short video on my website which includes a live comparison between analog and digital picture quality from the same broadcaster, in my own coach, using the batwing antenna. Anyone who looks at that video and still says they don't see any advantage to digital TV just plain doesn't want to watch TV.
There are two videos on this webpage and the "short" version includes that signal comparison. No need to watch the long version if you don't want to.
P.S. The video is an embedded Windows Media File and will start to play after enough of the file has stremed to your computer. You can fast forward to the last 25% to see the TV signal comparison after the file has finished loading in your PC.
Me, the DW, 2 dogs and more.
1998 Overland Larado, 41', one slide, 325 Cummins, '02 Jeep Liberty Upgrades we've done: SMI-Air Force 1 towed brake system, replaced all 3 TVs with new hiDef LCDs, inst. Xantrex 2Kw Inverter, Prog. Ind. HW50 surge protector
So are you using the amplifer on the winegard with the converter or not, I was under the impression that the converter would fry if it got the amplifed signal,
Thanks
I have 2 of 'em (one Insignia from Best Buy, identical to the Zenith from Radio Shack, The other is an "Access" from a store called ABC warehouse, I like the Insignia/Zenith better)
Yes, they work just fine with the batwing
In the motor home I have the "Flex-Vision" type video selector box, many buttons...
I put the converter in the VCR loop so I can select it or bypass it as desired till next FEB when it won't matter any more
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business John is Near Kenwood TS-2000 housed in a 2005 Damon Intruder 377
I am going shopping for a digital converter and I think two things are important for our use. Recommendations would be appreciated.
First small size would be good. Second the ability to pass analog signals as well as digital ones as we are 10 miles from the Canadian border and they will not be digital for a while I believe.
Also would someone confirm where in the circuit the box needs to be. We have a Direct TV receiver inline from the batwing booster TV output to the TV.
Jim
Jim, Sharon and Buddy the Yorkie
1999 Gulfstream Sun Voyager 31' ISB Cummins 210 uprated to 275
Trippe-Lite 1800w inverter 4-6v GC batteries
3- Kyocera 130w solar panels
1987 Suzuki Samurai tintop Toad w/VW 1.6 turbo diesel power
The ability to pass analog is highly overrated.. First, most stations broadcast their analog programing on digital tier #-1 (That is channel 7 would be 7-1)
Second, reports say that the boxes that pass analog have serious insertion loss
Third I have a work around that results in only 3db insertion loss (hardly noticeable in most cases) Basically there are two versions
TV with free A/V in.. Put a splitter in the tv's ANT line one output to converter one to TV.. Use A/V cables to hook up converter to TV's A/V input. I actually use this system and am watching it as I type, works very well
TV w/o A/V input, same splitter in front of the conveter, One output to converter the other to the "A" terminal on an antenna switch, Covnerter to the "B" terminal and TV hooks up to the Common (or if you like switched) terminal
A for Antenna... B for Binary (There is, as you know, only on digit in digital, that's a 1, it is all ones and zeros)
Instant pass through, 3db loss.
And as noted above.. With the flex vision boxes (many buttons) you have other options
I put mine in the VCR loop.
One person used a "Satellite Diplexer/Splitter" (Around 20bucks from radio shack) this has power pass through on one port. He disconnected the roof-antenna cable from his box. hooked it to the "Common" on the diplexer and hooked the POWER PASS THROUGH to the Selector box.. The non-power port went to the converter, the converter feeds his "AUX IN" jack. I'll do this with converter #2 when I go full time
ernestfortier wrote: I had the television run a channel scan first and found 8 stations that I could see ( with some static), I attached the converter box and it ran it's own scan. the bottom line is I can no longer get any channels on my television.
That's why you need the "pass through" feature.
It allows the TV to use the antenna while the convertor box is off.
Of course, after 2009 it won't matter.
I bought the RCV version from Wal Mart and the remote won't pgm to my TV for the volume control.
ernestfortier wrote: I had the television run a channel scan first and found 8 stations that I could see ( with some static), I attached the converter box and it ran it's own scan. the bottom line is I can no longer get any channels on my television.
That's why you need the "pass through" feature.
It allows the TV to use the antenna while the converter box is off.
Of course, after 2009 it won't matter.
Actually it will. Only full-power transmitters are required to shut down. Translators and LPTV transmitters have the option to remain analog, and there are thousands aross the country. And many are gap fillers for the network stations.
ernestfortier wrote: I just bought my converter box yesturday and installed it right away. I have my MH sitting in the driveway at home. I had the television run a channel scan first and found 8 stations that I could see ( with some static), I attached the converter box and it ran it's own scan. the bottom line is I can no longer get any channels on my television. I just hope it gets better when I am camping.
Gee.. I can still get analog on my TV's. In fact the one I'm watching just now has multiple A/V inputs
A/V-1 (Line-1) is the converter Line-2 is the Sat receiver.. ANT-is.. The broadcast antanna for analog.. And the DVR records all 3 nicely.
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