Notes on Switching Over to Digital Television‭
by Anthony F.‭ ‬Genco M.Ed.



‎ ‏Now that the date for the switch to digital television has changed from February‭ ‬17,‭ ‬2009‭ ‬to June‭ ‬12,‭ ‬2009‭ ‬it is still important to‭ ‬review and explain what this is all about.‭ ‬Besides having been with Radio Shack for some years as a manager,‭ ‬I have also learned how to build my own computers‭; ‬and have done so on the side for friends and family.‭ ‬My interest in television‭ (‬I was born in‭ '‬46‭) ‬goes back to the point in time where CBS was side-swiped by RCA for a color television system‭ (‬CBS was first and had been mandated by the FCC in the early‭ '‬50‭'‬s‭)‬.‭ ‬Had we gone with CBS at that time,‭ ‬the selling price of their color television system consoles was just under‭ ‬$500.‭ ‬When RCA won its‭' ‬case in front of the public their sets in‭ ‬1953‭ ‬cost over‭ ‬$1000.‭
The system we use now is called analog transmission.‎ ‏Analog only means that what you see on the television screen is transmitted as an analog of the real program in electrical form on a radio frequency.‭ ‬Small oscilloscopes abound in a television control room.‭ ‬There one might see the result of what is picked up by the camera as a series of bars jumping and oscillating as the scene changes‭; ‬matching the exact same thing in real life.‭ ‬Analog television really squanders lots of radio frequency to do the same thing that can be done in digital form.‭
Digital television is very different.‎ ‏The pictures picked up in the studio,‭ ‬say of your favorite news program,‭ ‬are converted to digits.‭ ‬Digits are‭ ‬the numbers‭ ‬0‭ ‬and‭ ‬1.‭ ‬Everything can be digitized.‭ ‬It is only a matter of time before one will see analog radio transmission go the way of the gooney bird.‭
Presently,‎ ‏in analog television,‭ ‬the receiver gets a picture which can be influenced by many things.‭ ‬Ghosts and flickering pictures are a result of the analog signal bumping into buildings,‭ ‬moving planes,‭ ‬and even cars‭; ‬thereby making a copy of itself and sending it along with the original transmission.‭ ‬Ghosts are not possible in digital transmission.‭
This is an important point to remember.‎ ‏When receiving analog transmissions,‭ ‬one might be able to erect a taller antenna on the roof of the house and extract a snowy but acceptable signal from a distant station.‭ ‬This cannot happen with digital television.‭ ‬It may be possible to erect a taller antenna,‭ ‬but the signal being received is the thing.‭ ‬If there is not enough signal,‭ ‬there will be a blank screen on the receiving end.‭ ‬This,‭ ‬or course,‭ ‬has prompted many returns of the digital converter boxes because the owners were expecting to be able to see the same kinds of pictures using the antenna they had on their older analog televisions.‭ ‬It they lived close enough to the station,‭ ‬and the antenna were aligned correctly,‭ ‬the digital signal would be adequate and look exactly like the‭ ‬product being produced in the studio.‭ ‬In short,‭ ‬not enough signal,‭ ‬no picture or sound.‭
On the other hand,‎ ‏as an example,‭ ‬your local PBS station when transmitting in analog form could only transmit one program on one prescribed frequency.‭ ‬Because the digital signal uses so much less space,‭ ‬the same television station can now broadcast five different programs in the same space they used to use for one.‭ ‬This is a great advantage to the viewer of over-the-air television.‭ ‬Here in the Orlando area,‭ ‬channel two broadcasts its‭' ‬regular NBC programming on one channel dubbed‭ ‬-01‭ ‬and has a‭ ‬24‭ ‬hour weather cast including local radar on channel‭ ‬2-02.‭ ‬The same goes for channel six which transmits its‭' ‬CBS offerings on‭ ‬6-01‭ ‬and Spanish language programming on‭ ‬6-02.‭ ‬Since I installed my own decoders and connected them to my own televisions,‭ ‬I am able to watch over twenty channels of programming which were never available to me before.‭ ‬The best part is that if the signal is correct,‭ ‬and the antenna is aligned correctly,‭ ‬there are no ghosts and the picture looks exactly as it did coming out of the transmitting studio.‭ ‬This is the greatest advantage of digital television broadcasting.
‎ ‏Let's go down the options of the normal television viewer in the Orlando area.‭
Firstly,‎ ‏if the TV is attached to the local cable system,‭ ‬the local channels will be part of the programming paid for each month.‭ ‬Will they pass on all the digital channels available‭? ‬That is a question to be answered by the cable company.‭
Secondly,‎ ‏if TV is connected to DirectTv,‭ ‬the package chosen is usually priced‭ ‬with the locals included.‭ ‬They do not have to include the locals.‭ ‬If you have your own antenna and a decoder for each television,‭ ‬you do not have to pay them for what you can get for free.‭ ‬This is important to remember because they will not advance this information to you.‭ ‬DirecTv presently charges‭ ‬$3‭ ‬for the local package,‭ ‬and‭ ‬$5‭ ‬for each one of their boxes in your house.‭ ‬Ask questions by all means‭!
Thirdly,‎ ‏Dish Network prices its‭' ‬services differently.‭ ‬A package for‭ ‬250‭ ‬channels which includes movies,‭ ‬music,‭ ‬and lots of sports will be priced only for the satellite programming.‭ ‬Dish Network asks that you request the locals at‭ ‬$5‭ ‬per month.‭ ‬Remember,‭ ‬their pricing does not include the local programming.‭ ‬Further,‭ ‬Dish Network's system is different than its‭' ‬competitor.‭ ‬In a two room system,‭ ‬there is only one satellite box.‭ ‬It alone decodes the program individually for each room.‭ ‬The second room will have its‭' ‬own remote and will communicate with the box in the living room via a UHF system.‭ ‬Both rooms can be using the same box at the same time,‭ ‬yet be watching different programming.‭ ‬The rental of the first box is part of the program package.‭ ‬There is no charge for the second room at all.‭ ‬This is a small advantage over DirecTv.‭ ‬Please investigate this on your own.‭
In the fourth place is over-the-air television.‎ ‏I ordered the coupons for the decoders early last year.‭ ‬By last Summer,‭ ‬I had installed them on my televisions.‭ ‬I take Dish Network programming,‭ ‬but do not take the locals.‭ ‬One does not need any special antenna for digital television reception.‭ ‬Do not be fooled.‭ ‬Do not let someone sell you something you do not need.‭ ‬If your exterior antenna is in good shape,‭ ‬or you are satisfied with your indoor set-top rabbit ears,‭ ‬then try these first after installing the decoder.‭
The coupon you will receive in the mail has a‎ ‏90‎ ‏day shelf life.‭ ‬If you do not use the coupon in the ninety day limit,‭ ‬then it will not be any good whatsoever.‭ ‬Access to the Federal Governments‭' ‬website is available on all the major television stations‭' ‬websites.‭ ‬The major retailers including Sears,‭ ‬Best Buy,‭ ‬Radio Shack and HH Gregg to name a few carry the decoders.‭ ‬It is simple to connect the decoder between the antenna and your older analog television.‭ ‬You know it is analog if there is no large protrusion in the back for the extension of the picture tube neck.‭ ‬If your screen is flat,‭ ‬is one and one half inches or less in width,‭ ‬you probably have a digital television.‭ ‬Look at the instruction manual of the television if there is a question.‭ ‬If your TV is newer than just a few years,‭ ‬it may already have a digital over-the-air tuner included.‭ ‬Read you televisions instruction manual.‭ ‬It will tell you a lot.‭
Finally,‎ ‏and most importantly,‭ ‬as I mentioned earlier,‭ ‬the signal is everything in digital television.‭ ‬In my case,‭ ‬I have mounted the set-top antenna in a corner on and end-table so that it might be where the signals from many stations cross in the living room.‭ ‬Even so,‭ ‬channel‭ ‬9‭ ‬in the Orlando area has its‭' ‬problems.‭ ‬Don't try to re-invent the wheel.‭ ‬There will always be some way you can adjust the antenna,‭ ‬or move it in some way so that all stations will come in with adequate signal power.‭ ‬When in doubt,‭ ‬an outdoor roof antenna is really the best.‭ ‬Any antenna from Radio Shack will do the job.‭ ‬Remember no special antenna is needed for digital television.‭
That's it.‎ ‏Be strong.‭ ‬Be willful and resourceful.‭ ‬The only thing to be gained is great television reception and a crisp and clear picture which is hands above anything I ever could receive using analog TV and a nine year old‭ ‬32‭" ‬Toshiba.
‎ ‏Enjoy your new viewing options.‭ ‬I'll be back again when digital radio sneaks into our midst‭; ‬perhaps in three years‭?