Maine viewers are very upset that they can no longer get MPBN (Maine PBS) over the air in many places. And Joe Riley, VP for Television, seems to think it's no big deal. He claims they had no idea how many viewers would be affected by a loss of their signal. He also claims they had no way of knowing how much of an impact the switch to digital would have on MPBN viewers who receive them via antenna.
Then in a newspaper article, Mr. Riley suggests that viewers (in an effort to justify MPBN's lack of digital signal) use a web site called TV Fool to get get a very detailed map of the digital TV coverage spectrum. You can zoom in on a single street, just about, to see if you should or should not be able to receive a digital signal from a particular TV station.
So which is it. Was digital TV unpredictable regarding the coverage area, or was it easy to determine who would or would not receive the signal by using TV Fool's tools to figure it out.
Riley and MPBN can't have it both ways.
As for consumers, I personally believe that in many cases it boils down to the quality of the indoor antenna they are using. Obviously if you have an outdoor antenna that receives both UHF and VHF signals, that is the best scenario. But I don't own a home. I rent and can not erect an antenna (also suggested by Mr. Riley).
On my primary TV I have a TERK UHF/VHF antenna. It is unbelievable in terms of what it can receive. I do receive all 7 different network channels available. I live in a valley in Southern Maine, in an apartment with trees and buildings around me. I am surrounded geographically by the foothills on three sides (all but facing south where there are no channels to receive).
When I purchased a converter box and tried to get my bedroom TV up and running on the cheap, I bought, and returned, probably 6 different antennas. The cheap ones at Walmart, the cheap ones at Radio Shack, the more expensive ones at Radio Shack - all with no luck. I would get one or two, and sometimes three, channels but that's it. So then I hooked up the TERK antenna I had connected to my HDTV and, well, there you go. All channels are go.
I hate to say this but to a large degree to exact type of antenna you use plays a huge part in what stations you will receive.
The last comment I will reference by Joe Riley at MPBN is that he hopes technology will improve so much regarding HDTV's and Converter Boxes that reception won't be an issue. Well, here's the truth. Neither a TV (digital or otherwise) nor a converter box can improve the strength of a digital TV signal so you either need a stronger antenna or a stronger signal. MPBN should be working on the signal strength. They are stalling because they don't want to spend the money. They have supposedly applied to the FCC to increase their signal strength. Well, right now, the conversion to digital is pretty much all the FCC has to worry about so there is no reason this should take so long.
On the other end, the antenna is the key. I don't like endorsing products but the UHF/VHF indoor TERK antenna has done me proud. I bought it at Best Buy and it cost about $73.00 when I bought it. That's a bit steep, I admit. But with all of the frustration of buying and returning antenna's I'm telling you, it's worth it.
So before anyone complains about what they can or can not receive, I am going to suggest you try the TERK antenna. You can always return it if you are not happy with it. I just believe that until consumers get that antenna, they won't know the true power of an antenna and receiving signals over the air.
3 comments:
First thing is, landlords or HOA's can not stop you from putting up an antenna or satellite dish on the roof or side of buildings. The FCC has regulations on that online at the FCC web site or the DTV web site.
Don't let the landlords tell you lie's like that.
I am using a DB4 omnidirectional antenna and I have mine mounted above the roof line and I rent too. I have a 10 foot mast and plan to raise it another 10 feet in height because I keep telling everyone that you need to go as high as you can get as UHF are known as line of site frequencies as they don't bend with the terrain like VHF frequencies does.
Thanks for your insight on the antenna deal and thanks for visiting my site.
I can understand about putting up an antenna if you rent a house but what about people (like me) who live in an apartment buidling. I would think the same rules don't apply. Even if they did, I would have to ask him for the key to the door that leads to the stairway up to the roof of the building.
RSCME, you need to print up a copy of the regulations that talks about tenants being able to put up antennas on apartment buildings so the landlords can understand they can't stop tenants from putting up antennas.
If they refuse to abide to the regulations, then you need to notify the person/persons that list on the regulations and they will contact the landlord/lanlords they can't refuse tenants from putting up antennas.
Don't let them intimidate you or others for speaking up.
I've had to speak up many times over the years and now I feel I can do anything now. I'm not afraid to speak up.
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