Video Asylum

• Hooked up a converter at my dad's over the weekend... - Russell 23:23:10 05/21/08 (3)
  In Reply to: RE: Transition to digital broadcasts may not be as smooth as expected posted by Jack G on May 20, 2008 at 05:37:20

  ... and so far, so good. He got the Zenith DTT900 (see review at Audiophile Audition below), and it performs as advertised/reviewed. Rather amazingly, the box found 43 channels (way more than he got with analog reception) and the picture quality on each of the channels looks great, especially compared with what he was getting before. Interestingly, while most channels were either 4:3 full frame or 16:9 letterboxed, a few were letterboxed *and* pillarboxed (i.e., black bars all around), which didn't please my dad very much. It took a while to figure out that there was a button on the remote to zoom the picture and fill the screen--he was happy again. Not all channels came in with equal strength, and some required a simple adjustment of the antenna to eliminate pixelization--there's a handy signal-strength meter, activated by a button on the remote, that helps with this. I'll be visiting him again tomorrow, and I'll be anxious to see how he's getting on with the thing.
  
  Russell
  
  BTW, my dad lives within a few miles of a major airport (SFO), but we noticed no interference attributable to overhead planes.
  

  • http://www.audaud.com/article.php?ArticleID=4027   (Open in New Window)

  
  

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  • Very Interesting - Jsck G 08:28:45 05/22/08 (2)
    In Reply to: RE: Hooked up a converter at my dad's over the weekend... posted by Russell on May 21, 2008 at 23:23:10

    You should get more digital channels than analog OTA, since with digital there are 2-3 sub channels for all of the major networks. Keep us posted on any developments with it.
    Jack
    
    

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    • RE: Very Interesting - AbeCollins 11:54:35 05/22/08 (1)
      In Reply to: RE: Very Interesting posted by Jsck G on May 22, 2008 at 08:28:45

      I suspect the San Francisco / Northern California area is blanketed with very strong DTV signals so a wet noodle may have been sufficient for his antenna. ;-)
      
      I'll be happy if I get a dozen DTV channels where I live.
      
      
      
      

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      • LOL - Jack G 12:03:18 05/22/08 (0)
        In Reply to: RE: Very Interesting posted by AbeCollins on May 22, 2008 at 11:54:35

        That sounds about right.
        I live north of DC, but I'm in a slight valley, so even with an attic antenna, I get the DC channels, but some not very well, and can only get the Baltimore stations well when it rains.
        Jack
        
        

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• Has anyone here tested amplified Rabbit ears - DavidLD 04:50:02 05/21/08 (0)
  In Reply to: RE: Transition to digital broadcasts may not be as smooth as expected posted by Jack G on May 20, 2008 at 05:37:20

  Esp someone who is experimenting with pulling off air digital signals with an unamplified antenna and running into breakup problems
  
  I'm seeing these in all the stores for $30 (even Wal Mart has a selection) and am wondering if anyone has tried one of these and what the results were.
  
  Believe it or not I'm advising several people who have no cable and are interested in pulling down the new digital signal using a converter box.
  
  

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• UHF gave old VHF users antenna problems too. nt - clarkjohnsen 11:46:54 05/20/08 (0)
  In Reply to: RE: Transition to digital broadcasts may not be as smooth as expected posted by Jack G on May 20, 2008 at 05:37:20

  
  
  

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