Crystal Clear TV, Unless You Live Too Far Away

Mon, 02/09/2009 - 23:14 — Brian Depew

There's an untold story developing in the conversion to digital television.

No. It's not all of the chatter about consumers needing more time (and a coupon from the federal government) to buy and install a converter box. It's also not the legislation that President Obama just pushed through congress to delay the formal switch until June.

All of that will soon be washed over by a new realization, especially in the most rural parts of the country. Digital signals drop off abruptly at the end of their range, whereas analog signals fade out gradually. The point has gone without much discussion, apparently because it is hard to say how far digital signals will travel. It depends on the wattage of the broadcaster, tower height, terrain, trees, etc.

If the analog signals you currently receive suffer static, lines, fuzz, etc. that is an indication you are at the outer range of the broadcast reach. The same station, broadcast, digitally, may not reach you:

Rush took the box home and plugged it into the antenna on top of her TV.

"The picture came up crystal clear," she says. "It was thrilling. Until about five to seven minutes later, when the picture started to pixelate. Or we'd get a bar in the middle of the screen that said 'No signal.' "

Rush says she gets uninterrupted reception only about half of the time. To make her reception any better, Rush thinks she would have to put an expensive rooftop antenna on her house.

"That's not what they advertised," Rush protests. "That's not what the message has been — you slap the box in, and life will be good."

I first caught onto this issue just a month or two ago when I heard a vague reference to digital signals dropping off abruptly. Then last week on National Public Radio (sorry can't find the story link), I heard 75 miles referenced as a ballpark distance that digital signals travel.

Seventy five miles? There is a hell of a lot of rural people that live more than 75 miles from an urban center large enough to have a broadcast television station. From a different NPR story:

Michael Copps, the new acting chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, is worried the number will be more substantial. Copps recently addressed the FCC's Consumer Advisory Committee.

"Some consumers, through no fault of their own, are going to lose one or more channels as a result of the transition," Copps told the committee." That we did not understand this better long ago through better analysis, tests and trial runs is, to me, mind-boggling."

The problem started to come home for me when my parents called this week. They live in rural northwest Iowa where they receive analog signals for stations broadcasting from Des Moines (150 miles away), Sioux City (100 miles away) and Fort Dodge (60 miles away). They hooked their brand new digital converter box up, and lost the stations in Sioux City and Des Moines. Only the Fort Dodge station came in digitally.

The Sioux City station and at least one of the Des Moines stations are already broadcasting a simultaneous digital signal, but alas, it seems they are too far away to receive it.

Sure. They could get satellite television. But that's not cheap. And for many poor people, especially during these tough economic times, the satellite bill might be out of reach. For these people especially, broadcast television is important. Having equitable access to news and information is a democratizing force that we should take seriously. It's not just about having access to Oprah or your favorite reality show. Broadcast television also carries breaking news, coverage of elections, and video of presidential addresses into our homes.

To be certain, television networks have not lived up to their potential in recent years. I'll be the first join the chorus calling for media responsibility and media reform. But part of that must also mean equitable and far reaching access.

Postscript: We have mentioned on this blog before that the conversion to digital television may open up an opportunity on the rural broadband front.

Postscript 2: If you live in a rural area and have tried out your digital converter box, let us know what happened in the comments.

Comments

rural TV

Tue, 02/10/2009 - 06:24 — Eric Reuter (not verified)

This rural household doesn't have a TV, but I have wondered if digital would work for us. We're only 12 miles from a station, but are down in a deep hollow such that even analog signals weren't perfect when we did have one. Cell phones don't work well here either.

I remember that NPR story, in which the reporter went on about the 75 miles while discussing the Adirondacks! If digital signals don't like topography, anyone in the Appalachian/Ozark chain is in trouble, much less the Mountain West. Really strikes me as another example of policies made by flatland urban folks.

Also, I was amused by this line:

"It's not just about having access to Opera or your favorite reality show"

Did you mean "Oprah", or is this more proof of an elitist liberal media bias?

Adirondacks

Tue, 02/10/2009 - 09:18 — Brian Depew

Yep. That was the NPR story I heard too. I fixed the typo! Thanks.

Analog to digital switch

Tue, 02/10/2009 - 09:26 — Melinda (not verified)

That's actually a terrific point. I went through this earlier, with a switch from C-Band satellite to DBS satellite, and while the C-Band (analog) signal was often fuzzy it almost never went out, even during storms. Not so with the DBS service.

Eric, it's not that digital signals don't like hills, it's that they can only tolerate so much data loss before they aren't getting enough data to form a picture (or audio).

Digital Switch

Tue, 02/10/2009 - 10:04 — KELVIN (not verified)

I don't live in a rural area. I live inside of Knox County TN (home of the University of Tennessee and near Oak Ridge National Labatories, and TVA headquarters) less than 10 miles from the ABC affilliate, but because of the mountainous terrain, my digital signal goes in and out and I cannot consitently get any of the local network affilliates.

Digital Switch Over

Wed, 02/11/2009 - 16:54 — Shirley (not verified)

We live in rural Nebraska and bought our "box" and have now lost our ABC and NBC programming. Does the digital programming signal come from a tower or a satellite. I keep hearing that I need to adjust my antena (which was new a couple of years ago and works great with my regular analog programming signal). How do I know what to turn what way? If I turn it I will probably loose the CBS & PBS programming that now comes in with the "box". Our signal on the "box" varies all the way from 16 to 70, again regular programming works fine. I worked with DirecTV for 13 years so am familiar with signal meters, menus etc. With our new "box" everytime it storms (Weather reports????) we will loose signal ---That is one of the major drawbacks of the local networks on either Dish or DirecTV. They are leaving rural america without visual weather reports when storms happen. Progress---I guess we are back to depending upon radio for news, weather, and entertainment.

From a tower

Fri, 02/13/2009 - 11:54 — Brian Depew

Shirley, The digital television signal is broadcast from a tower.

the switch

Thu, 02/12/2009 - 08:12 — Roger (not verified)

I could see how that could be a real problem, when i was a child, i lived in the boonies, and we didn't qualify for cable, i don't know if we would get a signal if we switched over now. I would be mad if i was forced to go without or get satellite.

Rural Area = Loss of Signal

Mon, 02/16/2009 - 14:13 — Jeff (not verified)

I live about 65 miles West of St. Louis, MO in a rural, hilly area. In analog, I currently receive 8 television stations. Some of them I receive are very good signals, while some of them have some snow. All are vey watchable. When I hook up my converter box, I get 2 digital signals, and one of them is basically Larry Rice on all the time. I have a good outdoor antenna with boosters installed. My local antenna guy tells me that it's as good as I can get. I actually have 2 different brands of converter boxes, and they both give the same results. I've been rescanning every few days for months now, but to no avail. What I want to know is, what is the FCC going to do to help out people like me. I was perfectly content with my stations before, and I had no interest in paying for satellite tv. I realize that the deadline has been moved back, and am glad of it, but that only postpones my problem.

The deadline being moved back

Thu, 02/19/2009 - 22:59 — SMB (not verified)

The deadline being moved back didn't help us because our local stations complied with the original date. We're in blackout. (who the hell wants to watch a channel that goes in and out?) GIVE US BACK OUR FUZZY ANALOG!

Rural TV viewer 60 miles from Augusta

Thu, 02/19/2009 - 22:56 — SMB (not verified)

We used to watch ABC, NBC, CBS and a fuzzy FOX through the Augusta, Georgia stations located 60+ miles from our country rural home. After two days of extreme frustration watching our TV shows cut out (go black, no signal screen) we turned off the set. And to think I used to get irritated when companies "new and improved" my favorite frozen food dishes--thereby ruining the dish!

Rural TV viewer 60 miles from Augusta

Thu, 02/19/2009 - 23:05 — SMB (not verified)

digital TV

Mon, 02/23/2009 - 14:39 — AV (not verified)

Ouote "Michael Copps, the new acting chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, is worried the number will be more substantial. Copps recently addressed the FCC's Consumer Advisory Committee. "Some consumers, through no fault of their own, are going to lose one or more channels as a result of the transition," Copps told the committee." That we did not understand this better long ago through better analysis, tests and trial runs is, to me, mind-boggling." Copps fits right in in D.C. The companies that wanted the additional spectrum knew very well digital has a limited range versus analog. Who does Copps think he is fooling? $1.00 in lobbying = $1.0 million in legislated profits.

DTV in Hamilton County, NE

Wed, 03/04/2009 - 17:06 — Ken (not verified)

I have been using a converter box to receive DTV since June of 2008. I live in Aurora which I consider rural, prior to Feb. 17th I received PBS, CBS, ABC, NBC and Fox. I stopped receiving NBC and Fox last November for some reason. I stopped receiving CBS after Feb. 17th. I am left with PBS and CBS, I expect to loose CBS after the new transition deadline in June. I've gotten recommendations from the FCC and CBS on how to make sure my converter box is reconfigured, I know what I'm doing with technology, I have also talked to others who have gotten the same results. Unlike true rural locations, I can get cable but I can't afford it because there is only one provider (a monopoly) and the minimum plan is over $40/month. In today's age, doesn't everyone deserve reasonably priced telecommunications (phone, internet, TV) options at a minimum level?

Soon to be no more TV for me

Mon, 03/09/2009 - 23:13 — Jason M Waldo (not verified)

I live between Sweetwater and Madisonville in East Tennessee. The two cities with broadcast stations or Knoxville and Chattanooga. We are able to get 1 Knoxville station in quite well on analog, another 3 Knoxville stations with quite a bit of snow, and 1 Chattanooga station with considerable snow. There are a couple of others that come in intermittent. Now, all of this is the ANALOG signal with the proverbial rabbit ears on top of the set. I ordered coupons, paid for the remainder, and got the converter box six months ago. Care to take a guess what I can receive with it? Not a damned thing. I might get some signals if I install an outdoor antenna, then again I might not. I have no way to know since there is no way that I can afford to buy one. Due to my wife's medical conditions I am her caretaker. I stay at home and we scrape by somehow on $750 per month from her disability. What little bit is left over goes toward replacing the car in which the transmission died in 4 months ago. This whole load of digital switch over has been hyped as better. Here's the thing about better technology, the public buys it without having it shoved down their throat by government dictate. Color TV was far better than black and white, so it quickly took over the market, of course you didn't need massive upgrades to still be able to watch TV, the black and white set ignored the color data and you still got to watch and be informed. There are only two reasons this was pushed down our throats. The first reason is so that the companies that manufacture broadcast electronics could get their payback for all the lobbying and 'gifts' that they gave to lawmakers. The second reason was so that a few telecom giants could be given the available bandwidth, that is freed up by stripping you and I of our ability to watch television, to sit on and stifle competition when that bandwidth is sold at auction. Before having my job shipped to India, I was in the IT field, so I know how this works. I fought like hell against it then and I'm still opposed to it.

Problem in Urban Areas, Too

Thu, 03/26/2009 - 13:02 — HollyH (not verified)

We live in a major city in upstate NY, and we also have a farm in a rural part of upstate NY. We've had our converter box since September 2008, and an accompanying antenna since January 2009. I can tell you, the digital signal problem is not only a rural issue, it's problematic in cities as well. Those of us in the city without cable or satellite also experience frequent loss of a digital signal. Technically, we shouldn't, because of our proximity to all the major news stations here in this city, but we do. Add to that, the minute there is any kind of weather conditions that are not calm, we experience interruption or disruption of the signal. Wind, rain, snow - you name it. It doesn't even have to be a major weather event. Some of you may have also noticed, that your digital box will also pick up some radio communications (such as CB or walkie-talkie type of conversations) which are incredibly annoying in these urban areas. Unfortunately I have to say, that I have become accustomed to these interruptions, which is not a good indicator. Watching TV without the converter box is so much more relaxing - it's like heaven. This digital conversion issue is going to be a nightmare for our legislators, as it will increasingly be a headache for consumers in both urban and rural areas after they don't have a choice but to watch digital.

Urban too

Thu, 03/26/2009 - 13:14 — Charlie (not verified)

If you want to call Des Moines "urban," but I cannot get a consistent signal from channels that are right here in town. That is just beyond me. When it works, its great. When it doesn't work, I'd rather have back my fuzzy analog, which is a lot.

DTV

Thu, 03/26/2009 - 13:21 — Janet Jacobson (not verified)

Ahhh, progress! Since the one analog station we were able to get here just south of the Canadian border went digital in February, we are completely without television reception with or without the digital conversion box. We could subscribe to a wireless cable service, but since there is little I really want to watch other than the news, I can't see adding the cost to my monthly bills. We have a Netflix subscription for entertainment and access the news and weather via the internet or on the radio. I don't even miss the television!

Rural Area TV

Thu, 03/26/2009 - 13:23 — Sheri (not verified)

I live outside a small town in South Georgia. I switched to the "box" and have gotten so frustrated with it because of the picture going in and out. Also the "no signal" bar. I have used only rabbit ears as an antennae and got about 5 channels and now only get 3 or 4. I had Dish for a while, but can't afford it, especially anything more than "basic", which is stuff you really don't care about watching. We cannot get cable out here, not that I could afford that either. This whole idea stinks. I don't know who started all this, but they really messed up! So, needless to say, back to the radio or internet to get any news. Why did I get a box? I can't afford an outside antennae either, so my TV should last years not being used much anymore.

Urban area TV problems also

Thu, 03/26/2009 - 16:31 — Dennis E (not verified)

I live in the Dallas- Fort Worth metroplex, on the south side. Flatland. 30 - 40 miles max from antennas. Had good analog reception with rabbit ears. Have put "the box" on two of my TV's. Guess what? Reception can be good, do have several more channels, BUT - frequently reception breaks apart, video and sound are not comprehensible, frequent interruptions during the broadcast, and generally miserable reception. The folks that are getting those frequency allocations sold another mess to Washington (sound familiar?), and us little folks will pay for it while they pull in the big bucks. We should have a choice. Let's have both. Big Brother does not know best. They postponed the change over to June, let's make it a permanent postponement. Mr. Obama take notice.

I bought a converter and it

Fri, 03/27/2009 - 03:50 — jcStone (not verified)

I bought a converter and it does not work and I am right in the city of Atlanta.Like another comment shown, the weather wreaks havoc with the reception - just goes away, period. When an airplane or helicopter fly overhead, out it goes again. I had no problems with analog and want to know which Congressman came up with the Digital program, invested in it and is making some big bucks! We aren't allowed to have DISH here, only cable. Well most of us here can't afford the cheapest cable so I guess the radio will be my news and comedy format. Just like when I was growing up!! Have you tried to take your converter back for a refund? ha, ha. The retail store says "there have been a lot of complaints about no picture, just keep on trying." No money back. Thanks heavens I didn't purchase one of those new all digital TV's!

TV isn't that important - unless there is an emergency!

Fri, 03/27/2009 - 04:33 — Kelly Adams (not verified)

I knew it would be like this - either you get all of a digital signal or none of it. My son bet me it would be better and when we first set it up, it looked great and I was wrong. Like with everyone else, it disappeared! I really hate it when I'm right. Even if cable were available I would not buy it. I will never pay for Satellite. TV should be free! We have a rooftop antenna but it is storm ravaged so we are getting one that someone gave my dad. Maybe this will help, but there is still the bad weather factor and the fact that we are on the outer range of reception. One thing did surprise me and I'd appreciate knowing the cause: one of the strongest analog signals we received is the worst digital - I had to manually enter it into the receiver because it could never detect the signal (it comes in sometimes). Really, it isn't that big of a deal - I only use the tv when we are under a Tornado Warning!

Digital TV vs Analogue

Fri, 03/27/2009 - 10:50 — Anita Bingamon (not verified)

I for one do not like the forced switch to Digital. Clearer pictures, better reception? Don't think so. One thing I like is getting more free stations, but one of the main Cincinnati signals, WCPO and Dayton's counterpart of the ABC Network will NOT come in on the digital box. Only if I turn the box off and use the channels on the TV itself, will I get to see Channels 9. Channel 22 just does not show up at all. I don't like how NBC is so pixelated that I can't enjoy watching my few shows on that channel. The sound sometimes jerks and the captioning is poor, to say the least. Can I say they should have thought this "brilliant idea" out before forcing it on the rest of us? I was happy with analogue. Anita Bingamon

My parents are losing over twenty stations

Fri, 04/03/2009 - 02:09 — tl fuller (not verified)

My parents live in rural western Mass and are going to lose over twenty watchable stations when full-time DTV starts. They have a good rotary roof-top antenna and with analog broadcasts get stations from Albany NY, North Adams MA, Springfield MA, Holyoke MA, Hartford CT, New Haven CT, Providence RI, Boston MA and finally Manchester NH. According to the FCC DTV site they will only have good reception from one station after the changeover and weak reception from three other channels and that's it. They already can watch CBS only on analog and will lose that this summer. Digital signals from Springfield (closest towers) are nice when the atomospheric conditions are right, but start to pixelate(sp)during rain. Satellite reception is a tough issue, because of the dense old-growth trees which surround their house. Cable/broadband is not ever going to be installed on their mountain (too few homes)and besides my parents don't feel that you should have to pay to watch TV, unless they get rid of the commercials, damn right! I was initially excited for them about DTV until I found out how much shorter the range was; my brother and I will get them the most powerful antenna and amplifier that we can buy and hopefully they will continue to get at least the four major networks and PBS. At least here in rural Arizona, I know that we will never have over-the-air TV, so I didn't get my hopes up for here.

reply

Mon, 04/06/2009 - 18:19 — Daniel (not verified)

I live in Denver. only about 5 miles from downtown and we cannot get a consistent digital signal from any of the local stations. If a car drives by we lose all signal. If any type of bad weather comes up we also lose signal.

TV SIGNAL

Mon, 05/25/2009 - 10:09 — r robert (not verified)

Bring back the old analog system. When ever we have a little weather condition the signal goes away or in and out. I was unable to watch ABC and the Indy 500 because of this new digital{much better}??? signal. Never had any problems with a roof antenna and analog. I have two different brands of converter boxes and the signal is the same. What gives do the stations have to boost there power for us to get a good signal?

americans being bent over

Wed, 06/10/2009 - 04:15 — skip stutler (not verified)

i have fought with this for a week,some many politicians are going to be replaced when the uproar is heard around the USA that this is a momentous failure...i live 20 miles from many stations..any grey skies,rain,equals no tv..its been 2 days now i get nothing! i live in a very very small valley,maybe 60 ft down,,its all it takes to get NOTHING,,,better you all the politicians are not answering there mail or e-mails this week about the DTV scam,

Bye Bye TV

Fri, 06/12/2009 - 08:16 — Cyndee (not verified)

I live in Aurora, Colorado, which is a good sized city outside of Denver. Today is the day I say goodbye to TV. I live in an apartment that is in a very hilly part of town, and my building is at it's lowest point. I have only had over the air TV since moving in because the complex only offers a dish company for its pay service. I did get a converter box and attached it to my UHF antenna, no signal. I then attached it to the antenna on the building that I use daily, still no signal. I refuse to sign a contract and subscribe to a service just to receive local channels. This is just rediculous.

DTV

Sat, 06/13/2009 - 15:40 — Jean Hampton (not verified)

I Don't know who came up with this DTV "stuff" but it seems to be the pits. If the goverment can stop the analog and go to Digtal, then they need to make the stations send out a strong enough signal that everyone can get DTV.We could watch several chanels..5 0r 6 on analog. Now with FORCED digital Tv, we can get 1 or 2 chanels SOMETIMES for a minute or two at a time then it goes off and says "no signal." We are on a fixed imcome and with the price of food and medicine it's all we can do to get by from month to month. Now the goverment is taking away what little entertainment that we had. Hopefully someone will step in and fix it where we can watch tv.

DTV Nightmare

Sat, 06/13/2009 - 17:05 — Karen (not verified)

I live a 30-45 minute drive from New York City (should be very powerful hub) and I lose signals whenever the weather changes. So, just when you want to know if really bad weather is coming, the stations drop. Yesterday, the date of the conversion I had 26 digital stations. Next day, it was cloudy and raining and I re-scanned and got 8 stations. I have ABC but NBC and CBS have dropped. These are HUGE networks. Don't they care about their network viewership going down. Another governmental nightmare. See what happens when government gets involved.

Another DTV nightmare

Sun, 06/14/2009 - 11:19 — Ellen (not verified)

I also had good reception with analog. When I hooked up converter boxes to my TVs they started pixelating and dropping signals, since my converetr box went completely dead, I finally broke down and bought a HDTV, same problem constantly getting the no signal message. I live in downtown Austin Texas, the city that touts themselves as the technology capital of the US. Now I am back to flying tinfoil on my rabbit ear antenna, it helps, but what is this 1955?