Analog/Digital Television

[djohn]

I haven't had my rig out for quite a while, but now get a 'no signal' message on my televisions when trying to use the tv antenna in an area that normally gets reception. I wonder if the switch to digital signal has anything to do with it. I have the 'batwing' antenna that came with the 2003 motorhome. Any ideas??

[darbyjudy]

You probably need a converter box.

[RustyJC]

If you'll take a look in the RV Systems and Technologies forum, you'll find a lot of information on the Digital TV switchover. If you have a 2003 vintage TV and haven't added a converter box, it probably isn't going to find any signals as only a few low-powered analog TV transmitters are left.

Rusty

[hamguy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by djohn I haven't had my rig out for quite a while, but now get a 'no signal' message on my televisions when trying to use the tv antenna in an area that normally gets reception. I wonder if the switch to digital signal has anything to do with it. I have the 'batwing' antenna that came with the 2003 motorhome. Any ideas??

You must have been out of the room when the (literally) thousands of TV reminders were aired. /sarc]

Yes, analog TVs will not receive the newly mandated (~2 years ago) digital TV broadcasts. Either purchase a digital TV or purchase a analog>digital converter box.

[TXiceman]

Oh and a note, you do not need a special or new antenna to receive digital signals.

Ken

[W4RLR]

If the sets have digital and analog tuners built in, it should be a simple matter of rescanning for channels to get the new digital signals.

If your sets are under two years old, chances are good the ATSC tuner to pick up the new digital signals are already in your sets, and you will NOT need a converter box. If your sets are two to three years, MAYBE. Over three, DEFINITELY.

[Bill Adams]

2003 motor home. Unless he has done a hardware overhaul then there is no digital tuner in any of the TV's.
He will need to provide a digital to analog converter or change out the TV's to the new digital TV's.

[wa8yxm]

With the switch to digital many things happened.

In the old days Channel 2 was Channel 2, around 58 MHZ,, Channel 7 was Channel 7 around 175 MZH, and so on.. here is an explanation of how it used to be complete with channel-frequency translation from people I trust:
ARRLWeb: TV Channel, CATV and FM Broadcast Frequencies

Today.. That has all changed,, Today the channel number has NOTHING to do with the frequency. Now from here on it is specific to one market: Detroit, MI. do not know if it applies to other markets

With the switch to all Digital, Channel 7 went from 175 MHZ to 633 and channel 2 went to.. 175.

What does this mean?

Well... The lower the frequency the more the radio wave tends to follow the curve of the earth.. and the higher the frequency the easier it is for things like trees to block it. So with the change to mostly UHF, range is thus reduced for most all stations.

Add to that the batwing is a at best fair at UHF, and OK at VHF (I would not call it excellent at anything save that it really is the best design for where it's mounted) adding the Wingman will bring it up to "OK" in most cases for both VHF and UHF.

And as someone else said.. Do you have a digital TV?

Note the higher the frequency the more this statement applies.. I proved it at 146MHZ (VHF High band, just below Channel 7) and I proved it well

HEIGHT IS MIGHT

If you were to put an "Deep Fringe" UHF antenna (Which could easily fit in a pass through bay by the way) on top of a 20 or 30 foot pole somehow attached to your rig (I happen to have a way to do that on my rig) and point it in the proper direction.. You might well be amazed at the improvement.

or not, depending on where you are parked.

[DSouthw524]

One other thing you may want to remember is that the direction the antenna is pointed is very critical with digital TV. No longer do you get a weak signal and then turn the antenna until it is clearer. With digital the signal is only available in the correct direction or it is not there!

[rek]

If you do have a digital ready Tv don't do what I just did. Try to hook up a digital to analog converter box to a digital ready TV. Forgot that I didn't need the box.

[wa8yxm]

I missed the age of the rig.. Yes, you will either need new TV's or a converter.. I like the DTV-PAL from Echostar, best antenna pointing software in the business but if you get one let me knwo and I will look up what it's missing (A chart that tells you what channel to use for pointing)

DTVPAL.COM

Last time I visited they were SOLD OUT they are that good.