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Community Newsletter: Q&A: Please clarify the digital TV (DTV) transition in 2009
- 5/16/08 3:56 PM
More on DVR's
by zysmith - 1/20/09 11:24 AM In reply to: dvr question then... by cappykellyCappy,
DVR's, like TIVO, do have the ability to FF and rewind. Other capabilities include commercial skip (skips forward 30 sec. or 1 minute) and the ability to pause/rewind "live" television. This is essentially recording a show and watching the playback at the same time. When you pause, the DVR continues to record the program. You can then unpause and watch the show in it's entirety. You catch up to the live braodcast by FF through commercials.
Since TIVO won a lawsuit, they are the only ones with DVR's that record to a hard drive. (TIVO requires a monthly subscription) Other mfg. have systems that record to DVD-R (DVD's that can be recorded over and over like a video tape.)
DVR's that record to DVD-R can play regular DVD movies.
A DVD/VCR combo has a single remote for all functions. They play DVD's and record/play video tapes. With the converter box and the one for your tv, that will be 3. Your TV remote would only be mostly for on/off and voume as you will change channels with the converter box. If the converter remote is anything like my cable remote, it can take over these functions as well, virtually eliminating the need for your tv remote.
Correction regarding TiVo DVRs
by gmclam - 1/20/09 11:40 AM In reply to: More on DVR's by zysmith> Since TIVO won a lawsuit, they are the only ones with DVR's that record to a hard drive. (TIVO requires a monthly subscription)
Not exactly true. TiVo's patent has to do with recording playing back a program while it is (still) being recorded. There is no reason that companies can not produce a DVR which records to hard discs. One example of popular DVRs out there now involves using a (Media Center) PC, which can drive TVs in every room of your home if you so desire.
The biggest downside for most people regarding TiVo is the monthly fee of between $12.95 and $20.
Not true...DVRs with hard drive
by baseman - 1/20/09 11:54 AM In reply to: More on DVR's by zysmithAs far as I know, as of this post, there is one manufacturer of a DVR with a hard drive and a DVD capability. Philips makes one. I prefer this over Tivo since there are no fees, plus I can either erase the program from the hard drive or copy it to the DVD. I also have an old Panasonic DVR with a hard drive but unfortunately they no longer manufacture one. For some reason it is now down to the Philips unit.
I too own an old Pani...
by zysmith - 1/20/09 12:23 PM In reply to: Not true...DVRs with hard drive by baseman...and would never give it up. I am sorry that they stopped making them
Mea Culpas for the misinfomation on the TIVO.
Philips DVR
by WazmoNariz - 1/20/09 12:49 PM In reply to: More on DVR's by zysmithExcellent forum on the Philips DVR at avsforum.com
I recently bought one of these units and am quite pleased. I use it to record & playback and as my digital-to-analog converter. Also pairs nicely with DTV.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=15592176#post15592176
Digital vcr
by winniepoah - 2/14/09 3:38 PM In reply to: Hope this clears up a few things... by zysmithwe have called sony, panasonic and lg
a digital vcr will not record to vhs according to their customer service, because we tried on a panasonic and it shut it self off stating that it cannot record digital to vhs
if anyone has one of these and it works, please let me know
we bought 3 boxes
Tape versus DVD disc, built in Tuners
by HalfLife360 - 1/20/09 12:34 PM In reply to: getting a little confused by cappykelly<<I do love my VCR, but if sticking with it creates more problems than getting a new one, I could see getting a new one (a vcr/dvd I believe is what they have now). I don't know anything about dvr's. ?
I assume any new vcr/dvd would then NOT need a converter box, correct? But I'd need one for my old TV unless I were to purchase a new tv.>>
You can watch the TV with the new VCR on since a new one has a tuner. Depending on your VCR remote capabilities, it will have an option to control the TV as well once you have the correct code.
That would save getting a convertor box since the VCR will convert the signal for the TV. What you see is what you get. When you check a channel to record, you're using the VCR to tune in.
You need to check a new recorder for a connection to your old TV. If it's just the kind that has a needle in the middle of the cable, you may have to look for a switch device. It's a device that you can hook up modern devices to and it has an out connection (coaxial) to the old TV. Everything hooks to the switch box and the box sends everything to the TV. However, if you can spare the $14-$20 for the govt supported converter, it's still a useful device. No matter which device has the tuner, you still need an antennae. OK.
If you don't need to watch your new recordings on another device then this should be fine. If you do need to watch a DVD recording on another device, it needs to be finalized (no more recording, finish up).
One issue that came up was that unlike VCR tape, DVDs that only have a partial recording can't just be played on another device without finalizing. Multiple rooms, multiple TV/VCR/DVD setups. Although DVD discs are only 10 to 50 cents, nobody likes to just waste a disc. Re-Recordable DVDs are troublesome so it wasn't an option. Tape can be played on other players when only a little bit has been recorded. The tape can be recorded over and over until its too old to use anymore. The people I set up with new DVRs ended up going back to tape for familiarity and the reasons listed above.
DIGITAL CONVERTERS AND VCR'S
by TORNADO_CYCLONE - 4/26/09 12:47 PM In reply to: Digital converters and VCRs by gmclamNO CLEAR ANSWER.
WITH A DIGITAL TUNER VCR CAN I TIME RECORD ONE CHANNEL AND WATCH A DIFFERENT ONE AT SAME TIME LIKE A TRADITIONAL SETUP? YES OR NO
TORNADO
Recording while watching
by gmclam - 4/26/09 9:12 PM In reply to: DIGITAL CONVERTERS AND VCR'S by TORNADO_CYCLONEDoes your recorder have its OWN ATSC/digital tuner? Does your (TV) display have its own ATSC/digital tuner (and not require a signal from the recorder to watch live TV)? If you have answered YES to BOTH of these questions, then you can watch one channel while recording from another.
Digital Antenna reception
by ghosty191 - 5/24/08 7:49 PM In reply to: Please clarify the digital TV (DTV) transition in 2009 by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I live 30 miles from one transmitter, and received for awhile a fantastic signal in HD and digital, on 3 channels 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3. I have a 1½ year old HDTV that is receiving off of an old large antenna, using 75 ohm cable from the antenna to every room in the house. Normally that station, when receiving the analog channel 5, is a fairly weak station in this area, giving a snowy picture. On the new TV the digital channels were great, for awhile, but now sometimes I can't get a signal, usually in the evenings. I have contacted the station and they assured me that after checking on their end, they say nothing has changed. They suggested I have a technician check out my antenna. That of course is monetarily an impossibility. After researching antennas on several different web sites, I am even more confused. According to what I understand, I may need to buy several antennas. Then how would I hook them up, in series? Or would I need a switch box between them. Now I am having problems with the channels 11.1 and 11.2. I can't afford satellite any more, and cable isn't available out this far. What's a poor, disabled widow supposed to do? I've also been denied a coupon, for my other TV, for some reason.
One specific transition situation....
by gmclam - 5/25/08 3:34 PM In reply to: Digital Antenna reception by ghosty191> I live 30 miles from one transmitter, and received for awhile a fantastic signal in HD and digital, on 3 channels 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3. I have a 1½ year old HDTV that is receiving off of an old large antenna, using 75 ohm cable from the antenna to every room in the house. Normally that station, when receiving the analog channel 5, is a fairly weak station in this area, giving a snowy picture. On the new TV the digital channels were great, for awhile, but now sometimes I can't get a signal, usually in the evenings.
It sounds to me, from the MINIMAL information you provided, that you are on the fringe of the station you are trying to receive. With analog you get snow. With digital it will either be good enough to get "great" pictures or nothing. In order for us to help you any further we need to know the city you are in and the specific station you are trying to receive. Or you can invistigate this further yourself at antennaweb.org
> According to what I understand, I may need to buy several antennas. Then how would I hook them up, in series? Or would I need a switch box between them.
I think the suggestion was/is to have one antenna for each TV. This is silly though I think. One issue is that when you split the signal from one antenna to 3 televisions, the signal is attenuated to each. If you were only splitting between 2 TVs, the signal would be about 50% to each. Typically, splitting to 3 or 3 TVs would attenuate it 25% to each. So while the signal from the antenna (and coax) would get strong enough for one digital tuner to capture the signal; when the signal is attenuated (25%) it is no longer strong enough. Typically a better solution is to install an "amplified splitter" so there is no signal loss when splitting. The problem with this is that people often install poor quality amplifiers which make the situation worse.
If it were my installation, I would use the best antenna I can get (UHF VHF combo), the best coax I can get and the best amplifier for the job. I am actually doing this and feeding every device in every room of my house (equivalent of about a 12 way splitter) with great results all time of year and day.
> Now I am having problems with the channels 11.1 and 11.2. I can't afford satellite any more, and cable isn't available out this far. What's a poor, disabled widow supposed to do? I've also been denied a coupon, for my other TV, for some reason.
Again to be able to help with more detail, we'd need to know where you are and the specific "channel 11.1" you are trying to receive. As far as the coupon is concerned, every one is allowed 2 per address and, as of this writing, you can not use a P.O. box.
Multiple transmitter sites require multiple antennas.
by inetdog - 7/5/08 10:22 AM In reply to: One specific transition situation.... by gmclamSince digital TV broadcasts using the ATSC standard are horizontally polarized, any antenna will be at least somewhat directional. If the questioner is in a fringe signal area and if different digital broadcast stations in his area are located at different sites it may be necessary to either rotate a single antenna or switch among several antennas to get a satisfactory signal for all stations.
In addition, for a fringe location it may be necessary to use a more directional antenna to consistently get a satisfactory signal.
A very few of the coupon-qualified convertor boxes are set up to use what is called a "smart antenna", and I have not seen any for sale locally yet. The "smart antenna" contains multiple small antennas and a network for tying them together in different phase arrrangements under electronic contol. The result a a stationary antenna box which can be aimed in different directions without use of moving parts and under the control of the convertor box.
The result is that the convertor box can aim the smart antenna in the direction of best signal for each individual station and will do this automatically when you tune from channel to channel.
The separate smart antenna is not part of the basic package, and you cannot use a second coupon to offset the cost of the antenna, but the results may be worth the extra cost. The alternative is switching antennas or manually aiming an indoor antenna. This smart antenna feature is independent of amplification inside the antenna, which may be needed also.
Regarding amplification:
A very good tuner or convertor will not need an amplified signal, but since not everyone needs that quality from the tuner and since it raises the cost, many inexpensive tuners or convertors will benefit from an amplified antenna.
In addition if there is a long cable from the antenna to where the tuner is located, or if a splitter is being used to drive multiple TVs or VCRs (both cases which reduce the level of signal which gets to the device) then building the amplifier into the antenna itself will give the best possible signal. (As long as the amplifier is well designed, of course.)
I do not recommend trying to connect two or more antennas through a reverse-splitter to feed both to a TV. In addition to reducing the signal level from each antenna, the resulting directional pattern may be unpredictably different from what you would expect from the two antennas alone.
Answering to converter box not getting signal all the time.
by electracon - 1/17/09 7:48 PM In reply to: Digital Antenna reception by ghosty191Being a TV Engineer I have found out that all boxes are not created equal. I have found that the RCA boxes have low quality tuners compared with LG based tuners (Zenith and Insignia to mention a few). Levels with RCA having 20 compared with LG having 70. With a low level of signal when it gets to thresh-hold (aprox 15 ) then the box will loose picture. Digital signals are very touchy to get as signal is moe line of site unlike the Analog ones. It may take adjustments to get all signals avilable for your area or in some cases they make antenna kits with mutiple segments which are setup each facing diff transmitters. There is also a UHF remote tuning antenna available at Radio Shack for 50 dollers
Unclear on what else I need
by sffaith - 6/2/08 9:47 AM In reply to: Please clarify the digital TV (DTV) transition in 2009 by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have two TVs that are hooked up to DirecTV, one in the living room and one in the bedroom. In the kitchen, I have a small, old, black-and-white TV with a built-in antenna. I understand that I can't use that TV anymore, and that's fine. I have a small, analog color one waiting in the wings (I'm not using it now because it takes up more counter space than the b/w.) I only get local channels, and that's fine for while I'm working in the kitchen.
So, I received my coupons and was planning on going shopping for a converter box. Then someone told me that I still need to plug in that converter box or TV to some kind of receiver. This person is telling me I need to hook this set up to satellite as well. That makes no sense.
Now I'm totally confused. If there is nothing being broadcast "over the air," how will I receive a signal (that isn't there) with the converter box?
Can someone please clear the air (no pun intended)? Thanks!
It's much simpler than that
by cvmoreau - 6/2/08 10:06 AM In reply to: Unclear on what else I need by sffaithIf you have an analog TV and the converter box, the only additional thing you need is an antenna of some sort. A small indoor antenna (I'd recommend an indoor UHF Yagi, such as the Philips Silver Sensor -- try Amazon.com) might work just fine for you if you're reasonably close to the station's transmitters, or you might need a larger outdoor one, if you're some distance away.
Regardless, if you're just wanting to get the local digital channels you certainly don't need to connect to the satellite dish!
Good luck!
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