[skugelstadt]

Does anyone here receive "over the air" TV stations? How many stations and what attic or rabbit ears antenna do you use? I do have a newer digital TV if that matters (do not need converter box). Thanks in advance for insight.

[sheriwx]

We have cheapie rabbit ears, a cheapie converter box ($40 at walmart), and we can get four channels. PBS, and three spanish channels. So no helpful advice here. Sorry!

[MediocreButArrogant]

You can have a problem if you're too close (in the shadow of) Black Mountain, where all the TV transmitters are located.

[MediocreButArrogant]

I'm not sure this is every station, but here is what is showing up in my receiver's guide (a Dish Network receiver with an OTA module receiving local stations):

3-01 thru 3-03
5-01 and 02
8-01 and 02
10-01 thru 10-03
13-01 and 02
15-01 and 02
17-01
21-01
33-01
39-01
41-01
47-01 thru 05

That's 24 stations.

[Buzz123]

Originally Posted by MediocreButArrogant

You can have a problem if you're too close (in the shadow of) Black Mountain, where all the TV transmitters are located.

That is true. When I worked at Ch 3 we had lots of people in Henderson and Boulder City (including one of the owners at the time) that could not receive a signal from us as it went right over them. Also, I don't know about digital, but analog signals were sometimes too strong for those near the mountain who could receive the signal. I'd ask around out there among the neighbors. But if you can get signals, there are several stations on Black Mountain, including 3, 5, 8, 13, 10, and I don't know how many independent stations there are now.

In fact, I hadn't thought of it until now, but what did digital do to UHF stations? Anybody know? Are they still considered U's as opposed to VHF?

[1zodiac]

you can see what you might get here http://www.fcc.gov/bureaus/mb/engine....html?zipCode=

i get most of the channels on my computer with rabbit ears in las vegas.i can't get 3.
the rabbit ears have to on the window sill or the channels won't come through.

Originally Posted by Buzz123

what did digital do to UHF stations? Anybody know? Are they still considered U's as opposed to VHF?

from that site.

Digital Television Signals can be transmitted in different TV channel bands. The Low VHF band uses channels 2-6. The High VHF band uses channels 7-13. The UHF band uses channels 14-51. ......
The different bands behave differently when travelling through the air, so depending on which frequency band a station uses, you may need a different type of antenna.

[Buzz123]

Originally Posted by 1zodiac

you can see what you might get here The Digital TV Transition: Reception Maps

i get most of the channels on my computer with rabbit ears in las vegas.i can't get 3.
the rabbit ears have to on the window sill or the channels won't come through.

from that site.

Hey, cool site. Thanks.

[MediocreButArrogant]

Originally Posted by Buzz123

In fact, I hadn't thought of it until now, but what did digital do to UHF stations? Anybody know? Are they still considered U's as opposed to VHF?

Two things have been going on with UHF. 1) During the DTV transition, when stations were broadcasting both an analog and digital version of their content, UHF frequencies were used in most DMAs for the digital simulcast and 2) portions of the spectrum have been taken back by the FCC, and then auctioned off.

Las Vegas was weird because when the digital TV stations started broadcasting, they were all on VHF frequencies. I believe there was only one other city where the digital broadcasts were initially on VHF. For instance, the digital version of channel 8 was (and continues to be) broadcast on channel 7's frequency. In almost every other city the digital broadcasts were on a UHF frequency. Then when analog was shut off, the channel assignments shifted around. A few, like channel 7 in San Francisco and channel 13 in Las Vegas, went back to their original frequency. Some moved lower in the UHF spectrum, and most didn't change at all, like channels 3, 5, and 8 in Las Vegas, broadcasting on channels 2, 9, and 7 respectively.

UHF used to go up to channel 83. The FCC wanted to reclaim portions of the UHF band for other uses, like mobile phones. Channels 70-83 were given up in 1983 and 52-69 were given up in 2008. From Wikipedia:

The spectrum from 806 MHz to 890 MHz (UHF channels 70-83) was taken away from TV broadcast services in 1983, primarily for analogue mobile telephony. In 2009, as part of the transition from analog to digital over-the-air broadcast of television, the spectrum from 698 MHz to 806 MHz (UHF channels 52-69) was also no longer used for TV broadcasting. Channel 55, for instance, was sold to Qualcomm for their MediaFLO service, which is resold under various mobile telephone network brands. Some US broadcasters had been offered incentives to vacate this channel early, permitting its immediate mobile use.
The FCC's scheduled auction for this newly-available spectrum was completed in March 2008.[19]

[KevK]

Originally Posted by MediocreButArrogant

Two things have been going on with UHF. 1) During the DTV transition, when stations were broadcasting both an analog and digital version of their content, UHF frequencies were used in most DMAs for the digital simulcast and 2) portions of the spectrum have been taken back by the FCC, and then auctioned off.

Las Vegas was weird because when the digital TV stations started broadcasting, they were all on VHF frequencies. I believe there was only one other city where the digital broadcasts were initially on VHF. For instance, the digital version of channel 8 was (and continues to be) broadcast on channel 7's frequency. In almost every other city the digital broadcasts were on a UHF frequency. Then when analog was shut off, the channel assignments shifted around. A few, like channel 7 in San Francisco and channel 13 in Las Vegas, went back to their original frequency. Some moved lower in the UHF spectrum, and most didn't change at all, like channels 3, 5, and 8 in Las Vegas, broadcasting on channels 2, 9, and 7 respectively.

UHF used to go up to channel 83. The FCC wanted to reclaim portions of the UHF band for other uses, like mobile phones. Channels 70-83 were given up in 1983 and 52-69 were given up in 2008. From Wikipedia:

That is not a weird arrangement for a medium city that is hundreds of miles from any other city. The FCC can assign VHF channels without worry that they will interfere with other markets.

[KevK]

Digital TV service works alot different than the old analog service. Under analog, the TV channel number actually related to its frequency assignment. Under digital, the "channel" numbers are virtual and have no relation to the frequency that a particular station is assigned to. So "channel 8" might be on a VHF frequency in Las Vegas and "channel 8" might be on an upper UHF frequency in another city. That is why you cannot just plug and play a DTV set without doing the setup/channel scan first.
Another thing is that DTV either works perfectly or not at all. There is no "decent picture". It is either there in perfect form or not. Since probably 97% of the country gets TV from cable or satellite, most people do not notice the difference. But for the few that get TV from an antenna, it can be a challenge. First of all, if you can, DUMP the rabbit ears and get a decent outdoor antenna. It does not have to be a big booming antenna- just a $20 one will do fine. Radio Shack has a good line of them. Install it outside on a roof or even off a deck where it can point towards Black Mountain as much as possible. You should get crystal clear reception of all the locals.