A converter box has been hailed as a simple answer to the changeover to digital TV, but antennas and reduction in channel options are complicating the situation for some Lincoln County residents.
For many residents without cable, every time a person changes a channel, he or she has to get up and move the television antenna around to find just the right position. That scenario has been echoed throughout Lincoln County, frustrated residents recently report.
It could be perfect reception while the viewer stands next to the TV set. The second the viewer moves away, however, the picture becomes fragmented. Then the person has to move around more, either standing or sitting until the picture returns to the screen.
Some consumers who have followed the Federal Communications Commission’s advice and purchased a converter box find the result leaves something to be desired once the box is actually connected to their TV. Meanwhile the Feb. 17 federally mandated deadline for television stations to change over their broadcast signal completely from analog to digital nears.
However, the wheels of progress may come to a halt with the Obama administration pushing for delay and a Senate vote possibly as early as Monday. The Senate has already reached a compromise to delay the changeover to June 12, and a House vote would follow quickly after, according to a Free Press report.
According to FCC claims, if a TV set receives good signals with a particular antenna, it should be able to receive digital television signals, including high definition television (HDTV) signals with the same equipment.
The FCC advises people not to go and purchase a new antenna until they have tried the system they already have. They should move an indoor antenna in different positions and possibly even change location, like to a windowsill, which the Maine Broadcasters Association recommends.
If that does not work, then they probably should consider whether to purchase a different antenna, perhaps a rooftop antenna, if an indoor portable fails to work, according to a Waldoboro television dealer.
Unlike analog signals, which tend to gradually fade as the distance increases, with digital signals, there is a drop off or “cliff effect” at a certain distance away from a station. That may explain why channels previously received from analog signals cannot be viewed with digital, and those people who could not receive a particular station previously may be able to view it by picking up a digital signal, according to a Maine Association of Broadcasters (MAB) spokesperson.
During this transition period, some Maine stations are temporarily operating at reduced power and levels, so reception could improve on Feb. 17 and after. WGME, Channel 13 in Portland is one that currently operates at optimum power, so many viewers report better reception.
WCSH-Channel 6 has two programs on one channel (Channel 6.1 and Channel 6.2), something that is possible to do with DTV. Channel 6.1 shows regular programming, and Channel 6.2 broadcasts Maine news and weather.
Coastal areas, particularly, the Bristol area, have been calculated as poorer reception areas, and may not be able to receive decent free reception with a rooftop antenna, according to a website the MAB recommended. People can find out reception estimates at www.tvfool.com.
