Thursday, October 23, 2008
Antenna tips
If you are a cable customer temporarily using an antenna with a DTV converter, you may want to look at these tips.
There are several ways to attach an antenna and DTV converter to your set depending on how it is wired right now:
- Do you have an HD cable set top box presently? If so, you are probably using a cable called “HDMI” to connect to your set. If that is the case, you can leave the wiring in place and simply attach the rabbit ears cable to the “antenna” connector on your set. Then use your remote to select between HDMI and Antenna. You must then do a channel scan to find the channels available to your set.
- Do you have a non-HD cable set top box? If so, you may be using the audio and video (or S Video) cables to feed your set for the best quality picture. Here again, just attach the rabbit ears to your set’s antenna connector. Use the remote to select between Video In and Antenna and do the channel scan. If you do not use the audio/video cables but instead use the "RF" cable output, see the next paragraph.
- The most basic connection you may have is just the cable company's cable going directly into your set’s antenna connector. If this is the case, you will want to purchase an “A-B Switch” to make selecting the rabbit ears or cable TV easier. The switch will have three connectors on it: “Input A”, “Input B” and “Output” or sometimes labeled “To Set”. You would connect your cable TV wire to Input A, the rabbit ears to Input B and a short wire from the output to the antenna connector on your TV. You can then select which you want to watch by the switch, remembering that you must do the channel scan when you initially install the switch.
- One other thing to watch for is the setting for your set's tuner. If you previously had cable connected to your TV without a set-top box, you likely had to go into your set's menu and make a selection called "CATV" or "Cable". This will have to be changed to a setting that may be called "Antenna" or "Standard" or something like that. This is necessary because cable TV channels in the UHF range are not the same frequency as over-the-air broadcast channels. We've heard from several viewers who couldn't find WNLO, Channel 23 for this reason. Remember to change this setting again when returning to cable TV.
As you can see, we keep stressing the channel scan. This ultimately will enable you to watch the local stations with your rabbit ears so it is important that this is done.
There are several ways to attach an antenna and DTV converter to your set depending on how it is wired right now:
- Do you have an HD cable set top box presently? If so, you are probably using a cable called “HDMI” to connect to your set. If that is the case, you can leave the wiring in place and simply attach the rabbit ears cable to the “antenna” connector on your set. Then use your remote to select between HDMI and Antenna. You must then do a channel scan to find the channels available to your set.
- Do you have a non-HD cable set top box? If so, you may be using the audio and video (or S Video) cables to feed your set for the best quality picture. Here again, just attach the rabbit ears to your set’s antenna connector. Use the remote to select between Video In and Antenna and do the channel scan. If you do not use the audio/video cables but instead use the "RF" cable output, see the next paragraph.
- The most basic connection you may have is just the cable company's cable going directly into your set’s antenna connector. If this is the case, you will want to purchase an “A-B Switch” to make selecting the rabbit ears or cable TV easier. The switch will have three connectors on it: “Input A”, “Input B” and “Output” or sometimes labeled “To Set”. You would connect your cable TV wire to Input A, the rabbit ears to Input B and a short wire from the output to the antenna connector on your TV. You can then select which you want to watch by the switch, remembering that you must do the channel scan when you initially install the switch.
- One other thing to watch for is the setting for your set's tuner. If you previously had cable connected to your TV without a set-top box, you likely had to go into your set's menu and make a selection called "CATV" or "Cable". This will have to be changed to a setting that may be called "Antenna" or "Standard" or something like that. This is necessary because cable TV channels in the UHF range are not the same frequency as over-the-air broadcast channels. We've heard from several viewers who couldn't find WNLO, Channel 23 for this reason. Remember to change this setting again when returning to cable TV.
As you can see, we keep stressing the channel scan. This ultimately will enable you to watch the local stations with your rabbit ears so it is important that this is done.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Turn on those converters!
One of the most frequent questions we hear is, "Are you transmitting in digital yet?". The answer is a resounding yes. WIVB as well as the other major stations in Buffalo have been operating with the new digital transmitters for several years now (WIVB since June of 2002).
Surprisingly, a lot of people have converters in their homes that have never been tested. We always encourage everyone we talk to about converters to get the coupon, get the converter and get it on line as soon as possible. You don't want to be scrambling to fire it up on February 18th when you get nothing but snow on your analog set. And if you are in need of an outdoor antenna, you certainly don't want to be on your roof when the real snow is flying.
Surprisingly, a lot of people have converters in their homes that have never been tested. We always encourage everyone we talk to about converters to get the coupon, get the converter and get it on line as soon as possible. You don't want to be scrambling to fire it up on February 18th when you get nothing but snow on your analog set. And if you are in need of an outdoor antenna, you certainly don't want to be on your roof when the real snow is flying.
Viewer awareness
A new study from the Consumers Union shows that 93% of consumers are aware of the upcoming DTV transition but many are unaware that more action is needed on their part to continue to watch TV after February 17th. Read the article here.
We are making progress with the DTV education campaign but there is more work to be done.
We are making progress with the DTV education campaign but there is more work to be done.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Lessons learned
By now you may have heard that Wilmington, NC has turned off the analog transmitters in an early test of the preparedness of the market's viewers. For the most part all went well but a couple of lessons were learned in the process.
Apparently the weakest link in the transition was with antennas. Related to this was the fact that many viewers had their converter boxes but never turned them on to test them.
We've been suggesting all along that viewers get the converters early and get accustomed to using them. If an outdoor antenna is found to be needed, it would be more pleasant to put one up in good weather than in the cold of February.
So, make sure you are ready for the conversion. Get your coupons, buy your converters, test your equipment and antennas.
Apparently the weakest link in the transition was with antennas. Related to this was the fact that many viewers had their converter boxes but never turned them on to test them.
We've been suggesting all along that viewers get the converters early and get accustomed to using them. If an outdoor antenna is found to be needed, it would be more pleasant to put one up in good weather than in the cold of February.
So, make sure you are ready for the conversion. Get your coupons, buy your converters, test your equipment and antennas.
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