Digital/Analog Antenna TV Set Up

sailsmanship

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 26, 2000
Messages
389
I thought I had the whole digital analog straight but now I gues I'm confused on the boat. I have a 21" Shakespeare 2020-G Omni Directional antenna, and a 4 year old 19" Sylvania Flat Screen LCD TV. The antenna says that it is (Digital HDTV Ready) and since the TV isn't that old, I thought that it can receive digital signals. I have since read that it doesn't matter what kind of antenna it is, that all receive digital. I get no stations. Do I need a converter box or am I possibly in an area that has poor reception, since I hear digital is all or nothing.
 

TilliamWe

Banned
Joined
Dec 21, 2004
Messages
6,579
Re: Digital/Analog Antenna TV Set Up

You are right, the antenna doesn't matter. Plain old rabbit ears will work.
Your TV either doesn't have a digital tuner, or you have no TV stations in your area. Under your set up menu on the TV, is there a setting for "digital" or a way to "scan for channels"?
If you can't find that, take the TV to a known place that has reception, hook up an antenna, and see if you get stations there. If you scan for channels and still get none, you need a converter box.
 

wajajaja02

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Apr 21, 2008
Messages
667
Re: Digital/Analog Antenna TV Set Up

with the digital conversion channel assignment were reassigned by time zone across the country, so every one receiving signals off the air had to rescan their sets.
 

JB

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Mar 25, 2001
Messages
45,907
Re: Digital/Analog Antenna TV Set Up

"Digital HDTV ready" means it has a digital screen and will accept input from a digital receiver converter.

Big ripoff.
 

rogerwa

Commander
Joined
Nov 29, 2000
Messages
2,339
Re: Digital/Analog Antenna TV Set Up

There is a difference in antennas. In my area, the local channels swtiched from broadcasting on VHF channels to broadcasting digital on UHF channels. There are antennas that work for both, but they are a comprimise. When I went digital in bought a good UHF antenna and my signal reception drastically improved over the combo antenna.

So you need to find out where the channels are broadcasting from and on what frequencies (UHF vs VHF). Then tailor your antenna to that info.

I also added a antenna signal booster which helped quite a bit as well.
 

MushCreek

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jun 20, 2009
Messages
150
Re: Digital/Analog Antenna TV Set Up

I just went through all of this when I bought a small battery portable TV to use during power outages. I set it up in the kitchen, but didn't get much with the built-in antenna. Ditto for a set of rabbit ears. I then bought a DB4 UHF antenna ($24) and hooked it up. I got a few channels, but not much. It wasn't until I put the antenna in the attic that I got good reception, even though the transmitters are only about 10 miles away over flat ground. DTV is pretty fussy, and you either get a great picture or nothing. Here in FL, a battery TV is part of one's hurricane preparedness- I hope people try them out before the storm arrives! The DB4 is fairly small, although it's designed to mount on a roof, not a boat. We had intended to take the portable camping and boating, but there doesn't seem to be any point.

Jay
 

Jeff-in-PA

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Dec 27, 2008
Messages
402
Re: Digital/Analog Antenna TV Set Up

We just got back from Ontario Canada and took our digital converter along so we could watch TV at nights. Reception was extremely POOR :mad:

Digital converter was completely worthless. We got channel 50 out of upstate NY ( fuzzy ) and the CBC on channel 11.


I stopped at our local Radio Shack today and found out why. It seems the digital signal is not as strong as the old analog signal. ( trying to force everybody to a pay service? )

Turns out you need to have a digital antenea with a signal booster to get decent reception. The ones they had were $30 for the 25 mile radius indoor model and $60 for the 50 mile indoor/outdoor model.

Just another expense :(
 

Thajeffski

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 2, 2009
Messages
890
Re: Digital/Analog Antenna TV Set Up

waaaaaaaaaaa

guess what, u dont NEED TV!
 

Jeff-in-PA

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Dec 27, 2008
Messages
402
Re: Digital/Analog Antenna TV Set Up

waaaaaaaaaaa

guess what, u dont NEED TV!

Correct, I want TV for weather reports and hockey in the spring.

Besides, ever hear the expression If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy ?

Believe it, it's true :D
 

Thajeffski

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 2, 2009
Messages
890
Re: Digital/Analog Antenna TV Set Up

lol, tell mama to go get back in the kitchen where she belongS!!!
 

rogerwa

Commander
Joined
Nov 29, 2000
Messages
2,339
Re: Digital/Analog Antenna TV Set Up

THere is no such thing as a digital antenna. It is either VHF, UHF, or a combination. With ditigal, you need a certain strength signal for it to show. umike analog you won't get snow on a poor signal.
 
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