Does antennea need to be digital???

Bill.Satellite wrote:
Like NBC Channel 3 here in Las Vegas. It is broadcast on VHF channel 2. I wonder if the Jack antenna can pick that up? I know the Batwing can!

:B

Like NBC Channel 3 here in Las Vegas. It is broadcast on VHF channel 2. I wonder if the Jack antenna can pick that up? I know the Batwing can!

gatorcq wrote:
VHF - UHF ?????
You need the UHF adapter for the Batwing antenna (of course they do not call it out correctly). (Small wave length). There are still some VHF station out there

Just to avoid confusion, this is NOT an "adapter" as in if you don't have it, UHF doesn't work.

It makes an already better forming antenna than the Jack even better. BTW- there are LOTS of VHF stations out there and they're not moving.

VHF - UHF ?????
You need the UHF adapter for the Batwing antenna (of course they do not call it out correctly). (Small wave length). There are still some VHF station out there

n7bsn wrote:
A slight correction, on "Digital Standup Day" a number of rural TV "repeaters" that is UHF stations that serviced rural areas, were allowed to stay analog.

Yes, true, However in some markets I can find one or perhaps 2 Analog signals still, v/s 20-30 Digital.

I actually like Digital.. I think it is an improvement, no matter how many complaints I read.

n7bsn wrote:

wa8yxm wrote:
...

NOTE: Old NTSC Analog TVs will not work without a "Front End" digital adapter (Set Top Box) one of mine failed yesterday.. Thanfully I had a spare in stock, Picked it up Thursday.

A slight correction, on "Digital Standup Day" a number of rural TV "repeaters" that is UHF stations that serviced rural areas, were allowed to stay analog.

Canada has since shut down rural analog TV and the US will shut them down in Sept 1 2015.

So some broadcasts are still analog, but the date is not far off when the last station will vanish

we got lots of them, just sitting there waiting for the auction.. :)

Thanks to the techs for the broadcast definitions. While not being an expert, 60+ years around radios and electronics, has left me with a general idea about how it works, your posts have confirmed my ideas, so it is nice to know I am not as stupid as I sometimes think.

Meanwhile, my Sensar IV batwing works great to pick up OTA pictures, whatever they are. Trees cut down on the signals, even within 5 miles of a transmitter. Wind and rain in the trees cause havoc with the signal. I am convinced that most of it is magic anyway, and all I need is a good wizard.

wa8yxm wrote:
...

NOTE: Old NTSC Analog TVs will not work without a "Front End" digital adapter (Set Top Box) one of mine failed yesterday.. Thanfully I had a spare in stock, Picked it up Thursday.

A slight correction, on "Digital Standup Day" a number of rural TV "repeaters" that is UHF stations that serviced rural areas, were allowed to stay analog.

Canada has since shut down rural analog TV and the US will shut them down in Sept 1 2015.

So some broadcasts are still analog, but the date is not far off when the last station will vanish

All signals are Radio Frequency.. The exact frequency is defined by the broadcast channel.. It will be in one of three frequency bands
VHF-L
VHF-HI
UHF

The original Batwing antennas were downright good for VHF but suffered a bit at UHF,,,, The WINGMAN fixes this, It is a 30 dollar add on roughly. No tools (or a simple pair of pliers needed. 5 minutes tops.

The Sensar Pro indoor module (About 100) will improve things even more (it is, among other things all useful, a 2nd pre-amp)

However. NOTHING about this is specific to digital.. Diital or analog, Makes no difference to the antenna.

2nd page: What has changed

Well 3 things. one is they way the encode the signal.. in the old days it was analog, today its a digital scheme called ATSC

The next is the power: Many stations are now pumping a small fraction of what they used to pump, a 100,000 watt transmitter may well be putting out 25,000 today or even less.. Of course one of the advantages of digital is weak signal detection,, Way better.

Finally there is what I call the "Broadcast channel" In the old days. Channel was 3, and 7 was 7and 50 was 50

Today,,, Well in some places, that may still be true, in others, not so much. Take channel 7 for example

In S.C. where I often park, 7 is 7

IN the greater Detroit area.. 7 transmits on 41 (2 uses 7)

NOW: You do not need to know this.. WHY.. When you tell your TV to SCAN, it just naturally figures it out for you.. And thus the only time YOU need to know is if you are using the Sensar PRO to peak a station ( And your TV usually will tell you what channel is is listening to as well as the one displayed, it is under antenna pointing on the menu)

NOTE: Old NTSC Analog TVs will not work without a "Front End" digital adapter (Set Top Box) one of mine failed yesterday.. Thanfully I had a spare in stock, Picked it up Thursday.

LetsRV wrote:
Have a 2001 Newmar Kountry Star DP. Still have original TV's and thinking of upgrading to a couple of flat screens.

Question that I have is about the antennae. As the new TV's will be capable of digital reception will I also need a new antennae??
Currently have the original Windgard crank up antennae.

I know the TV has to be digital compatible but what about the antennae???

the antenna won't know the difference. despite what the ads or sales critters will tell you there is no such thing as a digital TV antenna. your existing Batwing will work just fine.

what you may want to add to the batwing is the Wingman. when the switch from analog to digital occurred many of the stations that had been transmitting in the VHF portion of the TV band (ch 2-13) moved to a UHF frequency (14 and up). the Wingman enhances the winegard's ability to detect UHF signals.