DT(UHF) vs VHF

Jeff Harrison · 07-29-2005, 10:55 AM

Hi HDTV Experts,

I live in Livermore CA 94551 (30 miles north of San Jose stations, 45 miles south of Sacramento) and I am in the pursuit of better tv reception. I currently have a Channel Master 3020 with a CM Spartan3 amplifier, and I get good reception, from San Jose, for ABC(7) & pbs(54), fair for NBC(11) & NBC(3) - which are in opposite directions!, and lousy for FOX(2) & CBS(5). If I point at Sacramento, I can get good reception for NBC(3) & PBS(6), but lousy for the rest.

So, I'm considering getting a rotator or trying stacked anntennas, but while researching I ran across this great forum. But now I'm wondering if I should be going digital instead of messing around with VHF.

Are the digital signals stronger or weaker than the VHF? I don't particularly care about the increased resolution of digital, I would just be happy with decent reception on all major networks. So, if I'm already struggling to get VHF reception, am I going to have any more luck with the digital (with, say, a CM 4228)?

It's also interesting to note that antennaweb only shows a few digital channels (none of which are the major networks) for my zip, but another site http://www.choisser.com/sfonair.html does show that all of the stations that I am currently going after do have digital signals as well as the analog.

Thanks for your help!

RSawdey · 07-29-2005, 04:25 PM

99% of all stations are on the air in digital... and supposed to be at full power & with a coverage area equal to analog.

Although many digital stations are in the UHF range, some are also in the VHF... and after analog shutoff many will move from UHF to VHF for cheaper power bills.

audiopile · 08-01-2005, 08:24 PM

Essentially you don't have to replace anything - just add a STB and hook it up to your current antenna. Antennaweb is VERY conservative in their estimates of what stations are receivable from a given location. Give it a try - get a STB that has a 480i output and can be returned if it's just not getting what you want. As more and more stations are actually going to full licensed power ( oftentimes at a boost of anywhere from 10 to 20 times more than their STA ( temporary) power ) - a lot more people are getting a lot more DTV stations. Wait on going to the HD part of life untill you either have too much money or really appreciate the the HD picture ( which is damm good!)

07-29-2005, 10:55 AM	#1
Jeff Harrison My plasma is High Def. Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 7	DT(UHF) vs VHF Hi HDTV Experts, I live in Livermore CA 94551 (30 miles north of San Jose stations, 45 miles south of Sacramento) and I am in the pursuit of better tv reception. I currently have a Channel Master 3020 with a CM Spartan3 amplifier, and I get good reception, from San Jose, for ABC(7) & pbs(54), fair for NBC(11) & NBC(3) - which are in opposite directions!, and lousy for FOX(2) & CBS(5). If I point at Sacramento, I can get good reception for NBC(3) & PBS(6), but lousy for the rest. So, I'm considering getting a rotator or trying stacked anntennas, but while researching I ran across this great forum. But now I'm wondering if I should be going digital instead of messing around with VHF. Are the digital signals stronger or weaker than the VHF? I don't particularly care about the increased resolution of digital, I would just be happy with decent reception on all major networks. So, if I'm already struggling to get VHF reception, am I going to have any more luck with the digital (with, say, a CM 4228)? It's also interesting to note that antennaweb only shows a few digital channels (none of which are the major networks) for my zip, but another site http://www.choisser.com/sfonair.html does show that all of the stations that I am currently going after do have digital signals as well as the analog. Thanks for your help!

08-01-2005, 08:24 PM	#3
audiopile High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 146	DTV - go for it! Essentially you don't have to replace anything - just add a STB and hook it up to your current antenna. Antennaweb is VERY conservative in their estimates of what stations are receivable from a given location. Give it a try - get a STB that has a 480i output and can be returned if it's just not getting what you want. As more and more stations are actually going to full licensed power ( oftentimes at a boost of anywhere from 10 to 20 times more than their STA ( temporary) power ) - a lot more people are getting a lot more DTV stations. Wait on going to the HD part of life untill you either have too much money or really appreciate the the HD picture ( which is damm good!)

07-29-2005, 04:25 PM	#2
RSawdey Mr. Wizard Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ferndale, Michigan Age: 61 Posts: 5,981	99% of all stations are on the air in digital... and supposed to be at full power & with a coverage area equal to analog. Although many digital stations are in the UHF range, some are also in the VHF... and after analog shutoff many will move from UHF to VHF for cheaper power bills.