Why is the weather guy blogging about digital television (DTV)?

Why is the weather guy blogging about digital television (DTV)?

Topic Author: Jay Prater

Posted: 2:53 PM Feb 12, 2008

Replies Posted: 17 comments

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Fact: All analog over-the-air TV broadcasts will NOT end on February 18, 2009.

Myth: I can’t install an outdoor TV antenna for free over-the-air digital television (DTV) because of my homeowners or condo association, rental or lease agreement, etc.

Myth: I only need a UHF antenna, since all digital television (DTV) stations only broadcast on UHF channels.

Fact: To receive free over-the-air digital TV (DTV) signals, there is no such thing as a “HDTV antenna” or “Digital TV antenna”.

It may only be semantics. But it’s NOT a “switch” in February, 2009. It’s a cut-off.

Fact: “Digital Cable” and “Digital Satellite” doesn’t mean DTV.

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Why is the weather guy blogging about digital television (DTV)?

I've been a consumer of free over-the-air terrestrial digital television for over three years. I'm also an extra class FCC licensed amateur radio operator.

At the stroke of midnight, February 18, 2009, all full-power analog TV broadcasting will end in the US.

Our entire industry has done a horrible job educating people about digital television (DTV). It frustrates me when I'm out shopping for electronics and I overhear misinformation. I'm not saying it's malicious. But, new consumers are frequently placing their trust in others that don't "get it". Even some of the "DTV websites" I've surfed, don't always nail it.

I hope to bust many of the myths of DTV, and help you better understand what's what.

I'm not an engineer. I reserve the right to be wrong, and be corrected.

Ask any questions you like. If I don't know the answer, I'll try to find out.

Please remember that these are my personal rants, tips, and observations. At no time are my comments to be construed as being those of KAKE-TV, Gray Communications, the FCC, my wife, the National Weather Service, the Democratic National Committee, the Republican National Committee, etc. Got it? Good.

Oh yeah, If I mention any specific equipment or services. It does not imply an endorsement.

Now, I think I'm done.

Posted by: Craig The Setzerman Location: Miami, not in OK
Hey, the big issue here is lack of cheap portable/battery TV's during extended hurricane coverage. Any thoughts? I'm doing a piece on it for our hurricane special.

Posted by: Shawn Location: Colo Springs
Jay thanks for sharing your knowledge about TV especially digital and HDTV. I think Wichita looks forward to seeing KAKE in Digital HD.

Posted by: Jay Prater Location: KAKE
Kay, it's a whole new lexicon, I know. These topics will be covered in future postings. There is so much to cover, I may never get to all of it before next February. But, I'll try! As far as I know, there are no VCRs or DVD recorders that can record off-air HDTV, yet. However, some TiVo, Dish Network, and DirecTV DVRs are capable of off-air HDTV recording. EchoStar is also coming out with an off-air HD-DVR.

Posted by: Kay Location: Hutchinson
Where can we go to learn about the stuff you are talking about here, 4:3, 16:9, pillar bars/boxing, etc. We have no idea what you are talking about. What do we need to look for in a new television set? I've been reading stuff from the internet and a lot of it doesn't make a lot of sense to us. We are not in a big hurry to go out and get something right away, but because of the cost of the new HD TV's, we want to get the right one for us for the money. Will we need special VCR/DVD recorders?

Posted by: steve Location: wichita
cox hd boxes can easily be switched to 4:3 ratio through the settings menu.

Posted by: Jay Prater Location: KAKE
The fact is, the larger the city, the more cash flow through a local TV station. Plus, some of the Dallas local TV stations are owned by their parent network. That’s why they have local news in high definition. We are a much smaller market, and the transition costs are currently staggering. But, it’s slowly becoming less expensive. I don’t know when KAKE News (or any other Wichita station’s local news) will be in HD.

Posted by: James Location: Wichita, KS
When is the local news switching to HD? Just moved here from the Dallas area and the newscasts there are HD and look great. HD makes everything more enjoyable.

Posted by: Jay Prater Location: KAKE
The last full day of analog TV is the 17th. Therefore, the first day without full-power analog TV begins at 12:00am the 18th of February, 2009.

Posted by: Shawn Location: Colo Springs
I have a correction for your blog. The cutoff date for analog tv is Feb 17,2009 not Feb 18,2009 as stated in your blog. Thats what the commercials have been saying anyway.

Posted by: Jay Prater Location: KAKE
I too prefer a program that is 16:9 to be shown in letterbox, when only available in 4:3 standard definition. Then you can zoom or crop (depending on how your HDTV labels it) to fill the screen.

Posted by: Jeff Location: Wichita
Even if a show isn't produced and broadcast in HD, I appreciate it when it's produced and broadcast in 4:3 letterbox format---that way, the 16:9 TV can be put into the zoom aspect ratio mode, and the screen is completely filled. If a show is 4:3 and no letterboxing, I too like to keep everything honest and true, but so many people just don't think they can tolerate pillarboxing, so they watch a horizontally stretched picture.

Posted by: Jay Prater Location: KAKE
I hate “stretch-o-vision” too! I’m a pillar bars fan, when viewing 4:3 programming on a 16:9 screen. Are you sure that Cox is forcing 16:9? You may be able to control the aspect ratio through either the set-top’s remote, or the HDTV’s. You may want to call them and check. If not, it might be the program provider. Then it would be out of Cox’s control. ---------- Yes, low-power (KAKE has four across Kansas), translator, and Class-A TV stations are not bound by the February, 2009 analog cut-off. The FCC has not given a date for the end of analog for those stations. I will post more, on that topic, in another blog.

Posted by: Michael K. Location: Wichita, KS
I just hate it how the Cox HD cable boxes always try to stretch out the picture on non-HD channel to a 16:9 frame when its supposed to be a 4:3 frame. Cox needs to do something about that.....

Posted by: jeffdb Location: Salina
I read somewhere that the translator stations are different in terms up the DTV upgrade compared to a regular full power station. Can you tell me what KAKE plans to do in with the upgrade for the translator stations for North Central Kansas? Thanks

Posted by: Jay Prater Location: KAKE
I’ll be talking about the digital converter coupons in a future blog. FYI…Until the launch of DirecTV’s HD channels, you were not watching “digital television” as defined within the context of this blog. DirecTV takes analog NTSC broadcasts and converts them to a MPEG-2 digital stream for transmission via their satellites. DTV or digital television as discussed in this forum refers to the broadcast of an over-the-air digital ATSC signal. With the addition of HD channels to DirecTV they are increasing the number of original digital ATSC signals they are now capturing and converting to MPEG-2 and MPEG-4. 73

Posted by: dewayne Location: Dodge City,Ks
Where can I purchase a converter box? Please advise, thanks. DeWayne

Posted by: Rick Location: Newton, KS
Jay: I often hear the same (mis)chatter about digital TV. I'm an FCC Advanced Amateur Op. as well as FCC GROL, but I drive trains for a living for BNSF Railway. (A childhood dream-come-true) I've been using digital TV (if you call DirecTV digital, which it is...) since 1996 and am still a customer (upgraded to HDTV last summer) to this day. I often find myself in Wal-Mart or Best Buy correcting some of the local 'experts' about digital and high definition TV. Heck, most people don't even know the difference between the 2 predominant aspect ratios or what they are. But Jay, you are 100% correct about the lousy job that the US Govt. has been doing about informing (nor rather not informing) the general public about digital/high def. as well as the opportunity to purchase up to 2 digital to analog coverters to convert current analog TVs for digital reception. Perhaps, this is just what we need (blog site) to help out. Good Luck and 73... Rick Hendricks, KE0GB