Stuart Rohre writes...
> Actually, on the robustness of digital TV. Reports in the trade press I
> receive tell of digital dropping out completely, and not having a
> graceful fall off in signal quality. Also, it is not able to have the
> range of service over the air they had postulated for it.
> It is much more sensitive to reflections, and signal path obstructions.
> The jury seems to be still out if it will be all its cracked up to be.
> Even its inventors admit, it will fail like falling off a cliff, rather
> than giving you a weak picture.
Oh, yes, that is true.
I am able to receive two of four local stations reliably. But even
they occasionally break up. You'll see imaging artifacts that will
multiply, and the screen will go blank while the buffer refills, and
then come back. Then, for a while, it will be excellent HD
television--better than the HD signal we get from DirecTV.
The analog reception of the two local stations which I cannot receive
digitally is very poor, showing lots of snow. I would estimate a S/N
ratio of no better than 25 dB, which is a garbage signal for
television.
I should add that I'm 60 miles from the transmitting stations, on the
wrong side of a ridge that blocks line of sight, and I'm using an
ancient (at least 25 years old) and partially damaged TV antenna of
moderate size that is pointed in the wrong direction because the rotor
is long dead. With a good antenna and a rotor that works, I believe I
will be able to receive digital signals quite as reliably as the
analog signals.
My wife does not complain that the signal goes away when I transmit,
so take that for what it's worth.
Rick, KR9D
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