I have a brillant idea, put programs on TV that people actually want to watch then you won't have to worry about people signing up to get cable.

This is totally true. We live on Brewer Lake in Orrington. We cannot get WABI there with an antenna even though the tower is less than 5 miles away - blocked by the hills surrounding the lake. FOX, WLBZ and WVII all come in great in HD even with rabbit ears. We do not watch much TV, but its nice to get HD when we do.

Getting cable won't help with WABI - they refuse to give Time Warner their HD signal.

WABI is only hurting their customers. Some of us have Time Warner as our only choice for service. BTW is that dog in the picture sitting down? Looks like it really should be outside doing what it's doing.

Goucher said. “All digital signals are broadcast in the UHF.” This is not true! MPBN is broadcasting on channel 9 in the Bangor area. This is a VHF channel. After the stations turn off their analog transmitters, WLBZ, WVII and possibly WABI will be switching their digital transmissions to VHF channels. WLBZ will be changing from UHF 25 to VHF 2 and WVII will be changing from UHF 14 to VHF 7. WABI may be switching from UHF 19 to VHF 12...they have a petition before the FCC to obtain channel 12 after MPBN drops their analog use of it. Each station has its own time frame to switch back to these frequencies and that may not happen immediately after they go digital only on February 17, 2009. So you see we could eventually have all the local digitals on VHF channels. And your reception problems could begin anew.

It is pretty humorous that the commercials endlessly tell you that you need a converter box, but make little to no mention of signal strength issues. I live in Glenburn which isn't very "remote", yet it is difficult to get all the digital channels with a rooftop antenna. Analog was no problem, as a weaker signal just means that the picture isn't perfect, but with digital it's all or nothing. It isn't just distance either, as depending on where you are, all the transmitters aren't in the same direction. I have a large antenna, with a quality signal amplifier and have a relatively weak signal from PBS due to the antenna orientation favoring the other channels. I usually receive everything, but PBS is weather-dependent. The other thing I find is that the cheap converter boxes are mediocre at best. I have two TVs that have built-in ATSC (digital) tuners, and they will often work fine while the TVs using the converter boxes look terrible. As far as cable goes, no thanks. I had it for years and decided that the poor picture quality on the low analog channels, the cost and the lame programming just wasn't worth it. I have plenty of lousy shows to watch for free with an antenna.

BTW...In case anyone's not aware , DTV channels available for broadcastors after February 17, 2009 are: VHF 2 - 13 and UHF 14 - 51

A new cause for the more compassionate legislators: The Poor now have a Right to cable TV. Watch for a new tax on subscribers to furnish free cable to the less fortunate among us.

Nothing is free anymore. If we want to watch advertising we will have to pay for it now. If this weak signal information would have been leaked to the public a couple years ago this digital conversion wouldn't have been forced on us so easily.

Time Warner is just addvertisement no good programs we are paying $100.00 a month for this.Thats a big laugh were the stupid ones.

Reception in Washington County has always sucked, and now it is going to be impossible. I have elderly parents who live where cable isnot available and satalitte is expensive on thier budget. (Satalitte basic is abour $50 a month adding locals and taxes.) All they want is thier local channels they have enjoyed for many, many years, but the signal strength is't strong enough with digital. (We got the box and ran the tests.) We've been to those sights, and they tell us you need the strongest most expensive antenna, a booster box and the converter box, and reception is not gauranteed. We'd have to spend the money to "gamble" on a strong enough signal, then maybe still have nothing. This is going to be devastating to some of our elderly home bound residents. I feel not mentioning the reception issues in the beginning, and leading people to believe that if you could recieve analog, then all you needed was a box, was deceptive and false advertising. My parents did as instructed, even getting htier converter box last spring, and not finding out the difference till several months ago, leaving them in the winter months, when money is tighter and the weather is more difficult to work on a house roof antenna. You may say you didn't overlook the problem, but you did mislead, even decieve alot of people. Shame on you!!

THANK YOU to the Bangor Daily News. We don't live in Maine, but we do live in a "digital black hole." Cable TV is not available, and our satellite provider does not offer locals in our Nielsen market area. After installing a converter box and connecting it to our large, directional VHF/UHF antenna (with amplifier and rotator) at the top of a 24-ft pole, we discovered that we get ... NO digital signals at all. So we'll lose the signals from the 3 network affiliates we get over that antenna now, and be left with no local TV after the switch.

I don't think delaying the switch-over will make any difference, but I do think it was irresponsible for the FCC and local broadcasters to neglect this issue while spending millions of dollars to "educate" viewers about the switch to DTV. Most of those advertisements made it sound so easy: if you presently get your signals via an OTA antenna, you'll need to get a converter box to continue to receive them. HAH!

One answer get DirecTv they have ALL the local channels and they will be turning into HD also within the first 3 monthes of this year! Go to www.DirecTV.com or call 1-800-DirecTv . It is worth your time and cheaper then Time Warner and Dish Network.

Experiment and you may get lucky. Do the research first to find out where you are in relation to the transmitters. I went to antennaweb.org and they recommended a roof-mounted medium-sized amplified antenna. I found that on the second floor we can get reception with an antenna that is basically a single metal stick. Reception improved with an amplified rabbit ear antenna. Downstairs I use an amplified rabbit ear near the window facing the right direction. $30. Sometimes I have to adjust the antenna for different channels. We get all the channels available in 30 miles. This is because we are in a good spot, although 25 miles from the nearest signal. Also we read the antenna directions and did some research. And also we bought a flat screen tv with digital tuner.

What a great picture these hdtvs give you. We've been watching broadcast hdtv since last winter. There's nothing like watching Nova or Nature on MPBN in HD.

I don't get cable because there is nothing I want to watch more than MPBN and some good network broadcast shows. We got the hdtv mostly for movies, and I am thrilled with it for movies and broadcast tv too.

Another tip about indoor antennas-sometimes you will not receive a signal until you move the thing around. I turned mine on, nothing happened. I elevated it 2 1/2 feet and it gets the channels.

My sis has a converter box on her older tv. She gets fine reception in HD with rabbit ears. But she is in an urban area, close to the transmitters.

Sometimes in bad weather my picture cuts out. So reception is not 100%. More like 95% of the time. Maybe someday I will get the roof mounted antenna but in the meantime the indoor one is fine.

Good luck!

I agree that this whole thing is about money. As usual, this came about through our friends the republicans. The TV manufacturers and their CEOs, wanted more money so they came up with the idea of forcing everyone to purchase new TVs. At inflated prices I might add. And then suddenly you need a new antenna. Money for the antenna manufacturers. And of course cable and satellite make a killing on all those who cannot receive the signal at all. Amazing how this all comes together. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Oh yes, and the government "ran out of coupons" which means we will have to buy these converters at full price. Are you getting the picture?

one comment..we can't afford upgrades we can't afford....ask Yogi Baerra. We can't keep piling the expenses on those who can least afford to pay and the elderly who are set in their way.

I'm so glad people are finally starting to wake up to this. I suspect this is going to much more of a calamity than people think. The DTV spots being played on TV make the claim, "with Digital TV you will receive hundreds of free (over-the-air) channels. Bah-loney! Rural Maine might as well kiss free TV viewing goodby. If you live in a rural area and believe that buying a converter box and an expensive TV antenna will get you the free DTV channels, there's a biridge in Brooklyn I would dearly like to sell you. The less fortunate in rural Maine who can't necessarily afford satellite subscribtions or no cable provider will never see free TV again. Beleive it.

And our state reps. are all laughing at us while there lining there packets.

I smell class action lawsuit by the time this runs it's course. If there is one---I'm in. Because I believe I will be one of many that is personally impacted by Loss of Signal.

HOW DID WE EVER LIVE WITHOUT TELEVISION ? Back when I was young and there wasn't any such thing , in Maine at least , we were never at a loss for entertainment, fun outside, working in the yard and garden, fishing, hunting, swimming , sliding, skating , playing ball . Neighboring and visiting with friends and family. Now it seems if you go to visit someone it means watching their TV instead of your own. Maybe it would be a good thing to NOT be able to get it. We could all get off our rumps and do something useful.

As for smelling a class action lawsuit---WHERE does it say that we're all entitled to TV reception ?

pcme2000, I had Direct-TV. The only thing worse than their bills was their customer service. I live next to lot that has a lot of trees. In the seven years I have lived here, these trees have grown to the point that my Direct-TV satellite dish was completely obscured. Direct-TV refused to put my dish up on the roof of my house. I switched to Dish network and they put the dish where it needed to be. I have never been able to get any free stations on my TV so I am going to pay one way or the other.

eastmainer, it is not written anywhere nor should it need to be. Who owns the air over your piece of land? Who has the right to control what can or cannot be broadcast over the airwaves? This is just another fundmental freedom being tampered with by government!

I have sattelite tv, and I get locals: NBC, CBS, FOX, ABC and PBS. I don't get CW - but I don't care for that too much anyway

plus 250 national channelse

3 sattelite boxes...

$75/month

cheaper than cable and you get more channels

Tonight's the Night! At 1:00 AM Sunday January 11, 2009 MPBN shuts down its analog transmitters and goes digital only. I wonder how many viewers will be surprised when they turn on their analog sets tomorrow morning?

I just want to point out that when the analogs turn off and all digital TV is what we have, lots of people are not going to pick up the digital channels unless you put the antenna up as high as possible because most of the towers will be running lower power and the area coverage will be less than what broadcasters are telling you..

You can check TV Fool and it use to tell you what the power output was going to be, but they stop that.

Channel 2 in Bangor will still be running just about the same power on digital as it did on analog, but the MPBN will lower its power so much that the area it covers will be smaller in range. WCBB will be running about 15 thousand watts on didgital and they use to run a little over 30 thousand watts. This is the kind of power drop you will see on some of the broadcasters on digital TV channels.

I will say is that those running OTA TV will need the quad R-6 cable and a fringe VHF/UHF tv antenna and a rotor and monut it as high as you can possily put it as most of the digital signal will be pretty much line of sight.

I would recommend those to find out where the towers are so they can figure out how far you are from them and if you will receive them over the terrain between you and the tower.

I have been lucky to be in an area that lets me receive all the channels in digital as I have mine mounted as high as I can. I can't go any higher than 30 feet in my area...

I haven't owned a TV since 1979.

Hilter basically took over control of tv too.

“All digital signals are broadcast in the UHF.”

Not so! For example, WAGM-TV in Presque Isle ME will continue broadcasting DTV on existing analog channel 8.

What makes me upset most is the switch from low cost tv sets to new high cost flat panel. Where are the under $200 television sets? Gone.

So now we are forced to pay $400 or more for the same sized picture. Granted quality of picture goes up, but for most was never an issue. So now those who settled on the reception they used to have are forced to upgrade for the sake of having anything. Like computers, I recognize that you eventually have to scrap the old for new. What I don't understand is this. If digital works on UHF where it already is, why scrap the analog? Why not just keep analog for those who do not care about a perfect picture and sound? Allow those who want to invest, to go digital. The tv stations are losing lots of money having to upgrade their transmitters only to lose a handfull of customers who can't get digital without spending more money. They already invested in UHF so why waste more to switch the analog stuff over? Seems more feasible to just continue running VHF analog until they have recovered their losses, and then choose to shutdown and sell off the old transmitter.

Why would WABI not want to give TWC their HD? makes no sense. Would only encorage you to watch them.

Lorrie wrote:

Hilter basically took over control of tv too.

Ask Joe Biden about it, since he's familiar with FDR's televised fireside chats.

Seriously, Why don't the TV stations get permission to increase their transmitter power to where the digital signal coverage will approximate that of the current analog coverage?

lol billmoores won't have to worry about that its on my darn sattelite!

Yes for those that live in rural areas all across the United States you might encounter a problem but the so called digital black hole has been known about for sometime now and is not new news. Even the BDN ran a story about it not long ago and everyone complained then.

The transition to all digital is long over due. Many, many, many, many years overdue and I can't wait for it to happen and 24 tomorrow night will look outstanding in 16:9 Hi-Def just as the NFL Playoff game I'm watching at this moment looks freaking awesome.

I know some people love to live in a rural area and for some it's not a choice but when you live in a rural area these types of things happen.

Unfortunately, local television is a major component of the Emergency Alert System (formerly the Emergency Broadcast System) which includes National Weather Service alerts. Many Mainers will now be without that link to vital information. Where I live, I have no options that I can see. Satellite is out unless I cut down many of my neighbor's trees. Cable isn't available. And from the information available to me, it looks like I will need to erect a 100ft tower with an amplified antenna on it to receive broadcast television. And I am only about 25 miles from Bangor.

Neither the financing or the infrastructure is in place to properly implement a change like this.

The one thing I do not see is portable hdtv. The one segment that ends up being most affected will be campers and RV owners whom use battery operated or portable. Only 1 manufacturer makes a battery operated convertor and you have to buy the battery seperately.

WABI .... why no HD on Time Warner ??? ... oh yeah, there's money involved.

Why scrap the analog? As many in this thread have mentioned, it's all about money. In anticipation of the analog TV spectrum being empty, the FCC got to auction off the frequencies to the highest bidders. Those turned out to be primarily Verizon & AT&T for future wireless phone systems. The spectrum that analog TV is on supposedly offers excellent range and penetration through obstacles.

It's my first day without PBS. I miss it already. Before digital, I always looked forward to PBS Sunday afternoon programming.

Why don't the satellite and cable guys get smart and offer seniors a discount rate, say, $5.00 per month ($60/year) for PBS, ABC, CBS, and NBC. Those of us attempting to survive on social security stipends cannot subscribe to even the minimum package--$25 per month ($300/year).

And to those affluent subscribers, you can bet your bottom dollar that whatever package you subscribe to, the price will creep up and up and up.

Well, radio is still available--and books. Maybe we'll start reading again.

It is 01/11/2009 and the first digital black hole has arrived... for MPBN. If you live in the Bangor area, channel 12 has gone off-air. No problem right? You just have to dial in channel 9 on your converter box or new dtv television set... WRONG. The "no-signal" message will become a familiar sight.

MPBN suggest that you will need a "roof-top" antenna. Let see, $60+ for outdoor antenna, $40+ for mounting hardware and cable, installation is free if you willing to climb the ice and snow covered roof. After all this troubles, MPBN can not guarantee that you will be able to get channel 9. If you rent, most landlords will not allow the addition of the ugly roof-top antenna. So this is a costly and impractical solution for many.

This is all very strange as the digital channels for WLBZ (2), WABI (5), WVII (7) all came in crystal clear in Bangor. A little digging at FCC website show why there is problem.

http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?call=WMEB

WMEB-DT Channel 9 is only transmitted at 15kW. This is 21 times less power than the WMEB analog Channel 12 at 316kW.

For comparision,

WLBZ-DT Channel: 25 (2.1) - 250kW

WABI-DT Channel: 19 (5.1) - 363kW

WVII-DT Channel: 14 (7.1) - 79kW

WMEB-DT Channel: 9 (12.1) - 15kW

So before anyone fall off their roof or get cable/satellite, please call MPBN directly at 1-800-884-1717 and request that they boost the digital transmitter power. It may take time to get permission from the FCC but this will let MPBN know that there is a major problem with broadcasting channel 9 at only 15kW.

What is this MPBN everyone is talking about? Is that the begging and auction network. The one with kids programming that tells them they don't have to mind their parents. And this is supposed to be a loss? Why not get rid of MTV too. They also contribute to the way kids are acting nowdays. Let's go back to black and white and show old movies. Would be better for all involved. Oh and WABI. They feel they are sooo good that TW should pay them to show their channels. I watched CW once. There is the definition of a vast wasteland. Deal with it channel 5, you are no better than the others.

Small TVs---Here's another aspect of the digital switch not being discussed--Small, Portable Televisions. During emergencies, a battery-powered television is a Godsend for a lot of people. Good luck in finding one with a digital tuner. Our 20+ year old portable TV/Radio used in the kitchen died a few months ago. The closest we've come to replacing it was seeing an under-cabinet model advertised on a website. Too bad it is on perpetual back-order/out-of-stock.

To answer a few questions: walmart dot com lists five picture tube TVs, all with digital and analog tuners. There are two 20" models and a 13" w/DVD for under $140 each. So less expensive basic sets are still out there.

It is true that only a very few converter boxes run on 12 volts as an easy solution for RV users. However, many others use an external power adapter, meaning they can work on 12 volts with a DC to DC adapter. However, given the smaller footprint of a flat panel set, trading up will be an attractive option for many space-conscious RVers.

For people with reception issues, there are reasons for hope not mentioned in the article. Don't be discouraged if you can't get channels two and seven. Both will be returning to VHF with their digital signals after the conversion. VHF signals carry farther and are at least somewhat less affected by obstacles. Channel five has applied to move back to VHF, perhaps by summer if approved. Since many people have VHF antennas already, it might be advisable to wait on buying a UHF antenna.

If you can't receive channel twelve's digital signal, try tuning it in (it's really on channel nine) and check your signal strength meter. All converter boxes have them, and I assume most DTVs as well. If you are getting a weak signal on the meter, start fiddling: move the antenna around. If you're using an indoor antenna, move it in front of a window or take it upstairs. Perhaps a metal door or storm door is blocking the signal. See how moving the antenna affects the signal on the meter. If it's getting better, keep moving it around.

Channel two has applied for permission to raise their antennas higher on their tower, which ought to help their signal carry a little farther. Nobody knows exactly how widespread reception issues will be post-conversion. Presumably, broadcasters will find more such tweaks to try.

There's lots of good LOCAL info here: http://www.dtvforme.com/

I use both, DirectTV, and an Antenna, on the out side,

On the antenna,..I get... 2-1, 2-2, 5-1,5-2, 12-1, 12-2 all in HD,

I plug the antenna input in to the DTV receiver and I can record, and look at the menu's for the above

stations, and set to record up coming shows. I live surrounded by hills, and with out a rotor on the antenna, I am at least 45 miles from the stations.

My HD out side antenna has an amplifier built-in, and is powered from the in house end.

Weather has a lot to do with getting the stations, sometimes 2 is not coming in, and sometimes 5 does not

12 is always there. The Direct TV receiver is only used as a storage device for these stations.

Direct TV has the other local stations on it, using a Satellite antenna.

scottcom36: Thanks for all the info, but unfortunately some of it is not working for me. I live near downtown Bangor and do not have cable. I have had no problems receiving FOX, Channels 2,5 and 7 with my digital converter box for months now and the appropriate attena (UHf/VHF) Today, I lost my signal to MPBN. ALL GONE! And 9.1 does not work, nor moving the antenna around,etc. I called MPBN today and the guy there told me he could not walk me through it as they do not have all the manuals for all the various converter boxes! WHAT?!!! How very poor. Were they unprepared for this...or what?! Or did they not invest the necessary funding for it. Kind of strange that their transmission tower is in Dixmont as is WAVI's and I receive the signal for WAVI just fine!

I liked a lot on PBS and will miss it, I think....but am really fed up with that station now.

And, I am not willing to fool around resetting a lot of things as I am afraid of throwing something off in the process.....and then maybe ending up with no stations at all. No thanks. It sure feels like they just expect everyone should get either cable or satellite, or don't really care. But, if the viewership for MPBN falls way off, won't it further affect their funding efforts?! Why is it always the elderly, vulnerable and disadvantaged who most adversely get affected by these things!!

I may get cable in June, but have not committed to that. As far as I understand it now, only TimeWarner is available in this area?! And only one package?! i would really ultimately like to get a combination, reasonably priced, package for cable (but don't need tons of channels) and broadband Internet. I do not need real fast broadband but would like something a bit faster than my current dial-up. Anyone have any suggestions that I might consider in the future?

Timewarner has DSL

Ahh, rural people are finally getting the picture--- we are LOSING our picture!!! I would subscribe to cable or satellite if I could merely order the four or five Bangor channels. Who needs the cooking, shopping or fishing channels???

chersully2000: Don't change the setting on you converter box... it won't help. Although WABI-DT and WMEB-DT are on the exact same tower, their transmitter settings are quite different. WABI-DT is broadcast in UHF with a power level at 363 kW. WMEB-DT (PBS) is broadcast in VHF with a power level at only 15 kW. So unless you live close to the tower or have a powerfull VHF antenna (pointing at the tower), you will be in the PBS digital black hole like a lot of people :( Really sad since the analog PBS had no problem reaching a much wider viewer base until today.

It seem like PBS really want people to get cable or satellite. What next? Are viewers going to see "This program is brought to you by Time Warner Cable and DirectTV" after every shows?

I do have to gave credit to PBS staffs for working over the weekend to answer viewers phone calls. However, they could have save themself and viewers a lot of headache by cranking up the transmitter power.

Hi, chersully2000

TV reception can be a problem near the center of Bangor because it's in a valley. I'd expect the area west of Kenduskeag Stream to be worst. Are you certain you were receiving ch 12 through your converter box and not your TV's analog tuner? You would have seen the same programs on 12-1 and 12-2 (in a slightly different screen format) if you were indeed watching the digital signal. dtv4me is absolutely correct about the transmitter power. However, ch 12 digital is transmitting at the same power today as it was yesterday as far as I know. Did the guy at the station say anything to confirm or deny that? I live in North Bucksport and am receiving it exactly the same today as yesterday. If you tune ch 9-1 does your onscreen signal strength meter read anything at all? All converter boxes should have a meter and it should have its own button on the remote control. Which box do you have? I have a pretty thorough list of box features. Many boxes have the ability to rescan for channels without losing the ones already saved. Many will allow you to go to whatever channel and add it manually. In any case, you seem to be on the right track just entering the channel on the remote's keypad and that's a perfectly acceptable way to select channels.

I wouldn't despair about their current weak signal. When word gets out, the pressure on them to do something about it will rise, given their $2,000,000 annual state subsidy. I believe this even in light of their current financial woes.

No one knows exactly what will happen to their tv & antenna until the time is here. But I guess people will be learning how to read books again. Or sit with their kids or spouse to play a board game if they can't watch tv!!!

Direct TV iS NOT cheaper than Dish, and Dish already has HD.

Well all I have to say is I have had all three; Dish, Direct and Time Warner Cable and by FAR TWC is the best. I get high speed internet and cable TV (200+ channels, PPV, HD locals, DVR capabilities, On Demand Movies and lots of music channels) all for $80 a month with no contract to sign. So, if you decide, well you know I just can't afford this you can actually cancel it and not be charged the $200 early cancel fee that every one else wants to charge *shockers I know*. It is great though and you just CAN"T beat DVR. I love it! I love it!

Its all about the money and all about forcing ppl to take cable or satellite. A lot of elderly cannot affaord to pay anything extra and only like the news or a few stations so its sad that mostly its elderly that have no cable and satellite and they are trying to survive oil and medication or food and now they cannot watch even the news. So sad and also unnecessary. I have direct tv with all the extras and I love that as well but not everyone can get that. I expect sooner or later the gov will want to charge us for the air we breath by putting a meter on our face and if we cant pay we'll just be shut off.

Well I have a great daughter in law and she watches lots of dora with my little Garrianna all on dvd and they do have direct tv and never watch it because garri has to watch dora the explorer. So now chris billie and garri can all count in spanish. So I guess ppl will be getting out their dvd players and thank goodness they are cheap.

mainah_mom: Do you have any affiliation with TWC?

$80 a month goes a long way toward foods and fuels for some people. Many can't even afford the $18.50 Basic cable package.

Oh well, who want to watch a commercial every 7 minutes anyway. PBS is an exception to this... It surely be miss.

Like many has mentioned, the alternative to TV may not be so bad: reading books, play games, outdoor activities...

excuse me dtv4me. i wasn't trying to say anything wrong. stated what i have. thanks for the sarcasm though bub. much appreciation.

Scottcom36: Thanks. You understand a lot more about all of this than I do. My older son set up my digital conversion box about 5 mos ago when he was up from Miami. I thought, and hoped , that would be it and I would not have to reset anything come Feb. I am not good at this kind of thing. I live in Bangor (east side) up past the State St hill (coming from downtown). Live just a few blocks from Broadway. So, not sure if that is in a valley, but guess maybe.. I have a Magnavox, bought at Wal-Mart with my coupon. This is all such a headache for me. Until Sunday, I received PBS on analog. I used my old remote (not the remote that came with box that I use all the other times); on the old remote, I would plug in 03 and then 12 to receive PBS. Oh well, it worked for mos, but is now a thing of the past. And I liked a lot on PBS incl Charlie Rose, the McNeil news hour, etc. I am not sure about all the scanning stuff you speak of, and do not want to take the chance of throwing off the channels I do get! They guy at MPBN indicated that their funding is down which affects their ability to , as I understand it, transmit with as much power as other channels.

I cannot afford $80 for cable!! Plus, I do not need all those many channels. But do I ever wish I got HBO right about now. This coming Sunday they are having a pre-Inaugural concert and it sounds great. Why do they only put it on HBO? How very disappointing!! Boy, sometimes low -income people really get the short end of the stick....well, not just sometimes.

scottcom36: P.S. I just do not understand all this meter stuff you speak of. Too complicated for me!!

chersully2000: Thanks for the info. Check back Tues night and I'll have some more advice...too late right now!

Hi, chersully2000!

Good news, I checked the TV reception for your area on two websites and both say you should be able to get channel 12 with an indoor antenna. However, if your house has aluminum siding, or there's a big brick building on your west side an indoor antenna might not suffice.

To start at the beginning, your antenna should be connected directly to the ANT IN on the back of the box. Any splitters or switches will weaken the signal. ANT OUT connects to your TV. Turn the TV on and put on ch 3. Turn on the box and you should see an onscreen display to confirm that you are seeing the output from the box. On the box's remote control, punch in "9 . 1 OK" . Now push the DISPLAY button on the remote and among other things, you'll see a signal graph onscreen along with a number. If the number is zero, either something is set up wrong or it's more hopeless than I think. If it's 10 or 20 or 30 then you want to move the antenna around . If you get it up to 40, 50 or better you should have a picture. There's another way to use the signal meter in the manual under "Adjusting Antenna", but it's more complicated. Moving away from large metal objects like doors might help. Can you elevate the antenna, perhaps putting it up on a shelf?

I looked at the manuals for the TB100MW9 and TB110MW9 and on both, rescanning the channels will not erase those currently in the memory. The only way to delete them is manually, one at a time , in the menu. You'll have to rescan someday, as ch 7 will change frequencies on the conversion date. This summer ch2 will and ch5 might.

You might need to have someone with a good head for these things look at your setup and location. Also, Magnavox has a toll free # (on the front of the manual) you can call. I called a few weeks ago about a DVD player and they seem to know what they're doing. You also might ask a neighbor how their reception is and what they're using. You might borrow a different antenna from a friend and try it.

I'm quite confident that you'll eventually be able to get channel 12. Digital TV will also get you Weather Plus (2.2) and the CW Network (5.2) which aren't broadcast on analog. Good luck!

scottcom36: Thanks so much for all the information. I am really tired tonight so cannot digest it all but will in the coming days. I will save all you have written also and will show it to my son when he is up here next. Some of it is beyond me. I am even a bit nervous about rescanning Chan 7 on the day of the conversion (probably still in Feb although there is a possibility there will be a delay). Anyway, I will be glad when I can finally get the channels I need or want. I had hoped when my son set up the converter box about 5 or 6 mos ago and set the channels, that would be it. For the first few times, I wrote down, i.e., FOX = 7.2 till it quickly became automatic. I take it, when the conversion is final, I won't have to point the remote at the light on the box and every station won't have to scan as they do now (and then it either comes on, or says "no signal"). You can tell I am not that knowledgable about these things! Thanks again.

scottcom36: P.S. Thank you especially for referring me to the Magnovox manual and tech#. I guess I might have eventually thought of that! i am sure I may need to call them in the future.

You're welcome, chersully. I'm one of those strange people who enjoy reading manuals, even for products I don't own.

Once all the channels are scanned into the box's memory, you'll be able to just hit channel up or down on the remote repeatedly to scroll through all of them. The manual also tells how to manually add channels without rescanning but it might seem complicated at first. Once it's all working it will be fun!

scottcom36: Thanks again. Right now it seems a bit beyond me, but hopefully will be able to work it out eventually. I am dealing with an ear issue right now (painful!) that has been ongoing, so just do not have the patience for things as I might otherwise. Better days are coming!

scottcom36: You probably do not check back on this particular post any longer. But I thought I would say anyway.....the oddest thing happened this AM. I went to plug into FOX by putting in 9.2 but it did not work. Instead, 12.1 or 12.2 came up with MPBN on. Unreal. What a surprise. Oh well... must admit I am glad to regain (at least for now) PBS. I like the news hour at 7 PM, Charlies Rose,etc etc....I am going to leave it at that till my son is up from Miami again to help me reset things as necessary. I just am not as adept as people like you with these things....and the manuals are very difficult and overwhelming to me. Thanks again.

Hi, chersully2000

Of course I checked back! I was curious about how it turned out. That's great news and the fact that you got 12 today means that you'll probably be fine in the end. Someone pointed out that this process is a lot like what happened in the '50's when TV first went on the air, lots of confusion and trial and error. After a while things settle out OK.