FCC says DTV transition going smoothly, few TVs shot up

Well, the DTV transition finally went down, and after the endless delay and countless arguments, it seems as though June 12 hit with more of a whimper than a bang: the FCC says there haven't been any widespread service disruptions, and although the agency's toll-free help lines recorded 700,000 support calls between June 8 and June 12, most converter box issues were resolved in less than five minutes by a simple channel re-scan. Similarly, we can't say we've heard of any particularly big problems out there, so really, we're just wondering what the hell took so long.

[nothlit Posted Jun 16th 2009 10:42AM]

Yep, WHDH (the Boston NBC affiliate) had previously been broadcasting their digital signal on UHF (RF channel 42) before the switch. After they took their VHF analog signal (RF channel 7) off the air, they moved their digital signal down to that frequency. I'm not sure if they chose to do that, or if the FCC forced them to, but in any case I can't receive them at all now, even with an amplified VHF dipole. I live in a ground floor apartment, so putting up an exterior antenna is out of the question. I can receive every other digital station in the Boston area just fine (they are all UHF except WHDH).

[m3ltingp0int Posted Jun 15th 2009 11:35PM]

I get absolutely nothing. I even put my antenna on the roof of my apt building (i'm on the top floor so it's just up the fire escape) and still get nothing. I'm in Mid PA.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 16th 2009 2:05AM]

I live in a Co-Op and well I don't have to worry about the DTV transition as we have FiOS, but that's not important. The Co-Op today sent a notice to all stock holders about about a select few in the Co-Op that had "aerial/radio antennas" out of their apartment [against the Co-Op rules: house rule # 18] and some going to the roof [also not permitted]. I figure this is because those people are having problems like most of you. We never had any notices like this prior to the DTV transition. Hopefully it gets better for you guys who are reliant on over-the-air.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 16th 2009 4:21AM]

can anyone say, Y2K!?

[Virgil22 Posted Jun 16th 2009 9:14AM]

Here in upstate NY, we lost both ABC and NBC, despite several attempts at rescanning. We have a digital antenna in the attic, and very good coax and connections to the TV on the 1st floor.

I was told the digital signal would be stronger after the switchover, because they couldn't crank it up too much before due to interference with the analog stations. However, this appears to have been complete BS!

[One Love Posted Jun 16th 2009 10:57AM]

same here. I don't get. it was supposed to be better not worse.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 16th 2009 9:34AM]

For those of you confused by the reference in the title/picture, it's a capture from the great TV show Sledge Hammer.

[HektikLyfe Posted Jun 16th 2009 11:40AM]

I'm in Southern California and I had most of the channels functional with the converter box. After the transition I lost everything. I rescanned and depending on the position of the HD antenna it detects certain channels. I have to rescan every time I move it to detect new channels.

My HDTV though works great with the same HD antenna...so....

[SirNoDroin Posted Jun 16th 2009 11:52AM]

some lady at the drug story was screaming at the guy for not giving her the box away for free...she felt entitled to it. She then REALLY went off when he didn't know if it came with the "doohickies" (yes...thats what she asked if it came with) he finally just opened the box, pointed at the cables, and said, yes here they are...she inspected and seemed pleased. Then she demanded he go home with her and hook it up. He said no, and she finally stormed out...

yes, she was old lol

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 16th 2009 12:59PM]

on a slightly related note, sledge hammer 5tw

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 20th 2010 8:32AM]

This digital television is a piece of crap. I have tried everything in my powers to get stations that I received in anolog in digital, but have yet to recievie them. Before the transition I was able to receive about 7 stations, but I have only managed to pick up 3 stations and sub-channels of them. I currently do not have a CBS,half the time a PBS, and an ION station. I live just to the northwest of central West Virginia in a very rural area called Calhoun County and only pick up stations out of Parkersburg and Clarkersburg, but only one out of Charleston and the rest I can't receive. At time I can receive stations out of Columbus which is about 80 or so miles away which is really crazy. I think it is a money making scam. If you wonder the Internet you can see more than half of the popualtion lives in rural area and lost signal and even on New York's Long Island. If the FCC does not do anything they will have a big riot in DC