Is your Antenna Ready for the Transition?
December 12, 2008 |
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By Dave Wilson
As Yogi Berra’s cousin Yagi might have said, after February 17th we’ll only have digital DTV signals.
In addition to better picture quality many free over-the-air DTV signals also carry additional programming not found on cable or satellite. For this reason millions of Americans are installing or improving their TV antenna systems, and AntennaWeb.org is helping them out. AntennaWeb.org is a joint project of CEA and the National Association of Broadcasters. It lets a consumer input a street address and get a listing of free over-the-air DTV signals that should be receivable at that location. It also recommends the most appropriate antenna to use, and the direction in which the antenna should be pointed to optimize reception for each station.
AntennaWeb.org has a database of all TV stations in the United States. When a consumer enters an address the program calculates the distance and direction to all nearby TV stations. It uses a computer program called Individual Location Longley Rice to predict the strength of each of these TV signals at the consumer’s location. If the predicted signal strength for a particular station is equal to or higher than the minimum field strength necessary for consistent, reliable reception then AntennaWeb.org adds that station to the list of stations predicted to be receivable for that consumer. The end result is a list of stations that are predicted to be receivable, a recommended antenna type for each station, and a recommended direction in which to point the antenna for each station.
AntennaWeb.org makes recommendations for outdoor antennas only. While many people are able to use indoor antennas successfully, it is essentially impossible for AntennaWeb.org to predict indoor reception because there are numerous factors that can affect it. For example, the size and shape of rooms, walls and windows will all have an effect on indoor reception. So, too, will the construction material used to build the home. The number of walls that the TV signal must pass through to get to the indoor antenna also has an impact. So, too, does the use of other electronic products in the home in close proximity to the indoor antenna. And people moving around in a room can also affect indoor reception. While predictions of TV reception using outdoor antennas are not perfect, they are much easier to make with a higher degree of confidence than predictions of indoor reception.
When making antenna recommendations AntennaWeb.org uses a color coding scheme meant to help people who are unfamiliar with the technical jargon associated with TV reception and TV antennas. The color coding scheme is hierarchical, meaning that selecting a color-coded antenna for a station toward the bottom of the list will also provide reception for the other stations with different color codes above it. There is one caveat, though. Amplified antennas like those coded violet by AntennaWeb.org might not provide good reception of very strong signals, like those for which yellow antennas are recommended. This is because amplifying an already strong signal can overload the TV receiver and prevent it from successfully decoding the signal. People who are trying to receive both very strong and very weak signals may have to use to separate antenna systems, or at least remove the amplifier, when switching between stations.
Three companies are licensed to market antennas that use the AntennaWeb color coding scheme: Audiovox Corporation, Channel Master International and Pro-Brand International.
Do you have comments about DTV antennas? You’re welcome to share them here.
Popularity: 100% [?]
December 17th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
I have a question. Can you set up the converter box now? Will it work?
December 17th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Yes M. Martt, you can set up your DTV converter box now and it will work. We have one set up and running in our CEA office (the actual one is pictured in the blog post).
Please check out our converter box set-up instructions at: http://digitaltips.org/docs/converterQSG.pdf. Good luck and enjoy your digital TV reception.
December 17th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
i tryed my converter and antennas but some channels are pixels only is that normal and is digital chanels different than analog
December 18th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Brian,
here’s what you need to do:
After hooking up a converter box to your TV set, or installing a new digital TV set, you will need to scan (also known as “auto-tune”) for new channels to make sure you receive all of the digital stations broadcasting in your area. While some boxes do this automatically, you may need to select scan manually.
Because some digital stations that are already on air are moving to different channel numbers after the DTV transition, you may need to rescan again after February 17, 2009, to ensure that you receive all of the digital stations broadcasting in your area.
Check out http://www.DTVAnswers.com for more information and FAQs on the Transition and converter boxes.
December 19th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
Thank you Lyn for your response. I did try to set up the converter box. I followed the instructions in the guide (loading the channels) and after that it said no signal?
December 20th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
AntennaWeb.org is an excellent place to find what type of an antenna is right for your application. I use it all the time. Great article and info here!
December 21st, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Right now I have a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) TV with cable which I’m thinking of discontinuing cable to cut expenses.
My question is, should I buy a new modern TV to accommodate the converter box and get rid of the one I have (which I’m perfectly happy with using cable).
I’m wondering if it will cost me more in the long run having to buy a new TV in order to get good reception as I’ve never tested the rabbit ears that came with the set.
December 21st, 2008 at 5:29 pm
We recently purchased a new HDTV set. We do not have cable or satellite and have used the antenna from our old TV. After “scanning” through the channels, I’ve noticed that there are some channels that we previously could pick up which are no longer available. Other channels seem to be available intermittently — sometimes there’s a signal, sometimes not… what are the price ranges to purchase another antenna?
December 21st, 2008 at 10:33 pm
AntennaWeb.org is great when it is right, but impossible to communicate with when it is wrong. I live in an area where all antennas pointNW toward Sacramento & receive 6 to 10 channels. According to antennaWeb.org I should point my antenna SW & only 1 channel is available. I am frustrated, as I tried to contact them to no avail. They did send a VERY informative auto-response. However in no way did it address my situation. I & neighbors are quite curious why they suggest pointing the opposite direction of all receivable channels. I will google the ONLY channel they claim I can get & see what it broadcasts. But I will not purchase an antenna until I resolve the issue as I may as well continue paying exorbitant fees to Comcast Cable to receive what I should be able to get with a good antenna. I am in Vallecito, CA 95251 Years ago with a (now) 30 year old antenna I pulled in Sacramento & a couple of San Francisco stations. Some neighbors still do, so again why Modesto??
December 21st, 2008 at 10:39 pm
I just googled the ONLY station AntennaWeb says I can receive & it broadcasts in Spanish. Hey, guys check out Sacramento & SF & recommend the appropriate antenna for me to get what my neighbors do - en ingles por favor, gracias !
December 22nd, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Hi.
I have an older tv, a vcr, and a dvd. When I hooked up my converter box I am able to watch tv and dvd, but cannot record to the vcr. This is most frustrating since I tape shows from my measly 5 channels so I can watch them later. Do you know what I need to do to fix this? Help would be greatly appreciated
December 23rd, 2008 at 11:29 am
M Martt:
I suggest making sure you’re using an outdoor antenna like the one http://www.AntennaWeb.org recommends for your address. With such a setup you should be able to receive the stations that http://www.AntennaWeb.org predicts for your location. If you’re using an indoor antenna your reception won’t be as good.
December 23rd, 2008 at 11:31 am
June Super:
If you decide to get a new TV you won’t need to get a converter boxes. All new TV sets for sale in the United States are capable of receiving digital TV signals without a converter box.
You also have the option of getting a converter box and using it with your existing analog TV.
December 23rd, 2008 at 11:38 am
P Brooks:
Sorry, we’re a trade association and we don’t compare products or product prices. However, I can suggest that you go to:
http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/info.aspx?page=links
and look under “Program Participants.” There you’ll find links to TV antenna manufacturers who make products designed for use with the color coded selection criteria on http://www.AntennaWeb.org. You can then use your favorite internet search engine to search for the antenna model numbers from these manufacturers, and this will take you to retail outlets with pricing information.
December 23rd, 2008 at 11:59 am
john:
AntennaWeb is telling you to point your antenna almost directly west. The reason for this is that’s where the Sacramento TV stations’ transmitters are. For example, check out the location of KXTV’s transmitter on the FCC website at:
http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=TV531844.html
Unfortunately it looks like you’re in an area where digital reception may be challenging. When entering your address into AntennaWeb at http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/Address.aspx# click on the “more options” link toward the bottom left of the page. There you can input a specific height for your antenna. AntennaWeb assumes a 20 foot height if you indicate you live in a single story building. It assumes a 30 foot height if you indicate you live in a multi-story building. By using this height feature you can play around and figure out how high your antenna has to be to get better reception. When I tried using a higher antenna for your location I got predicted reception for a lot more analog stations, but only a couple of digital stations.
AntennaWeb is a bit conservative in its predictions because it believes people in fringe coverage areas will be happier if they get reception that wasn’t predicted than if they don’t get reception that was predicted.
December 23rd, 2008 at 12:01 pm
miriam:
You can hook a converter box up to an analog VCR, however this system is not going to work as easily as your VCR does by itself. This is because the output of the converter box is a single analog channel (say channel 3 or 4), so your VCR will have to remain tuned to that channel to record programming from the converter box. This means that when you program your VCR for scheduled recording you will have to program it to always record the channel that is the output of the converter box. If you record multiple over-the-air programs from different channels (say channel 11 Monday afternoon and channel 4 Monday evening) you will have to change the channel from 4 to 11 using the converter box controls between recordings. A more convenient solution would be to purchase a new VCR with an integrated ATSC tuner (or DVD recorder with an integrated ATSC tuner), which will allow you to record digital over-the-air TV programs the same way you record analog programs today.
December 23rd, 2008 at 9:14 pm
Hi, I just hooked up the converter box to my old Emerson Tv which used rabbit ears. Everything went well until I got to a channel scan. It says no channels are available. Apparently, according to the guide book, I need to hook the converter box with the antenna. What antenna? I only have rabbit ears, whose plug of course doesn’t fit. Do I now need to go buy an antenna? What type? Or is it better to chuck my TV away? I don’t want to end up spending money on making it work. I don’t have cable anyway, but I still wanted to have the 3 channels I received before. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
December 24th, 2008 at 10:24 am
Bought a digital TV and tried three NEW antennas; did get only one channel. Returned everything. Am using now my very old analog tv with old rabbit ears and have the usual three channels. How can I be sure that a converterbox will work? Am tired of paying for stuff that doesn’t work.
December 25th, 2008 at 8:32 am
simalar experience with new tv during recent hurricane…i think only one of your channels are broadcasting digital…i picked up only the digital channels using a 15 buck set of rabbit ears from best buy…they were clear tho..
December 26th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
I discontinued cable to cut expenses a few weeks back. I used an antenna that came with another TV and got 20ish channels. I bought the converter box and sit it up today. Now I only get 1 channel. When I turn off the converter box and and turn channels on my TV I still get the other channels. Why didn’t they come through on the converter box? I even tried it with our camping TV’s antenna, still the same thing-1 channel. Can you help me figure this out
December 28th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
I got my converter box and connected all the jacks plus the antenna. I get absolutely nothing on my tv. I did get a red light and then a blue light, but no sound, no picture. I have a Motorola antenna and sony tv. Can this be affecting my reception? I have a tv that has an “in” and “out” side on the back of it. Do I use the “in” or “out” side to connect the jacks? Hope you can help.
December 28th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Questions left over after looking at some of the web-pages:-
1.) The apparent arbitrary relationship between columns marked channel & Frequency (which doesn’t appear to be anything in MHz!) — what’s up with that?
2.) apparently redundant entries in the antenna table listings for the same call signs. — Do these represent transitional locations planed channel swaps or confused bookkeeping? (I am in the Boston MA market area, some tables list as many as 21 outlets half of which I have never heard of)
3.) I live in a metropolitan area where using the present system I have strong signals available but color reception is problematical without a directional antenna that has a WELL SHIELDED connection to the receiver. this is because of MULTIPATH interfearance. WILL THE NEW STANDARD BE RESISTANT TO MULTIPATH INTERFERENCE/DISTORTION???? if not will the result be poor reception or will it be sudden loss of usable signal?
December 30th, 2008 at 1:56 am
We have used our converter for a month. It’s okay most of the time, but we had to get a fancy set of rabbit ears and we still have trouble sometimes. We plan to set up a rooftop antenna–what a hassle to go back to those! It was so easy to get an analog signal anywhere with our 25 year old set!
Here’s a completely different issue I wonder about: the converter box emits a mild plastic or electronic smell. I wonder about the toxicity of that…have these been tested by government or consumer groups?
December 31st, 2008 at 11:36 am
I have the same problem as Sue. With the outdoor over-the-air antenna I got almost 10 channels in my rural area. After hooking up the converter box, I get 1 channel. I have consulted with the local TV station, electronics experts, Antennaweb.org, FCC, etc. and no one has an answer. They all say we should get the same channels as with the antenna alone. Apparently I am not the only one with this problem. Does anyone, anywhere have the answer?
January 1st, 2009 at 1:09 pm
I have more of a question then a response, but everyone I talk to seems to give me a different answer. I have a SDTV RCA model television, but I do not have cable or paid television services nor an antenna. I was told that if I still purchased the converter box, I will receive more channels at a better quality, but now that I have purchased it, it is telling me that I am required to have an antenna to get it working. Is this correct and why, if I already have SDTV????
January 2nd, 2009 at 5:52 pm
My digital converter box gives signal strength in percentage.
Percentage of what?
Is this a power or a voltage measurement. In other words if I find that I need a signal strength of 60% to get good, reliable picture, but am only getting 30% how much gain (dB) do I need?
Thanks
John Watney
PS I have the same question for WiFi reception if you have the answer to that too.
January 3rd, 2009 at 4:33 am
I got the DTT901 today 1/2/09.
Can it be hooked up “tomorrow” or do i have to wait until feb 17 until the converter begins to do any good?
More additional channels?
Is it possible to “send in the receipt” for a coupon?
Mike
January 3rd, 2009 at 8:42 am
I have a different concern. My Mom’s kitchen TV is ancient with no jacks in the back - just the screws for the old rabbit ears. I bought the DTV converter and an adapter - but still get no channels when I scan the converter. Will I need to buy a different antenna so I can get the converter to work? And do I hook the converter to the UHF or VHF screws?! Might be better to just buy her a new TV!!
January 3rd, 2009 at 7:53 pm
All converter boxes need antennae. Some older TV sets had enough spare wire inside to act like a VHF Antenna. Digital TV signals are predominantly UHF or High VHF and are Horizontally polarized, so you need an antenna. In a window aimed at your transmission farm is best for indoors. If an attic antenna, shingles degrade signals, and metal reflects it. Most antenna sites expect a roof top antenna at 10-20feet. SDTV is 480p, EDTV is 720p, HDTV is 1080i or 1080p even better, especially with 120Hz refresh rates. Most ‘HDTV’ is actually 720p on cable or satellite as most programs not recorded above that. Most sub-channels are 480p, so a good old TV and a DTV Converter is worth using till the new HDTVs come out without the soon to be useless NTSC (Analog TV) receivers and some will have Smart Antenna controllers and built-in QAM cards for Digital cable.
January 5th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
how to hook up your converter box with a vcr
January 5th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
can not get a signal with my new converter box
January 5th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
do i have to have a outside antenna
January 5th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
My son installed my converter box yesterday, it has power, but does not work with the remote that came with it. I tried different batteries and it doesn’t work still. Should I return the converter box to the store where for an exchange or wait until after Feburary to see if it works then?
January 5th, 2009 at 10:43 pm
Ursula,
If you enter your address at:
http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/Address.aspx#
you will receive a list of stations that you should be able to receive at your home using an outdoor antenna. Outdoor antennas provide better reception than indoor antennas. AntennaWeb can’t predict indoor reception for rabbit ears because there are too many variables to consider.
If you want to try indoor rabbit ears anyway you could look into purchasing a Terk TV1 antenna or a Channel Master 4010 antenna. Try plugging those names and model numbers into your favorite search engine to find retailers that carry them. Both Terk and Channel Master make outdoor antennas that meet the AntennaWeb color coding recommendations, but there are no AntennaWeb color coding recommendations for indoor antennas. I mention the above models only because they’re inexpensive, and made by companies that have other antennas certified for use with the AntennaWeb color codes. Sorry, there’s no guarantee that these indoor antennas will provide reception for you. But, if the stations you’re trying to receive are coded yellow by AntennaWeb there’s a good chance the indoor antenna will work. And, if you want to go a step further in your attempts to improve reception, you could try amplified rabbit ear antennas.
January 5th, 2009 at 10:47 pm
Beeuw van Kuijeren:
The best thing you can do to try to ensure that your converter box will provide reception is to go to
http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/Address.aspx
and enter your address. You’ll receive a list of stations that you should be able to receive at your address with an outdoor antenna. You’ll also receive recommendations for the type of antenna to use.
January 5th, 2009 at 10:53 pm
Sue,
I suggest going to
http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/Address.aspx
an entering your address. You’ll receive a list of stations that you should be able to receive at your address with an outdoor antenna, along with antenna recommendations. If AntennaWeb predicts reception of more than the one digital channel you are receiving with the converter box then check to make sure you’re using an outdoor antenna that meets the AntennaWeb recommendations.
January 5th, 2009 at 11:01 pm
Gladys:
The fact that your antenna and your TV are made by different manufacturers should not make a difference. Make sure that the antenna is connected to the “antenna in” or “ant in” or “ant” jack on the converter box. Make sure that the output of the converter box is connected to the input of the TV set. And make sure the TV set is tuned to the channel that is the output channel of the converter box, or set to the appropriate input if the converter box is providing a signal to the TV using a yellow “video” jack and red/white “audio” jacks.
If you’d like some additional help connecting your products together please give
http://www.ceaconnectionsguide.com/
a try.
January 5th, 2009 at 11:19 pm
ralph walton:
1) The “channel” column lists the traditional (analog) channel number used by the station. The “frequency assignment” column lists the channel number on which the digital signal is broadcast. The reason that the “channel” and “frequency assignment” columns have different numbers in them for digital stations is that the DTV system was designed so that consumers could tune to the digital signal by inputting the analog channel number into their TV set. The “channel” column has the number you’re supposed to tune to, while the “frequency assignment” column has the channel on which the signal is actually being broadcast.
2) It’s not uncommon to see three different listings for the same call sign. One is for the analog signal. One is for the digital signal that is being broadcast right now. One is for the digital signal that will be broadcast after February 17. Some (not all) stations will be switching the frequency on which they broadcast their digital signals on or after February 17.
3) Digital television is more resistant to multipath interference than analog television, though it is not 100% immune. For example, if you live near an airport signal reflections off of passing aircraft can cause brief interruptions to DTV signals.
January 5th, 2009 at 11:37 pm
Velma:
Please see my earlier comments to Sue.
Also, the FCC recently published maps comparing the analog and digital coverage for stations all over the country. You can go to the links below to see if you’re in an area where digital coverage might not be quite as good as analog.
http://www.fcc.gov/dtv/markets/
http://www.fcc.gov/dtv/markets/report2.html
January 5th, 2009 at 11:44 pm
Chrissie:
All over-the-air TV receivers, whether they’re in TV sets, VCRs or converter boxes, require that an antenna be connected to the receiver to work. Outdoor antennas perform best, but if you’re in an area with very good signal quality an indoor antenna may work, too.
January 6th, 2009 at 12:04 am
John Watney:
Sorry, but there’s no standard that specifies what the bars that indicate signal strength mean. Manufacturers determine what they will mean when designing each product. Factors that might be considered when determining how many bars to display include signal strength, signal-to-noise ratio, and/or the percentage of errors in the digital signal, among other things. The best way to estimate how much gain you need at your home is to use the antenna recommendations made by AntennaWeb.org for your address to select an antenna.
January 6th, 2009 at 12:10 am
Mike:
You can hook your new converter box up right now. The vast majority of TV stations are already broadcasting digital signals.
I don’t think you can send in a receipt for a coupon. You need to order a coupon from
https://www.dtv2009.gov/
then take it to a retailer and use it to purchase a converter box.
January 6th, 2009 at 12:18 am
Laurie B:
For best results your mom’s converter box should be connected to an outdoor antenna. When connecting the converter box to the TV you want to connect the cable from the output of the converter box to the VHF input terminals on the TV. The output of the converter box is usually something like TV channel 3 or 4, and her TV needs to remain tuned to whatever channel it is. She will use the controls on the converter box to tune to different stations. There are things called 75 ohm-to-300 ohm transformers that you can get to convert the 75 ohm coax cable from the converter box into a twin lead connection that can be hooked up to the TV.
January 6th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
I bought and installed my converter box this weekend. The picture on the TV is so much more clearer, it’s amazing. Last night I was watching a program and all of a sudden I got a message on the screen saying “no signal”. I have a rabbit ear antenna and cannot use an outside antenna as I abide in an apartment. Does this mean after Feb. 17th I will more than likely have programs going off if the antenna does not pick up the signal?
January 8th, 2009 at 4:08 pm
Donna M:
There’s no question that outdoor antennas perform better than indoor antennas. If it’s at all possible I would recommend using an outdoor antenna. Many apartment buildings have master antenna systems that take the signal from a single rooftop antenna and feed it to all apartments. Perhaps your building has something like this, it’s worth checking. It’s impossible for me to say what caused your signal to disappear. It could have been an outside factor beyond your control. It’s also possible that some change inside your apartment caused it to happen, such as movement of the antenna, movement of furniture or other large objects, or something else.
January 12th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
OK. I have a digital TV so I don’t need a converter box. All was working fine until I discovered I need a converter for my(relatively new) DVD recorder. After putting a converter on my recorder, I can no longer receive most signals. Anyone have any suggestions?
January 12th, 2009 at 8:19 pm
My zip code is 97321.
From one of the websites… it looks like I live on the fringe of most of the stations. If I get a new VHF/UHF roof top antenna with a rotor, is it likely I will have good reception of digital signals 40 and 60 miles away? The antenna we have now is either VHF or VHF/FM, 10 elements from maybe 6 feet to about 4 ft in length (across the boom).
January 12th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
I see alot of places selling HDTV Antenna’s, Yet they say nothing if these antenna’s can pick up all of the signals that a Regular DTV antenna will. Is there a difference between HDTV and DTV antennas? Also I see some that are multi-directional versus some that are directional.. Whats better? Where I need to put my antenna(s) is in between two Major Markets so i can get both cities channels like I do with analog signals; NYC is 69 miles away and Philadelphia is another the other way 65 miles. Will 1 big multi-direction antenna work best for both markets or should we be looking to install a couple large directional models on the house? Also since we have to cover such large distances between markets would a signals booster help or just a bigger antennas.. Our current antenna’s are not picking up any DTV signals. thats why I am thinking i need to completely replace the existing ones with DTV antenna’s .. Right?
January 14th, 2009 at 10:28 pm
We installed a GE converter box and purchased a GE Amplified Quantum Antenna (optimized for digital television). The box and insert give no information as to whether it receives VHF signals as well as UHF. We now receive 15 or more stations, but — cannot receive NBC (channel 4) and PBS (channel 13). These are most desired. Is it possible that the new antenna cannot receive VHF and both stations — NBC and PBS — are only on VHF? We are located in an excellent area for reception.
January 15th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
I just installed a Zenith 901 converter box. I only get two stations that I never received before. One is in spanish. I have an outdoor antenna and get 7 stations without the converter box and I am 15 miles west of NYC. Do I have to have my antenna redirected to get CBS, NBC, ABC, etc?
January 16th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
I too installed the Zenith 901. I don’t get ABC nor CBS, but still do on analog. I appreciate the other channels which I get on UHF (which I didn’t get before the installation) as well as 4 PBS channels. All of the comments have helped me understand that my attic antenna is the problem. My question is, after 2/17 will I still be able to get ABC and CBS with analog since this converter does have the passthrough feature?
My zip is 97230 if that makes any difference (Portland OR area)
January 17th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
I live in a 4-story apartment building (136 units) and they have a roof-top antenna with a master receiver.
What does the management need to do to prepare for the transition to ensure that the residents who get their converter boxes will get the best reception from them?
Not all of the stations come in clear now as it is…
(and, yes, I have been to all of the other websites but could not find anything relating to this type of situation)
Thank you for any help or advice you can give me to pass along to the managers and/or residents here.
January 19th, 2009 at 10:55 am
older set that does not have dvd installed into set. use from electrical outlet/converter box to coax rear of set/white/yellow/red into dvd.that works fine.
But new converter analog box. I guess I need another coax cord for that but how do I get that into the set the set only has one female entrance for dvd/converter.How do I rewirenew converter to properly be set up for analog converter box also
January 19th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
I installed the Zenith 901 & now can only receive 5 stations (2 in Spanish)! My regular analog TV without the Converter box gets 15 stations!
Will a different indoor antenna make more stations available? What type?
January 20th, 2009 at 11:31 pm
Some of this is so simple I don’t see why some just don’t get it. For rural areas you will need to take a little time to get it set up right. With analog I got 8 channels and with the converter box I get 10 channels and I’m 50 miles from the nearest broadcast station.
I started by pointing my antenna north, scanned the channels and made a list, then went NE, scanned, wrote them down, East, scanned and wrote, continue through SE, S, SW, W, NW. Once I finished scanning in all 8 directions I chose the direction I got the most stations and best reception and stayed with that. Doesn’t matter what antennaweb.org says is best for you, you have to find it for yourself.
If you want to record on the vcr and watch another channel on the tv you will need a converter box for the vcr and another one for the tv. Simple
January 21st, 2009 at 8:57 pm
Many old tv sets use a VHF/UHF splitter but that configuration isn’t shown in box installation diagrams. This information needs to be shared with all box suppliers. A friend had that configuration, called the help line, after neither her or her son in-law could get the box to work. The help line person said to send the box back for another one, and of course the replacement box did work until I eliminated that splitter.
January 23rd, 2009 at 1:22 pm
I bought a new TV and antenna. I went to set it up and could not get a signal. I moved the TV by the window and the power indicator came on but did not say I was getting any power.
what type of antenna do I need to buy. I bought the cheapest one at
Walmart. Can I get one that works insidea? I live in a condo?Thanks!
January 23rd, 2009 at 9:37 pm
Does the converter box cut down the signal from a antenna. I get great analog reception but when I go through the convertor box I only get one station.
I think this is going to end up costing a lot of people a lot of money. Maybe that part of the stimulus program?
January 25th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
FOR MORE INFO ABOUT HDTV and ANTENNAS, check out this website from Star Ray TV:
http://freetoronto.tv/index.htm#list2
They have lots of handy tips about:
Types of antennas and how they work
How to MAKE YOUR OWN HDTV ANTENNA!
The Lake Ontario Theatre reception area
Ontario and northern New York stations
January 25th, 2009 at 7:05 pm
Looking into info for antennas. Don’t send me to antennaweb.org, it doesn’t work. If I have a antenna that has VHF or UHF on it, how do you know which side to hook up to. Do you have to hook up to both and bring together with a splitter. Then hook in an amplifier? Can anyone help me with this problem. I’m trying to get digital ready. We live in Georgia. Thank you for your time. Elizabeth
January 27th, 2009 at 5:19 pm
why cant i pick up any signal with my converter box and anteana?
January 27th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
I’ve installed a Rooftop Antenna in my one story house in a residential neighborho. My antenna include a signal booster, I scanned for channels and even with everything hooked up converter etc, the picture is crap compared to the rabbit ears on analog on top of the set.
Any ideas why analog would work so much better than the snowy digital version? Coaxial cable is high grade and less than 20 feet to the rooftop antenna.
???
January 30th, 2009 at 9:29 pm
My question is this? I have 3 televisions at my house 2 of them are directly hooked to cable(digital) and the 3rd one is hooked up to recieve signals from the cable antenna! so do I still need a converter box? my tv does not have a tuner? please let me know as soon as possible so if I need a coneverter I can purchase one! Thank You
January 30th, 2009 at 10:21 pm
I am totally jazzed. I’m not a big TV watcher and got cable a few years back so I could get good local reception. (I live in Orange Co, CA)
Yesterday, I hooked up my coverter box and an indoor antenna and am SO happy. My scan picks up signals for 62 channels and my local ones come in BETTER than they did with TW cable. No more ghosting.
Technical details: I got the most expensive $59 amplified antenna at Radio Shack, but picked up a couple less expensive ones to see how the reception is and how many channels I can pick up. Haven’t tried hooking those up yet. I have an RCA converter box and live on the ground floor of a 2-story 4-plex. The TV and antenna are in an “inner” bedroom. My TV is a 13″ 8-year-old Sylvania TV-VCR combo.
Am so ready to fire my cable company. It is too bad that, in the marketing of DTV, there could not have been more “honesty” … instead of saying “If you have cable you don’t need to do anything.” They should have said, “If you have cable, give it a try so you can fire your cable company” but I guess the cable providers would have complained. WOW. I NEVER thought I’d be getting MORE channels off the air than I did paying my cable company for basic service.
At least in this area, this is one thing the government got RIGHT! Thank you!
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:04 pm
1. I understand that outdoor antennas are better than indoor antennas. Nevertheless, you mentioned that in some areas indoor antennas should work. In addition, you said to try an amplified one to improve reception. You also mentioned Terk TV1 and Channel Master 4010. I also understand that various factors affect reception with indoor antennas. Consequently, specific recommendations can’t be made based on geographic location. Nevertheless, could you provide any more information on the different types of indoor antennas and how to decide which one to buy? Should I buy a cheap one, and then if it is not good enough, return it and buy a more expensive one?
2. I bought Apex DT250A digital TV converter box. There is a buzzing noise, especially at higher television volume. As suggestetd, the volume on the converter is set at the maximum. If the converter box volume were lowered, the television volume would have to be raised, making the buzzing noise worse. Is this a common problem? Do you know the cause? Does it have anything to do with the quality of the converter box?
February 8th, 2009 at 12:10 am
I’ve experienced most of the above problems, BUT WHERE ARE YOUR ANSWERS, I NEED THEM YESYERDAY!
February 9th, 2009 at 10:45 am
I am seeing the same thing over and over. I got a converter box (Zenith) hooked it up and it worked great. I received my coupon and bought another converter box (Access) for my second set and can’t get a signal. I can’t take it back because of the coupon, I’m stuck with it. I think it is cheaply made and they know it. The company web site said buy another antenna, did, still didn’t work. I feel I just waisted the Governments money and there is nothing I can do about it. ($25.00 shipping to return it to the company, wow what a deal)
February 14th, 2009 at 10:53 am
To Dave Wilson:
Dave, I applaud you for the great advice you’ve taken the time to give to all of those who’ve posed questions re: the DTV switch from analog. But, I notice that you haven’t posted any replies since Jan 8, & I sympathize! As I skimmed through the endless # of these queries re: the now June 12th conversion, I thought you must be overwhelmed! Is anyone official(ie., from whatever gov. agency responsible for our current TV-head & pocketbook aches) listening? reading what all of us are writing about? It’s truly unbelieveable that the specific problems outlined here by countless viewers weren’t envisioned & then addressed at the outset. We understand the advantages to having digital TV, but so far most of us can’t get it to work. And, we don’t want a rooftop antenna nor a new TV, since we’ve already paid plenty to try to get ready for the conversion.
Anyway, for the record, here’s our story: We have 2 converter boxes for 2 locations, both w/ antennas. In one, the c-bx setup works perfectly, no problem; we also have cable for another TV in this city location; but in the other, a rural area, woe upon woe! Error messages –”no program”, “weak signal”, & we had no problem w/ reception here before the converter box. We’re also wondering about the cost of all this, especially now (see George Miller’s comment on the cost above)– we paid for the 2 coverter boxes last Fall, along w/ a new antenna w/ amplifier, even a new DTV/VCR combo that would only let us record what we were watching! Laughable, but! (That, natch, we returned.) So, we will have to buy a different VCR to work w/ the converter box, from what I’ve learned in these posts.
Btw, are TV advertisers worried about all this? If our reception problems aren’t solved by June, we won’t be watching those commercials!
So, hope to read more of your helpful suggestions after you rest up. Meanwhile, maybe the gov. agency, whoever, will figure out solutions to our poor reception problems.
Thank you!
February 17th, 2009 at 1:54 am
I have puchased the converter box and connect the box as instructed. However this area have very weak signal and can only receive channel 4. Please help me solve this problem so I may watch TV as usual
February 19th, 2009 at 10:03 am
I have a complaint also , before the digital switch I was able to recieve all my local stations on analog and now with the digital switch I can only receive one from my local stations and 1 in another state (Idaho). I have not repositioned my antenna as I was receiving the stations just great. I have noticed on one of my televisions that I will not be putting a converter box on is still receiving analog from several of my local stations and these are sthe stations I cannot get digitally. Can you help me?
February 19th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
If you have questions about the digital transition or need help with setting up your digital converter box, please call the FCC’s help line at: 1-888-Call-FCC.
February 21st, 2009 at 10:37 am
I hooked up my new converter box and my indoor antenna. We live in an apartment complex.The box displays NO SIGNAL. The automatic channel scan yielded only 1 channel.I had to manually install all of the channels. The signals are weak. If the stations come in they are jagged and often revert to no signal. How do I fix this problem? What is going to happen when the digital transition officially starts permanently? Will those of us who cannot afford cable be left out of the age of the digital transition?
February 23rd, 2009 at 10:02 pm
We had the same problem with the digital switch- not getting hardley any channels, yet my neighbor got tons with his little roof top antenna, and I had a huge roof top antenna. I was getting quite a few analog channels before the switch, then only 2 channels after. I went to Radio Shack and bought an additional antenna for $35 #15-2160, this only helped a little. Then I went back and bought the indoor/outdoor matching transformer Cat. No. 15-1140 for $5.50 and ran a coaxial cable from the antenna to the tv. Now FINALLY I am receiving 10 analog channels and 9 digital channels and I am in a very rural area. I hope this will help everybody out there that is ripping their hair out like I was trying to get the tv working!!!! Not a good time for the FCC to be pulling this on us with the economy already so bad! But for about $45 I now have tv again- beats going into further debt with cable/ satelite prices!! Best of Luck to all out there dealing with this pain!
February 27th, 2009 at 8:56 pm
After spending money we did not have for a converter box. and not recieving a coup[on before our local stations were to digital, NOW we FIND WE NEED TO PURCHASE AN ANTENNA>
We feel this is very discriminating for us who cannot afford satalight Tv or to have cable run to my side of the hill $4,000.+ this is redictious.
Is there a program for out door antennas. I know a lot of people who will not be able to watch tv in this area..and we CANNOT afford another alternative.
March 2nd, 2009 at 6:52 pm
With so mant adjustments that seem to be all new, a cable may or may not help some sets but shouldn’t the government suggest electronic dealers laz their return/refund policies. Suppose we give up with what we’ve been using and have to go a different route. Should the consumer have to pay the load of the financial burden?
March 12th, 2009 at 11:18 am
HOPE I CAN HELP SOME OF YOU PEOPLE
1 OLD ANALOG TVS NEED A UHF ANTENNA GO TO ANTENNAWEB.ORG FOR INFO OF WHAT YOU NEED
2 WHEN YOU HOOK UP YOUR NEW RECEIVER BOX THE ANTENNA MUST GO INTO THE BOX AND OUT THROUGH TO THE TV YOU CAN USE A AB SWITCH TO SWITCH BETWEEN ANTENNA AND A CABLE OR DISH LIKE DISH NETWORK .
YOU MUST SET UP THE NEW BOX USING THE IN YOUR MANUAL THAT CAME WITH THE BOX TO SET UP THE CHANNELS REMEMBER YOUR TV NEEDS TO STAY ON CHANNEL 3 OR A CHANNEL NOT USED IN YOUR AREA THE BOX IS NOW YOUR TUNER NOT YOUR TV TO CHANGE CHANNELS USE YOUR NEW REMOTE THAT CAME WITH THE BOX AFTER SET UP
I SET UP MINE AND I GET MORE CHANNELS AND 3 IN HIGH DEF .
I’M A WOMAN AND A SENIOR SO IF I CAN UNDERSTAND HOW THIS WORKS NOW YOU SHOULD TOO.
REMEMBER THEY HAVE EXTENDED THE TIME TO SWITCH TO DIGITAL SO IF YOU ARE RECEIVING ON YOUR TV NOW THAT WILL CHANGE AFTER THE SWITCH OVER SOME SMALL CHANNELS HAVE SWITCH OVER NOW AND THAT MAY BE THE REASON THOSE CHANNELS ARE NOT BEING RECEIVED
IF YOU USE A 3036W RCA ANTENNA IT HAS A 65 MILE RANGE IS 110 INCHES WIDE AND CAN BE USED IN A ATTIC AS WELL SOME CHANNEL ARE TO FAR TO BE PICKED UP WITH OUT A VERY STRONG ANTENNA SO GO WITH THE LONGEST RANGE TO GET ALL CHANNELS AVAILABLE TO YOU
HOPE THIS WAS A HELP TO YOU
THANKS A LADY FROM OCALA
March 12th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
To the Lady from Ocala,
thank you for sharing your experience and excellent advice with our readers to help them prepare for the digital transition. You covered all of the important points.
March 12th, 2009 at 7:00 pm
I got the converter box.Now i cannot get channel 15 and chennel 33.I can get chennels 8,21,27,43.I hooked up my converter box and i can only get chennel 15.So why cant i get the other channels i got.I am really amazed how channel 15 comes in.How How do i know how hih of an antenna i should get.Feet whys
March 17th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
Hello All,
I have installed the DTV converter box. I am receiving the channels, and picture and sound are coming in. The problem is, there is a loud buzzing sound coming through the TV now. I contacted technical support, and the tech verified that everything had been connected properly, and suggested a few things I might try to fix it, but the problem persisted. I even exchanged the box for another one, and I’m still getting the loud buzzing sound. Can anyone help? Has anyone experienced a similar problem? Please help…
March 18th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
I have instaled the coverter box to my television and it worked and gave me signal for digital channels.But now a month had past and it just turns on but does not give me signal to my television and i can not see no digital channels anymore.
WHAT CAN I DO? PLEASE HELP ME!
You can contact me by my e-mail address:
patapatyyta65@yahoo.com
March 23rd, 2009 at 10:19 pm
So far no response to my questions (February 2).
Here is some more information:
As I mentioned I had a buzzing noise with my Apex DT250A converter box, similar to the problem Russ mentioned (March 17). To still get the advantage of the government coupon, I had to go back to the same store. Fortunately, I had bought it from Best Buy, where they also sold Insignia NS-DXA1, recommended in “Staten Island Business Trends” (Feb. 2009). I exchanged the Apex converter box ($49.99) for the Insignia converter box ($59.99), and paid the difference. The Insignia converter box works better: the menus and information on the screen look better, the remote control works better, and the buzzing noise is no longer there. An employee at the store said that a surge protector may also help to eliminate noise.
I still have to get a different antenna,because a few channels don’t come in or have interrupted signal.
April 5th, 2009 at 7:50 am
Have a digital tv and a roof top antenna. In January I adujsted and rescanned and was able to pickup all my local stations (about 50 miles away) on an analog signal and digital so was a happy camper..Two weeks ago things started going haywire..interference etc…now I get only 3 local analog signals and no digital help!!!
April 11th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
I have an HDTV. I get perfect digital reception on it with an indoor antenna. Not a fancy, expensive antenna. The same rabbit ears that used to come with older sets.
Antennaweb.org indicates that reception in my area is very strong and that an indoor antenna should work with an older tv and a converter box.
However, my older tv will not receive a digital converter box. I tried an expensive, powerful (indoor) antenna and it still will not work. The tv set says “weak signal”. And yet in the same room, in the same spot with the same tv, my HDTV can get a signal.
Any advice is welcome — how can I get my old tv with a converter box to pick up a digital signal.
April 11th, 2009 at 11:06 pm
cable tv channels nbc
How do you look for information for your blog content?
April 19th, 2009 at 8:18 pm
Are you sure that your channel ouput form your converter box and the TV are set to the same?….channel 3 or 4. If you are not sure, try switching to different channels until you get the converter box menu.
If this has already been done it may be that the reciever section in the converter box is not operating correctly or is just poorly designed. There are plenty of junk converter boxes out there that were manufactured to take advantage of the captive consumers that our government created and “easy” government money through the coupon program.
If you don’t mind spending a little more money, obtain a better quality unit, like the DTV Pal sold by dish network.
Hopefully it is a simple tuning issue.
Hope this helps.
April 20th, 2009 at 8:17 am
Is any one answering these Postings since Jan? My posting from Jan was never answered..
And all I hear is to call the FCC 1-800 number. I did that and was put on hold so long I finally gave up.
From what I am finding Digital TV is incredible “IF”.. And thats a “BIG IF”, your antenna is in direct line to the station. And there are no trees or hills in the path of the signal. So unless you live in Flat area with a direct line of sight to the station… you are pretty much delegated to Sign Up and Pay Up for Cable or Satelite TV. Even a few inchs out of sync with the TV station and you will not get your channels.. And I’d rather not put a 15-20 foot antenna on 40-50 foot pole since they appear to be the only ones possibly capable of even getting signals 65+ miles away….
Who in Congress thought Digital was the best way to go.. They need to move into rural America and see what the rest of us have to live with. Perhaps America needs a lobby organization to help protect free over the airwaves TV.
May 1st, 2009 at 8:40 am
I’m in Poughkeepsie, NY, a digital black hole for reception to major markets (New York City: 75 miles south, Albany: 75 miles north). I can only pick up one station from NYC (WNYW-DT) and one station from Schenectady, NY (WMHT-DT) with our existing rooftop antenna and rotor. Why not have repeaters for those of us in fringe areas? I can pick up nearly all the analog NYC stations - some are snowy but watchable. Digital reception is unforgiving at long distances.
May 6th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
As Pete said (April 20), Dave Wilson stopped responding after January 8.
Does anyone have information on indoor antennas?
Please see my previous comments (February 2 and March 23).
May 12th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
If you have questions about the digital transition or need help with setting up your digital converter box, please call the FCC’s help line at: 1-888-Call-FCC or visit: http://dtvtransition.org/.
May 20th, 2009 at 8:18 pm
I can not get as good of a signal with this dtv it seem like on cloudy mornings I lose the signal completley, so i guess the question that I have is will they be boosting ther signal when the change date comes or should I just get use to loosing signal and looking at the pix slowly dissappearing and then slowly coming back.
May 21st, 2009 at 10:36 pm
i have a digital i would like to lnow if i can wtch my tv already or what i would be needing to setup my tv.
June 10th, 2009 at 8:59 am
The FCC Hotline gets all of their info that they pass on to you from http://www.DTV.gov for transition info or http://www.DTV2009.gov for coupon program info. You can find everything you need to know and more from those two websites with a little poking around and it’s a hell of a lot easier than calling into somewhere and trying to get through. Especially with the switchover happening between 6:00pm and 11:30 pm(official times) on FRIDAY JUNE 12. And if you try and call that help line SAT morning, good luck. I’m afraid to see how many people are going to wake up and be surprised that they have no tv.
June 13th, 2009 at 9:52 am
Ok, I thought I was all set. I’ve had my converter box for a couple of months and all the channels out of Chattanooga were coming in fine.
This morning, after WDEF turned off it’s analog signal at midnight last night, I rescanned and cannot pick them up even though we’ve changed the antenna direction and tried everything. What on earth has happened? And isn’t it convenient that they decided to turn off their signal at midnight on Friday instead of earlier, so there is NO ONE there to answer the phone.
If I sound disgusted, it’s because I am.
We do live in a rural area. Do you think getting a stronger antenna will help the situation? The one I have now is about 20 years old.
Thanks
Elizabeth
June 13th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Up to 2 months ago I was able to receive
ALL of the stations from New Orleans as I have for the last 12 years. Then I started to get the digital stations also with my converter box. Then we bought a new TV and didn’t need the converter box. Starting 2 months ago, channel 8 & 8.1 and finally channel 54 & 54.1 no longer come in. What I want to know is, WHAT IN THE HECK IS GOING ON WITH THEIR POWER OUTPUT?
June 14th, 2009 at 10:20 pm
Think this is a terrible injustice by our government for the benifit of Big Business. They sold our analog airwaves to these people, so that Now they can charge people to receive tv on their phones! Just read an article about it in the New York Times. The only thing I can now receive is 4-PBS stations, none of which has the News Hour. Listening to a lot of NPR radio & thankful I can read the news on my blackberry. Hell No I won’t pay for Sat TV & cable isn’t an option where I live. This is a Shame & a Crime. These people (?) Would sell their Grandmothers only coat for a profit!
Kathleen, WA
June 20th, 2009 at 11:55 pm
Bethesda, MD (2-mi outside Washington, DC): in analog mode I received 11-stations, in digital only 1-station that pixelates if there’s moisture in the sky, helicopters, etc. Nice, but then the politicos want to do away with free TV anyway. What happened to our country? Anyone else considering moving to Canada or Australia?
June 24th, 2009 at 11:39 pm
It’s the antenna stupid!!
Ok, I will admit that digital TV still has some issues to be worked out, but there are several things to remember, with the first being that this is a new technology that was not completely perfected and thoroughly researched before it was shoved in the publics face.
Reception problems were well known by the FCC and industry experts alike, and continued research and development into new antenna designs, and improved receiver electronics is still urgently needed.
Since the transition has taken place, there are now major reception issues with a lot of stations who chose to go back to their former VHF channel assignments that are just now being realized and discovered. All digital TV channel assignments should have been assigned in the UHF TV band only.
The grossly inadequate promotion and education program that was laughable, led viewers to believe that “THE MAGIC BOX, ALONG WITH A SET OF MAGIC RABBIT EARS” was all you would need, and life in broadcast TV land would be all rosy again after analog was shut off, while TV broadcast engineers gritted their teeth every time a DTV answers commercial ran showing a picture of “THE MAGIC BOX, ALONG WITH A SET OF MAGIC RABBIT EARS”, for they knew very early in the game about the problems that existed with digital TV signal reception.
Welcome to reality antenna viewers, and that reality is that digital TV is not really a bad concept, but just because a radio signal carries digital data does not make it “MAGIC”, or change the simple laws of physics, the electrical properties, or the reception methods of an electromagnetic radio signal.
YOU MUST HAVE A PROPERLY SELECTED AND INSTALLED ANTENNA FOR YOUR AREA, AND THE APPROPRIATE ACCESSORIES SUCH AS AN ANTENNA ROTOR AND PRORER CABLING TO RECEIVE THE DIGITAL TV SIGNALS RELIABLY…PERIOD.
IN MOST CASES, INDOOR ANTENNAS DO NOT WORK WELL IN A MAJORITY OF LOCATIONS…PERIOD.
I will repeat that I think digital TV is a good concept, and being employed as a Broadcast Television Engineer, I really think that digital TV could have a bright future, but only if the broadcast industry can repair the damage done to its reputation by the “Beltway Boys”, and their failed attempt to educate, or to purposely mislead the public about the simple laws of physics in regards to TV signal reception. I will again state that the reception issues were well known, and well documented for any politician or FCC board member who cared to read about them.
The description of a properly installed TV reception antenna on the FCC’s own website states that “In order to receive broadcast TV signals reliably, an antenna should be installed at least 30 feet above the ground”, and in some cases is worded to state “Above the surrounding terrain”
Could one of the engineers at the FCC, if there are any of them left, please explain to me how “THE MAGIC BOX, ALONG WITH A SET OF MAGIC RABBIT EARS” that we saw so many pictures of in the past 2 years can be expected to suddenly defy the laws of physics, and magically receive those “Elusive”, but wonderful digital TV and HDTV signals.
Remember again that the laws of electrical physics in general do not change just because the radio signal contains digital information. The signals still obey the laws of nature and physics in regards to reception, propagation, and the proper equipment needed to receive them.
And in defense of the concept of digital TV broadcasting, whose issues will be worked out sometime in the future, I will state the following…
A PROPERLY SELECTED AND INSTALLED OUTDOOR ANTENA AND THE APPROPRIATE ACCESSORIES SUCH AS AN ANTENNA ROTOR AND PRORER CABLING WILL LIKELY RECEIVE BROADCAST DIGITAL TV SIGNALS RELIABLY IN 80 TO 90% OF LOCATIONS WHERE THE SIGNAL EXISTS TO BE RECEIVED…PERIOD.
Of course, there are many other aspects to the reception of digital TV signals, which include VHF versus UHF, new antenna designs, and several other aspects, but they are to numerous to list here, and I may reserve that for my new book on digital TV reception techniques, which I have been researching as long as digital TV signals have existed.
No matter how far we advance in technology, it seems we still have to look to the past to find answers to new problems. Welcome to the new era of the outdoor antenna, or the beginning of the end of broadcast TV, depending on whose viewpoint you see it from.
We are literally now amongst a generation of younger people who have no concept of how television was viewed only a mere 20 years ago using outdoor antennas erected as high as physically possible. They only know about paying for TV via cable, and even more recently, satellite TV, and they also do not seem to realize that there is free TV available using a seemingly little known metallic device known as an antenna.
My lifelong involvement in the Amateur Radio hobby, as well as employment in 2-way radio service, and currently as a Broadcast Television Engineer in a very mountainous area of the country that has numerous reception issues, would seem to make me well qualified to comment on this topic.