Digital TV Woes . . .
 

While I don't watch much tv, there are times, like tonight, that I am tired but don't want to go to bed at 6:30. On nights like these (and Tuesday nights when Nova and NovaScience is on PBS), I just want to do nothing that takes too much thinking. But, I live in an apt and since switching over to digital the reception is horrible now. I even purchased a newer/better antennae and it still is worse.

Does anyone have this same issue?

I take it you don't have cable? I have TimeWarner, so I didn't notice a difference at all. Did you get the converter box? If not, get one.....they were offering them for free???

Well, at least you have a TV. Mine is 12.5 months old and quit working 2 days ago. Yeah, I called the store. No, they had no pity. :confused:

Sally - No, I don't have cable. It is too expensive and since I really don't watch that much TV, I think if I could afford I still wouldn't have it. I do have the converter box and used my coupon to "pay" for it and am now on my 2nd antennae (1st one was my old one and $20.00 for the newer next step up one). I hate the thought of having to buy a more expensive/powerful antennae.

Twink - Sorry about the tv. I'm be pretty mad as it is only a little over 2 years old. The quality of products is not what it used to be. May with the economic changes going on companies will wise up and start producing better quality products that last longer.

You can watch some TV shows online. DDs taught me that one. If they missed a show they liked they would go online to that station and watch it. (Mostly Gray's Anatomy and/or Desperate Housewives :rolleyes:). You can also search for many videos to watch online. I love documentaries and am always watching them. PBS.org has some great ones.

We got a converter box on an older TV in the garage. The signal's intermittent. I watch the news on it while I'm going thru the mail.

The TV's on satellite are fine unless there's major bad weather in the area. Then we're reduced to cable.

Yeap. Got all 3 delivery techniques. I am NOT going to miss a second of college football...

Tom

You are so spoiled, Major Tom! :D

Funny thing is, I get all the Spanish channels in perfectly fine. :confused: There are far more Spanish channels then English. I need a Spanish refresher class so I can watch TV in America.:rolleyes::D

Faith - Thats about the same channels we get. Well, in English. PBS Create, PBS World, PBS, PBS Kids, ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox are the channels that we get.

Hiya Tricia! I noticed the day of the switch to digital that my signal was definitely worse. I have cable so I guess it doesn't make a difference. My cable company is very crappy in every way possible. I lose sound and have had picture issues like pixels scrambling up so things look like Picasso paintings. It's pretty annoying at times.

LOL The sound does get spotty and the picture is pixelated. I like your analogy to Picasso. That's funny.

I'm surprised that you have those issues with cable. I thought if you had cable it wouldn't be an issue.:confused:

You can go to Hulu.com or even your local stations carry the shows they run

Abc.com
Nbc.com
CBs.com
Fox.com

most all will let you watch the entire episode of their popular shows without commercial interuption. You will need a broadband or DSL connection for it to work properly though.

They make lil antennae that you stick out the window, and it has a pull up wire, and plugs into your electric to give it a booster. I use digital boxes/air signal in my camper, and found that fiddling with the direction of the antennae helped greatly. Sometimes just making it go higher, or more to the left/right will help get you out of that dead spot. If you have a house, its worth the money to hire someone to attach an antennae to your roof or chimney that way its nice and high. They even make them with electric controls, so you dont have to go up to the roof to spin it, just push the button.

You can also rent movies from netflix. They have programs as low at $4.95 per month, and you can have 2 movies per month, one out at a time. or for $9.95 per month, you can have unlimited movies with one out at a time. You can see all the popular stuff, and not worry about late fees.

The cable companies have some great prices but pay attention to the fine print. Some are only for 1 year and then the price jumps very high. Other are for 2 or 3 years and you can negotiate again when the time comes.

I would be lost without my TV.