>>>It used Portland for one of the affiliates, Southern NH for one other... none of the Bangor stations were represented at all.
Dish offered me locals-only for $7 a month plus $5 service fee (back in 2009). I didn't have to buy anything else. It's possible the Bangor stations don't uplink their feed to Dish, and Dish can't provide what is not given to them. Sorry. I'd try DirecTV to see what they offer for locals. Here's a closeup of the Bangor DMA: http://www.truckads.com/Affiliate/images/bangor_dma_map.gif
>>>you don't have a legally-protected right to put up a TV antenna
You do but the laws says you have to right to put an antenna on your roof. That doesn't really apply for apartments. (shrug). If I was in your situation I'd use a Channel Master 4228, which is basically 8 antennas combined into one and very strong. You can put it next to your TV (like I've done), or out on your balcony.
I hope not. I enjoy getting free TV. If it's phased out, they'll be nothing left but large monthly bills to gain access to entertainment. PLUS broadcast television is more efficient, with the ability for News and Weather reports to reach a million people from a single antenna. The equivalency via internet would need a million wires, or ~100,000 cell towers. The latter is inefficient.
What annoys me is that the FCC is a non-democratic bureaucracy, making plans to dismantle broadcast TV, and there's no way for the People's voices to be heard (either for or against). I feel as helpless as a serf.
>>>If, on average, a decade, then about 10% should experience worse reception each year. So, an excess of 2% have actual signal problems
"That's the kind of logic that's not." - Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Sorry dude but your reasoning doesn't make any sense. 12% said their reception is worse with DTV than with analog TV. The end. You cannot extrapolate beyond that point.
Not if you're in the USA. It's been the ATSC format since 1998. But you're right that different boxes have different sensitivities. I've found the Zenith, Channel Master, and DTVpal-Plus models get about 1.5 times more channels as the other converter boxes.
(1) My brother doesn't know how to download. I tried to show him, and he claimed he understood, but has never tried it. I think he's scared he'll break his computer, so instead he just watches Cable and pays his $85 fee.
(2) It's a lot easier to just turn on Qubo (61-2) or Family Channel (49-2) and set the kid in front of it, rather than have to track down and download each show individually one at a time, or try to explain to a five year old how to use hulu.com
(3) Downloading is risky, what with Sci-Fi Channel, Disney, and others already sending "Cease and desist" emails because I grabbed Stargate, Hannah Montana, et cetera. I prefer legal means where possible.
(4) There's a lot on TV you can't find online. And it doesn't cost anything (no monthly bill).
The US solved the problem by providing asylum to German intellectuals escaping persecution at home. Perhaps the US could use the same approach to attract Chinese scientists.
On the other hand if those scientists are located in the EU, Russian Federation, or India, they're probably happy to stay where they are.
>>>a lot of them have been taken down once people realize the "local channels" they got were 150 miles further away
Dish only charges $12 for local-only service, not $30. I'm not sure why they would be seeing stations from 150 miles away? Satellite is supposed to serve whatever channels are inside your DMA, according to this map: http://www.megahunter.com/images/affiliate_map1.gif
One of the failures of the government was to tell people all they needed was a converter box. In nearly-all cases they also needed to upgrade from settop antennas (rabbit ears/loops) to rooftop antennas. Settop antennas were fine for watching fuzzy analog signals from 50 miles away, but with digital those same antennas only reach 15-20 miles.
Digital is only broadcasting ~1/20th as much power, and therefore has a hard time passing through walls. In fact the FCC designed the system with the assumption people would have 30 foot high antennas.
"For station owners in the UHF band the transition went flawlessly, however VHF station owners (channels 2-13) are still receiving complaints from viewers. In most instances the FCC has allowed VHF channels to increase their power levels 6-7 times higher than what they were just one year ago. In other cases VHF owners are experimenting with low-power repeaters to fill-in reception gaps.
I too have aluminum siding but the large Channel Master 4228 still pulls-in signals from 50 miles away, even from inside the house (see list below). Like you I ometimes see PBS12 drop-out and I've determined it's caused by the sun. Sun comes up and PBS disappears - sun goes down and it comes back.
For people with VCRs or DVRs you can use a DTVpal to automatically change channels. Or dump the old equipment and get the DTVpal DVR to record directly. I used to get about 20 channels, and now I get 40 using an indoor antenna (4228). Some of the new channels I get are: - two Spanish channels - a Global channel for foreign programs - Link TV for international news - qubo for kids - RetroTV (70s, 80s) - Life - Wellness - a 24 hour movie channel - 24-hour sports - 24-hour weather/ news - JCTV (music vids) - ION network - MyNetworkTV - PBS world - PBS arts - MiND - and a channel that plays nothing but syndicated shows (CSI, Deadliest Catch, Star Trek, etc)
P.S. Here's the rest of the story which editors did not include for some reason?
"For station owners in the UHF band the transition went flawlessly, however VHF station owners (channels 2-13) are still receiving complaints from viewers. In most instances the FCC has allowed VHF channels to increase their power levels 6-7 times higher than what they were just one year ago. In other cases VHF owners are experimenting with low-power repeaters to fill-in reception gaps.
My thoughts on Comcast are summarized in my signature: "My [brother's] analog cable for $64/month was phased out. The new digital cable requires boxes for 4 sets. Cost $85."
I don't have cable because I get about 40 channels for free: 3,6,8,10,11,12,13,15,17,21,27,29,33,35,43,45,48,49,51,57,61,65 plus various subchannels (48-2, 48-2, 48-3, 48-5, 48-5) with small network like "Wellness Channel" "this" movie channel, "PBSarts", "Global" "linkTV" "qubo" "JCTV", Telemundo, and so on.
Or a converter box. Analog sets aren't "useless" - I'm still using the old 70s-era set that I used to play Atari games on, plus two other sets made in the late 80s and early 90s respectively. You don't need to junk your analog CRTs.
The DTV conversion was good for me. I used to get about 20 channels and now I get 40 - all free. Some of the new channels I get are: - two Spanish channels - a Global channel for foreign programs - Link TV for international news - qubo for kids - RetroTV (70s, 80s) - Life - Wellness - a 24 hour movie channel - 24-hour sports - 24-hour weather/ news - JCTV (music vids) - ION network - MyNetworkTV - PBS world - PBS arts - MiND - and a channel that plays nothing but syndicated shows (CSI, Deadliest Catch, Star Trek, etc)
I believe ALL power belongs to the People, and when any organization tries to steal-away that power without permission, then the People have an obligation to stop them - preferably via peaceful means (courts et cetera), but also with the recognition that in most cases you need a little revolution to water the Tree of Liberty (see Eastern Europe circa 1989).
We do that with our gasoline, and I think it's a bad idea. If consumers realized they were paying an extra ~60 cents for every gallon purchased, it would be better for democracy overall. Taxes should never be hidden.
The store where I used to work was fined for advertising a price, and then not offering the item at the price. It wasn't just the one store either... the government fined the whole nationwide corporation.
You make it sound like stores advertisements are just "optional voluntary arrangements" but the government does not view it that way .
Part 3 is actually the best part. The lie detector fails to detect any lies, but the guy administering the test acts as a "good cop" and convincec the witness it would be in his best interest to admit what he did wrong, "because if you don't the machine will know you're lying". The lie detector is nothing but a prop.
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>>>It used Portland for one of the affiliates, Southern NH for one other... none of the Bangor stations were represented at all.
Dish offered me locals-only for $7 a month plus $5 service fee (back in 2009). I didn't have to buy anything else. It's possible the Bangor stations don't uplink their feed to Dish, and Dish can't provide what is not given to them. Sorry. I'd try DirecTV to see what they offer for locals. Here's a closeup of the Bangor DMA: http://www.truckads.com/Affiliate/images/bangor_dma_map.gif
I'd also go to http://www.avsforum.com/ for assistance with your antenna.
>>>you don't have a legally-protected right to put up a TV antenna
You do but the laws says you have to right to put an antenna on your roof. That doesn't really apply for apartments. (shrug). If I was in your situation I'd use a Channel Master 4228, which is basically 8 antennas combined into one and very strong. You can put it next to your TV (like I've done), or out on your balcony.
I hope not. I enjoy getting free TV. If it's phased out, they'll be nothing left but large monthly bills to gain access to entertainment. PLUS broadcast television is more efficient, with the ability for News and Weather reports to reach a million people from a single antenna. The equivalency via internet would need a million wires, or ~100,000 cell towers. The latter is inefficient.
What annoys me is that the FCC is a non-democratic bureaucracy, making plans to dismantle broadcast TV, and there's no way for the People's voices to be heard (either for or against). I feel as helpless as a serf.
>>>If, on average, a decade, then about 10% should experience worse reception each year. So, an excess of 2% have actual signal problems
"That's the kind of logic that's not." - Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Sorry dude but your reasoning doesn't make any sense. 12% said their reception is worse with DTV than with analog TV. The end. You cannot extrapolate beyond that point.
>>>the DTV standard is constantly changing
Not if you're in the USA. It's been the ATSC format since 1998. But you're right that different boxes have different sensitivities. I've found the Zenith, Channel Master, and DTVpal-Plus models get about 1.5 times more channels as the other converter boxes.
(1) My brother doesn't know how to download. I tried to show him, and he claimed he understood, but has never tried it. I think he's scared he'll break his computer, so instead he just watches Cable and pays his $85 fee.
(2) It's a lot easier to just turn on Qubo (61-2) or Family Channel (49-2) and set the kid in front of it, rather than have to track down and download each show individually one at a time, or try to explain to a five year old how to use hulu.com
(3) Downloading is risky, what with Sci-Fi Channel, Disney, and others already sending "Cease and desist" emails because I grabbed Stargate, Hannah Montana, et cetera. I prefer legal means where possible.
(4) There's a lot on TV you can't find online. And it doesn't cost anything (no monthly bill).
The US solved the problem by providing asylum to German intellectuals escaping persecution at home. Perhaps the US could use the same approach to attract Chinese scientists.
On the other hand if those scientists are located in the EU, Russian Federation, or India, they're probably happy to stay where they are.
>>>a lot of them have been taken down once people realize the "local channels" they got were 150 miles further away
Dish only charges $12 for local-only service, not $30. I'm not sure why they would be seeing stations from 150 miles away? Satellite is supposed to serve whatever channels are inside your DMA, according to this map: http://www.megahunter.com/images/affiliate_map1.gif
One of the failures of the government was to tell people all they needed was a converter box. In nearly-all cases they also needed to upgrade from settop antennas (rabbit ears/loops) to rooftop antennas. Settop antennas were fine for watching fuzzy analog signals from 50 miles away, but with digital those same antennas only reach 15-20 miles.
Digital is only broadcasting ~1/20th as much power, and therefore has a hard time passing through walls. In fact the FCC designed the system with the assumption people would have 30 foot high antennas.
Doesn't exist. I've looked. You also can't find classic torrents of shows like Emergency, That Girl, Odd Couple, and so on.
Locals-only service is just $20 from Comcast and $12 from Dish.
P.S. Here's the rest of the story I submitted:
"For station owners in the UHF band the transition went flawlessly, however VHF station owners (channels 2-13) are still receiving complaints from viewers. In most instances the FCC has allowed VHF channels to increase their power levels 6-7 times higher than what they were just one year ago. In other cases VHF owners are experimenting with low-power repeaters to fill-in reception gaps.
"However ATSC-DTV's existence may be shorter than expected. The US FCC is meeting to discuss ways to eliminate free over-the-air television completely, in order to make room for more cellphone frequencies : http://www.broadcastlawblog.com/2010/06/articles/television/fcc-wastes-no-time-on-television-spectrum-reallocation/ (FCC Wastes No Time on Television Spectrum Reallocation)
I too have aluminum siding but the large Channel Master 4228 still pulls-in signals from 50 miles away, even from inside the house (see list below). Like you I ometimes see PBS12 drop-out and I've determined it's caused by the sun. Sun comes up and PBS disappears - sun goes down and it comes back.
For people with VCRs or DVRs you can use a DTVpal to automatically change channels. Or dump the old equipment and get the DTVpal DVR to record directly. I used to get about 20 channels, and now I get 40 using an indoor antenna (4228). Some of the new channels I get are:
- two Spanish channels
- a Global channel for foreign programs
- Link TV for international news
- qubo for kids
- RetroTV (70s, 80s)
- Life
- Wellness
- a 24 hour movie channel
- 24-hour sports
- 24-hour weather/ news
- JCTV (music vids)
- ION network
- MyNetworkTV
- PBS world
- PBS arts
- MiND
- and a channel that plays nothing but syndicated shows (CSI, Deadliest Catch, Star Trek, etc)
Where did you get the $200 million figure from?
P.S. Here's the rest of the story which editors did not include for some reason?
"For station owners in the UHF band the transition went flawlessly, however VHF station owners (channels 2-13) are still receiving complaints from viewers. In most instances the FCC has allowed VHF channels to increase their power levels 6-7 times higher than what they were just one year ago. In other cases VHF owners are experimenting with low-power repeaters to fill-in reception gaps.
"However ATSC-DTV's existence may be shorter than expected. The US FCC is meeting to discuss ways to eliminate free over-the-air television completely, in order to make room for more cellphone frequencies : http://www.broadcastlawblog.com/2010/06/articles/television/fcc-wastes-no-time-on-television-spectrum-reallocation/ (FCC Wastes No Time on Television Spectrum Reallocation)"
My thoughts on Comcast are summarized in my signature: "My [brother's] analog cable for $64/month was phased out. The new digital cable requires boxes for 4 sets. Cost $85."
I don't have cable because I get about 40 channels for free: 3,6,8,10,11,12,13,15,17,21,27,29,33,35,43,45,48,49,51,57,61,65 plus various subchannels (48-2, 48-2, 48-3, 48-5, 48-5) with small network like "Wellness Channel" "this" movie channel, "PBSarts", "Global" "linkTV" "qubo" "JCTV", Telemundo, and so on.
Or a converter box. Analog sets aren't "useless" - I'm still using the old 70s-era set that I used to play Atari games on, plus two other sets made in the late 80s and early 90s respectively. You don't need to junk your analog CRTs.
The DTV conversion was good for me. I used to get about 20 channels and now I get 40 - all free. Some of the new channels I get are:
- two Spanish channels
- a Global channel for foreign programs
- Link TV for international news
- qubo for kids
- RetroTV (70s, 80s)
- Life
- Wellness
- a 24 hour movie channel
- 24-hour sports
- 24-hour weather/ news
- JCTV (music vids)
- ION network
- MyNetworkTV
- PBS world
- PBS arts
- MiND
- and a channel that plays nothing but syndicated shows (CSI, Deadliest Catch, Star Trek, etc)
Typo. The first $499 should have been 499.99.
I believe ALL power belongs to the People, and when any organization tries to steal-away that power without permission, then the People have an obligation to stop them - preferably via peaceful means (courts et cetera), but also with the recognition that in most cases you need a little revolution to water the Tree of Liberty (see Eastern Europe circa 1989).
We do that with our gasoline, and I think it's a bad idea. If consumers realized they were paying an extra ~60 cents for every gallon purchased, it would be better for democracy overall. Taxes should never be hidden.
The store where I used to work was fined for advertising a price, and then not offering the item at the price. It wasn't just the one store either... the government fined the whole nationwide corporation.
You make it sound like stores advertisements are just "optional voluntary arrangements" but the government does not view it that way
.
>>>walking out the store without paying.
It helps if you learn to read. Quote: "I would have laid down my $500 cash on the register, plus $30 for tax". That's called paying
.
AND AS I SAID, if price-fixing was happening the government would already be suing Exoon, BP, or whoever else is responsible
.
Part 3 is actually the best part. The lie detector fails to detect any lies, but the guy administering the test acts as a "good cop" and convincec the witness it would be in his best interest to admit what he did wrong, "because if you don't the machine will know you're lying". The lie detector is nothing but a prop.
Wow you're brave. Most people get modded troll for saying Apple acts like the typical corporation
.