Probably a multi-path problem hurting the reception to the people close in. I
have seen better distance out of digital, but multi-path problems &
"destructive" interference can kill someone anywhere.
Look at a DTV station on a spectrum analyzer and a yagi- turn the antenna and
watch all the fun. Then multiply x 20 stations or more in a metro area and try
and find the best comprimise......can be a hair puller. THEN add in the fun of
stacked channels, for example here in Chicago we have 52, 53, and 54
co-channeled at the same time... whole different set of problems. We had to buy
a spectrum analyzer just to go tweak out antenna systems for digital, a real
time saver to see it real time. (Another upside is I can tune my duplexers ;).)
As for picture quality- If it's an SD program it may look the same on analog vs
digital, but if your HD looks the same then something is wrong. Period.
We constantly follow up cable guys here who STILL hook up HD cable boxes on Ch
3 RF out to our High end TV's (I know, here comes the "a TV is a TV thread). Of
course the customer thinks the TV we sold them must be bad, because "the
digital picture looks worse than our old TV".
FYI- My neighbor receives ALL the Chicago DTV stations on a 20+ year old
antenna (and nothing special at that) 20' up on a tower next to his house,
THROUGH some evergreen trees, without any problems whatsoever. Most of the
analog stations come in a bit snowy. Oh yea- did I mention we are 47 miles away
from downtown Chicago where the TX are? Don't predict doom and gloom until you
try it- or save yourself the trouble, throw away the TV and just read books.
Tom
W9SRV
>
> I live about 30 miles west. I don't expect to be able
> to see anything
> watchable over the air, even with a good antenna. Digital
> pixelation is
> overwhelming now even for people close in.
>
>
