In the last 24 hours the one thing that continually keeps coming up when people contact us with reception issues is the wrong type of antenna. They have UHF only antennas. We operate on a VHF channel.
The public has gotten this perception that since the majority of pre-transition digital channels were UHF, it would stay that way post transition. The reason so many digital channels were UHF before the analog shutdown is a simple one, UHF was the only place the government could put them because the VHF channels were already in use by the analog stations. This perception was also reinforced by the antenna manufacturers and the retail stores by marketing "HD" and "Digital" antennas that were in reality UHF only antennas.
A model that has become popular is Terrestrial Digital's DB4, a bow tie UHF only antenna. It is a small screen type antenna. The literature clearly states that it only is good for channels 14-69. Another popular model is the Channel Master HD42 series. It too is a screen bow tie type antenna UHF only antenna even though the HD version is said to operate down to channel 7 with decent results, I haven't tried it. I do have the older non HD version and it will receive 7-13, but it doesn't do as good as an antenna made for 7-13.
The Winegard HD76 series antennas are made to operate on channels 7-69 and are smaller than the traditional 2-69 antennas. Our VP of Engineering played with a HD7694 a month or so back and said it worked very well and it is below $100 dollars.
VHF digital stations are still alive and well here in North Carolina. In every TV market in the state you can still find VHF stations. Downeast, three of the four major network affiliates remain on VHF post transition (the fourth, NBC requested their old VHF channel and were refused by the FCC). They are also very popular in Virginia and South Carolina. In this region, channel 8 seems to be the channel of choice with not only WGHP being on channel 8, but there are digital channel 8's in Columbia, SC, Morehead City, NC and Lewisburg, WV.
So before you throw in the towel on VHF over the air TV, give it a try with the correct VHF/UHF antenna. I think you will be quite surprised. Personally, living on the north side of Greensboro I choose to use a separate VHF and UHF antenna on my single story house for my over the air needs (that is the geek in me!). But the next time I replace my antennas, I will seriously look at that Winegard HD76 series VHF/UHF combo antenna. That is a sweet antenna for ALL CHANNEL TELEVISION in a simple, small package.
The public has gotten this perception that since the majority of pre-transition digital channels were UHF, it would stay that way post transition. The reason so many digital channels were UHF before the analog shutdown is a simple one, UHF was the only place the government could put them because the VHF channels were already in use by the analog stations. This perception was also reinforced by the antenna manufacturers and the retail stores by marketing "HD" and "Digital" antennas that were in reality UHF only antennas.
A model that has become popular is Terrestrial Digital's DB4, a bow tie UHF only antenna. It is a small screen type antenna. The literature clearly states that it only is good for channels 14-69. Another popular model is the Channel Master HD42 series. It too is a screen bow tie type antenna UHF only antenna even though the HD version is said to operate down to channel 7 with decent results, I haven't tried it. I do have the older non HD version and it will receive 7-13, but it doesn't do as good as an antenna made for 7-13.
The Winegard HD76 series antennas are made to operate on channels 7-69 and are smaller than the traditional 2-69 antennas. Our VP of Engineering played with a HD7694 a month or so back and said it worked very well and it is below $100 dollars.
VHF digital stations are still alive and well here in North Carolina. In every TV market in the state you can still find VHF stations. Downeast, three of the four major network affiliates remain on VHF post transition (the fourth, NBC requested their old VHF channel and were refused by the FCC). They are also very popular in Virginia and South Carolina. In this region, channel 8 seems to be the channel of choice with not only WGHP being on channel 8, but there are digital channel 8's in Columbia, SC, Morehead City, NC and Lewisburg, WV.
So before you throw in the towel on VHF over the air TV, give it a try with the correct VHF/UHF antenna. I think you will be quite surprised. Personally, living on the north side of Greensboro I choose to use a separate VHF and UHF antenna on my single story house for my over the air needs (that is the geek in me!). But the next time I replace my antennas, I will seriously look at that Winegard HD76 series VHF/UHF combo antenna. That is a sweet antenna for ALL CHANNEL TELEVISION in a simple, small package.
