My DTV experience

['aj Garan, Son of Rajuc]

I just got my DTV box which is a Access HD DTA 1080 (cheap box). The box gets hot as hell, typical of the model I guess. I have the box in an open area for better ventilation. I'm planning on getting a better one later, I have another $40 coupon to use.

I just got a Philips (MANT310) HDTV antenna. I actually like this antenna. It has a built in 30db amplifier that really helps getting more channels and improves the picture quality of some channels that I already get. A lot of channels are maxing out at 100 percent signal. Sometimes I have to turn the amplification down, because it overloads the signal. When it's overloaded I get distortion waves going across my TV screen.

I have a center loop and two dipoles on this antenna, for channels 2-6 I have to extend the dipoles. Channels 7-13 I have to shorten them by 1/3 length. This is for VHF reception. For UHF reception of channels 14-69, I have to retract the dipoles and rotate the center loop towards the station transmitter (wherever that is) to adjust the reception.

With DTV, you get other channels, that are part of the main channel. For example, I got 11-1, 11-2, 11-3, etc. Each of them may be on the same network, but have different programming. The most unique channel that I'm receiving that I didn't get before is RTN network, which is has a lot of black and white shows that I never heard of before, along with other shows that are in color. The show on right now is called Emergency!, so you can say these goofy hospital shows copied from this one. lol. Also, the A-Team is coming on later tonight at 8 PM EST, I think.

Well, that's my DTV experience so far.

[la' Kaylana Dok' Marr]

DTV is a pain in the butt for those who have no cable. I don't get why the government required it but ya'll got 27 days to get on the program before it is offically the worlds most stupidist way to get TV. I'm sorry even in Europe they don't require DTV to view public channels. But then again US is known for lugery and unnessary products that serve no purpose but to make people want to be richer then what goes past the basics of living.

That's my rant about DTV.

['aj Garan, Son of Rajuc]

Even though the equipment is a one-time expense, it's somewhat expensive. I got the DTV box with the $40 coupon, so it wasn't too bad. The antenna with the 30db amplifier built in, costed me a little over $30.

DTV is a pain, when the signal is weak, the show gets grainy and pixelated, which is quite often. The audio has a slight buzz to it, which is annoying.

In order to get any low power stations in my area, that are not digital, I have to shut off the box and switch to regular TV, through my VCR.

The only thing I really like is RTN, that I can't get on normal analog TV. So that's a good thing if you ask me.