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. |s the antenna
| use for existing
TV reception
good enough
for DTV?
Over-the-air (OTA) digital TV broadcasting uses the same channeJs as analog TV and works well with
many existing TV antennas. However, DTV broadcast channeJ assignments are different than anaJog
channeJs. You shouJd find out whether your JocaJDTV broadcasts are on VHF (channeJs 2-13) or UHF
(channds 14-69) to see if you need a different antenna.
If your DTV channels are on UHF and you aJready get good UHF reception, your present antenna may
work fine. The same hdds true for VHF DTV reception. Note that in some markets, both VHF and UHF
channeJs are used for DTV broadcasts.
You can find out the Jatest DTV channd assignments for your area by browsing sdected Internet web
sites such as www.titantv.com
and www.kc.gov.
2. How difficult
is it to receive
DTV signals
indoors?
This depends on whether your JocaJDTV stations are running fuji power or not and how close your
Jocation is to the transmission tower. DTV receivers do not require as much signaJ as anaJog TV
receivers to produce high-quaJity images and sound.
Once the DTV signaJ JeveJexceeds a certain threshoJd at the receiver, the digitaJ video and audio data
is decoded at the same quaJity it was originaJJy encoded for broadcast.
This is a big advantage for DTV over anaJog TV- there is no noise, ghosting, static, or scratchy audio.
3. How can | connect an antenna
in my townhouse,
co-operative
apartment,
condominium,
or apartment?
The FederaJ Communications Commission's OTARD Rub (part of the TeJecommunications Act of 1996)
aJJows residents of condominiums, townhouse, or members of neighborhood associations to put up
outside antennas for reception of broadcast TV signaJs as Jong as those antennas are not Jocated in
common areas and are no more than 12 _ in height.
Residents of rentaJ units (apartments, etc.) are not covered by the OTARD ruJes and wiJJ have to use
indoor antennas to receive DTV broadcasts. It is possible that the JandJord of an apartment compJex
can provide broadcast DTV signaJs via a master TV antenna system to each apartment.
4. Can | connect my DTV set-top
receiver
to my cable TV service?
CabJe TV systems use a different method for transmitting digital TV programs that is currently
incompatibJe with broadcast DTV set-top receivers. So you wiJJ stiJJneed to use an outdoor or indoor
antenna to receive OTA broadcast DTV programs.
The good news is that you won't have to pay a monthJy or per-program charge to watch OTA DTV and
HDTV programs. They're free, unJike subscription sateJJiteTV or premium cabJe TV. AJJyou need is an
antenna and a DTV set-top receiver to enjoy dear, sharp widescreen images and high-quaJity audio.
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