DTV observations and mutterings

[KyDan]

We have a digital LCD TV in our new trailer.
I used to be a purist and didn't want a TV on a camping
trip but I've come around.

Examples of when I am not against a TV in a camping trailer are
Bad weather episodes- seeing local radar can be highly desirable
Long nights- it gets dark at 5:30 in the winter and I can only
stand to sit by the fire for so long
Rainy days and nights- this week we camped 3 days and it rained
ALL day one day. We had thunder storms and tornado watches so
TV was good for weather info and alerts. A weather radio is a nice
thing too but seeing the live radar is extra nice sometimes.

Anyway, we found that digital TV or DTV is like a (digital)
cell phone. Either you have a signal or you don't.
It's not at all like analog where you can have a snowy picture
but still a picture. With digital it goes from PERFECT DVD
quality picture to blank screen and back as the storms and miles
block the signal.
Overall it is better IMO. For example, my TV has analog and digital
capability. Our analog signal was snowy with some static due
to the distance from the station. Our digital was perfect most
of the time. During the worst of the storm it was fine but
went out briefly later when the storms moved closer to the
transmitter.

If you currently have analog TV and are going to use it
next year, you need to get the coupon from the government.
With that you can purchase a digital converter at Walmart
for about 10 bucks.
One caveat-- if you decide to return the converter, they will
not give your coupon back so you get your 10 bucks back but
then you have no converter box and no more coupon

I -believe- that you will find you can watch a good/perfect picture
in places where you had mediocre analog signal if you switch
to digital.

My DTV and converter box discussion ONLY APPLIES TO ANTENNA
reception. This does apply to rabbit ears also.
If you have cable or satellite, you will not need a converter
box. If you watch cable TV in your camp ground you don't need
a converter box.

If you're using your trailer TV antenna and wall box amplifier
it should work ok with a converter box or digital ready TV.

[Rockinwood]

Originally Posted by KyDan

We have a digital LCD TV in our new trailer.
I used to be a purist and didn't want a TV on a camping
trip but I've come around.

Examples of when I am not against a TV in a camping trailer are
Bad weather episodes- seeing local radar can be highly desirable
Long nights- it gets dark at 5:30 in the winter and I can only
stand to sit by the fire for so long
Rainy days and nights- this week we camped 3 days and it rained
ALL day one day. We had thunder storms and tornado watches so
TV was good for weather info and alerts. A weather radio is a nice
thing too but seeing the live radar is extra nice sometimes.

Anyway, we found that digital TV or DTV is like a (digital)
cell phone. Either you have a signal or you don't.
It's not at all like analog where you can have a snowy picture
but still a picture. With digital it goes from PERFECT DVD
quality picture to blank screen and back as the storms and miles
block the signal.
Overall it is better IMO. For example, my TV has analog and digital
capability. Our analog signal was snowy with some static due
to the distance from the station. Our digital was perfect most
of the time. During the worst of the storm it was fine but
went out briefly later when the storms moved closer to the
transmitter.

If you currently have analog TV and are going to use it
next year, you need to get the coupon from the government.
With that you can purchase a digital converter at Walmart
for about 10 bucks.
One caveat-- if you decide to return the converter, they will
not give your coupon back so you get your 10 bucks back but
then you have no converter box and no more coupon

I -believe- that you will find you can watch a good/perfect picture
in places where you had mediocre analog signal if you switch
to digital.

My DTV and converter box discussion ONLY APPLIES TO ANTENNA
reception. This does apply to rabbit ears also.
If you have cable or satellite, you will not need a converter
box. If you watch cable TV in your camp ground you don't need
a converter box.

If you're using your trailer TV antenna and wall box amplifier
it should work ok with a converter box or digital ready TV.

Very good points and info,

Digital is not good for everybody though, I am in the Television repair business, and we have communitys in the foothills, they cannot pick up digital even with an outside amplified ant, with analog they could get a watchable signal a little snowy but ok for them.


So for us campers in the Mountains on a rainy night, keep the ant down and watch a DVD.
now with the transistion they will have to go with satellite, and be forced to pay, (some cant afford) It is too bad the Government didnt think this out a little IMHO Dont get me wrong , I use the Hd/ digital, but it is not good for everyone

[revrnd]

Since my TV is NTSC & not ATSC, I guess I'll have to get a converter box if I don't want to set up my sat' dish. Can anyone recommend a DTV converter that is reliable & readily available? From what I've read elsewhere, the supposedly good Zenith "boxes" are hard to find & a lot of what is out there isn't very reliable.

[NWJeeper]

Add 'lousy fishing' to the list of reasons to have TV in the rig. Glad you came around Dan.