How many channels can I get?

How many channels can I get?

One of the most often asked questions is “how many stations are there in my area?”   The answer varies, of course, with the larger metropolitan areas having the richest selection.

But there are a surprisingly large number of channels available even in the smaller markets.   Oddly enough, there are more channels available than there are stations to broadcast them.

How is this possible?  With analog technology one broadcast signal meant one  “channel” or in modern parlance one “stream”.    But with a digital signal, broadcasters suddenly gain room to roam.

Because of the way it is encoded, you can actually “multi-cast” a digital signal.   That is broadcast more than one “stream” on the same carrier signal.  These extra streams come through on your television receiver as “sub-channels,” with hyphens or decimals following the main channel designation as in 5-1, 5-2,  5-3…. and so on.

How many “sub-channels” can each station broadcast?

According to Charlie Allen, chief engineer for North Carolina public broadcasting (UNC-TV),  the current practical limit is one high definition signal along with three standard definition signals for a total of four separate streams.   This means four times the number of channels per station than with analogue.   So if you had seven stations in your area before the digital transition, you could have as many as 28 channels now available.

And some broadcasters have gotten even more mileage by dropping the high def signal to 720 so the actual number of “channels” you receive could be even higher.

So what are the broadcasters doing with these “extra” channels?

It’s a mix right now.  Many stations use the extra capacity for community affairs programming, twenty-four hour news and weather, and also some of the same things Cable does.   Cable channels can even migrate to broadcast by “renting” unused space.   In my area THIS network is broadcasting  movies over the air twenty-four seven and  there are several stations broadcasting a steady stream of nostalgia TV .    The possibilities are endless.

The future for free TV is bright.  The only dark spot is those annoying areas where the signal is weak, either because of obstructions or distance from the tower.   Next time we will talk about how these problems can and will be overcome.

Welcome to the Urban Freedom Blog where we will attempt to shed light on the new digital broadcast system and hopefully convince you to ditch cable and switch to free, over-the-air transmissions.

All you need is a good antenna

While this statement is true, you also need a little knowledge to put that antenna to work.  One of the most common issues for first time antenna users is understanding the set-up process.   We have heard from several of our customers the following remark.  “I hooked up my antenna and got nothing but static!  I tried it all over the house and nothing…not one dang channel!”

Okay, so the natural assumption is that the antenna simply doesn’t work or they are among the few, sad people that are in a dreaded broadcasting black hole.

Actually neither is the case.  In the early days of TV the set came from the factory all ready to go.   Just plug in the antenna, turn it on and tune in.   Then along came cable and the situation changed.

Now there is a choice.   The television must be set up for either cable or antenna reception.  It can’t do both at once.   You cannot simply remove the cable line, plug in an antenna and expect immediate reception.   Your television set needs to know what kind of signal is coming through the coaxial cable.

Resetting the television for over-the-air broadcast

Fortunately, this process is not difficult.  Using the “Menu” button on your remote, you enter “Set-up” where you will find a menu item that allows you to choose between Cable and Antenna.  Each type of TV is different so it is best to consult your manual or just roam around the set-up menu until you find where to make the switch.

Okay, now you’ve set the television to work with an antenna.  Great! You’re done, ready to go, right?  Nope.  You will still need to do a channel search.   The computer chip in your television must identify a list of available channels to feed to the tuner.  So, you will find another menu item called “Channel Search” which, once activated, takes several minutes to complete.  During this time the computer chip searches the airwaves for all available channels and reports the results as it goes.

At this point, your antenna location can make a big difference.   Let’s say you place your WallTenna right on the wall next to your set.   Then, you run a channel search and you find that you have 18 channels available.  Great!   Okay, now you move the antenna to a higher location or onto a window and search again.  This time you find you have 22 stations (or you might have fewer.)   The original location could be best one, but you will never know unless you try out several others.

While it’s not practical to try every possible location in your apartment or house, it’s worth trying a few different ones using simple these simple guidelines.

Higher is usually better.  Near or on a window is usually better.  If you know the location of your transmission towers (to find out go to Antennaweb.org and type in your address) then locate the WallTenna on the exterior wall nearest the towers.  If you can, locate the antenna on a second floor or even in the attic.  Remember, each time you move the antenna, you must do a new channel scan.

Think of it like a treasure hunt for more free content.  It’s surprising how many channels are out there and available.  Best of all, new channels come into being all the time.

In the next blog, we’ll talk about how digital broadcast works and exactly how many channels each station is allowed to broadcast.  (Hint, it’s no longer just one.)