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More Questions About DTV Answered

Posted: 5:12 pm EST November 8, 2008Updated: 7:45 am EST November 10, 2008

Most people still use a VHF antenna to get their current analog signal. But come February, they won't be able to get the digital signal without a UHF antenna. So how do you know if you have the right one?

"The pipes that come out of the antenna are called elements. On a VHF antenna there's only long elements. On a UHF one there's also short elements which are designed to pick up the digital signal," said WJAC's chief engineer Rob Abele.

Without a UFH antenna your TV will go black in February. Another common problem with antennas is finding just the right spot.

"For the best reception, the antenna has to be up on the rooftop, as far away from everything as possible, and at least five feet away from anything that's metal," said Abele.

If you got all of that and still have problems, it could be the type of cable you have. Make sure you stay away from the flat-line kind. What you need to use is the round, black cable called RG6. You can buy it at your local electronics store. It helps get the best possible connection and signal.

Pay close attention to your splitters, too. Each extra one you have actually causes a tremendous amount of signal loss. The more connections on the splitter, the more signal loss there is. Use a wrench to get the connectors on tight and make sure you change them if they get rusty from being outside.

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Tips, advice, questions, concerns? Talk analog-to-digital conversion here! Full Story ››


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