HDTV Forum

Akirby-see link for channel allotments.

http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Engineering_ ... t8002a.pdf

Thanks for the link. That shows the current assignments but when do the stations have to decide which channel to use permanently after 2009 and where will that be posted?

The govt. is already setting into process the sale of the unused channels. As far as I know, these are the final allottments.

But the auctioned channels are at the top end of the UHF spectrum. e.g. in Atlanta WSB uses analog vhf 2 and digital uhf 39. It's my understanding they can choose to keep 39 for DTV or move it to 2 when the analog signal currently on channel 2 is turned off in 2009.

That's not my understanding-see this link.

http://www.transmitter.com/FCC97115/chanplan.html

Unless final means something different from what I think it means.

jjkilleen wrote:That's not my understanding-see this link.

http://www.transmitter.com/FCC97115/chanplan.html

Unless final means something different from what I think it means.

Final in that document refers to the final channel assignment during transition. According to this article what I stated was correct and each station can change their permanent ATSC channels after 2/2009.

e.g. KCAL in LA currently uses 9 NTSC and 43 ATSC. They plan to move back to 9. KCBS currently uses 2 NTSC and 60 ATSC. They plan to move to 43 for ATSC which is being vacated by KCAL.

http://www.hdtvexpert.com/pages_b/MusicalChairs.html

Wow-just when you think you've got it all figured out-Wham! Thanks. So, on 2/18/09, some people will be trying to figure out where their HD went! A lot of people are already having problems picking-up all the OTA. If they start changing from UHF to VHF on 2/18, there'll be another round of looking for channels.

Believe it or not, there is an advantage in having an external OTL tuner. Some of these tuners (the Pro-Brand Digital Stream 3150-Plus, for example, which has an HTMI output) have a channel guide feature. If you walk through the availble channels, information from the PSIP on each is retained any you get a nice, free program guide. (This receiver is no longer made, but is easily obtained on eBay by looking for "HD3150.")

A second advantage might be the ability to record one channel while watching another, but DVRs that accept HDMI or component are not easy to come by.

Are these advantages enough to overcome the hassle of another box, another remote, and the cost of such a tuner? Well, that's not my call.

You may want to review my suggestions in the following forum posting:
"" Does an ATSC RF modulator exist like we had for NTSC? ""
viewtopic.php?p=29233#29233

Thanks to the encouragement and knowledge on this board, I took the plunge for the HDTV. The analog reception is better on the new set and we receive 4-5 digital channels as well! Even one from 100 miles distant. Also surprised that several Canadian stations are already online with digital.