antennaweb.org confusion : Pl help

I was looking at the channel listing for our area ( ZIP 30024 ).
I had the following confusion. If somebody could pl clarify them -
even partially - I will be very grateful.
1. What is the difference between "Channel" ( 4th column )
and "Frequency Assiganment" ( last column ). For the analog stations
they were both the same. Does this mean that DTV can assign
the "channels" to an arbitrary channels, irrespective of the
frequency of transmission ?
Some of them ( Eg : - WTBS [ channel 17 ]) gives "channel" as a
whole number ( 17 ) for the analog transmission, whereas the DTV is
given as a close decimal number ( 17.1 )


2. Also somebody told me that most of the stations are UHF and that
there is no need to spend money on a VHF antenna. Is this true (
both with respect to DTV and analog stations ).

3. In general, are VHF antennas more costly than the UHF ones ?

4. Are VHF antennas more sensitive to direction than the UHF ones.

Thanks for reading.
--nw

"Norris Watkins" wrote (in part):

1. What is the difference between "Channel" ( 4th column )
and "Frequency Assiganment" ( last column ). For the analog stations
they were both the same. Does this mean that DTV can assign
the "channels" to an arbitrary channels, irrespective of the
frequency of transmission ?

Yes. In my area, WRGB (CBS) broadcasts analog on channel 6. Their
digital carrier is on channel 39, but its two channels, one HD, one
SD, appear as 6-1 and 6-2. Actually, 6-2 is UPN, probably because the
local affiliate has no money for their own digital transmission (they
can barely manage analog). There's also a 6-3 but I've never seen
anything on it.

Some of them ( Eg : - WTBS [ channel 17 ]) gives "channel" as a
whole number ( 17 ) for the analog transmission, whereas the DTV is
given as a close decimal number ( 17.1 )

As noted above, digital transmissions can have multiple channels per
carrier. Most seem to be doing one HD (1080i or 720p) and one SD
(480i).

2. Also somebody told me that most of the stations are UHF and that
there is no need to spend money on a VHF antenna. Is this true (
both with respect to DTV and analog stations ).

AntennaWeb says you have two VHF digitals, NBC Atlanta on 10 and PBS
Athens on 12. You also have PBS Atlanta on UHF, so you might settle
for that. They probably have different schedules, though. I've read
that VHF digitals are temporary and eventually they will all be UHF.
You'll have to decide if it's worth it to you. But unless you're in a
shadow you shouldn't need much of an antenna to get VHF digitals 25
miles away. Rabbit ears might even work; worth a try.

3. In general, are VHF antennas more costly than the UHF ones ?

Yes, because the elements are bigger. But don't pay more for a
"digital" antenna; there's no difference.

4. Are VHF antennas more sensitive to direction than the UHF ones.

I'd say less so. Also less trouble with hills and buildings in the
way. How's your reception on analog channels 2 and 5? They seem to
be located about where the NBC digital is.

E. Ogden
where yymm is the current year and month

"E. Ogden" wrote in message
...
"Norris Watkins" wrote (in part):

1. What is the difference between "Channel" ( 4th column )
and "Frequency Assiganment" ( last column ). For the analog stations
they were both the same. Does this mean that DTV can assign
the "channels" to an arbitrary channels, irrespective of the
frequency of transmission ?

Yes. In my area, WRGB (CBS) broadcasts analog on channel 6. Their
digital carrier is on channel 39, but its two channels, one HD, one
SD, appear as 6-1 and 6-2. Actually, 6-2 is UPN, probably because the
local affiliate has no money for their own digital transmission (they
can barely manage analog). There's also a 6-3 but I've never seen
anything on it.


Thanks a real lot Ogden :
I understand now that the digital channels are mapped to their analog
counterpart with .1, .2 etc added
Like in my case real 17 is analog WTBS, and DTV channel appearing on
frequency 20 is mapped to 17.1
( Had there been multiple channels on 20, they would have appeared as 17.1,
17.2, etc )

In your case UPN has leased the WRGB guys, and appear as one of their sub
channels.
In summary, there can be multiple sub channels but there can be only one
tower for the main frequency.
IOW it is NOT possible that UPN has one tower, transmitting on 39 - mapped
to 6-2 AND WRGB to transmit on 39 - mapped to 6-1

Did I get that right.



4. Are VHF antennas more sensitive to direction than the UHF ones.

I'd say less so. Also less trouble with hills and buildings in the
way. How's your reception on analog channels 2 and 5? They seem to
be located about where the NBC digital is.



Did you mean VHF antennas are less sensitive ?
I thought, with all the sophisticated elements and arrangements, VHF antenna
should be aiming exactly at the station.

Currently I do not have analog tuner.
Actually I m just trying to figure out what best antenna to buy, so as to
replace the crappy CM stleath antenna I currently have. ( I got it installed
with the Voom free )

Thanks again for taking time to respond
--nw

"Norris Watkins" wrote (in part):

In summary, there can be multiple sub channels but there can be only one
tower for the main frequency.
IOW it is NOT possible that UPN has one tower, transmitting on 39 - mapped
to 6-2 AND WRGB to transmit on 39 - mapped to 6-1

Did I get that right.

Sounds right to me. Although I wouldn't say anything is impossible;
when you do that, people are determined to prove you wrong, and
eventually someone succeeds. But for two transmitters to share the
same digital bouquet (yes, that's the official term for a multichannel
transmission; I don't like it either), they would have to be exactly
synchronized. It would be very complicated and not worth it except
maybe to prove a point.

But several transmitters can feed several antennas on the same tower.
That's what they're doing here and, I suspect, in many places. That's
a big help: stations can share tower costs, and viewers can point
their antennas in one direction.

4. Are VHF antennas more sensitive to direction than the UHF ones.

I'd say less so. Also less trouble with hills and buildings in the
way. How's your reception on analog channels 2 and 5? They seem to
be located about where the NBC digital is.

Did you mean VHF antennas are less sensitive ?
I thought, with all the sophisticated elements and arrangements, VHF antenna
should be aiming exactly at the station.

Less sensitive to direction, i.e. less directional. VHF stations are
usually easier to receive than UHF, which is why analog broadcasters
always wanted to be on VHF if they could.

Currently I do not have analog tuner.

Wow, you _are_ a newbie to television. That, or you've shown
remarkable self-control all these years.

Actually I m just trying to figure out what best antenna to buy, so as to
replace the crappy CM stleath antenna I currently have. ( I got it installed
with the Voom free )

What's your experience with Voom? I've read billing horror stories
and they always seem on the verge of going belly up. Now that I have
HD I want to pick up one or more movie channels (HBO at least) until a
better form of HD movie distribution comes along (HD-DVD or whatever).
My choices are small-dish satellite and cable. Can't do a BUD; too
many trees (wish I could, then just pay for what I want). Must be
able to record in HD or I'm not interested. When they enforce copy
protection and prevent me from recording, I'll drop my subscriptions
and forget about it.

E. Ogden
where yymm is the current year and month

"Norris Watkins" wrote in message
...
I was looking at the channel listing for our area ( ZIP 30024 ).
I had the following confusion. If somebody could pl clarify them -
even partially - I will be very grateful.
1. What is the difference between "Channel" ( 4th column )
and "Frequency Assiganment" ( last column ). For the analog stations
they were both the same. Does this mean that DTV can assign
the "channels" to an arbitrary channels, irrespective of the
frequency of transmission ?
Some of them ( Eg : - WTBS [ channel 17 ]) gives "channel" as a
whole number ( 17 ) for the analog transmission, whereas the DTV is
given as a close decimal number ( 17.1 )

Yep... you got it.

DTV channel ID's don't have to be the same as their frequency "channels"...
so here in Richmond

Analog channel 6 (CBS) is DT channel 25-1 which really is UHF channel 25
but analog channel 12 (NBC) is DT channel 12-1 but actually is on UHF
channel 54
and of course the local NBC affiliate multicasts the local radar on 12-3 as
well

What could be simpler? Especially when you are initially tuning in and
setting up your antenna.


2. Also somebody told me that most of the stations are UHF and that
there is no need to spend money on a VHF antenna. Is this true (
both with respect to DTV and analog stations ).

True for my area - all the HD channels are UHF

3. In general, are VHF antennas more costly than the UHF ones ?

don't know

4. Are VHF antennas more sensitive to direction than the UHF ones.

don't know

=

Currently I do not have analog tuner.

Wow, you _are_ a newbie to television. That, or you've shown
remarkable self-control all these years.


Actually I was using satellite. I currently have 3 satellite systems -
dishnetwork, Voom and Globecast ( gets me EuroNews )
dishnetwork was providing me with locals till now ( of course no HD )






Actually I m just trying to figure out what best antenna to buy, so as to
replace the crappy CM stleath antenna I currently have. ( I got it
installed
with the Voom free )

What's your experience with Voom?


I m quite surprised that there had been so many stories. I just love it. Of
course its the only one with so many HD channels.
With around the same price I also get all the other cable channels I like -
like CNN, foxnews etc.
They also installed this OTA antenna without any cost.
And I LOVE soccer. They have an almost 24 hour soccer channel.

I cannot live without it. Its ll be sad if they fold.
( OK secret : Try out playboy HD. Man it rocks )

If you want, they will install it free. If you do not like it, you can ask
them to take it away. No commitment.
With 8PSK modulation and an expected MPG4 encoding, they have plenty of
bandwidth.

Thanks again for your help
--nw


I've read billing horror stories
and they always seem on the verge of going belly up. Now that I have
HD I want to pick up one or more movie channels (HBO at least) until a
better form of HD movie distribution comes along (HD-DVD or whatever).
My choices are small-dish satellite and cable. Can't do a BUD; too
many trees (wish I could, then just pay for what I want). Must be
able to record in HD or I'm not interested. When they enforce copy
protection and prevent me from recording, I'll drop my subscriptions
and forget about it.

E. Ogden
where yymm is the current year and month