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Lost In Translation: DTV Not Working For Everybody

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By RICHARD MULLINS

rmullins@tampatrib.com

Published: February 22, 2009

James Spencer did everything right.

He ordered his $40 coupon from the government for a digital TV converter box.

He bought a box and hooked it up correctly to his old analog TV.

But several of the major TV stations in town still don't appear on his TV screen, including the PBS affiliate WEDU and NBC affiliate WFLA. He's tried reloading his box, rescanning for available channels, adjusting his antennas — everything that experts say to do.

"It just gets stuck and the screen says 'No Signal,'" Spencer said. "It's been that way for two months now, real frustrating."

This, even though Spencer lives near Busch Gardens — not the boondocks and just a few miles from the cluster of TV broadcast antennas that serve the Tampa Bay area.

The problem Spencer faces is that he's stuck in a frustrated group of TV viewers left behind by the switch to digital TV. They're doing everything right, but for one reason or another, digital TV just won't work for them.

Digital broadcasting was supposed to be an upgrade from the decades-old analog TV system. It was supposed to look better, have better reception and more features, and work much better than analog TV. Unlike the fuzzy reception analog TVs may have in rural areas, digital signals were supposed to be clear, or not be there at all.

Reality turned out different.

Mike Judge, who lives near the beaches in St. Petersburg, has a powerful TV antenna bolted to the outside of his house and watches local TV for the weather. The public broadcasting stations seem to come in fine. "But other channels only come in periodically," he said. "I keep resetting the box to scan for channels, and sometimes they come in crystal clear, then not at all."

Howard Upcraft of Zephyrhills receives several digital TV channels, but not WFLA. The Fox and ABC affiliates seem to break up as well – even though he bought and installed a brand new $32 rooftop antenna.

Abdul Jabar of Palmetto also has a rooftop antenna, but has channels missing from his lineup.

"No matter what I do, it doesn't work as promised," Jabar said "Seems like a colossal waste of money. Some people say I need a more sensitive antenna. If so, the government should have at least provided resources for that."

The Federal Communications Commission has set up a Web site to show theoretical signal quality at different addresses. That system says TV signals should be clear for Spencer in Tampa, Judge in St. Petersburg and Jabar in Palmetto. But channels just don't appear.

"We're hearing more reports of people who did everything right, but don't get all the channels," said Laura Sage, a spokeswoman for WEDU.

She pointed to a few different culprits. First, she said, not all DTV boxes are created equal. Consumer Reports and The Tampa Tribune recently reviewed boxes and found some performed better than others. For example, the Magnavox model sold by Wal-Mart didn't pull in as many channels as the Insignia model sold by Best Buy.

"It's possible that after they try fixing everything else, they'll need to get up on their roof and adjust that antenna again," Sage said, "even if it's been working well for years." TV fans also may need newer or more sensitive antennas.

Unfortunately for anyone trying to return their DTV box for another model, retail stores won't refund the value of any coupon used to buy the first box. Customers will have to pay full price for a new box.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

•First, follow your DTV box instructions to rescan for available channels.

•If you use a rooftop antenna, try adjusting its direction.

•Try connecting your antenna in a different side of the house.

•Try using a more powerful antenna. First, try off-the-shelf indoor antennas.

•Test another brand of converter box. Their quality differs.

Reporter Richard Mullins can be reached at (813) 259-7919.

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