Do I need a new antenna to receive Digital TV in Elgin Il.?

Question

I have an Analog Antenna at the present time

Answer 1

If you have digital cable like Comcast or satellite. you wouldn't need a digital tv to watch tv. If you just have a regular tv not hooked up to any cable (and this includes having a cable wire hooked into the back of the tv) than yeah, you'll need it. And by 2009 all tv's will go digital. No need to worry though, they'll be selling digital converters this year so you won't lose your signal. All those "Dtv answers" commercials seem so dramatic, but don't worry. It'll be fine! LOL Hope I helped. Don't listen to the first poster, someone obviously got coal in their stocking this year!

Your friend from Berwyn, IL

~Randy~

Answer 2

If you get good analog reception with your current antenna, you probably don't need a new antenna. Digital TV broadcasts are more fussy than analog, so if your analog reception is marginal, you will probably need a better antenna.

Just remember, the idea that there are special digital or "HD antennas" is just marketing hype. In the US analog & digital broadcasts use the same frequencies and antennas treat them the same.

If you do need a new antenna, one item to consider is whether the stations you watch will all be in the UHF range (analog channels 14-69) or will some be in the VHF range (analog channels 2-13). Unlike analog TV, you cannot tell which frquency range a station is transmitting at by it's channel #.

You can find the current "real" (also called "RF" or "actual")channels by entering your location at the first link below.

Some stations are going to switch their "real" frequencies after the analog cutoff on 2/17/09. The government has a cryptic list of these assigments at the second link.

Answer 3

Duh, you need a digital receiver.