Robert Reed wrote:I realized that I am in a fringe area and get an acceptable signal barely. Now with the problems of digital format I have been hearing about, I am wondering if these will work OK once the 'Switch" takes place.
This issue has been very poorly addressed by the PSAs and
popular media. After the switch over the
DTV stations will
increase their current power to match the same service area
of the obsolete analog transmitters.
Here is a
table from the FCCstating the channel assignments,
coverage area, and operating power. As I don't know your
QTH you'll have to look it up for yourself.
Robert Reed wrote:The whole idea of this change was to free up RF spectrum in thr 700 MHz band mainly for Public Safety Services.
Do you have a citation for this claim? Bandwidth above
'700MHz' was auctioned off for cellular telephone service.
Robert Reed wrote:Although greedy cell phone and internet services are trying to get their piece of the pie.
What happened to capitalism and free enterprise?
Wasn't the USA republic built on those values?
Robert Reed wrote:Another thing I find contradictive is the fact that one channel spacing may now consume up to 20 MHz of bandwith at times as compared to 6MHz of the former service.
Do you have a citation for this claim? This is not true.
The DTV channel spacing has not changed.
Co-channels remain in 6MHz slots. The FCC has
recinded channels 70 through 83. Lower channels are
not changed, they remain at 6MHz each, and transmit
compressed digital data that varies in bandwidth by
content and sub-channel programming controlled by
the broadcaster.