Digital TV sucks

[Mukilteo]

I haven't had a TV for years. Don't want one.
Here is a good clip frpn the movie Network that I like.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5Gf0VKXk5Q

[GPW]

One point is , watching TV while camping is Ok, if you need to do that , but on EVAC, we depended on the TV to find out what’s going on at home ... If you can’t pick up a signal , you’re basically left guessing what’s going on ... The old TV would broadcast in a WIDE area ,transmitting News and WEATHER ... now local stations can’t be picked up more than a few miles from town , less if there’s hills or obstructions to the line of sight signal ...
So Basically , you’re FORCED to BUY a signal from somewhere ... We were sold out again ... No more Free information ... That was the whole point of this .... MONEY ...
The bandwidth of old TV was parceled off to make more room for the ever expanding Cell phone companies ... All done by the cell company LOBBYISTS and cable companies .. who “influenced “ ($) our supposed leaders in their favor ... Whenever government interferes, the price always goes up and the quality goes down ... Example : Digital TV ... which was promised to be innovation , but was a sad disappointment over the old reliable service ... I only live a few miles from the stations antennas , but even trees block the signal ...
So now you all can just go BUY your entertainment or information ... which is also TAXED, and makes money for everybody ...It’s all about the Money .... You have to remember whose administration came up with this , the same that removed many of our personal freedoms ... and ruined our economy ... all in pursuit of Profit for the very few .

[linuxmanxxx]

Read my post above. With digital the quality of the antenna is very important. Rabbit ears are useless and shouldn't even be on the market anymore. There are hoa that won't even allow antennas because its assumed everyone will have cable or satellite on the back of their houses hidden. It did cause a bandwidth bidding war but also was the only way high def could be broadcast and the non hd tv is history.

[CarlLaFong]

When I went into fixed income mode a few years ago, I dumped my dish and went back to an antenna. 65 bucks a month for basic service is a ripoff. I get about 100 stations now for free. Granted, 25 or 30 are foreign language, another half dozen are religious nuts selling anointed dish cloths and a few are just boring, I get all of the regular commercial stations here in LA county and a pretty good selection of PBS and other stuff. The digital reception is pretty good, but sometimes the pic and sound pixilates, usually at a critical plot juncture. The problem was much worse until a wind storm blew my old antenna down. I went to Radio Shack and bought a new one for about 80 bucks. So far, so good.
When we go out in the trailer, we grab all of our favorite DVDs, since TV is always iffy in the boonies or out on the road

[Reddiver]

http://store.gomohu.com/the-leaf-indoor ... tenna.html I have had good results from this .

[jeff0520]

The only electronics we take camping are a cell phone (which is left turned off except for emergencies,and the occasional weather report check,) and my laptop for the gaming database I use to run Dungeons and Dragons campaigns. If I want to watch TV I'll stay home. One of the joys of camping for me is to escape from the electronic jungle.

[Reddiver]

I agree about watching TV camping I built in caoabilities to install a TV in my TD , but refuse to do it.. I watch enough TV when at home camping I like to listen to music and read..
I was thinking I wish we had a like button on here like facebook .

[Richard A.]

Yes, the range of digital TV is less than analog ... but we are stuck with it.

I added a TV to my teardrop and like it very much. For reception, I agree, that the quality of the antenna is paramount.

After much searching on the 'net I decided to go for this:



http://www.amazon.com/Winegard-FreeVision-FV-30BB-HDTV-Antenna/dp/B003L76BJS/ref=sr_1_39?ie=UTF8&qid=1341081383&sr=8-39&keywords=digital+tv+antenna

It works AMAZINGLY! (check out the feedback/reviews) Note that I get it up as high as I can by mounting it on a 15 ft "painters pole" and putting that pole in a Radio Shack tripod mount.

[beverlyt]

Thanks for all the replies. I have pretty much decided not to bother bringing the portable "emergency" tv along camping.

It will be interesting however, next time my elderly parents are hit with a hurricane that knocks out all forms of communication as happened a few years ago, if they can rely on digital tv as they did their analog.
They used their little analog tv with D batteries every day for local news. Time will tell if they will get the same from a portable digital tv with the same small antenna. Somehow... I'm thinking they will be on their own.

Bev

(And Richard...if I decide to try again, it will be the antenna you mentioned. Thank you for that:)

[GPW]

QUOTE : “ Yes, the range of digital TV is less than analog ... but we are stuck with it.” Thing is , Nobody asked us did they .... The Corporate Money did the talking to the FCC... Wonder how many new TV sales were generated by the new change ... They certainly sold a lot of converters , partially paid with our tax money , the rest by us ... So we paid twice for something that sorta’ works ... sometimes ... Another example of Vulture Capitalism ...
Bev, we are in a similar situation , OLD, and if on EVAC , now we will have to BUY our information ...

No matter what antenna/ pole you have , it won’t penetrate trees or go over a hill ... ... "but we are stuck with it."

[48Rob]

If I want to watch TV I'll stay home. One of the joys of camping for me is to escape from the electronic jungle.

Sounds like a good plan, for you.

I love nature, spend most every day immersed in it, but when I come home, children and grand children and family in general take the stage.

When I go camping/touring/whatever it is called now, I hike, I walk, I chase the wild animals and have "nature" experience during the day.
When Night time comes though, after dinner and enjoying the fire for a while, I turn on the TV.
I don't do it to escape nature, but because while in "nature" (over populated campgrounds) I have the rare opportunity to watch a show or movie without interruption or noise.
A minor thing for some perhaps, but being able to hear every word, to understand the plot, is a simple pleasure.
That said, watching "tv" is an aggravation in itself, with all the commercials, etc.
I bring movies or recorded shows now.
Works well.
Rob

[Flash]

I agree with most of the comments above. I enjoy camping to "un-plug" myself for a few days.
Now, I will tell you I'm a new radio head, So I do have a wide band radio, and a 200Channel scanner I'm installing
in my teardrop. I don't need pictures, But in the event of a Emergency, I've got all the gear I need
to find out where the zombies are coming from...LOL.

But, the scanner does serve two functions, communications and weather radio.
The Shortwave radio, a CCrane SW, provides the music, and info that I need.

[8ball_99]

I have to disagree 100%. Digital is SO much better. The picture is crystal clear no static. Most stations now broadcast substations so I pick up several new stations in the same area's. Like others said though you need a good antenna. My antenna on my cargo trailer is a winegard Road star. Its Omnidirectional so no adjusting pointing ect. A decent antenna goes a long way. A lot of the ones you pic up at walmart, ect are junk. The only real downside is it either works or not. You won't get a channel with static here and there and a snow storm from time to time.. Its either crystal clear and working or it doesn't come in. I'm ok with that cause I couldn't stand to watch fuzzy channel anyway...

As far as the going camping to unplug.. We don't really watch much tv. Its nice to have it there if you need/want it. Staying in a trailer its kinda of nice to flip on the weather and See where and whats going on vs hearing it on a radio. We already live out in the country with a little bit of land, horses, chickens, pond, trees, ect. So its not like we go to escape the city or suburb living. We spend plenty of time sitting out in the yard watching the trees blow. We go camping for fun and to go trail riding up in the mountains. Sitting around a fire under the stars is pretty much the same if we are at home or camping. Infact at home its Much quieter and far less people around then most places we ever camp at. Besides get stuck in the trailer for several hours on a rainy day and a little TV time can really help.

[pete42]

I use a phillips digital amplified antenna works very well.
I have a yagi antenna and a alfa wifi outfit that I use in some campgrounds for wifi.
here at the old homestead I get two wifi stations without antenna and 10 with the yagi antenna
while some don't watch TV since when I travel I'm gone a couple months at a time so I like to have TV.
and wifi to run my computer so far never been out of cell phone range.

pete

[2bits]

As far as being informed, I can live without hearing who killed who or what political debate went viral blah blah, that is where the vacation comes in. As far as falling back on the emergency aspect when the suggestion is to unplug or bring a DVD, how is your phone signal or the internet on your phone? If there is terrible weather, you may be able to call dear old dad or whomever and have them give you the scoop, or look up the radar on the phone. I will save my opinion on TV in general. Otherwise, don't go camping during the Superbowl