• In Columbus...Local channel's 3 -9-38 and 54 are reporting that they are now transmitting /Digital signals in a test mode. Most transmitting antenna's are low on the towers and transmitting power is very-very low.....Remember you'll have to have a good digital-amplified outside antenna, and if your present TV is a HD system then you'll need the special tuner to get the digital TV signal into your component inputs, however may HDTV sets bneing sold today have the digital TV tuners built in.

• When you buy your HDTV system make sure that on the back of the set, there are 2 and better yet 3 "Component Inputs or DVI Inputs". These are vital for HDTV reception...one is used for your DVD player One for your satellte/cable receiver, one for your TV antenna converter. There are a lot of sets at unreal prices but usually are short in component and digital inputs. Stay away from using A/V receivers to increase the number of component inputs, anytime you reprocess you have a purity problem!!

With the advent of Digital HDTV in Columbus, I am finding it is ever so important to have an antenna system that can boresite the TV transmitter....I notice that just turning the roof antenna just a few degrees off center drops the signal considerably...I think the days of a single TV antenna splitting the path between the channel 3-9 sigtnals and channel 38-54 are gone......Programmable computer driven rotators work very well as they can move from and to each station transmitter and optimize the signal for the best reception. I am asked what happens when your not boresighted on the TV transmitter during a digital transmission...first you may see picture freeze frame and pixel drop out...ot may loose the audio carrier, where as your receiver will try to scan and see where the audio format is....(not good)....

NAB & CEA tips!!

Myth: I already have Digital Television because I have digital cable.

Fact: No you don't. Digital cable is not Digital TV (DTV). DTV is received via free over-the-air digital signals. Digital TV has the capability to offer consumers five times the resolution than that of the current analog signal. Digital cable does not.

Myth: High-definition Television (HDTV) means "Digital Television."

Fact: While HDTV signals deliver the highest quality of DTV visually and aurally, it is only one benefit to DTV. In addition to HDTV, Digital TV can offer a second type of signal, Standard-Definition Television (SDTV). The magic of SDTV is that it gives broadcasters the flexibility to multicast programming, bringing viewers three times more over-the-air content. Digital TV's multicasting ability gives viewers expanded choice in television programs broadcast from the same station at the same time. For example, with multicasting, viewers can choose to watch the news, sports, a sitcom or children's programming coming from the same station at 5 p.m.

Myth: Once broadcasters transition from analog to digital, analog televisions will be obsolete.

Fact: No. Set-top boxes are available now and will continue to be available to consumers after the transition is complete. However, to reap the full benefits of Digital TV, including superior sound and clarity, you must own a Digital TV set. An analog television, with the addition of a set-top box, will still allow viewers to enjoy all of the programming they have always enjoyed in addition to the benefits of Digital TV including multicasting, enhanced sound quality and datacasting available through digital broadcasting.

Myth: You can't see a big difference between analog TV and DTV.

Fact: Viewers can't ignore the dramatic improvements offered by the digital television conversion. Visually, HDTV captures viewers with crystal clear resolution and razor sharp detail. Individual hairs, labels on footballs and the subtle effect of wind blowing through grass are all clearly visible through HDTV. Also, the resolution provides an image akin to movie-theater screens. Combined with the capacity to deliver enhanced Dolby Digital surround sound, HDTV produces an advanced home theater effect. Digital TV automatically provides viewers with sharper images, better sound, and more viewing options than have ever been available over the air.