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Post by rdf8585 on Dec 21, 2009 2:37:39 GMT -5
How is over the air reception on those digital portable TV's that you can get? I wouldn't think it's too bad considering the Capital Region is a decent sized metro but I'm curious?
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Post by ebo on Dec 21, 2009 13:47:57 GMT -5
As with any TV, that depends on how close you are to the transmitters, what's in the way and whether you're using a suitable antenna for your particular situation. And of course the quality of the TV's tuner.
I had a brief chance to try out one of the 7" TVs (don't remember the brand; sorry) using rabbit ears and a loop mounted so as to receive all of the Helderberg stations. As expected it had no trouble tuning them. It also found WCDC, which the antennas are not aligned for and which an AutumnWave OnAir GT cannot receive. So the tuner was better than the LG 5th generation one in the GT. Probably on a par with the one in my Zenith DTT-901 converter (LG 6th gen) although I haven't tested that converter with that antenna system. The antennas are indoors about 15'-20' off the ground about 11 miles from the community tower and had to be very carefully adjusted to get WRGB after they moved their digital to channel 6.
Most of these portables come with a whip antenna. That may be good enough for UHF and perhaps even high VHF in a good signal area, but low VHF such as ch. 6 really needs a bigger antenna unless you're in a very strong signal area. Also, antennas close to the TV are often subject to interference from the TV and other electronics and to people moving around nearby. Better to mount it away from everything. That makes the TV much less portable.
These TVs are getting cheap enough to buy just to play with. I think I saw a local ad for one at about $65. I'd be tempted if I weren't already overloaded with digital tuners (I have 8, 6 of which can record to a hard drive).
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