Mark Schubin wrote: >> Seems to me that anyone depending on NTSC to begin >> with will have a leg up on transitioning. Because >> they will already have had to figure out how to get >> good reception of OTA stations. > > I don't think so -- on two counts: > > 1. I get good NTSC reception with set-top rabbit > ears. Not even the very latest prototype Samsung > receiver could get DTT stations here that way > (although the 5th-generation LG could). But you get "perfect" reception with window placement of the indoor antenna, right? Not "good," but "perfect." Fortunately, anecdotes cut both ways. This is a glass half full/glass half empty sort of thing. I get atrocious NTSC reception of MHz Networks on Channel 56. It's so bad that you periodically lose sync on the NTSC signal, with any of the three antennas I have. I guess the biggest problem is that the transmitter is located way to the west of all others, with a hill in the way, and there's no big incentive for me to accommodate that. And yet, with the *VHF* omni, I get a solid signal of its digital channel 30. The SNR hovers upwards of 16.5 dB consistently. Not bad, getting solid recetion with that sort of SNR, considering this cannot be a gaussian channel. And with what must be a 3rd gen receiver, even. And not only that, but this same VHF omni gets me most other local DTT channels as well. So DTT reception can be easier than analog, unless you're satisified with a truly abysmal analog picture. Which I am not, since OTA is my source of TV signal. > 2. Have you seen what many people watch (in terms of > snow and ghosts)? Yeesh! Exactly. Digital is simply different, and far better than analog, depending on one's point of view. I noticed even in that Wash Post piece you posted that the author was not a habitual OTA user. So to him, having to figure out the best antenna placement was a brand new experience. And yet, the piece was hardly negative. Bert ---------------------------------------------------------------------- You can UNSUBSCRIBE from the OpenDTV list in two ways: - Using the UNSUBSCRIBE command in your user configuration settings at FreeLists.org - By sending a message to: opendtv-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word unsubscribe in the subject line.