Analog vs Digital Roof Antenna?

Question

I purchased the Zenith DTT900 Digital Converter Box and hooked it up to my Analog roof (attic) antenna. I received Channels 2,4,5,7,8,9,11 and 13 clearly in Analog (Long Island, New York). Hooking up the DTT900 (very straight-forward) I only receive Channels 2-1 and 5-1. I called Radio Shack and they recommend a "digital" antenna as the other channels are out there boadcasting in both Analog and Digital. I "heard" Digital antennas were just

a sales gimick, but would it help in my case? I have a 120 mile rated Analog antenna that has been in my attic for years and still looks brand new. Am I being told a bunch of nonsence since I do receive the 2 channels clearly or are the other channels available, but of frequencies my current antenna does not recognize in Digital format?

Also, I have a problem posting Questions on this Board. All I get is a Preview or Previous Button on the bottom; When I hit the Preview button, I do not get a Post button!!!

Answer 1

There is no such thing as digital antenna, but i don't understand some name it digital antenna. All antenna are analog and designed for certain freq ranges. Some antenna comes with active circuitry named signal booster.

As long as you receive signals for all channels with good signal strength, you should be fine. If you are not able to receive certain channel, then you might need to change the antenna because antenna is usually designed to capture only certain frequencies bandwidth.

Answer 2

Digital is much much better.  With analog, 2% signal loss will cause blurred and distorted picture and audio.  With digital, your picture and audio wont be blurred until 39% signal loss.

Answer 3

Just to emphasize what others above have already said: There is no such thing as a digital antenna.  A good UHF/VHF antenna will receive both analog and digital transmissions.

Answer 4

YOU do not need a digital antenna. I use a regular UHF/VHF antenna on my roof I am 35 miles from any major network tower and I get all the major networks. GET THE ANTENNAE UP HIGHER on your roof. The attic is not a good place to mount antennas. Good Luck

Answer 5

if you are receiving ch 2-13 clear your antenna may be vhf only. as far as i know, at this time all digital broadcast are UHF only. witch would mean getting a UHF antenna. i have a UHF only antenna and will have to get a VHF antenna before the transition takes place.

Here in LA digital ch 2 is broadcast on ch 60

ch 4 is broadcast on ch 36

antennas are not digital or analog they are VHF or UHF

edit: go here and enter your information. they should have all the information you need.

http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/Welcome.asp...

Answer 6

A "digital" antenna just means that it's been designed to receive the digital TV signals, which are much higher in frequency (in the UHF or ultra-high frequency) spectrum than analog VHF (very high frequency) channels 2 through 13.

The fact that the digital TV signals are modulated with a digital signal doesn't have anything to do with an antenna's ability to receive the signals. That's why people tend to say that a "digital" antenna is a ripoff. But, it does have to be designed to pick up the higher digital channel frequencies.