I cannot get a digital signal either.?

Question

I live in a rural area and cannot get cell phone reception or broadband internet service at my home because it is in a valley and surrounded by trees. However I was always able to receive the local stations on my analog TV set with my antenna.

I recently bought a set top converter box and switched to digital only to find a had a very weak or no signal. Either way the weak signal showed multiple colored squares and no picture that I could make out and the sound skipped so much I couldn't hear either.

I believe someone is going to have to solve this problem before Feb 2009 or alot of us will be without a public service.

Answer 1

First, try a better antenna.  digital works differently than analog.  With digital, if you have a poor signal, it will look like nothing is there.  Check http://www.antennaweb.org , put in your ZIP code and you will get a list of digital stations in your area and guidance on choosing an antenna and where to aim it.  This solves many of the reception problems.

Don't fall for the "digital" or "HD" antennas.  There is nothing about an antenna that makes it "digital" or "HD; this is all marketing hype.  An antenna is made for a set of channels (frequencies), it doesn't care about what's on the channels.  It's just a dumb piece of metal.  

Choose a good quality VHF/UHF TV antenna like we have been using for the last 50 years.

I hope this helps.  Please return and select a Best Answer from all of those submitted.

Answer 2

Since your position is unique I would suggest a digital antenna. Should boost your signal enough to prevent the issues you are seeing.

Example: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?...