How To Find the Digital TV Channels Available In Your Area
If you are living in the US it is possible to check which digital channels could be picked up in your area with an appropriate antenna. You need to go to certain websites and use the tool for finding the digital options. By keying in your address and zip code you can obtain a list of the stations available and their distance from you. Websites that can help you with finding out your options for digital channels are TVFool.com and AntennaWeb.org. A relatively cheap antenna may be enough to find signals from nearby stations although if most stations are at least thirty miles away it may be necessary to acquire a more expensive type of antenna.
The information gained from AntennaWeb.org or TVFool.com can tell you which TV broadcasters are within range, which digital and analog signals are available and how far away they are. It should also tell you how strong their signals are and in what direction you should point your antenna. Using an interactive mapping tool it is possible to make a list of available channels for your precise location and see what difference adjusting the height of the antenna makes to the available signals.
If you think you would benefit from accessing the available digital TV channels it should also be possible to find a reasonably priced digital TV receiver (digital converter box). They normally sell for around $60 but it should be possible to find something cheaper on Ebay. However if you own a recent HDTV or a flat screen HDTV you do not need a digital converter box.
Digital TV is a method of broadcasting that typically offers perfect reception to people who are within range of the signal and have the right equipment to receive a digital channel. This means that the picture is of the same quality as cable TV and there is no grainy distortion or snowy effect on the picture. Digital broadcast signals are less compressed than the signals on digital cable TV so the quality can actually be better than on cable. As the digital networks are able to broadcast multiple channels there can actually be a greater choice of TV channels than on cable TV.
With the available digital TV channels and the TV shows available on the Internet it should be possible for many people to give up the expensive monthly subscription to cable television. Instead many of the regular TV shows are available from the digital TV channels and a growing number of TV options are available over the Internet via the websites of the major TV networks. It should therefore be possible to stop subscribing to cable TV without missing out on any important viewing.
Anyone who is unsure about any aspect of antennas or digital TV can take part in the discussion forums on TV Fool and this will also be an opportunity to acquire broader knowledge about current TV technology and the future technologies that will be with us within a short time. It is also worth reading through some of the feedback that has helpfully been given by people who have trodden the same path before you.