Some DTV Stations Suffer in Transition By Mark Fleischmann July 10, 2009 — Some DTV stations are having trouble reaching their viewers in the wake of the DTV transition.

Two dozen of them are receiving help from the Federal Communications Commission, reports the Associated Press. The FCC is sending engineers to affected cities which include Chicago, Philadelphia, New York, and Dallas.

Affected stations seem to be those operating in the VHF band, especially low band channels 2-6, says Pete Putnam, a contributor to our magazine and proprietor of HDTVexpert. Channel 6 is particularly problematic due to the adjacent FM radio band, between 6 and 7, as shown in the illustration, with the TV signal at left and several FM signals at right. Some stations on channel 7 are also having trouble in New York and Chicago.

"The FCC's decision to retain channels 2 through 6 in the DTV channel core was ill advised," declares Putman. They are plagued with noise from fluorescent lamps, motors, and seasonable interference from the planet's ionosphere. They also require large rooftop antennas for good reception.

As solutions, Putman recommends inline signal attenuators, eliminating sources of household noise, and using the right antenna for your area.