Dwedit wrote:
Virtual channels forces you to use auto-scanning to find channels, which can take a while. Sometimes even around 45 minutes on some TVs.
Hojo_Norem wrote:
45 minute auto-tunes? [...] I don't think I've seen a full CH21-68 DVB scan take longer then five and that's on the oldest and crappiest hardware I can remember.
For over-the-air channels, my converter box only takes a few minutes to do a complete scan. (My converter box scans through a total of 68 frequencies (RF 2 to RF 69) taking about .5 to 2.5 seconds on each one.) If you're using an antenna and your TV takes 45 minutes to scan, you might see if you can choose an "antenna" or "over-the-air" mode. If your TV is set to "cable" mode, I think it will take a longer time to scan. I think cable TV signals have a larger frequency range and a few different frequency slot patterns which contribute to longer scanning times. (Something like STD 2 to STD 135, HRC 1 to HRC 135, and IRC 1 to IRC 135.)
Hojo_Norem wrote:
Just how many terrestrial digital TV channels do you people have?
Here are some counts for you.
I live in the Dallas, Texas metro area. The TV transmitter towers are 13.5 to 16 miles away.
I use a $10 indoor antenna that connects to power and has an amplifier knob on it (turned to max).
My converter box scans through:
68 frequencies, of which:
23 have usable digital signal, which contain:
77 channels, of which:
48 are channels I hide. (religious, infomercials, other languages)
02 are channels I sometimes check. (weather, cartoons)
27 are channels I usually browse. (comedies, dramas, movies, game shows)
Note: I am counting each minor channel number as a separate channel. (For example, I am counting channels 8.1, 8.2, and 8.3 as three channels.)
You can take a look at
RabbitEars Digital TV Market Listings to get a feel for other areas. (For more info: right click on a city name and open in new tab or window.) RabbitEars's "station counts" are counting only the major channel numbers. (Channels 8.1, 8.2, and 8.3 count as one station. This is like my count of frequencies with "usable digital signal" above.) They also include some "off the air" stations and some repeater stations (have // in right column). And they might assume the use of an outdoor antenna. For example, for Dallas, RabbitEars lists 37 original broadcasting stations (+ 1 repeater + 4 off air = 42 "stations"). But my converter box with amplified indoor antenna got 23 stations.