It was the 19. John Neal was a young boy. His television only broadcasted in black and white and at his home in Emory, Virginia , he only picked up two channels.
"Back in the 60's, we got the two networks, NBC and CBS," Neal said.
Fast forward four decades. Today, Neal is in much better shape, at least for now. Like many people who still use antennas, this Southwest Virginian picks up five channels, WJHL-TV. He gets some snow and some ghosting or double images on his screen, but as he says, it's watchable. However, come February 17th (the day of the digital switch), on some channels, he may get nothing but a black screen. Neal learned about his unclear future when he recently installed his digital converter box. Remember, with his current set up, he picks up WJHL-TV, but hook up his converter box and that channel no longer works. The same is true with Channel 19.
"I think a lot of people will find, in the fringe area, they'll lose channels come February," Neal said.
But how could that be? Neal followed the instructions when installing his converter box. The converter box is not the problem. Neal's rooftop antenna points directly to Holston Mountain, where WJHL transmits its signal, but between his home and the mountain, there are dozens of miles, not to mention several things that can get into the way of the signal.
"It's a lot based on location," Johnson City Best Buy Employee Aaron Hightower said. "If you're down in a valley, on top of a mountain, it's totally based on location, how strong your signal's going to be and how good of a signal you're going to get."
Hightower says for some people, a converter box and rabbit ears won't be enough when February rolls around. He says some viewers will have to buy new rooftop antennas when the switch takes effect and not just people with older televisions. Even if you've bought a new television in the last two years, already equipped with a digital tuner, you still may need to dish out more money for a rooftop antenna.
"If you're out in rural areas, say more than 30 miles away from the TV station, you probably want to get yourself an outdoor antenna and what that allows you to do, is still pick up the signals you've always gotten, but you're to get them in a digital transmission that will end up being better for you instead of a weaker transmission if you didn't have an outdoor antenna," Hightower said.
John Neal already has an outdoor antenna, but he may need a new one if he wants to escape a repeat of the 60's.
See related link for more information about the digital switch
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