A Blast from the Past....A TV Antenna!

Well, here we go again. Another cable company is in negotiation with the owners of WICS/WICD for a retransmission agreement. This will allow Sinclair to collect a portion of the fees collected by Mediacom to resell the signal of Sinclair stations it's carries. There's nothing unfair in that at all. The TV station SHOULD receive a cut from cable profits. The biggest problem is it puts viewers of the local TV stations in the middle of the dispute.

As I travel about in my day to day activities, I'm often asked about such TV issues as they come up-along with the obvious weather questions. This time I'm sending people who ask to my website and ultimately to this blog site. I'm offering a list of FAQ's to help clarify the situation. So, here's the list:

Question 1: If I subscribe to cable, will this affect me?
Answer 1: Only if you subscribe to the cable system in question. Mediacom serves many smaller communities in the coverage area of WICD, including Mattoon, Charleston, Mahomet and many more. It will not affect those subscribing to Comcast in Champaign-Urbana or Danville, or other communities with Charter Communcations.....yet.

Question 2: If I receive WICD over the air, by using an antenna, will it affect me?
Answer 2: No, if you are receiving WICD by antenna, from anywhere, this cable dispute will not be a problem to you....you will always be able to receive NewsChannel 15 at no charge!

Question 3: Can I go to another provider to receive WICD, such as a DBS Satellite subscription(DISH or Direct)?
Answer 3: Unfortunately no. Arrangements were made several years ago, which mistakenly sidelined viewers of WICD from receiving the local signal of NewsChannel 15 in the eastern half of the Springfield-Decatur-Champaign market, preferring instead to make only the signal of WICS-Springfield as the only ABC station available. It's an unfortunate situation.....for viewers in east central Illinois, and for WICD. See Question 4 for a way to rectify the situation.

Question 4: If WICD, NewsChannel 15 is eliminated from my cable system, what alternative do I have?
Answer 4: Install an antenna. What type of antenna you need depends on your location and other factors such as distance away from the transmitter point of WICD(between Homer and Fithian), your elevation in regards to average terrain in your area and natural and man-made obstructions between your home and the transmitter point

In some applications, an inside antenna may be all you need, but only if you live within 10 miles of the transmitter point(line of sight). Don't count on it, though. The best bet is an outside antenna, on a mast which can be mounted on your roof, or on a tower next to your house. If you're more than 50 miles away from the transmitter site, you may have to install a signal amplifier, but in most situations, that may not even be necessary. Use a low loss RG-6 cable run directly to a splitter which can divide the signal to each TV in your home, through a crawl space or your basement. Most of the hardware can be purchased at Wal-Mart, Radio-Shack, Lowe's or Menards, among others. The shorter the cable run, the better so be conservative with the cable. An exceedingly long cable run, will definitely necessitate a signal amplifier.

The beauty of this plan, is you will be able to receive many more local programming choices that you now have with cable TV or satellite! See my Digital TV page on www.dougquick.com. The link to my site is below.

Depending on your location you might need an antenna rotor, which will allow you to aim your antenna to the local station you're trying to receive. A rotor can be obtained for around $80. I bought mine at Menards. It's fully programmable and operates better than the old rotors of the past. Keep in mind the commercial channels in this area are UHF, that is above channel 14, so the antenna size will be much smaller than the large antennas of the past. The antenna I have is for both UHF(channels 14+) and VHF(channels 6-13). I purchased it from Solid Signal, an on line TV accessory business that I have dealt with previously to much success. Don't be persuaded to purchase an antenna that's labeled “for digital TV reception.” All TV antenna's will receive digital TV signals. There's no difference. See picture to see my set up.



Frankly, you should have an antenna anyway. In the case of severe weather and power outages, your cable is the first thing to go out....and will probably stay out for extended lengths of time. If you're on a DBS satellite service, you'll probably lose signal during a storm as well. By having an antenna and a digital portable TV(which are now available for as little as $90) you'll be able to stay informed when severe weather is in your area....and the power is off. It's good insurance!

Another thing to keep in mind, is that if you use a signal amplifier to boost signal, during a power outage even your antenna won't do you much good. That's another reason I suggest going without one if you can. That will save you money too. One nice thing about digital broadcasts, is that even with a weak signal, you still get a perfect picture!

The final link, is a digital tuner on your TV. If it's a new flat panel TV, chances are good it has a ATSC tuner which means it will receive the new digital stations in your area. If it's an older set with just a NTSC tuner(where you received analog channels 3,12, 15, 18, 20, 23, 27,55) then you'll need a converter box. You've probably missed the chance for the $30 credit coupon and you'll have to shell out the entire cost for the box. The price of the newer television sets are coming down more every day, it might be a good time to just “bite the bullet” and get a new set...and while you're at it, buy two, including a battery powered portable set with a digital tuner.

One of the advantages of having your own antenna, is the opportunity to receive the local channels, not only in a pristine fashion without having been processed and passed through the local cable company's equipment and converted to the standard definition, but in full 720p or 1080p high definition....absolutely free! Of course if you like the other cable/satellite channels you'll want to keep your subscription.

If you should choose to install your own tower and antenna, PLEASE observe all safety rules stated on the packaging of your antenna, rotor and supporting apparatus(tower or tripod).

For a complete list of the digital TV signals available across most of central Illinois go to my website www.dougquick.com and go to Digital TV.

All right people.....LIGHTS ON!

I drive a minimum of 100 miles each workday...to work and home again. My commute includes county, state, US and Interstate travel among a number of routes I take each week. Weather conditions vary, of course, from bright summer sunshine to night time rain and or snow.

It's not the night time which concerns me, though. It's the daytime commute in less than desirable conditions and the insistence of some drivers to drive au natural....or without their headlights. I'm not talking about those silly factory installed “running lights” which are for people not smart enough to turn their headlights on in inclimate weather. Unfortunately, on many makes and models the running lights are actual the “parking lights.” You know, those amber lights on the front of your vehicle which basically tells on coming traffic that your are parked? But wait....you're not parked, you're driving....thus the potential confusion.

There's also the driver who feels more “cool” to drive with his/her headlights on until the north star is visible through the moon roof....or are compelled to just “turn on the fog lights.” May I say....if you are one of these drivers, YOU'RE A MORON!

It's also a law in the state of Illinois that if you're using your windshield wipers, your headlights should be on. By the way, did I mention that by having your headlights on your tail lights are also on? Now, I know the typical dumb ass remark would be, “Why do I need my headlights on? I can see where I'm going.” The answer...if you were to be the only one on the road, this dumb ass would have a point. The fact is, you have your headlights on SO OTHER PEOPLE CAN SEE YOU!!!....dumb ass!

I know, we're living in the era of waste not...want not, conservation and living “green”, but driving with your headlights is not going to add significantly to global warming or air pollution, so you can rest easy. It's just that if your headlights are not on during the daytime when it's excessively cloudy or raining/snowing....you're a dumb ass!

When? What's going on?

It's been a while since I've posted.... The flu, work, busy days....and frankly frustration on the whole healthcare situation.

Here Ed says it all....

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

It's time....let's get it done!!

We need to protect the insurance companies.....?!

The way this thing is going....the insurance companies are going to win.

I can't believe the American public is allowing this to happen!! Check out this video....it would be funny if it wasn't so sad....

Protect Insurance Companies PSA from Will Ferrell

Support the PUBLIC OPTION!!

What is it you don't understand....???

This explains it all. The one's who are taking a "what ever it is, I'm against it" approach are not acting in your favor. Wise up....check this video out, it's short, it's to the point and when it's over you'll understand.

Tea Baggers on Labor Day

I participated in a couple of Labor Day Parades in my community on Labor Day. I watched as seven people representing the East Central Illinois TEA Party also participated in the events.

This rather scruffy looking bunch held signs, banners and wore shirts which had what appeared to have a representation of the first couple of paragraphs of the U.S. Constitution on them. They were handing out cards along the route with their mission statement along with their website addresses.

I asked one of them during the pre-parade staging as they passed by me, where they were during the previous 8 years of the Bush Adminstiration and got a blank look as a response.

I was heartned by the fact that their passing along the route was pretty much ignored by the spectators, and most of their cards ended up on the ground as trash.

An Open Letter to my Hometown School District

I grew up in the Taylorville School System. I remember watching the launches of the early Project Mercury with the original Mercury Seven astronauts in a classroom at Hewitt School. Alan Shepard, Gus Grissom, John Glenn, Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper, Wally Schirra and Deke Slayton.

I also remember watching some of the daytime press conferences of President Kennedy during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Even for a grade school student, I didn't understand the complexity of the issue, but knew it was important. We saw the films on “Duck and Cover.” I remember when JFK was assassinated and listening to LIVE coverage on Mrs. Newlin's radio in 4th grade. If that wasn't enough to scare a grade school student, I'm not sure what was!

What it did do, was generate an interest in current events. I began to read the Breeze-Courier and other newspapers whenever I got the opportunity. I listened to radio news, watched TV news. That early exposure to TV in the classroom of current events was the beginning of my broadcast career and an on-going interest in government and politics.

I don't remember much about the other things I learned on those days I watched the early Mercury astronauts, or listened to details about the assassination but that time in front of the TV or radio in the classroom remain with me to this day.

This was also a school district which allowed the viewing of the baseball World Series, which were broadcast during the daytime during that era. I also remember watching those games in the new Junior High cafeteria which included commercials for cigarettes and beer!

That's why I find it incredibly disappointing that the Taylorville School District as well as others across the country are disallowing students the opportunity to see President Obama live as he talks to the students of the U.S. about the importance of working hard and staying in school.

By definition, half of the population of this country have less than average intelligence. Anyone who would object to this or any other President making a similar speech to students out of “fear” and “prejudice” are in this group. Assistant Superintendent Hixenbaugh is caving in to a few of the less enlightened of the community. These people are denying students the chance of seeing a LIVE address produced especially for them from the President who was democratically elected to lead this country.

Next, parents from this group of less enlightened citizens could demand the cessation of the teaching of certain topics in other classroom activities such as world history, geology, American history, or even health. Don't think that's not a possibility later.

Right now, I'm ashamed of the Taylorville School District. Mr Hixenbaugh has just lost control of the Taylorville School District. It's up to the enlightened parents to get it back!