The transition from analog to digital television has come and gone, but not without a few glitches. The problems are predominately with stations that opted to stay on a VHF frequency, that is the channels 2 through 13. While most people will never know it (or, really won't even care!), most digital channels do not broadcast on the channel they are known by. Take WXII channel 12 in Winston-Salem for instance. Since the station first signed on in 1953, they broadcast an analog signal on radio frequency (RF) 12, and that continued until this past Friday. Beginning about two years ago, they tarted broadcasting a second signal, this one digital on channel 31. Anyone with a digital tuner (included with newer TVs) was able to receive both the analog and digital channel even though both displayed as channel 12.

Now, back to where we are today. Among the few people in this country who actually watch standard TV via an antenna -- and yes, I am proud to be one of them -- many are not able to receive the same stations they previously did. The problem is with their antenna. There are VHF antennas, UHF antennas, and VHF/UHF combo antennas. In the triad market, only one station opted to remain on their old VHF channel. Until Friday, WGHP-8 had been broadcasting both an analog signal (on RF8) and a digital signal (on RF35). Many happy customers were watching WGHP's digital signal after buying their converter boxes, and they thought they were prepared. However, when WGHP ended their analog signal on RF8, they moved their digital signal from RF35 and put it on the vacated RF8. That is, they moved it from the UHF spectrum to the VHF spectrum. Those viewers who had UHF antennas were no longer able to see Neill McNeill.

Viewers have a few options. Of course they can buy a new antenna for $30 to $50, climb up on the roof, and install it; but for some, that's not an easy thing to do. Or, you can get creative and make your own antenna. VHF antennas can easily be made at home to receive a certain channel -- in this case RF8. Below, is a picture of an antenna I made that is sized to optimally receive WGHP. I went from my TV not picking up this channel at all, to receiving it at a 70% signal strength. And, this was with the antenna laying on my back porch. If it were up on the roof, I'd expect it to be over 90%. This antenna cost less than $5, it works, and it's nice to say I made it. And you, too, can once again watch Neill McNeill at 5, 6, and 10, only on WGHP!


This simple 30.5" antenna with attached coax cable receives WGHP from 53 miles.