Real HDTV       LEXINGTON
HDTV Networks


Watch this 8 minute HDTV Movie from the Consumer Electronics Association

HDTV Sets, and older TV Sets connected to Converter Boxes, will have three choices for live signals after February 17, 2009: Cable, Satellite or Free Over-the-Air programs. Each has its advantages, but cable and satellite strip and compress their signals and omit many NEW local programs to conserve bandwidth.

If you'd like to watch these new programs, or any local programs in complete HDTV detail, you need to add an antenna. This site describes how to choose one, depending on where you live and which channels you like. The "HDTV Channels" Link, below, lists your new channel numbers under RF Ch. Just copy that list for now...
Different ways of obtaining other FREE digital signals will be posted here.

Free Lexington Area HDTV Channels and Detailed Antenna Location Maps

HDTV in the Lexington Area
Station  Channel Network
WLEXDT	18.1	NBC
WLEXDT2	18.2	NBC
WKYTDT	27.1	CBS
WKYTDT2	27.2	 CW
WKYTDT3	27.3	Ind
WKSODT	29.1	PBS
WKSODT2	29.2	PBS
WKSODT3	29.3	PBS
WKSODT4	29.4	PBS
WKSODT5	29.5	Ind
WKSODT6	29.6	Ind
WKHADT	35.1	PBS
WKHADT3	35.3	PBS
WKHADT5	35.5	Ind
WKHADT6	35.6	Ind
WTVQDT	36.1	ABC
WTVQDT2	36.2	Ind
WKMRDT	38.1	PBS
WKMRDT2	38.2	PBS
WKMRDT3	38.3	PBS
WKMRDT4	38.4	PBS
WKMRDT5	38.5	Ind
WKMRDT6	38.6	Ind
WKLEDT	46.1	PBS
WKLEDT2	46.2	PBS
WKLEDT3	46.3	PBS
WKLEDT4	46.4	PBS
WKLEDT5	46.5	Ind
WKLEDT6	46.6	Ind
WDKYDT	56.1	Fox
WDKYDT2	56.2	Ind
WYMTDT	57.1	CBS
WYMTDT2	57.2	CBS
WLJCDT	65.1	Ind
WUPXDT	67.1	  i
WUPXDT2	67.2	Ind
WUPXDT3	67.3	Ind
WUPXDT4	67.4	Ind
All 38 of these new channels, and many more, are Free! No cable or satellite is needed for any of them. Just select an Antenna, using the instructions below, to receive crystal clear HDTV signals Free in the Lexington Area.

Antenna Selection Guide

If you live within 50 miles of town and have copied the list of RF Channels for Lexington, you're ready to find the perfect antenna. The CEA, Consumer Electronics Association, and NAB, National Association of Broadcasters, created the AntennaWeb to help you do just that. Free! For us non-experts, a working example of it is presented here.

NOTE that all TV stations will be transmitting on different channels then they are now. But to avoid confusion, the new tuners allow a station to keep its old channel number while automatically switching you to its new RF Channel. Some of them will be VHF RF Channels; most will use UHF.

Stations on your RF Channel List numbered less than 14 are VHF. In general, they need a broader antenna connected to the "antenna in" post on Converter Boxes or behind new DTV sets. Some will need Outdoor Antennas, others Indoor. Whichever your situation, find a store with someone who uses the antenna(s) you plan to buy... or one with a good return policy!

PRESS HERE to use the Antenna Selection Guide
AntennaWeb.org's Front Page

Example Street Level Map and Station Table from AntennaWeb.org EXAMPLE...  We'll use a place near Tampa:
ENTER 11903 67th Ave, Seminole, FL, 33772, or just
the Zip for partial results, on the Pop-Up form to get:

The address you entered was located at Street level.
Stations and Antenna Types
The Channel List below is arranged by ease of reception, with the strongest stations, which need the smallest antennas, at the top. To find the antenna for this example, record the color codes of channels you might like for use on the "Color Codes" Chart shown below.

Select Digital Stations Only then press the "View Street Level Map" bar to build the Compass Orientation map at right. You need to point your antenna in the below listed directions to receive various channels. A rotor can be used, and would be needed here, even in a nearby city, for staggered and distant stations.

...Select Digital Stations Only for This Example ...
 
Start of RF Channel List used in the ExampleCareful checking reveals only 10 digital stations on the Table while Tampa's RF Channel List shows more. Likewise, some which appear on the Table (under Frequency Assignment) will expire. One channel listed, 13, is totally in error. You're better off using RF Channel Lists to determine which type of antenna, VHF or UHF, is needed. If you have any doubt, consult TVFool.com for further antenna analysis.

Finally, note that many channels, such as the ones with decimal 2's, 3's and 4's on the RF Channel List, are missing from the Table. You'll find that there are omissions on many Tables. Cable and Satellite are missing most of them completely. You'll need an antenna to see them!

At this point we should have a pretty good idea of what sort of antenna we'll need in our Example, both by Color Code and VHF/UHF.

Antenna Color Codes

To get Free HDTV Over-the-Air signals you need an Antenna; Color Coding Shows Reception Strength. Typically, the closer you live to signal towers, the better will be the signals you receive. Within 15 miles, an Indoor Antenna, sometimes with a pre-amplifier, may be used (in the Green and Light Green Zones).


HDTV Antenna Color Codes
 Small Multi-Directional Antennas
Small Multi-Directional HDTV Antennas
DESCRIPTION   The smallest of TV antennas receive from all directions.
APPEARANCE   Good looking home interior designs.
USE   For use where signal strength is high and with No pre-amplifier.
 Medium Multi-Directional Antennas
Medium Multi-Directional HDTV Antennas
DESCRIPTION Larger and slightly more powerful, may be placed in interior attic.
APPEARANCE These antennas include novel stick, wing shaped or disk antennas.
USE An amplifier is recommended for 20 feet long, or more, cables from the antenna, or when more than one TV or VCR is used by a single antenna located AWAY from reflecting structures or in valleys.
 Large Multi-Directional Antennas
Large Multi-Directional HDTV Antennas
DESCRIPTION Bigger in size, these antennas receive more signal power. Better for greater distances from signal source and areas with low signal strength. May work well in interior attic.
APPEARANCE Styles include element antennas. These antennas can be used to reject simple ghosting.
USE When mounted at rooftop heights (30 feet) outdoors, amplified antennas can be used in light green color code areas away from reflecting structures or low areas.

ALL OUTDOOR ANTENNAS ARE DANGEROUS AND CAN SERIOUSLY HURT YOU.
WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU HIRE A PROFESSIONAL
FOR ALL ANTENNA WORK OUTSIDE YOUR HOME.
CONSUMER DATA PROVIDED HERE IS TO KEEP THEM HONEST!

 Small Directional Antennas
Small Directional HDTV Antennas
DESCRIPTION Picture quality is excellent when no signal reflecting structures are around.
APPEARANCE Multi-element rooftop antennas.
USE Suitable for far edge of light green color code areas. Amplified antennas with rooftop mounting can be used in these areas if the area is free of signal reflecting structures and is not in a low area.
 Medium Directional Antennas
Medium Directional HDTV Antennas
DESCRIPTION Most popular rooftop antenna because of its modest size.
APPEARANCE Multi-element rooftop antennas.
USE If there are ghost producing reflective structures near TV receiver antenna location, this kind of antenna is best for yellow, green, light green and red color code areas. Amplified antennas with rooftop mounting can be used with the blue color code.
 Large Directional Antennas
Large Directional HDTV Antennas
DESCRIPTION Large antennas used in weak signal areas for maximum possible TV reception.
APPEARANCE Multi-element rooftop antennas.
USE Can be used in any color code area, but requires an amplifier and roof mounting for blue and violet color codes.
      THE ANTENNA FOUND FOR THIS EXAMPLE NEEDS TO HAVE:
        A: Medium Multi-directional VHF Antenna pointed 10° magnetic, and
                 B: Large Directional UHF/VHF Antenna pointed between 92-95°
             C: NO 129° NEEDED BECAUSE "B" SEES TAMPA's ABC
If ALL of the Stations you want to watch are within 15 miles, USE INDOOR ANTENNAS.
But, all are more than 24.4 in the example, so "Antenna Installation" is the next step!


Antenna Installation

Having done the Example ENTER YOUR ADDRESS or ZIP CODE   

Note on Lexington: The RF Ch. List for Lexington indicates that four RF Channels, 4, 7, 12 and 13, are VHF on the new channel line-up, the rest are UHF. You'll need a wide VHF antenna to receive VHF channels, and a slender UHF antenna for the rest.
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