First off, the EyeTV One does receive OTA HD signals via an antenna and comes with the OS X EyeTV 3 TV software. Plus it’s compatible with Windows Media Center. But that’s about it.

This Elgato support page clearly spells out the difference between the new $101.20 EyeTV One and the older, but feature-packed $128 EyeTV Hybrid. Look at just this one section out of eight and tell me why someone would buy the new model when the older one costs just $27 more and does so much more.

The two organizations are both stating that this should improve reception, especially in urban areas on channels 2-13. It is sort of ironic that TVs themselves can cause interference but apparently they do just like other electronics. The CEA and NAB both recommend moving the antenna as far away from the TV as possible and to use a VHF/UHF type.

It’s definitely worth a try, but if you TV signals are coming in just fine and the antenna is chilling on top, leave it alone.

If you’re looking for more info at the coupon website, good luck. It’s dead for me.

In-Stat is reporting that sales in the year’s second quarter dropped 35% from Q1. That’s a lot, but it also shows that a lot of people were ready for the switch-off before it happened. Sure, some folks probably delayed purchasing a DTV box for a vacation home or hunting lodge after the fact. Maybe even some people bought a box after calling it quits on pay TV service like cable or satellite. But the vast majority of people that needed one, got one before they couldn’t watch the Simpsons anymore.

Because this is a rumor, we don’t know much right now. Will it be a stand alone unit? Will it be an add-on to standard phones? Will the iPhone get a tuner? No idea. What we do know is that it’s been incredibly successful in South Korea and Japan, so Qualcomm is looking at releasing it here.

We’ll keep you informed as more information becomes available.

[via gdgt]

Good job, everyone! The DTV switch seemed to went well. The June 12 transition came and past on our end with little fanfare. Hopefully it was the same with you. Nielsen is reporting that the vast majority of US homes – 98.9% that is – can receive DTV signals. Kind of surprisingly though is that the under 35 demo is the least prepared with 2.7% unable to receive the digital broadcasts.

We’re just hoping that they are actually ahead of the curve and could care less about broadcast or subscription TV. Hopefully most of those hipsters are using digital downloads or Internet video in lue of traditional TV sources. But if folks haven’t figured out why the hell their TVs stopped working, it’s probably better that they go read a book anyway.

Nielsen via EngadgetHD

What makes you think that this small tuner will pull in ATSC signals better than your HDTV with just a tiny antenna? Go try it. I’ll wait. Just hook up a small wire to your COAX tuner and see what happens. Nothing, right? Yeah, the same thing is going to happen with these tuners. It sounds great on paper, and will probably work great with DVB-type signals that aren’t used here in the States, but ATSC is notoriously hard to pull in without a good antenna. And a little cell phone-ish expandable antenna isn’t a good antenna.

KansasCity.com via BoingBoing

We’ve been screaming from a soapbox for months about today. We’ve gave you a series of tips and tricks, along with answering all the frequently asked questions about DTV. Still, there are millions of homes not ready for the switch to digital according to a recent survey. But what are you gonna do?

There will always be procrastinators. Perhaps some thought that Obama was going to save their antiquated analog signals for a second time. Who knows. But today is June 12, 2009 and the switch to digital should be done within a few hours. Remember to rescan your DTV tuner as some stations are switching throughout the day for the first time.

We’re trying to do our part by providing FAQ and tips. Unfortunately we are probably preaching to the choir. Still, the switch happens this Friday so do your part and ensure that your friends and family are ready.

Nielson via EngadgetHD

I have basic cable, do I need to get a converter box?

No. You get your content from the cable company, so you do not need to get a box for the June 12, 2009 switch. However, your cable company might require you to get a box shortly to receive stations the same stations. The two are not related.

I have satellite, do I need to get a converter box?

Maybe. If you still get your local channels using an antenna, you will have to get a converter box if you TV doesn’t have an ATSC tuner. Basically, if your TV is older than three or four years it probably doesn’t have an ATSC tuner. It might be best to contact your satellite company to see how much it is to add local stations to your package for simplicity.

Where can I get a converter box?

Really anywhere including drug stores like Walgreens and Rite-Aid. Most electronic stores should stock them too inlcuding Radio Shack.

Will any antenna work?

Yes. Even $10 rabbit ears can pull in DTV signals. However some new antennas are tuned to pick up the DTV stations better than others.

What antenna do you recommend?

Rooftop aerial antennas work the best, but they will cost a couple hundred thanks to the cost of installation, cabling, the rotor, and all the extras. You could be just fine with an indoor antenna too. Look for one that plugs in for power.

Why can’t I get some stations?

DTV is either on or off. In the days of analog, low-power or far away stations would show up with “snow.” DTV doesn’t have snow. It’s either there or it’s not. Sometimes the picture might flicker, but it won’t be watchable. Sorry.

Is there anyway to help get these stations?

Aerial antennas can be pointed in the right direction using this website from the FCC. Indoor antennas are better tuned however by trial and error. Chances are that the antenna, when located indoors, is surrounded by interference from electrical wiring and whatnot, so just pointing the antenna in the right direction will not help. It might though. Play around with it.

If we happened to miss your question, leave it in the comments below and we’ll do our best to answer it.

Buy a better DTV box

The government is handing out $40 vouchers for DTV converter boxes, which in turn created a market for $40 DTV converter boxes. These boxes were created under strict regulation so most of them should work just fine. But don’t buy ‘em. Spend a few dollars extra to get a more feature-filled converter box. Be warned though, you can’t use your voucher on some of these.

The DTVpal by Dish Network (our review) is a great example of a higher-quality DTV converter box. It has more video outputs and a quality remote. For example, it has a component video output that isn’t found on standard DTV converter boxes. It can’t output HDTV resolution, but component will give you a better picture and only costs $69.99. It’s worth the extra cash to get the better quality picture component provides even on an older tube TV.

Maximize the video quality

Even if you opted to go with a standard DTV box, please don’t use the coax output. It’s crap compared to the composite outputs.  You know, the red/white/yellow cables. These cables use three separate connections to split the audio into two streams and the video into one. You will be amazed at the picture quality difference over coax. Component is even better though with three cables dedicated to video and two to the audio.

Maximize the audio quality

Did you know that most TVs that have a DTV tuner (ATSC) can also output digital audio over Toslink? Yeah, so can a lot of premium DTV converter boxes. Use it if you have a surround sound system. Even if you aren’t getting HDTV, but rather standard digital television off of a DTV converter box, you might as well get premium audio.

Use a rooftop antenna

Don’t be afraid to mount a large aerial antenna on your house. All the cool nerds are doing it. They provide better reception which could mean more stations. The large rooftop antennas do cost some cash, but they are an investment into your TV viewing pleasure. Also, don’t forget to hook up a rotor to get those hard to reach stations.

Note: You may want to try a cheap, Radio Shack indoor antenna before dropping the cash and time into a large antenna. Through the magic of DTV, it might work fine.

Change out old antenna cable

That old antenna that came with your house will probably work fine for DTV. It might have been installed during the Nixon administration, but antennas seem to hold up fine. The coax cable is a different story though. It’s probably a good idea to swap out the old cable with new RG-6 outdoor cable. It will cost you a few bucks at a home center for the cable and tools to install the ends, but it could possible produce a more reliable signal. That is, of course, if you’re having issues pulling in stations. If it’s not broke, don’t mess with it.

Use both cable and DTV

Depending on your HDTV, you might be able to use both basic cable and an antenna to pull in DTV seamlessly. Your HDTV would have to have two coax inputs for this to work. One, tunes the basic cable while the other pulls in stations over the air. In fact, many TVs that have dual inputs can also map the stations to the same input meaning, you wouldn’t have to switch inputs to watch either cable or free OTA digital TV.

Or you could get a TiVo HD which can do it too. This is a great solution for those folks that happen to have an HDTV, don’t want to pay for cable high-def, and happen to get basic cable for free somehow. The DVR does have an up-front cost and a monthly subscription, but it’s a fraction of what some cable companies charge. Just plug in an antenna and you’ll get glorious high definition for free along with your basic cable all on one guide. It’s great. I do it.

Don’t use surge protector coax jacks with an antenna

Ok, so you have a rooftop antenna and your fancy surge projector has coax jacks. You might be tempted to route your antenna wire through those jacks to prevent damage from a lightning strike. However, a $500  Monster Cable Power Center will not protect anything if lightning hits your outdoor antenna.

Those jacks are meant for homes with wiring issues and can solve grounding problems, but cause interference with OTA signals. Just don’t do use ‘em with an antenna.

Aim your antenna correctly
If you have a rooftop antenna, use this site created by the FCC to aim your antenna correctly. However you may find with indoor antennas that trial and error is the best way to tune in stations.

Get a universal remote

Some people hate having multiple remotes and chances are that the cheap remote that came with the DTV cannot control the television. No matter, head down to your local Best Buy or Radio Shack and tell ‘em you want a universal remote control. This way you’ll have one remote to control both the TV and DTV converter box.

Hint: If you buy a universal remote from the same company that makes your TV, you’ll probably not have to program it to control the television, just the DTV box. So, buy a Sony universal remote if you have a Sony TV.

Rescan after June 12

The FCC is telling folks to rescan their DTV tuners on June 12 saying that some stations might change their signal location on that date. No matter if this is true or not, it only takes a few minutes and is probably a good idea to ensure you don’t lose any stations.

Who makes up this unfortunate remainder? This useful chart should help:

Of course, that’s a bit of an oversimplification (and a mean one at that). The fact is that there are millions of old and poor people throughout the country who don’t have the money or savvy to set up the change, or, despite $2bn in funds being put into PR and transition groups, simply aren’t even aware of it. If you know any, point them toward our handy guide or recommend something easy like the DTVPal.

We have to make this work. After all, the family that stares together, stays together.

The analog shutoff date of June 12 is right around the corner. It will be here before you know it. The transition from analog to digital has been riddled with rumors and half-truths, but we’re here to help. Drop us a question after the jump and we’ll ensure that you and your family are prepared for the switch.

Digital OTA is great, but it can be a tad tricky to pick up sometimes. This Google Map mash-up should help by providing data on where station’s broadcast towers are and how much power is needed to pick up the given station. We only have a few days left before the June 12th shutoff, btw. Is your family ready?

DTV.gov via EngadgetHD

Truthfully, her Digital Tips PDF guide might not be a bad thing to print out and stuff in your mom’s Mothers Day card. Nothing says “I love you” more than ensuring she doesn’t lose her TV after June 12, 2009.

digitaltips via The Consumerist

There is also word from the AP that the rules might be changed up a bit. Currently the coupons carry a 90 expiration date which many people didn’t know the first time around. which resulted in many unredeemed coupons. Now, the folks in charge might allow all those cards that were not used to be ordered again.

AP via Giz

Where are all these people going? It seems that almost every provider has recorded a decline in subscriptions so are more people utilizing free digital signals for their TV addiction? The picture is better than anything cable or satellite can provide, but what do people do without hundreds of stations they never watch?

A good amount of analog signals have been permanently turned off across America. It’s the end of an era, folks. In case you didn’t stay up late on February 16 to experience the shut-off live, we’ve got a video after the break of the Orlando market going dark so you can experience it too. Time to move into the digital age, America.

According to the NTIA, it will take two to three weeks which will put the scheduled mailing time sometime in mid-March. This time around though, don’t procrastinate. Click here to get your coupon before this round of financing runs out.