DIGITAL STORYTELLING!

the following reasons. First, although the evaluation took place in a less than idealenvironment for indoor reception (i.e., a room with exterior concrete and steel walls ina building surrounded by other buildings), DTV reception with the Terk TV55 indoorantenna worked surprisingly well. This finding suggests that an amplified indoorantenna designed for DTV reception can perform adequately even inside buildings.Second, there are encouraging signs that newer ATSC ( 8-VSB) receivers withimproved channel equalizers will increase the necessary signal-to-noise ratio to producea DTV picture and offer better DTV coverage (FCC, 2001b). Third, the AdvancedTelevision Systems Committee (ATSC) is evaluating two new ways to enhance thetransmission of DTV signals: the robust-stream method, that would allow DTVreception at a lower carrier-to-noise threshold, and the modified training signalmethod, that would reduce multipath interference (Kerschbaumer, 2002b). Fourth, byone estimate, nearly 30% of the DTV stations operate at low power to save onelectricity bills, making it difficult for viewers to receive a DTV signal in some areas(“Call it LPDTV,” 2002; Kerschbaumer, 2002a). Eventually, all DTV stations will beexpected to operate at full power by the 2006 full-conversion target date or possiblyearlier (McConnell, 2002). In 2001, the ATSC RF Task Force called on TV stations toboost the power of their DTV transmitters to reach viewers in the fringes of theircoverage areas (Grotticelli, 2001). Finally, in the long term, over-the-air indoor DTVreception problems might become a moot point if nearly all TV households subscribeto multichannel video programming distribution (MVPD) services by 2006 and watchlocal DTV stations via cable, direct broadcast satellite, or another MVPD service.Overall, the HiPix DTV card performed adequately. It allowed me to watch a varietyof HDTV programming from local DTV stations for a mere $400 and demonstrate itto students and colleagues. Note that installing a PCI card in a computer is not foreverybody and requires some level of computer familiarity. Only an estimated 4% ofowners ever open their computer (“Adventures in Datacasting,” 2001). Yet, assumingthat you have some patience and the motivation to become an early adopter of digitaltelevision, the HiPix card will give you more than one opportunity to enjoy stunningtelevision pictures.ReferencesAdventures in datacasting. (2001, June 27). TV Technology, 19, 8, 14.Blair, R. (1999). Digital techniques in broadcasting transmission. Boston, MA: FocalPress.Brooks, J. (1976). Telephone: The first hundred years. New York: Harper & Row.Call it LPDTV. (2002, May 27). Broadcasting & Cable, 132, 4.Careless, J. (1999, July 14). PC DTV cards provide fast, cheap access to DTV signals.TV Technology, 17, 10.Consumer Electronics Association. (2002a). Digital America: Digital television takesoff. Retrieved September 12, 2002, fromhttp://www.ce.org/publications/books_references/digital_america/video/dtv_takes_off.asp.Consumer Electronics Association. (2002b, April). DTV guide. Arlington, VA: Author.Consumer Electronics Association. (2002c). DTV product sales up 86 percent duringJune 2002. Retrieved October 18, 2002, fromhttp://www.ce.org/press_room/press_release_detail.asp?id=9993.Dickson, G. (1999, August 2). Back to the future. Broadcasting & Cable, 129, 22, 24.Dupagne, M. (2002). Adoption of high-definition television in the United States: AnEdsel in the making? In C. A. Lin & D. J. Atkin (Eds.), Communicationtechnology and society: Audience adoption and uses (pp. 279-305). Cresskill, NJ:Hampton.Federal Communications Commission. (2001a). Review of the Commission’s Rulesand Policies Affecting the Conversion to Digital Television (Report and Order andFurther Notice of Proposed Rule Making), 16 FCC Rcd. 5946.Federal Communications Commission, Office of Engineering and Technology.(2001b). A study of ATSC (8-VSB) DTV coverage in Washington, DC, andgenerational changes in DTV receiver performance (Interim Report). Washington,DC: Author.Grotticelli, M. (2001, April 23). Thirsty for power. Broadcasting & Cable, 131, 12.Jessell, H. A. (1998, February 2). Digital TV comes to computers. Broadcasting &Cable, 128, 79.Kerschbaumer, K. (2002a, August 19). DTV stuck in low gear. Broadcasting & Cable,132, 26-33.62Feedback February 2003 (Vol. 44, No. 1)BEA—Educating tomorrow’s electronic media professionals 63