Digital off-air TV broadcasting uses advanced technology like that of the DISH Network to deliver superb picture quality and CD quality sound.

Off-air TV signals are broadcast from stations on the ground, while satellite TV signals are broadcast from satellites in space. You receive off-air TV signals using an indoor or outdoor antenna instead of the satellite dish. Surely you are familiar with analog off-air TV signals - these are the signals that have been used to broadcast TV for many years. Digital off-air TV signals are broadcast and received in the same way.

Digital off-air signal reception (like analog off-air signal reception) depends on several things:

• The distance between the broadcast station and your home (the farther away the station, the weaker the signal)
• The broadcast station's power (the lower the power, the weaker the signal)
• Obstacles between the station and your home, such as mountains, buildings, trees, or other objects (these may block or reflect the signal before it reaches you)
• Multiple broadcast stations (to receive good signals from several stations, you may need to compromise in how you aim the antenna or you may need more than one antenna)

The effects of poor digital reception are different from the effects of poor analog reception:

• Poor analog reception usually causes the TV picture to be "snowy" or to include "ghosts," that is, multiple images caused by receiving reflected signals along with the direct signal from a station.
• Poor digital reception may cause the TV picture to be "pixelized," that is, broken up into small squares of various colors, or to be lost completely (the TV screen is all black or all blue).
• Digital broadcasts often provide either a very good picture or no picture at all.
• You may be able to receive a poor analog signal but not be able to receive a digital signal at all.

To get the best possible digital signal reception, make sure you use the best off-air antenna for where you live:

• You can receive a limited number of channels using a "rabbit ears" type antenna on top of the TV set, or a much larger number via a large UHF/VHF indoor/outdoor antenna.
• The higher the quality of the antenna you use, the greater its range and the better its reception will be.
• The Consumer Electronics Association maintains a website, www.antennaweb.org, that you can visit for help in choosing an antenna.
• You may want to contact a professional TV antenna installer for advice or help in choosing, installing, and aiming an antenna.

Keep in mind, digital off-air TV broadcasting is in its infancy. So, digital off-air service may be interrupted because:

• Broadcasters are testing digital signals, and may stop broadcasting without notice.
• Many broadcasters do not yet have permanent broadcast stations.
• Broadcasters are not legally required to provide full-time digital signals for several years.
• Some digital channels do not broadcast all the time.