/24-7PressRelease/ - ST. LOUIS, MO, May 11, 2008 - AntennaPoint.com recently announced its new TV station locator Web site that will give people the information they need to select and aim the right antenna in order to watch TV after the digital transition in 2009.
When TV programming switches to a digital format in 2009, more than 33 million Americans who watch TV with old antennas and TV sets could loose signal unless they have a converter box or built-in DTV tuner and an antenna capable of digital reception.
Not all antennas are created equally, and many TV antennas were built for a different era, never intended for the higher frequencies where most digital stations broadcast. Proper antenna selection, aiming and installation will be critical for success.
People are very confused about the Digital Television transition, and one of the more perplexing aspects is which antenna is the right one for a given location. Antennapoint will solve some of this confusion.
In order to choose the right antenna for digital programming, it is helpful to know the location, distance, frequency and radiated power of the television transmitters in the area. By entering either a city, state or just a ZIP code at antennapoint.com, a map is generated featuring location and distance to the broadcasting towers; compass headings; transmitter power; and station call letters, network affiliations, and digital frequency assignments.
Armed with this information, consumers will be able to make a more informed decision when choosing the right antenna for digital TV reception. Transmitter information will be conveniently appended to the map as well as listed in an accompanying chart.
AntennaPoint.com is more intuitive and informative than first generation tools, said Scott Kolbe spokesperson for AntennaPoint.com. Rather than excluding data, based on a prediction formula, all DTV transmitter information within a radius of 100 miles from the user's address will be shown.
"We felt it would be better if users had all the available information for their area on which to make decisions rather than having their data filtered," Kolbe said.
"AntennaPoint.com shows the entire reception area in a much larger scale than previous tools. This proves to be very helpful for those trying for distant markets as well as making it easier to determine what antenna will work the best in their area."
"Even though it offers more information and functionality, AntennaPoint.com is more intuitive so that functionality never gets in your way," Kolbe said. "AntennaPoint.com was designed for the typical consumer. People will like this site because it's easy to use and understand. The simplicity and ease of use of AntennaPoint.com will make choosing the correct Antenna less confusing," he said.
In the next few months, significant enhancements will be made to AntennaPoint.com. Scheduled upgrades will include a spatial database, detailing reception experiences, antenna reviews as well as feedback from digital antenna owners all over the U.S. Additionally, data will be collected from users, installers and manufactures to indicate which models of antenna are being used successfully in a given neighborhood. Ultimately this data will be aggregated and the program will suggest specific antenna models based upon the users location, distance, station attributes and the success rates of other antenna models in the area.
With the explosion of interest in over-the-air reception, AntennaPoint.com was created to help consumers make informed decisions when preparing their televisions to receive digital programming after 2009. If you'd like more information on this locator, or would like to add your thoughts, please call Scott Kolbe at 636-379-3895, ext. 13, or send an e-mail to scott@kolbeco.net.
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