Do I need a special VHF or UHF antenna?
Ideally, you will want an antenna that picks up both VHF (channels 2-13) and UHF (channels 14-59) signals. During this interim period prior to the transition date, many TV stations are operating on "transitional" channels -- that is, they are putting out analog signals on their "old" analog channels, and putting out their digital signals on "borrowed" channels. Once the transition is complete, some stations will go back to their old channels, while some will stay on their new channels. So you want to be able to pull in the full range of the TV spectrum, both VHF and UHF.
The file below is a *draft* spreadsheet (current as of late April 2008) of Maine TV stations' analog channels, their transitional DTV channels, and the final channels they will be operating on after 2/17/09, along with any multicast channels they will provide. Please check back later in the year for a more finalized version of this file. Note that, because WPFO-TV in Portland was not able to secure a transitional channel, they will need to "flash cut" on 2/17/09, i.e. turn off their analog transmitter and simultaneously fire up their digital transmitter. Also, because the digital "borrowed" channel of WAGM-TV in Presque Isle interferes with a Canadian TV-channel allocation, they are not currently putting out a "full" digital signal; similarly, they will need to "flash cut" on 2/17/09. Other stations in Maine may be operating their digital transmitters at less than full power until the transition date.
attached files: digital-channels.pdf
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