UHF television and the signal strength handicap

Abstract

The disparate properties of the UHF and VHF bands have produced what has become known as the "UHF handicap" - UHF television (TV) signals are more difficult to receive than VHF signals and therefore are not as significantly viewed. There are at least three possible types of handicaps that contribute to the disadvantage faced by UHF. First, there is the picture quality handicap. Second, there is a channel selector handicap. Finally, there is a programming handicap. In this paper we will be discussing only the picture quality handicap. Furthermore, we will explore only one type of picture quality handicap-the "snow" that is produced by an insufficient signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) at the TV receiver picture tube. Available evidence suggests that this is the dominant difference between UHF and VHF signals. We will utilize a model that indicates the level of this signal strength handicap for several sets of assumptions, and determine the effects of improvements to the UHF service.