Yes, the low end of the VHF has problems. Yes, digital stations are expected to interfere less. No one knows for sure until the switchover is complete. Part may be lower power levels authorized/used in certain areas.
Something like this is what worries me. I am 90 miles line of sight from the NYC broadcast stations now. Nobody around here (Liberty, Catskill Mountains in NY) has ever had any luck with NYC on UHF. Some are lucky enough (but not me) to get a good view to the west and get the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre stations good on UHF. That is not an option for me at my exact location. Lots of mountains but a fair view to the south east towards NYC.
Boosting the power directionally. There is something I might be able to work with.
Not without some coordination. There might be some signal conflict with the Philly stations.
Again.. my directional thoughts come to mind but this would hurt the viewers between NYC and Philly. Namely central NJ so this may not be an option.
Doesn't the new law provide for a clause that the signals must be able to serve at least the OTA coverage area that they did before? UHF signals of 5 to 10 million watts ERP should help. There is lots of space on UHF so maybe if you are in, for example NYC you will be able to receive Philly, Baltimore, Albany and Conneticut and more. Or am I just dreaming?
Really there is good and bad for me here and I am sure I am not alone. In my old pre-cable days, I had that big ol Channel Master Quantum high up on the roof. It worked great for everything VHF from NYC and even channel 3 from Hartford but that was iffy. Sometimes I got 6 from Schenectady or Philadelphia or even Providence. Not often. Once channel 8 from New Haven.
Long ago I got rid of that VHF antenna and I don't want to invest in another until I know what will happen all the way down the road to digital. I want everything I can get in digital and in HD from wherever I can get them and OTA is no problem as long as I can get them somehow.
Forget about telling me about
http://www.antennaweb.org. That thing tells me for what I want I need a tower almost 2000 feet high.
I guess I will just have to sit back, wait and be content with whatever Dish Network serves me via satellite.