  KrKHeavy Artillery For The Little GuyPremium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
 ·AT&T DSL Service
1 edit | Hmm What's this about 60 mhz will be used for wireless broadband... Some national wireless plan I didn't hear about?
This must be the so called "White space" unlicensed spectrum. Uh, yeah. Can we say interference... lol. [Shakes head]... What is up with the FCC. Crazy. | |
|
 | | | Re: Hmm Those are the 700mhz (range) blocks of spectrum going up for auction next year (2008) that incumbents, probably Google and others will bid on.
The white space spectrum is between existing terrestrial TV channels that will become digital by the 2009 date. At that time all terrestrial TV channels in the US will be digital and many will be HDTV but not all.
Anyone on cable is "on cable" and essentially not affected by the upgrade. Free terrestrial digital TV will be a big improvement.
If your TV has a digital tuner you will only need an antenna to receive the channels, otherwise you will need a converter box.
The converter boxes are already being manufactured by RCA and some others. Coupons will be available starting in 2008.
»www.tvpredictions.com/rcaconverter031307.htm
Quote article - "The U.S. Commerce Department yesterday issued rules saying that every U.S. household can apply for two $40 coupons to purchase converter boxes to watch TV when the nation switches to Digital TV. The boxes are expected to cost between $50 and $75." | |
|
| | | | Re: Hmm Damn that thing is huge. A lot of people are going to be quite upset if they have to use such a huge device to keep their tv working. Comcast in my area gave us this tiny box about the size of a portable hard drive. As far as I can tell it provides all the features of the huge digital boxes, we just don't have digital cable, but do get the free on demand content and the guide. | |
|
| | | | | Re: Hmm I couldn't find the exact dimensions, but there is more information about digital TV at this site.
Quote info - "This device, about the size of a cable box or smaller..."
»dtvfacts.com/digital-tv-converter-box/ | |
|
 ChucklesPremium
join:2006-03-04
Saint Paul, MN | This day. This day is going to be friggin' hilarious. They'll be zombies out wandering the streets, drooling, "where's my television?" By then I will probably be one of them.
--
kustomerservice.net | |
|
|  NerdtalkerWorking Hard, Or Hardly Working?Premium,MVM
join:2003-02-18
Tucson, AZ | Re: This day. You're still getting OTA signals?
Seriously, I didn't even think there were that many people using OTA for TV service anymore. HD Cable is where it's at, at least for me.
Nothing wrong with digital, as long as it looks better. Wave goodbye to static.
--
"Some people never see the light till it shines thru bullet holes." -Bruce Cockburn
I'm testing Gmail's spam filters: Broadbandreports1@gmail.com
Spam: 12900+ messages currently using 406 MB. | |
|
| | ChucklesPremium
join:2006-03-04
Saint Paul, MN | Re: This day. Well the only reason I have cable is because I get it for free from work. I'd never pay for this $#!+.
--
kustomerservice.net | |
|
| | | | said by Nerdtalker:You're still getting OTA signals? Seriously, I didn't even think there were that many people using OTA for TV service anymore. HD Cable is where it's at, at least for me. Nothing wrong with digital, as long as it looks better. Wave goodbye to static. Say hello to pixilization.
I still do OTA sometimes. | |
|
| | |  dvd536as Mr. Pink as they comePremium
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ
kudos:4 | Re: This day. The bad thing about digital is its "All or nothing" meaning its either really good looking or its a black screen.
With analog at least you can get a snowy/wavy but watchable screen. that same issue on digital, you won't get anything.
--
You can never be too rich, too thin or have too much Bandwidth | |
|
| | | | DonLibesPremium,ExMod 2001
join:2003-01-19 | Re: This day. Not true. Pixelization is a common complaint from people receiving digital signals. And I'm not talking about intentional pixelation (such as that induced by compression). | |
|
| | | | Reviews:
·Great Works Inte..
| said by dvd536:The bad thing about digital is its "All or nothing" meaning its either really good looking or its a black screen. With analog at least you can get a snowy/wavy but watchable screen. that same issue on digital, you won't get anything. I think the "all or nothing" digital myth needs to go away... Yes, at the bit level it's all or nothing, but most digital systems have some sort of redundancy or error correction to handle the loss of some bits. I have seen plenty of digital video that is obviously somewhere halfway between the "all" and "nothing" states. Tiling, green spots on the screen, excessive pixelation, etc will replace analog distortions. | |
|
| | | | | | said by dvd536:The bad thing about digital is its "All or nothing" meaning its either really good looking or its a black screen. With analog at least you can get a snowy/wavy but watchable screen. that same issue on digital, you won't get anything. Depends on how you have your TV set.
Some will blank out if there is a signal problem. Some VCRs did the same thing so channels that were nothing but static wouldn't blow out your speakers. | |
|
| |  digiblurGot Sipura?Premium
join:2002-06-03
Louisiana | said by Nerdtalker:You're still getting OTA signals? Seriously, I didn't even think there were that many people using OTA for TV service anymore. HD Cable is where it's at, at least for me. Nothing wrong with digital, as long as it looks better. Wave goodbye to static. Actually OTA is where it is at. I watch OTA signals everyday.
Beautiful HD material from the source! For free... even works when the cable line is laying out in the street for 3 days.
--
Make your Sipura speak. »www.voipurize.com
And now for the PAP2-NA and unlocked PAP2's. | |
|
| | |  Jim GurdPremium
join:2000-07-08
Plymouth, MI | Re: This day. said by digiblur:Actually OTA is where it is at. I watch OTA signals everyday. Beautiful HD material from the source! For free... Yep. Comcast wants $7 per month for a 9 pound set top box in order to get a HD signal. I hooked up an antenna for the HD channels.
Comcast ran a promotion where they would upgrade you to digital starter cable for the same price as analog for 2 years with a guarantee of no price increase. It comes with a free and much smaller set top box that can't do HD. That's what I have now. I just switch to the antenna whenever I want to watch HD programming.
--
We don't care. We don't have to. We're the phone company.
-- Ernestine | |
|
| |  CylonRedPremium,MVM
join:2000-07-06
Bloom County | My TV in the PC room uses OTA - I don't want to buy/rent another receiver for Dish and I don't really want to run more wire either... | |
|
| |  algPassionately apatheticPremium
join:2001-04-10
Houston, TX
kudos:3 | We switched over to full digital OTA about 1.5 years ago back home. In my apartment I have a digital tuner in my PC to pick up the digital stations here in Austin. I get free cable through my apartment but I always find myself watching the OTA channels. | |
|
| | |
| | | | Quote article - "An estimated 19 million people now do not subscribe to cable or satellite." | |
|
| KrKHeavy Artillery For The Little GuyPremium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK Reviews:
·AT&T DSL Service
| I'm betting the stations will run ads and even scrolls near the end to warn people. If you get caught out, well, either 1) you don't watch hardly any TV anyway, so no big deal, or 2) You're an idiot.
We're gonna be bombarded with ads about the TV switchover... not to mention retailers pushing new HDTV's will hit you everywhere you turn to "upgrade". There will probably be newspaper, radio, and even billboards and government public service announcements too.
A lot of people may not know about it NOW, but I think before February 2009 that will change.
--
"Regulatory capitalism is when companies invest in lawyers, lobbyists, and politicians, instead of plant, people, and customer service." - former FCC Chairman William Kennard (A real FCC Chairman, unlike the current Corporate Spokesperson in the job!) | |
|
|  goldy
join:2000-11-14
Augusta, GA | said by Chuckles:This day is going to be friggin' hilarious. They'll be zombies out wandering the streets, drooling, "where's my television?" By then I will probably be one of them. You know certain issues haven't looked into very carefully or ignored entirely.
There are areas where cable tv doesn't reach. A fellow worker lives out in the boonies 30 mile drive to work and the cable tv said he'd have to pay 6000 bucks to run cable out there not to mention the 60 bucks a month for sevice and 8 bucks a month for the converter. and since there are just three farms out there, he'd have to sign a 1 year agreement.
Where can one buy a separate converter besides comcast or other cable companies. haven't seen any stand alone converters advertised except in expensive tv's
--
Never chase a dragon with a butterfly net. It annoys the dragon and will probably get you burnt! | |
|
| | ChucklesPremium
join:2006-03-04
Saint Paul, MN | Re: This day. I think the digital converters will be available anywhere you used to be able to buy rabbit ears. Because in a sense that's just what they are... a 21st century rabbit's ears.
--
kustomerservice.net | |
|
| | |  aaronwtPremium
join:2004-11-07
Woodbridge, VA
 ·Verizon FiOS
1 edit | Re: This day. said by Chuckles:I think the digital converters will be available anywhere you used to be able to buy rabbit ears. Because in a sense that's just what they are... a 21st century rabbit's ears. | |
|
| | | aaronwtPremium
join:2004-11-07
Woodbridge, VA Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS
| said by Chuckles:I think the digital converters will be available anywhere you used to be able to buy rabbit ears. Because in a sense that's just what they are... a 21st century rabbit's ears. You will still need the rabbit ears with the digital converter boxes to receive the OTA programming. The rabbit ears worked fine for me 6 yeras ago when I first started wacthing and recording(with a PC HD tunuer card) the OTA HD broadcasts. | |
|
| |  Greg_ZPremium
join:2001-08-08
Springfield, IL | Then he is a candidate for Satellite. | |
|
|  N3OGHYo Soy Col. "Bat" GuanoPremium
join:2003-11-11
Philly burbs
kudos:1 | I would probably harumph and head for the library.
It's full of good books, and they're all free!
--
Petty people are disproportionably corrupted by petty power… | |
|
 meskinctMad Scientist at WorkPremium
join:2002-01-07
Danbury, CT
 ·Comcast
1 edit | Waiting to see what my Cable Co does So has it been decided what the local cable companies are going to do? All digital? Still send analog?
In my case, I'm all analog. No STB at all. So, I'm waiting to see their plan and then I can come up with my plan.
FYI - Comcast is the MSO here.
--
Rich. My Website - ThisIsPico.Com including the AT&T/SNET Status Page | |
|
|  Jmartz
join:2000-07-20
Tenafly, NJ | Re: Waiting to see what my Cable Co does Cable does not have to switch to all digital. They just have to make sure their equipment at the head-end is taking the digital feed and not the analog feed... and that's where DirecTV is starting to have issues. They receive a lot of their local channels via antenna the local POP's in the cities where they serve local channels... DirecTV has to go and upgrade all that equipment by 2009. Some locals send fiber to DirecTV's POP, but not all do. The ones that DTV picks up off-air are the stations that are in trouble if DirecTV doesn't get started upgrading their equipment in all the cities. | |
|
| |
1 edit | Re: Waiting to see what my Cable Co does Does anybody know If Dish Network will have any problems?  | |
|
| | |  tschmidtPremium,MVM
join:2000-11-12
Milford, NH
kudos:5
·Fairpoint Commun..
 ·Hollis Hosting
| Re: Waiting to see what my Cable Co does said by zoom314:Does anybody know If Dish Network will have any problems? Satellite services are fully digital - even if they were not only over-the-air transmission is affected. Even though Satellites use radio they are not affected by this FCC ruling.
/Tom | |
|
| | | | | | Re: Waiting to see what my Cable Co does said by tschmidt:Satellite services are fully digital - even if they were not only over-the-air transmission is affected. Even though Satellites use radio they are not affected by this FCC ruling. Except that both Sat providers pick up the majority of their local stations analog signals for retransmission and both have testified that they do not have the capability to convert all to digital retransmission because the majority of locals are still analog only. »www.tvpredictions.com/echo090407.htm | |
|
| | | | For some reason I'd bet that DirecTV already receives the digital signal in most areas. | |
|
|  RickPremium,MVM
join:2001-02-06
Waterbury, CT | said by meskinct:So has it been decided what the local cable companies are going to do? All digital? Still send analog? In my case, I'm all analog. No STB at all. So, I'm waiting to see their plan and then I can come up with my plan. FYI - Comcast is the MSO here. It's probably a safe assumption that at some point, they'll switch everyone to all digital. That was already done in chicago from what I understand.
Whether it will coincide with this other date remains to be seen. It might make sense that they do decide to do it then.
Why shake everyone up twice if they don't have to?
And clearly, this carries with it a lot of benefits for the cable co's from the ability to better control levels of service people receive to freeing up all important bandwidth for more HDTV.
Personally, I'll probably be amazed if they don't go along with this and make everyone subscribe to digital.
After all,they have the perfect excuse to do so in that so many will THINK they have to go all digital anyway.
--
The Coyote captured the RR! Roadrunner Rick is now Comcastic! | |
|
| Reviews:
·Great Works Inte..
3 edits | I am also on analog cable still and I plan on being that way until I am forced to upgrade.
[massive edit]
I guess it looks like we have no problem until 2012 now, unless the cable company decides to drop analog completely and give everybody a box.
(See »That has been over ruled, by FCC) | |
|
| | by by analog Funny the switch over is on 2/17 after the superbowl on 2/3.
I'm sure the NFL had a hand in that one. | |
|
|  morboComplete Your Transaction
join:2002-01-22
00000 | Re: by by analog oh oh oh. i wish it would be on 2/2. that would be hilarious. | |
|
boggaf05CCNA, SCVUPremium
join:2006-06-21
Gaffney, SC | OTA I think more people will go back to OTA once they figure out its still free and the picture quality is better than cable or satellites HD because they have to recompress their signals for retransmission. Also cable or satellite cannot keep up with the changes in sub-channels when the local stations change them, for instance during march madness our local CBS station added 2 more sub-channels to carry 2 additional games, the local cable operator did not add the sub-channels. but if you are talking about discovery HD or something else that is a different story, but until more cable channels go to HD it is not worth the extra monthly fee. | |
|
|  BF69Premium
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN | Re: OTA said by boggaf05:I think more people will go back to OTA once they figure out its still free and the picture quality is better than cable or satellites HD because they have to recompress their signals for retransmission. So I will be able to get ESPN, Discovery Channel, Food Network, History Channel etc etc over OTA then? Um no I think not. | |
|
| | | | Re: OTA said by BF69:said by boggaf05:I think more people will go back to OTA once they figure out its still free and the picture quality is better than cable or satellites HD because they have to recompress their signals for retransmission. So I will be able to get ESPN, Discovery Channel, Food Network, History Channel etc etc over OTA then? Um no I think not. The Food Channel is hilarious. Gee, those women look like the just had the best orgasm over discovering a new pasta dish.
--
Saving the world keeps me busy. However, I find Earth very primitive from my home planet of Krypton.
-Supergirl | |
|
| boggaf05CCNA, SCVUPremium
join:2006-06-21
Gaffney, SC | said by boggaf05: but if you are talking about discovery HD or something else that is a different story, but until more cable channels go to HD it is not worth the extra monthly fee. | |
|
| | How about... How about instead of making me pay for something I don't need and won't use (namely the Digital Cable) you either: a) Not make it mandatory or b) (preferred) pay for it for me.
I didn't want the stupid digital transition - but I have to pay for it to watch the two shows I watch any given day? wth. I just hope my old ATI TV tuner will still manage to get the thing right.
--
Don't Let Them Take Your Rights! | |
|
|  halfbandPremium
join:2002-06-01
Huntsville, AL
·Comcast
| Re: How about... said by MASantangelo:How about instead of making me pay for something I don't need and won't use (namely the Digital Cable) you ... This is not a change to digital cable. This is the over the air channels going digital only in Feb of 09
--
Registered Bandwidth Offender #40812 | |
|
| | cghh
join:2001-01-15
Milpitas, CA | Re: How about... The cable companies can switch to digital-only any time they want. Some already are. | |
|
| | dvd536as Mr. Pink as they comePremium
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ
kudos:4 | said by halfband:said by MASantangelo:How about instead of making me pay for something I don't need and won't use (namely the Digital Cable) you ... This is not a change to digital cable. This is the over the air channels going digital only in Feb of 09 Wasn't this originally scheduled to happen in 1999?
everytime the date got within a year, the date got pushed back. i look for this to happen sometime in 2008
--
You can never be too rich, too thin or have too much Bandwidth | |
|
| | |  koolman2Premium
join:2002-10-01
Anchorage, AK | Re: How about... Not this time. Most stations (namely the main stations such as NBC, FOX, PBS, CBS, and ABC) are transmitting both digital and analog, not to mention that every TV sold now has to have an ATSC tuner in it. I really think that they're serious this time.
--
There's no place like ::1. | |
|
 sabersawPremium
join:2001-08-21
Dayton, OH
kudos:1 | The vouchers. Two 40 dollar vouchers... my guess has always been 1 50 dollar voucher. Not bad. Hey even after the vouchers are sent how much is the FCC gonna make on this? I think our taxes will go down now  | |
|
| |
| |  MrMoodyFree range slavePremium
join:2002-09-03
Smithfield, NC | Re: The vouchers. And you won't be able to use both coupons on one box, either. | |
|
| | sabersawPremium
join:2001-08-21
Dayton, OH
kudos:1 | said by KA3SGM:said by sabersaw:Two 40 dollar vouchers... my guess has always been 1 50 dollar voucher. Not bad. Hey even after the vouchers are sent how much is the FCC gonna make on this? I think our taxes will go down now $40 vouchers, when the actual retail price of the boxes is closer to $200  Those are the HD Boxes though right? I have yet to see a SDTV receiver myself. Do they even make such a thing yet? | |
|
| | Greg_ZPremium
join:2001-08-08
Springfield, IL | Actually, a OTA box can be had through Newegg for $70.00. | |
|
| | Stupid.. This digital crap is dumb, yeah sure better picture quality, sound, etc. but for some of us (me) I don't watch enough movies or TV shows to even give a crap how neat the picture or sound is.
Forcing us to upgrade is stupid, I bet it will be further delayed..hell wasn't it supposed to be 2006 when it was originally supposed to happen? | |
|
| N3OGHYo Soy Col. "Bat" GuanoPremium
join:2003-11-11
Philly burbs
kudos:1 | Re: Stupid.. said by iEvolution:This digital crap is dumb, yeah sure better picture quality, sound, etc. but for some of us (me) I don't watch enough movies or TV shows to even give a crap how neat the picture or sound is. Forcing us to upgrade is stupid, I bet it will be further delayed..hell wasn't it supposed to be 2006 when it was originally supposed to happen? The picture quality and sound quality are secondary issues, as the gubment is going to make a killing auctioning off the old spectrum.
Simple physics. Analog systems use much more spectrum than digital ones. If the gubment forces OTA broadcasters to move to digital, they can sell the "old" spectrum for billions.
Spectrum that is well suited to mobile communications, as it readily penetrates concrete walls and structures....
When in doubt, follow the $$$
--
Petty people are disproportionably corrupted by petty power… | |
|
| BF69Premium
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN | said by iEvolution:This digital crap is dumb, yeah sure better picture quality, sound, etc. but for some of us (me) I don't watch enough movies or TV shows to even give a crap how neat the picture or sound is. Forcing us to upgrade is stupid, I bet it will be further delayed..hell wasn't it supposed to be 2006 when it was originally supposed to happen? Nope no more delays. What is the point? If you delay it to 2012, guess what, you still will have people that are "not ready". Too fricken bad.
What forcing? Most people get TV either by cable or satelite and are NOT affected. All TVs manufactured since March 2007 have digital tuners built in. All TVs 27 inches and larger have built in digital tuners since March 2006. So most people that still get TV over the air will have TVs that won't need a box. My local wal-mart carries very few SDTVs anyways anymore and those that do ALL have built in digital tuners and we are still 18 months out. | |
|
| |
1 edit | Re: Stupid.. said by BF69:said by iEvolution:This digital crap is dumb, yeah sure better picture quality, sound, etc. but for some of us (me) I don't watch enough movies or TV shows to even give a crap how neat the picture or sound is. Forcing us to upgrade is stupid, I bet it will be further delayed..hell wasn't it supposed to be 2006 when it was originally supposed to happen? Nope no more delays. What is the point? If you delay it to 2012, guess what, you still will have people that are "not ready". Too fricken bad. What forcing? Most people get TV either by cable or satelite and are NOT affected. All TVs manufactured since March 2007 have digital tuners built in. All TVs 27 inches and larger have built in digital tuners since March 2006. So most people that still get TV over the air will have TVs that won't need a box. My local wal-mart carries very few SDTVs anyways anymore and those that do ALL have built in digital tuners and we are still 18 months out. Yeah how many people have replaced EVERY SINGLE TV in their house with 2006+ models? | |
|
| |  I'm confused m'self
| |
|
|
See 9 replies to this post |
|
| | Please explain to me Why analog sets are still being sold today if this going to happen in less then a year?
The gov is screwing the general public big time.
95% of the general public has no idea this going to happen. All digital transmissions should have been put in place by now and analog TV's banned from sale.
Has anyone even seen a single ad for a converter box?
When were they going to start producing these? | |
|
| | | Re: Please explain to me New analog sets have been illegal to sell since March. Old stock may still be sold with a warning. | |
|
| |  insomniacOh YeahPremium
join:2002-09-22
Naperville, IL
1 edit | Re: Please explain to me No, they've been illegal to make since March. There are still plenty of new analog sets on store shelves being sold legally.
--
If everything seems to be going well, you've obviously overlooked something. | |
|
| | | koolman2Premium
join:2002-10-01
Anchorage, AK | Re: Please explain to me I think those would be classified under the "old stock" label.
--
There's no place like ::1. | |
|
| | | BF69Premium
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN | said by insomniac:No, they've been illegal to make since March. There are still plenty of new analog sets on store shelves being sold legally. What few analog sets my wal-mart had wer put on clearance 3 months ago with a WARNING clearly printed on them about the switch. And I live in arural area. There is not one single analog TV for sale in my local wal-mart. | |
|
| | They do need to be clearer.... I had to explain to my parents that their current digital cable is fine. They thought they were being forced to get HD which they dont want yet. | |
|
beaups
join:2003-08-11
Hilliard, OH | Box Prices These box prices will be in the $50 range. I am already seeing quotes from China landed to the us in the mid 40's wholesale cost. Stripped down...per the coupon requirements they will have no hdmi, component video, none of that....just a 480i signal over a composite video port and a modulated port. The idea is to simply provide compatibility to older tv's. If you want a fancy OTA receiver you'll need to pay more $$$ and keep in mind the coupons from the FCC can NOT be used for these more expensive boxes. | |
|
| sabersawPremium
join:2001-08-21
Dayton, OH
kudos:1 | Re: Box Prices said by beaups:....keep in mind the coupons from the FCC can NOT be used for these more expensive boxes. Do you know this to be true for sure? I was waiting to get my voucher and use it towards a OTA HDTV rxer. Having an older HDTV with no HD OTA kinda stinks these days. Its worth having where I live now. Have been holding out on buying, betting that vouchers are coming. But of course knowing our government... some sweetheart deal with the PRC will make sure some "entity" over there gets filthy rich with this deal also. | |
|
| | beaups
join:2003-08-11
Hilliard, OH | Re: Box Prices Yes, the coupon is only for qualifying (ie stripped down) boxes. The FCC isn't subsidising any nice equipment. | |
|
MrMoodyFree range slavePremium
join:2002-09-03
Smithfield, NC | Significant number? Basically there are 4 groups of TV watchers in this country. In decreasing order of quantity:
A) Cable subscribers using set top boxes.
B) Basic cable subscribers connected directly.
C) Satellite subscribers.
D) Over the air broadcast.
Groups A and C are not affected, they already have STBs which will continue to work; satellite is already all digital and the few remaining analog cable boxes are rentals which will be replaced by the cable company if they stop serving them, or can continue to be served.
Group B is not affected directly because cable can continue to provide analog signals if they want. However as Rick says, most cable companies would love to be rid of this service and the broadcast changeover is the perfect excuse. So these people will have to rent an STB.
Group D is a small percentage of the population consisting mostly of very low income people, many retired seniors. These are the people whose old, cheap TVs will go dark unless they buy a new STB with their insufficient $40 voucher. It will be almost as cheap to buy a new, small DTV. Luckily I don't think there are a tremendous number of these people, except maybe in the deep South.
Another problem this creates that I haven't seen mentioned is disposal. My local landfill won't take color TVs. Where are all these suddenly obsolete, dangerous, toxic hulks going to go?
--
"It is a future in which globalization really does work ... and everybody winds up getting to be part of the third world." - William Gibson | |
|
|  Jwobot
join:2002-08-14
Sterling Heights, MI | Re: Significant number? You forgot to mention when the cable goes out. | |
|
| | MrMoodyFree range slavePremium
join:2002-09-03
Smithfield, NC | Re: Significant number? I also didn't mention my own group: people who bought a new ATSC TV and dropped cable to watch over the air only, with better picture, almost as many useful choices, and much more attractive price ($0 per month) than cable.
--
"It is a future in which globalization really does work ... and everybody winds up getting to be part of the third world." - William Gibson | |
|
| halfbandPremium
join:2002-06-01
Huntsville, AL Reviews:
·Comcast
1 edit | said by MrMoody:Luckily I don't think there are a tremendous number of these people, except maybe in the deep South. Nope. Mostly cable or a Dish. Everyone in the south has multiple TVs with lots of channels. Now indoor plumbing, that is another matter
--
Registered Bandwidth Offender #40812 | |
|
| | KrKHeavy Artillery For The Little GuyPremium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK | Re: Significant number? I read a statistic somewhere then even people who are "Below the poverty line" Average 3 TV's per house in the USA. | |
|
| | Zach 58Premium
join:2006-11-26
NW Minnesota | said by halfband:said by MrMoody:Luckily I don't think there are a tremendous number of these people, except maybe in the deep South. Nope. Mostly cable or a Dish. Everyone in the south has multiple TVs with lots of channels. Now indoor plumbing, that is another matter Oh Nooooo.....yous mean I's gots to by me a new boobtube for my outhouse. first telefones, then lite bubs and now this. what's a deep south, redneck like me to do.
| |
|
bennorPremium
join:2006-07-22
New Haven, CT | Mass Confusion Coming... I've been warning people (even though I know nothing about this transition) that its coming. In the big box stores they are still selling analog TV's. People who buy one now are going to be in for a big shock come transition time.
Is there a site that one can go to that explains all of this this stuff to the lay person?
The main question I have is if a person has a TV with a QAM tuner, or a PC TV input card that does QAM does one still need to buy the box from the cable company to get the basic channels one now gets for Analog?
And aren't the cable companies going to remove the analog signals from their cable lines some time in the future as well? Or is story dealing with the same thing. | |
|
| | | Re: Mass Confusion Coming... I can use my analog TV with DirecTV and the same will be true with cable, you will just have to rent an STB that has a composite output. | |
|
| Sammer
join:2005-12-22
Canonsburg, PA | said by bennor:The main question I have is if a person has a TV with a QAM tuner, or a PC TV input card that does QAM does one still need to buy the box from the cable company to get the basic channels one now gets for Analog? And aren't the cable companies going to remove the analog signals from their cable lines some time in the future as well? Or is story dealing with the same thing. Assuming your cable company is all digital or has analog digital simulcast the answer is generally no for "lifeline" or "broadcast" tier channels, maybe for expanded basic channels, and you'll need a box (or cable card) from your cable company for higher tiers and premium channels. | |
|
| | old people Sounds like a good time to get out of cable/internet support... all eleventy billion old people's cable goes out at once... | |
|
| sabersawPremium
join:2001-08-21
Dayton, OH
kudos:1 | Re: old people This won't effect Cable or Internet at all. See MrMoody's post above. The loss of Over-The-Air analog tv won't effect cable or Sat systems at all.
The topic of cable dropping its analog signals is something totally different. That very well could happen. But it wouldn't be forced by the government, and more than likely wouldn't happen all at once either. | |
|
| | | | Re: old people The FCC made it so cable companies can not drop there analog band. I doubt it will hold though.
There was a post about it a few months back here on BBR...fyi | |
|
| | | Sammer
join:2005-12-22
Canonsburg, PA
1 edit | Re: old people I think what the FCC was discussing a few months ago was dual and multi "must carry" and a final ruling is yet to be made about that. Completely digital cable systems would be exempt from the dual part of such a ruling. | |
|
| | | | | |  Re: cable dropping analong (was "old people")
... forcing everyone to get a STB for more control and awareness of what's being watched.
... getting many to splurge for new digital channels as well as DVR and HD service.
... using digital compression to get more usable bandwidth to compete with the likes of AT&T and Verizon.
The analog channels are dead, even if you get cable. It'll just be less obvious because most folks already have STBs. | |
|
| | | | | | | Re: cable dropping analong (was "old people") I just hope they are forced to use some kind of unencrypted digital format so that consumers can still hook up as many tvs as they want in their home. It would be a shame if the first tv costs 40 bucks and each successive tv is another 10 dollars. | |
|
 81399672Premium
join:2006-05-17
Los Angeles, CA
kudos:2 | I refuse to switch I refuse to switch because of the principal and for no other reasons. I have one t.v. that is 10 year old and work great. I see no reason why i should take any steps to make sure it continue working. The picture looks fine to me so what reason everyone is forced to switch? What happens when government runs out of this free converters? Are poor going have to buy it or go without t.v. and maybe the only source to outside news
--
i am not a lawyer but I do play one on the internet | |
|
| KrKHeavy Artillery For The Little GuyPremium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK | Re: I refuse to switch If you're lucky your TV will last 2 more years before dying.
Then, when you have to buy a new set anyway, they'll already have all digital tuners in em. | |
|
| | goldy
join:2000-11-14
Augusta, GA | Re: I refuse to switch said by KrK:If you're lucky your TV will last 2 more years before dying. Then, when you have to buy a new set anyway, they'll already have all digital tuners in em. And then "maybe" they be at a price someone on a budject can afford.
--
Never chase a dragon with a butterfly net. It annoys the dragon and will probably get you burnt! | |
|
|  TweakPremium
join:2002-06-08
Oklahoma City, OK | Principal! Its television ,its not a matter of honor , it's not a necessity !
If you have satellite or cable tv then there's not much to worry about here.The government isn't providing "free converters " they are providing vouchers . I have mixed feelings about the government providing vouchers for this. The digital transition would be a benefit to society. The freed spectrum will provide emergency workers additional frequency's to communicate on. It could also be used to provide wireless internet and speed up the deployment of broadband to rural areas. If we all followed your stubborn mindset we would still be on black and white tvs because "it works just fine" | |
|
| | 81399672Premium
join:2006-05-17
Los Angeles, CA
kudos:2 | Re: I refuse to switch said by Tweak:If we all followed your stubborn mindset we would still be on black and white tvs because "it works just fine" Market demand what made clolor tv a standard and not government regulation as such in this case. | |
|
| | | TweakPremium
join:2002-06-08
Oklahoma City, OK | Re: I refuse to switch Their was still people resistant to change or stragglers . In Europe and Asia they have already transitioned to digital. It is all about progress. We should stop delaying this and just pull the plug on analog. . I hate seeing the analog station on my brand new tv when I switch to over the air feed. Same goes for analog cable if they got rid of the lower 70 stations the cable company could provide faster internet speeds. | |
|
| | Just reading... Just reading the replies here tells me these are will be very useful!!
Seriously, if half of you read the messages written by the other half you would understand this has NOTHING TO DO WITH CABLE!!
Is everyone just skimming over the details, or actually reading it?
I can't believe there would be that many people still running OTA.. so it really doesn't matter what kind of TV's the stores are selling | |
|
|
|
See 10 replies to this post |
|
Reviews:
·AT&T DSL Service
 ·Virgin Mobile Br..
| Senior Citizens My next door neighbors are elderly. The lady doesn't leave her home at all and the gentleman uses a walker and moves very slowly. They use rabbit ears TV since they are on a limited income and housing in Sacramento (everywhere?) is very expensive. No relatives/friends that I ever see coming over to visit them. These kind of people will be the victims of change. Little money to buy the new equipment, no technical knowledge, and the usual elderly issues on adopting the use of new technology. | |
|
| |
| KrKHeavy Artillery For The Little GuyPremium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK | They are the people the voucher system was designed for. | |
|
singh5
join:2002-01-30
Everett, WA
1 edit | difference between HD and Digital cable. Is digital TV different from HDTV because I have an analog TV set being fed by Comcast Digital Cable through the tiny set top box. Is it that the signal in my coax wire from Comcast to my set top box is digital and that little box is just a digital to analog converter? | |
|
| |
| | | In a nutshell: HDTV has to be digital but digital TV is not necessarily HD. Digital is the delivery system (think of a delivery truck). HD may be what is delivered but also maybe SD(standard definition) but it's all digital. | |
|
|
|
