| Why should I spend money I'm required to spend money even with the coupons to continue watching a perfectly good television because our greedy FCC wanted to sell the frequency spectrum? I think not. |
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openbox9
join:2004-01-26
Alexandria, VA
kudos:2 | Enjoy something besides TV after Feb then. |
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jsouthJsouth
join:2000-12-12
Wichita, KS | reply to rid0617
It's not that they are greedy. It was to free up the spectrum for emergency services that were being taken over. In some areas the radios of emergency personnel wouldn't work because of interference. The extra cash is just a bonus.
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Bush bashing is old. How about more solutions instead? |
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| reply to rid0617
I understand not wanting to spend your own money for this, but if you use the coupon at Wal-mart it will be ~$10 out of pocket. |
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wierdo
join:2001-02-16
Tulsa, OK Reviews:
 ·Cox HSI
 ·T-Mobile US
| reply to rid0617
said by rid0617:I'm required to spend money even with the coupons to continue watching a perfectly good television because our greedy FCC wanted to sell the frequency spectrum? I think not. You mean they wanted us to have a better TV system that as a side effect makes more efficient use of the finite airwaves? I consider that nothing but a good thing. Quit whining about ten bucks.
Several stations in my area are broadcasting four 480i programs instead of HD. That's all to the good as far as I'm concerned. Not that I don't like HD, but more choices are a good thing.
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It's wierdo, not weirdo. Yes, I know that's not the 'proper' spelling of the similar english language word.  |
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| reply to rid0617
Your analog TV set will continue to work after the switch. You can still use it to watch DVD/VHS, cable, satellite, closed security systems, etc. The government is not making your analog TV inoperable after Feb. 2009. It just will not receive the full power over-the-air analog signals because they will not be there! There will be low power TV stations still broadcasting in analog (probably religious, infomercial, and ethnic stations). Also, for those of you near the Canadian and Mexican borders, you will still be able to receive analog signals coming over the border for the next few years (CBC, CTV, Global, etc).
I am surprised how nobody here has mentioned that digital is more efficient than analog and doesn't bleed over into the side channels. Here in Atlanta, we have channel 2. Then, the next available channel is 5 because 2 bleeds over onto 3 and 4. On the digital side we have channels 19,20,21 right next to each other with no interference. This will allow for more TV stations in a given market. And, with the crystal clear reception and subchannels, interest in OTA reception has renewed.
I can receive a total of 24 channels OTA here. I would definitely $10 for that instead of $50/month for basic cable anyday! |
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| And I am about 10 miles from the stations and because of the switch to the UHF band, I am unable to get a usable signal on the digital channels. So it is going to cost more than a converter box. I am going to have to install an outside UHF antenna. |
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patcat88
join:2002-04-05
Jamaica, NY
kudos:1 | reply to jsouth
Then a police dept is violating FCC rules and needs to be fined for a unlicensed transmitter and making interference. |
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patcat88
join:2002-04-05
Jamaica, NY
kudos:1 | reply to boardbtr
Go and sue. |
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wierdo
join:2001-02-16
Tulsa, OK Reviews:
·Cox HSI
·T-Mobile US
| reply to boardbtr
said by boardbtr :
And I am about 10 miles from the stations and because of the switch to the UHF band, I am unable to get a usable signal on the digital channels. So it is going to cost more than a converter box. I am going to have to install an outside UHF antenna.
Unless the stations are transmitting at an incredibly low power, your issue is not one of signal strength. It's probably either too much strength (if you're using an amplified indoor antenna) or multipath interference, in which case you should purchase a directional antenna. They can be had for $20 or so.
I had to buy an antenna when I bought my last NTSC TV, so I don't really see how it's different with ATSC.
Well, unless you have a VHF only antenna, in which case you live in quite an odd place to only have VHF channels.
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It's wierdo, not weirdo. Yes, I know that's not the 'proper' spelling of the similar english language word. |
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jsouthJsouth
join:2000-12-12
Wichita, KS | reply to patcat88
You got it wrong the police department is having interference on their part because of all of the excess signals flying around. Which means office in trouble calls, extra help fighting fire calls, etc were not getting through in an increasing number of areas. All because the spectrum was/is crowded.
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Bush bashing is old. How about more solutions instead? |
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