| reply to tmc8080
Re: Wait and see.. said by tmc8080:I think a wait & see approach is appropriate.. Turn analog off.. and see what happens... if there is this huge outpouring of rage about not having analog.. stations can apply for an immediate hardship extention (3mo renewable)to address coverage & access problems. For many stations, once they turn off the analog, that is it. There are over 500 stations doing a digital flash cut where they move their digital broadcast to their analog channel. Can't go back without starting up their old digital channel - if they had one - which in turn might interfere with another station. A number of stations will be doing a complicated shutdown and channel move dance in coordination with other stations.
What is being overlooked in most of the press coverage on the digital "transition" is that as of the end of 2007, 134 stations have already shut down their analog broadcast. Before February 17, at least 258 stations in total, are planning to shut down their analog broadcast so they can have their digital signal at full power on or before February 18. The reality is that the "transition" is well underway. I put the "transition" in quotes because stations started broadcasting a digital signal 10 years ago, so the process is more of a analog shutoff and digital channel move & start-up for some stations than a "transition" takes place at midnight, February 17.
I agree that for some, they will need to get a better antenna for digital reception. While there will be around 490 digital stations on VHF (physical RF channel, not the virtual) & 1333 on physical UHF, many low VHF analog big four network stations will stay on UHF. The key for many to get good digital reception will be to upgrade the antenna for better UHF reception - Silver Sensor for indoor; 2, 4 or 8 bay UHF bowties for attic & outdoor in combination with a upper VHF antenna or rabbit ears.
A last minute delay in the Feb. 17 analog shutdown will only result in a even bigger mess. Get it done and over with. |
