 
Greg_Z
Premium
join:2001-08-08
Springfield, IL | Not a concern yet I would say disinterested, but the majority that have CATV or Satellite, probably never noticed.
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I threw out the map a long time ago. Now I follow my own direction! | |
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 | jc100
join:2002-04-10
 ·RoadRunner Cable
| Re: Not a concern yet I am one of those unlucky people with rabbit ears. I am not disinterested but nor do I feel like being forced to shell out money on a converter. I am still waiting until close to the date to see what those boxes run come 2009. I have put in my order for the coupon so we shall see what happens anyway. On a side note, I can't say I enjoy rabbit ears but the same token, I don't know if I really enjoy having to buy a box to receive a signal. I guess it will depend if this box eliminates the headache of moving the ears around for a signal . I havent done much research into how these boxes work yet. | |
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Greg_Z
Premium
join:2001-08-08
Springfield, IL | Re: Not a concern yet Then, get the $40 coupon, and get the ATSC STB. Or get a new TV set. | |
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| | | jc100
join:2002-04-10
·RoadRunner Cable
edit:
May 4th, @03:23PM
| Re: Not a concern yet Yes man, get get get. Takes money to buy things and some of us aren't independently wealthy or have the means to go and waste money on extras. I'll just wait and see if the box goes down in price. I imagine right now that 40 dollar coupon is only a partial cost of the box. Therefore, hopefully in a year itll be cheaper.
As per your undue response (which I'm sure will follow) you are lucky you get that coupon to begin with, I've got a nice retort. I'll glad take the money our government made from selling off the spectrum at the tax payers expense. After all, we fund the FCC and public airways via our dollars. Therefore, the fact they sold this off at the cost of tax payers means that money SHOULD go back to us to fix what they broke =). | |
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| | | | jsouth
Jsouth
join:2000-12-12
Wichita, KS | Re: Not a concern yet From what I have seen the $40 coupon would make the box around $9 or so. I don't see it going much cheaper than that.
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Bush bashing is old. How about more solutions instead? | |
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| | | | | jc100
join:2002-04-10
·RoadRunner Cable
| Re: Not a concern yet Not horrible but for once I think this profit made off the spectrum should be used to cover the full cost of the boxes. I am not looking for a handout but the government eats our tax dollars and made money here at our expense. Since they made this a problem, this time it's their job to use said profits to remedy it for those affected. I rarely think this is the case but this time around, I actually believe it to be true. | |
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| | | | | | openbox9
join:2004-01-26
Navarre, FL
·Mediacom
| Re: Not a concern yet Did the government purchase your current television? Unless you're leeching off of the welfare system, no it didn't. TV is for entertainment and isn't a right of anyone. If you want to continue watching OTA broadcasts from full power transmitters after Feb, buy converter, upgrade to a new TV, subscribe to cable/satellite, or pick up a book from the local library for free and enjoy life. | |
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| | | | | | | jc100
join:2002-04-10 | Re: Not a concern yet No they didnt purchase but they damn well used my tax dollars to fund the system in which they are selling and now made a profit from..... | |
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| | | | | | | | openbox9
join:2004-01-26
Navarre, FL
·Mediacom
| Re: Not a concern yet I'm not sure what "system" you're referring to. The system that manages the precious finite spectrum? The system that will benefit from the increase money into the treasury's coffers therefore minimizing your future tax hikes? The emergency response system that will benefit from infrastructure build out? My tax dollars get used for numerous socialist programs that are far more of a sieve than that of the FCC. Of all of the things to complain about, increased revenue, advancement in technology, and the potential for nationwide broadband that everyone around here drools over, isn't very high on the list, IMO. | |
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| | | | | | | | | jc100
join:2002-04-10
·RoadRunner Cable
| Re: Not a concern yet Hah stop future tax hikes. Classic. That's along the same lines of Expecting this administration not to add another trillion to the national deficit before departure. Tax hikes = pay for wasteful spending. Tax rebates, while giving us more money, come at the expense of a devalued dollar. Someone still has to foot the bill. Republicans borrow, borrow, borrow to get it and put the dollar in its current circumstance. Democrats tax to pay for their wasteful misfortunes. Either way, that money added to the treasury has long since been spent. It probably went to buy a few armored cars for that quagmire known as Iraq that has stagnated into it's fifth year... Back to the topic, the system I refer to is the FCC and the PUBLIC AIRWAYS which tax payers funded and owned. That system. Since they made money OFF OUR TAXES, said money should be returned to us in form of absolute free converter boxes. After all, American's funded it. While T.V. isn't a necessity, nor was selling off this spectrum either. | |
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| | | | | | | | | maxpower
join:2006-10-09
Providence, RI
| Re: Not a concern yet Quit whining dude. You should be happy you even get a $40 coupon. Seriously it isn't that big of a deal. If you can't afford a $9 box then you should be worried about other things besides tv. And no, this isn't one of those "It's just the principal..." situations sorry. | |
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| | | | | | | | | jc100
join:2002-04-10
·RoadRunner Cable
| Re: Not a concern yet I can afford 9 dollars. I just think its crap everyone has to go out and get this junk. Now if it was 30 or 40 dollars, I would pass for a while. However, I'm sure I can live with 9. My sentiment still stands, like it or not. The profited and said profit should be returned to tax payers.. O that's right, it isn't our money anymore once they collect it.. (sarcasm). | |
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| | | | | | | | | openbox9
join:2004-01-26
Navarre, FL
·Mediacom
| Re: Not a concern yet said by jc100  :I just think its crap everyone has to go out and get this junk. Nobody is forcing your to "go out and get this junk". You can choose not to spend 2 minutes requesting a coupon and $9 to purchase a converter. | |
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IDJK
@embarqhsd.net | Boy JC100 you are going to be pissed when you get your coupon and find that it expires in 90 days from ship date- so you can't wait too long to buy. | |
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| | | | | | | | | wierdo
join:2001-02-16
Tulsa, OK
 ·Future Nine Corpor..
·Teliax VOIP
·Cox HSI
| said by jc100 :the system I refer to is the FCC and the PUBLIC AIRWAYS which tax payers funded and owned. That system. Since they made money OFF OUR TAXES, said money should be returned to us in form of absolute free converter boxes. After all, American's funded it. While T.V. isn't a necessity, nor was selling off this spectrum either. You seem to misunderstand. Aside from a few public television networks (usually PBS affiliated), your tax dollars haven't paid for the capital outlays to set up television stations. The only thing your tax dollars were used for was to coordinate the frequency assignments. IOW, the stations aren't hanging from the government teat like so many other industries from whom we get absolutely nothing.
The government is not funding the transition for these stations, even ones with small budgets who can hardly afford to switch to digital. Should the government be paying the transition costs for the stations? I sure don't think so. I think the coupons are more than generous.
In essence, what I'm saying boils down to "funded no, owned yes." Epic fail on your part, really.
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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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| | | | | | | | | jc100
join:2002-04-10
·RoadRunner Cable
| Re: Not a concern yet You seem to have failed at every step of your logic. The FCC is publicly funded and owns the airways. Said airways are PUBLIC PROPERTY. Yet, the FCC has FORCED private businesses to switch over. This wasn't a voluntary switch over. While we DO NOT own the stations, WE THE PUBLIC own the airways in which they use. Being the FCC (PUBLIC ENTITY) is forcing said stations (PRIVATE) to switch, we should be given the ability to get our stations at no cost. After all, I don't recall the stations wanting to do it? I recall the FCC (PUBLICLY OWNED) forcing this agenda. | |
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| | | | | | | | | openbox9
join:2004-01-26
Navarre, FL
·Mediacom
| said by jc100 :Hah stop future tax hikes. I didn't say stop, I said minimize.said by jc100 :Back to the topic, the system I refer to is the FCC and the PUBLIC AIRWAYS which tax payers funded and owned. That system. Since they made money OFF OUR TAXES, said money should be returned to us in form of absolute free converter boxes. After all, American's funded it. While T.V. isn't a necessity, nor was selling off this spectrum either. The taxpayers don't fund the "public airways". However, we have been funding the FCC since 1934 so by that argument the Fed should have purchased your original television. BTW, this isn't the first spectrum auction by the FCC. | |
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| | | | | hottboiinnc
Kyle
join:2003-10-15
Toledo, OH | the box costs roughly $40 after taxes on the box at Best Buy. Thats the cheapest with coupon.
You also only have 90 days to use the coupon after that you lose it and can't get a new one. | |
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n2jtx
join:2001-01-13
Glen Head, NY
·Optimum Online
| said by jc100 :Yes man, get get get. Takes money to buy things and some of us aren't independently wealthy or have the means to go and waste money on extras. I'll just wait and see if the box goes down in price. I imagine right now that 40 dollar coupon is only a partial cost of the box. Therefore, hopefully in a year itll be cheaper. The Magnavox converter is $49.95 before tax at Wal*Mart. Using the government coupon it wound up costing me about $11. It works like a charm.
I suspect as we get closer to February 17, 2009, they will get cheaper but I would not expect to see less than $29.95.
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I support the right to keep and arm bears. | |
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en102
Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA
 ·DSL EXTREME
·DSL EXTREME
edit:
May 4th, @09:06PM
| Re: Not a concern yet I got the RCA HD converter $47.95 + taxes.
I've been able to get 24 HD channels with a Phillips set of amplified rabbit ears
»www.home-improvement-superstore.···p=807386
I've used up my 2 coupons already
I may just cut my DirecTv altogether.
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Canada = Hollywood North | |
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djrobx
join:2000-05-31
Valencia, CA | Re: Not a concern yet Ooh you're in a lucky "hot" spot of Valencia. I can't get one channel!
Beware before you cancel DirecTV - ABC's signal is hit and miss.
-- Rob | |
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koolman2
Premium
join:2002-10-01
Anchorage, AK | The only problem with this is that the coupon will expire 90 days after mailing.
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Now typed solely on DSK (Dvorak Simplified Keyboard). | |
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digiblur
Got Sipura?
Premium
join:2002-06-03
Louisiana
| Re: Not a concern yet The Echostar boxes due out this summer will be $40.
If your coupon expires I'm sure a neighbor or relative won't mind getting them for you.
OTA Digital TV is a wonderful thing. I'm still shocked that out in the boonies you can throw up a simple antenna and pick up a bunch of SD and HD channels for free on the HDTV set.
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Make your Sipura/PAP2 speak. »www.voipurize.com
SouthWest Louisiana PC Users Group »www.swlapcug.com | |
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supergirl
join:2007-03-20
Pensacola, FL | WalMart has them for $39.99. Free with the coupon.  | |
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roc5955
Premium
join:2005-11-26
Rosendale, NY
·RoadRunner Cable
| Here Here!
I concur. The airwaves are PUBLIC property, and should they change the method of delivery, they should either revert back to analog, or give everyone free converter boxes for each and every television they possess. WE THE PEOPLE pay the FCC to look out for OUR interests, NOT those of the corporate elite.
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"Understanding is a three-edged sword." | |
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| | | | | Binary
join:2007-12-29
Creston, WV
 ·HughesNet Satellit..
| Re: Not a concern yet said by roc5955 :Here Here! I concur. The airwaves are PUBLIC property, and should they change the method of delivery, they should either revert back to analog, or give everyone free converter boxes for each and every television they possess. WE THE PEOPLE pay the FCC to look out for OUR interests, NOT those of the corporate elite. and FCC should give us the freedom to boost our wi-fi higher then ever. | |
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anon439828
@in.us | Re: Not a concern yet Its a public spectrum that everyone can use isnt it... you have the right to amplify your signal as you see fit... There are kits out there to do this... | |
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koolman2
Premium
join:2002-10-01
Anchorage, AK | Re: Not a concern yet Nope, you have to follow the FCC regulations on power output.
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Now typed solely on DSK (Dvorak Simplified Keyboard). | |
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| | | | | jc100
join:2002-04-10 | Exactly. The FCC owns the signals. It's the FCC, NOT THE STATIONS, who opted to impose this change. It was not voluntary. The FCC MANDATED this to occur in order to continue to use THEIR AIRWAYS. | |
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roc5955
Premium
join:2005-11-26
Rosendale, NY
·RoadRunner Cable
| Re: Not a concern yet said by jc100 :Exactly. The FCC owns the signals. It's the FCC, NOT THE STATIONS, who opted to impose this change. It was not voluntary. The FCC MANDATED this to occur in order to continue to use THEIR AIRWAYS. The FCC owns NOTHING. The airwaves belong to WE THE PEOPLE! In the last 28 years, our country has been for sale to the highest bidder and is becoming one of us the corporations, whereas before 1980, it was WE THE PEOPLE.
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"Understanding is a three-edged sword." | |
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Greg_Z
Premium
join:2001-08-08
Springfield, IL | They are giving "Free" boxes. That is what the Coupons are for. | |
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| | ISurfTooMuch
join:2007-04-23
Tuscaloosa, AL
| Just some info, FWIW.
If you've ordered the coupons now, you won't get until next year to wait and see what happens. The coupons expire 90 days after they're mailed, and once they expire, you can't order new ones.
However, you may not have to wait long. From a CNET article I read not long ago, the box that EchoStar will be releasing should cost $40. If that's true, then the coupon should cover it. I believe the new name for it is the DISH Network TVPal.
As for how the box performs, I got a DigitalStream box a few weeks ago to hook up to my dad's TV, which was connected to an outside antenna with a rotor. I can't tell you how it will perform for you, but I will say this. The box is very forgiving of a weak signal, but only to a point. What you hear about the characteristics of digital signal degradation is very true. You'll either get a great signal or none at all, with a very small area of partly usable signal in between. However, all the boxes I've read about will have an on-screen signal meter to help you adjust your antenna for the best signal. If you're close to the station, then you can get a good signal under almost any circumstances, but as you get farther away, that little meter can really help you out.
Also, the digital subchannels can be interesting. Many stations use them for weather programming or live radar, but some will bring in network feeds that aren't available on another station in the area. One that I really want to see is the Retro Television Network, which is very much like what TV Land used to be when it first launched. Some of the PBS stations and statewide networks are making good use of their subchannels by adding specialty channels, such as PBS Kids and Create. I think many stations are still trying to figure out how to program these channels, so expect to see a lot of experimentation. | |
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| | cerone
join:2001-10-28
Hialeah, FL | The rabbit ears connect to the new converter then the converter connects to the TV. maybe you might need to continue to play the rabbit ear game but maybe not as much. | |
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TominVA
@cox.net | Boxes are already on sale here. About $49. If folks don't know about this, well, too bad. They've been warned for a LONG time. It's called progress. | |
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| | flyingjoey
join:2005-11-07
Jersey City, NJ | Either upgrade or get left behind... Simple as that!
I am just wondering... if the people that are still using rabbit ears also walk around with a club, live in cages and hunt their food. | |
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| | | ISurfTooMuch
join:2007-04-23
Tuscaloosa, AL
| Re: Not a concern yet said by flyingjoey :Either upgrade or get left behind... Simple as that! I am just wondering... if the people that are still using rabbit ears also walk around with a club, live in cages and hunt their food. No. Many people in rural areas get TV from antennas (but often rooftop antennas and not rabbit ears) because that's the only way they can receive local stations. Yes, satellite is available, but stations from all markets aren't carried, and, in many cases, because of the way markets are defined, people can't subscribe to receive local stations via satellite that they can get just fine over the air. And if you want any kind of local programming such as news, sports, or weather, you have to tune in to a local station. People in these rural areas will often subscribe to satellite for cable channels and use an antenna to receive local stations. And you'd be surprised at how many you can sometimes get. My parents lived in an area between three markets, and they could get 14 channels using a rooftop antenna. They broke down like this:
2 ABC
3 CBS
2 NBC
2 PBS
2 Fox
2 My Network TV
1 TBN
And with digital, add another Fox station, since one of the ABC stations airs Fox on one of its digital subchannels.
For a sports fan, it was great because the stations often carried different games from their parent networks, so you could often choose between quite a few college and pro games on the weekends. | |
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| | Rocketbob
join:2006-06-08
Stillman Valley, IL |
The coupons are only good for 90 days. I purchased a box and the digital signal provides a better picture overall. No need
to adjust the rabbit ears. | |
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djrobx
join:2000-05-31
Valencia, CA | The luddites that frequent a site dedicated to an emerging technology continue to fascinate me.
-- Rob | |
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| | | jc100
join:2002-04-10
·RoadRunner Cable
| Re: Not a concern yet So do the people who make comments like yours. I bet you don't see the rationale of how the FCC owns these airways and are FORCIBLY making stations switch. This wasn't a voluntary switch either. The FCC being public funded owns said public airways. YET, it is mandating stations change over. So yes, MY POINT STANDS. | |
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| | travelguy
join:1999-09-03
Albuquerque, NM
| said by jc100 : I am still waiting until close to the date to see what those boxes run come 2009. I have put in my order for the coupon so we shall see what happens anyway. You do understand that the coupons are time limited, right? They expire 90 days after being issued, so if you ordered them now you will need to use them by August... | |
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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD | Re: No matter what; some will never get the word Riots and blood in the streets! | |
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| | Skippy25
join:2000-09-13
Hazelwood, MO | Re: No matter what; some will never get the word At least it will get them outside again.  | |
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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD
·Comcast
| Re: No matter what; some will never get the word said by Skippy25 :At least it will get them outside again. Out... what?
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This isn't fair! I was only supposed to hate just ONE presidential candidate! | |
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| hurfy
join:2002-08-06
Spokane, WA
| Do other stations not do the incessant reminders of this that ours do here? Damn scrollng messages in the middle of shows like it is some kind of emergency broadcast :/ Public service announcements every 30 minutes or so, etc.
How anyone affected can't get the message is way beyond me. Most of the messages are pretty clear and specific.
I am already sick of it. Do the digital channels not show these please?? Hell i am ready to switch now if i can get away from the stupid reminders 24/7
The only problem i have is that i probably lose ABC since they put their transmitter 90 degrees away from everyone else. The cheap boxes don't seem to pass-thru the low-power analog which is in the direction of my antenna that works better than the real ABC station. | |
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| | patcat88
join:2002-04-05
Jamaica, NY | Re: No matter what; some will never get the word Tough luck, FCC requires 3 times an hour for OTA, and it also requires cable companies to run ads. Do some googling for the exact FCC order. | |
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mod_wastrel
join:2008-03-28 | Vast wasteland The best thing that could happen to most people is if they could never watch any TV at all. Less than a tenth of 1% (if that) of what's on is of any worth. | |
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See 14 replies to this post |
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rid0617
join:2003-07-20
Greer, SC | 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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See 10 replies to this post |
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dadkins
Living on a Blu Planet
Premium,MVM
join:2003-09-26
Hercules, CA
·Comcast
edit:
May 4th, @02:32PM
| Basic/Standard Analog Cable... ... is going to go away too!
One by one, Comcast is going to start removing channels from the analog linups(Basic and Standard - no box) subs.
Here... 11, 15, and 66 have already went to the digital only lineup(TVGuide, CSPAN2, and Hallmark).
Going to have to get a box(or two)... 
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Think outside the Fox... Opera | |
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HerbertK
join:2006-07-30
Long Beach, CA | Re: Basic/Standard Analog Cable... Does anyone know what the best converter box to get is? Do they all have an RF modulator built in? My gaming TV is big so I want to keep it. But the TV is pretty old and I currenty have an RF modulator hooked up. | |
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| | TACSPEED
Premium
join:2001-04-14
Tacoma, WA | Re: Basic/Standard Analog Cable... If I were to buy one, I would get one that has both the NTSC and ATSC tuners.
As some of the low power stations will not be going digital. | |
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| | cornelius785
join:2006-10-26
Worcester, MA | i sort of have a feeling that the cable providers will say the 'best' solution is to spend more money every month to get their cable box. | |
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vbasic
@safepages.com
| Based on all the reviews I read the Zenith DTT900 is the best. That's what I bought for my old TVs and they work great. They used a metal box instead of plastic with excellent ventilation slots. The picture quality is equal to DVD and has fast response. There is a RF cable included for older sets.
»www.afterdawn.com/hardware/revie···h_dtt900 | |
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DTV Transition: This Is Only a Test
No matter what; some will never get the word