Analog To Digital Broadcast changeover

[Groundbound1]

In February of 2009, all television broadcasts in the U.S. will be done in digital only.

http://www.dtv.gov/consumercorner.html

Just an F.Y.I post.

[Fozzer]

Just imagine all those land-fill sites, (etc!), overflowing with obsolete analogue Television sets and accessories.... ...!!

Paul....(Gave up Television many years ago, (1976)...).... ...!

[BFMF]

Just imagine all those land-fill sites, (etc!), overflowing with obsolete analogue Television sets and accessories.... ...!!

Paul....(Gave up Television many years ago, (1976)...).... ...!

All we'll need to do is buy a digital-to-analog converter box which will allow us to watch digital broadcasts without needing to buy a newer TVs

[Groundbound1]

I honestly can't imagine many people still using an arial to tune their favorite stations, but the U.S. gov seems to think they are still out there as they've set aside $1.5 billion to fund a coupon campaign for those that do.

[Groundbound1]

The $1.5 billion funds a program that allows households to recieve two $40 vouchers to use toward the purchase of analog-digital converter boxes. I see your point, but how else could the FCC get away with mandating this change?

I still don't totally understand the need for the change in the first place. They say they need to free up those bands to use for police, fire, and other emergency service communications, but almost all of those services have already changed over to digital, on currently existing bands anyway!

The whole thing seems a little fishy to me.

[MWISimmer]

What people don't realise is that video recorders will become obselete when the changeover takes place as you'll only be able to record the program you're watching.. which kind of defeats the object really..

[ozzy72]

Paul....(Gave up Television many years ago, (1976)...)

Yeah right Paul.... and how do you explain Third Rock?

[Groundbound1]

What people don't realise is that video recorders will become obselete when the changeover takes place as you'll only be able to record the program you're watching.. which kind of defeats the object really..

Yes and no. If you still rely on an antenna for reception, then you would need a converter for the tv and the vcr. However, if you have cable then everything is supposed to be the same as it is now.

[H]

I honestly can't imagine many people still using an arial to tune their favorite stations, but the U.S. gov seems to think they are still out there as they've set aside $1.5 billion to fund a coupon campaign for those that do.

I'm one of those -- cut the dipoles to length and assembled the antenna, myself.

The $1.5 billion funds a program that allows households to recieve two $40 vouchers to use toward the purchase of analog-digital converter boxes. I see your point, but how else could the FCC get away with mandating this change?
I still don't totally understand the need for the change in the first place. They say they need to free up those bands to use for police, fire, and other emergency service communications, but almost all of those services have already changed over to digital, on currently existing bands anyway!
The whole thing seems a little fishy to me.

To me, as well. Seems something along the lines of progressional control.
One channel was already absconded; which will remain?

What people don't realise is that video recorders will become obselete when the changeover takes place as you'll only be able to record the program you're watching.. which kind of defeats the object really..

As Groundbound1 indicates, if your VCR is on its own box it won't matter. I'll have to see what I can do for a splitter unit, though. Now all we'll need is a megahuge solar blast to knock everything out.

8-)

[Groundbound1]

I honestly can't imagine many people still using an arial to tune their favorite stations, but the U.S. gov seems to think they are still out there as they've set aside $1.5 billion to fund a coupon campaign for those that do.

I'm one of those -- cut the dipoles to length and assembled the antenna, myself.

No offense intended (hope you didn't take it that way) Reminds me of myself back when I was tweaking for the lowest swr, and trying to work the "skip"! (That will probably be the next thing " they" try to take.)

[H]

Reminds me of myself back when I was tweaking for the lowest swr, and trying to work the "skip"! (That will probably be the next thing " they" try to take.)

From my Nebraska station I once exchanged a few sentences after cutting into a conversation between three xmitters in Burbank, CA, on the CB band. I don't believe the exchange with Kearny (@75mi away) was skip, however. I made that antenna, myself, too.

8-)

[Triple_7]

I never could figure out what the point of this whole thing is.  Its just another dumb thing going into effect.  I currently have cable but theres a lot of times where a set of rabbit ears were being used...and when I move next year rabbit ears will be the only thing to use for awhile as cable is to expensive around here  

Another thing will be the Analog cell phones...no longer will a signal go to them.  Not a problem for most people but I have news for my company...they can give me a new one if they want to make that change  I'm probably one of the few that still uses an analog phone :-/  No fancy color screen for me  Only reason I still have it after 3.5 years is the thing is pretty much indestructible  Its been through the washer and the dryer, fell off a roof and slammed the concrete pad 30 feet below, run over by a truck and a tractor, thrown at walls, the list goes on  Thing still works like new

[Fozzer]

Paul....(Gave up Television many years ago, (1976)...)

Yeah right Paul.... and how do you explain Third Rock?

I didn't say I don't have a "Television Set"....
...how could I play all my old Spectrum and Commodore games without one?...

....(and watch your CD's of "Third Rock"......)!

...its just that I cannot convince myself that forking out

[Brett_Henderson]

For the benefit of our North American Chums...
In the U.K. One can "Own" a Television Receiver without a Television Licence, but it is illegal to "Use" a Television Receiver to receive Television Broadcast signals without a Television Licence......(small print!)...punishable by 99 years in prison, an unlimited Fine, Death by electrocution, or slow Castration....(your choice).... ...!

It's amazing how many ways a government can find to squeeze another tax in there  ::)

[Tweek]

For the benefit of our North American Chums...
In the U.K. One can "Own" a Television Receiver without a Television Licence, but it is illegal to "Use" a Television Receiver to receive Television Broadcast signals without a Television Licence......(small print!)...punishable by 99 years in prison, an unlimited Fine, Death by electrocution, or slow Castration....(your choice).... ...!

It's amazing how many ways a government can find to squeeze another tax in there  ::)

If I'm not mistaken, it pays for the BBC. The upside is that all BBC channels are advert free, so no annoying interruptions during your favourite programme. Of course, if you have a television that can actually pick up all of the analogue channels (of which there are 5), then you're able to pick up BBC 1 and 2. So you have to pay.

But, so long as they keep showing Top Gear, the license is worth it.