Digital TV only by this time in 2009, coupons now available for converter boxes

[RobAce]

Well as many of you might or might not know as of Feb 17 2009 most if not all US TV stations will shut off their analog signals and broadcast only in HD signal format. For all of us with older TV's or using antenna's this will mean no more broadcast TV....unless you buy a converter box.
From what I read the government has about 33 million coupons for people to buy converter boxes ( coupons are from $40.00 to $50.00) making the boxes basically free. It is best if you need these boxes for your TV set(s) to apply for a coupon now, you can receive either one or two coupons.
Here is the web site to go to....Im not going to link it just remove the DTV- at the front and copy and paste in your browser...

DTV-https://www.dtv2009.gov/

I already submitted mine and got a reference number.

So this makes me hope Ill get a little better reception and perhaps a few new channels. If you already have cable or satellite you will be unaffected because the signals will already be converted by your company. But those like me without cable/satellite service it will be a big help.

Rob

 

[SamuelKhan]

I already have an HDTV, but there are two in the house that need converter boxes. I'm getting a coupon for one of them now.

 

[alchemy]

fuck TV

 

[paracarl44]

We are becoming Lambs led to slaughter.

When Color TV came out you could still watch it in Black & White.

Now we will have NO CHOICE! Either buy converter boxes and watch TV from cable or satellite, or due without.

I am now hearing stories about unscrupulous TV Salespeople telling clients that they will need thousands of dollars of TV Equipment to be able to watch TV. What is happening to Freedom of Speech?

 

[RobAce]

Now we will have NO CHOICE! Either buy converter boxes and watch TV from cable or satellite, or due without.

Pretty much. All of the large TV stations will flip off the analog Feb 17 2009..but in many rural areas their TV stations which power signal is not as strong will still be broadcasting in analog for a few more years. But basically yes, we have no choice but to go satellite/cable or purchase a converter box or buy a TV with a digital tuner already inside.

I am now hearing stories about unscrupulous TV Salespeople telling clients that they will need thousands of dollars of TV Equipment to be able to watch TV.

The govt. has set up some kind of hotline to report bad business over the switch. All you really will need is a converter box, most will retail for 35-45 dollars. The only other thing that will be needed is a HD antenna which also is not very expensive.

What is happening to Freedom of Speech?

Oh the speech is still free. Just what we have to pay for to listen to it seems to be getting higher.

Rob

 

[AphxA]

sweet maybe by then cablevision will have some decent hd channels.

 

[Tashia]

I don't know much about all of this. My tv's are older I guess. I don't have HDTV that I am aware of. Does this apply if you have direct tv as well?

 

[RobAce]

Does this apply if you have direct tv as well?

If you already have satellite or cable, older TV's will be unaffected because the signal is already converted by the company you subscribe to.

This really only affects those without satellite or cable service.

Rob

 

[cloudgazer2k]

I don't know much about all of this. My tv's are older I guess. I don't have HDTV that I am aware of. Does this apply if you have direct tv as well?

HDTV is a whole 'nother beast. you have to have the T.V. for it, which you probably don't have. if i remember right, Direct TV and their new set-ups are geared for HD, but i can't recall if you need a separate receiver or not. same goes for cable.

NBC has been doing a good bit of coverage on the whole digital signal change. they were the first ones i heard tell of some companies ripping people off for extra sales on equipment they don't want/need. i hope my old Broksonic can take the new conversion.

 

[paracarl44]

This is a square hit on poor people.

A local TV Station ran a story of a woman living in a rural county, her only access to TV was an antenna on her roof. She lives to far out in the country for the cable companies to string their lines. She said:"All I want is to be able to watch my Soap Operas and the Local News." There are many people in our western states that will face the same problem.

 

[TKpervert]

if i remember right, Direct TV and their new set-ups are geared for HD, but i can't recall if you need a separate receiver or not. same goes for cable.

You will need DirecTv's HR20 HD-DVR Plus to take advantage of all the new HD stuff from DirecTv.
This unit receives the new MPEG-4 AVC signal which DirecTv is starting to use with the shiny new satellite they recently launched. Older DVRs cannot handle this new signal.
You will also need the new 5-LNB dish.

The HR20 has received some complaints from users (mostly ex-Tivo users) but I've had one for three months now and you'd have to pry it out of my cold dead hands to get it away from me.

 

[maniactickler]

Can i splice it from one tv to another one?

 

[Icycle]

A local TV Station ran a story of a woman living in a rural county, her only access to TV was an antenna on her roof. She lives to far out in the country for the cable companies to string their lines. She said:"All I want is to be able to watch my Soap Operas and the Local News." There are many people in our western states that will face the same problem.

This is exactly why Congress is giving out the coupons for converter boxes. The price for a converter box after the coupon should be somewhere between $0-$10. This should not be a hardship, even for the poor.

The only people who may really suffer are those who already had marginal over-the-air analog service, for whom the digital signal may be too weak. Those folks may need a better antenna.

 

[SamuelKhan]

Okay, okay, I'll get you the whole tuna at the seafood store!

 

[Icycle]

So this makes me hope Ill get a little better reception and perhaps a few new channels.

I recommend checking out this site:

http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.aspx

If you enter in your physical address, it will figure out which channels you can receive, and what type and orientation of antenna you need to receive each channel.

Also note that with digital over-the-air broadcasts, reception is an all or nothing thing. With an analog signal, it just gets snowier and snowier until you can't watch it anymore. With digitial, everything is crystal clear, and then you suddenly fall of a cliff and get nothing.