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Are you ready for digital TV?

 
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bkovacs Annandale, VA posts: 677
 Moderator
posted on September 30, 2008 at 10:48AM Inappropriate? Quote Reply

In February 2009, most TV stations in the US will turn off their analog transmitters and broadcast only in digital. Are you ready for digital TV?

If you receive all your TV from cable, satellite or something similar (Verizon FiOS, for example), you're fine. There's nothing you need to do. But if you have a spare older TV on rabbit ears or an antenna, that TV will stop working next year. You will need to buy a converter box to keep that TV working. (The government is giving away coupons that bring the price of converter boxes down to $10 or so.)

So... are you ready for digital TV? I'm only partly ready, as I have a couple of TV's connected to a rooftop antenna that will need converter boxes.

This sort of stuff is what I do for a living, so feel free to ask questions about digital TV and I will try to give you a plain-language answer.

--Bob

2009 Advisor
posted on September 30, 2008 at 03:35PM
 

Does the converter box take the place of the antenna?  I'm not an electronics junky so I'm wondering what gets plugged into where.

2009 VIP
posted on September 30, 2008 at 04:46PM
 
I may get one and dump Time Warner Cable and their blue screen with white letters. Thinking on it. Have you hooked up one of these converters yet? Do they just plug into the TV and the wall outlet or something?
2008 VIP
posted on September 30, 2008 at 06:01PM
 
I have one small TV in a spare bedroom that doesn't get cable but I think I may add a DVD player to it  and leave it at that because it doesn't get used much.  I may change my mind though...  argh!
2009 Advisor
posted on September 30, 2008 at 06:46PM
 
I am ready for digital TV. We have Directv. They have assured us that we will not have any problems come February 2009. None of our TV's have bunny ears/antennas. Thanks Bob.
2009 VIP
posted on September 30, 2008 at 07:37PM
 
I think my husband has us ready. Guess that counts. I don't have a clue. Don't understand it; don't want to. As long as I can watch House which I'm taping right now I'm happy:) Should I buy Birkenstocks on QVC - oh gosh I'm on a shopping spree and every day I'm told how much money we lost though today the market was up. if you like Berkenstocks on QVC they're doing an hour and many of them are really cute and less than in the stores. Jo
 Moderator
posted on September 30, 2008 at 09:44PM
 
In response to JovialCougar's post from September 30 2008 03:35PM
JovialCougar said…

Does the converter box take the place of the antenna?  I'm not an electronics junky so I'm wondering what gets plugged into where.


With digital TV, you still need an antenna. The antenna connects to the converter box and the converter box connects to the TV. Think of the converter box as being similar to a box from the cable company, but instead of going between the cable and your TV, it goes between the antenna and your TV. The converter box receives the digital signal and turns it into analog so that you can watch it on your old TV.

I saw the converter boxes at Wal-Mart for $50, which will make them $10 after you use the $40 government coupon. I've not used a converter box yet but have been watching digital TV for several years. When everything works, it's the best dang pictures you ever saw. Sound is pretty good, too.

--Bob
2009 Advisor
posted on October 14, 2008 at 10:22AM
 
I'm wondering if cable companies will raise their rates (again) using this change-over as an excuse. I'm currently paying just under $60/month.
 Moderator
posted on October 14, 2008 at 11:02AM
 
In response to JovialCougar's post from October 14 2008 10:22AM
JovialCougar said…
I'm wondering if cable companies will raise their rates (again) using this change-over as an excuse. I'm currently paying just under $60/month.

I'm sure that will happen in places. There are some cable companies that raise rates when the local football team loses.

I just want people to know that they can receive digital TV for free with an antenna. If you have an older TV, all it takes to get free digital TV is a converter box and an antenna. If you live near a city where the TV transmitters are, you can probably use a simple indoor antenna (such as rabbit ears). If you live more than 20 miles or so from the city, you'll probably need a bigger antenna mounted in an attic or on the roof. It sounds complicated but you only install the antenna once and then the TV reception is free.

--Bob

 Moderator
posted on October 14, 2008 at 11:09AM
 
Ready we are; I just laid down serious bucks for a new HDYV, Up-scaling 1080p DVD player, and 10801 HD-DVR. We have Dish Network digital.
2009 VIP
posted on October 14, 2008 at 11:19AM
 

We have an assortment of HD and HD Ready sets throughout the house.  Being on Comcast makes the whole thing a non-issue.  We're looking at a new 42" 1080p HD to replace our 46" rear projector TV that just recently bought the farm.  I'll probably be one of those loons standing on one line or another before sun-up on Black Friday.

Rudi

2009 VIP
posted on October 14, 2008 at 11:24AM
 
I'm ready, no rabbit ears in my house :)  Everything is hooked to Brighthouse and Brighthouse has even sent us messages through the menu stating we don't need to do anything!  Yay
2009 VIP
posted on October 15, 2008 at 03:12PM
 
In response to bkovacs's post from September 30 2008 10:48AM

Both our TVs are High-Def LCDs, and we have Comcast cable.  We're about ready as we can be, I reckon.

 Staff
posted on October 15, 2008 at 03:27PM
 
We've got rabbit ears, but since we watch so little TV, we'll probably put off getting a converter box until the cutover occurs.  DVDs/Blu-Rays = priority.  Broadcast TV... NOT!
 Moderator
posted on October 16, 2008 at 12:23PM
 
In response to kevin's post from October 15 2008 03:27PM
kevin said…
We've got rabbit ears, but since we watch so little TV, we'll probably put off getting a converter box until the cutover occurs.  DVDs/Blu-Rays = priority.  Broadcast TV... NOT!

Keep in mind that local and national news broadcasts are increasingly in HD, as were the debates and most sporting events. Even if you don't watch episodic TV, there's still good reasons to go digital... if only to get HD.

--Bob

2008 Writer
posted on November 16, 2008 at 05:57AM
 
We have Comcast so we're good.  However, we did go out an replace our TV with a flat screen because the TV was changing channels on its own, LOL.  So, we're set. :)
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