Update on 2009 Digital TV Conversion
Fri Jun 8, 2007 11:04AM EDT
See Comments (10)
The converters needed to switch analog TVs (the ones that still rely on rabbit ears and rooftop antennas) will hit the stores in January, hopefully giving the people who need them time to put them in place before the government-mandated switchover to digital TV in February 2009.
The National Association of Broadcasters has unveiled two converters, one made by LG, the other Thomson, which will be sold under the RCA brand for between $40 and $70 each. The New York Times reports the picture the converters produces is sharp and clear. Beginning in January, Americans who need help buying them can apply for up to two $40 coupons from the government.
One in every five American homes still rely on an analog signal for their television, and the government plans to spend up to $1.5 billion to help TV viewers who can't afford a newer HDTVs and the service needed to make them work to convert to digital TV with the TVS they already have. The plan is to recoup the money by auctioning off the broadcast spectrum freed by the switchover. You can find out more info on the coupon program on these web sites:
Federal Communications Commission: Countdown to DTV Transition
National Association of Broadcasters: DTV Answers
For more info, check out these links:
LINK: Converters Signal a New Era for TVs [NYT]
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Comments on Update on 2009 Digital TV Conversion
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2 Posted by mykeemk on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:31PM EDT Report Abuse
What they don't tell you is that if you can't receive UHF tv now on your analog set for whatever reason you are not going to get Digital TV since the Digital transmissions are going to be in the UHF range even with the "BOX".You'll need a UHF antenna and pray it will get the UHF signal !!!!
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3 Posted by blackcrisann on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:08PM EDT Report Abuse
I have a question? I am planning on buying a police scanner and was wondering if this switch from analog to digital will impact the scanner I buy? Most of the scanners I have looked at are analog!
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4 Posted by kalolina2006 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:46PM EDT Report Abuse
Prior to purchasing my convertor box I received awesome reception on all the major channels. Now that I have the box 9 out of 10 days I receive no signal. The government has issued 12,500,000 coupons and apparently this is not enough. Why should the american families be forced to stop watching TV because the government decided digital TV is better. It is apparent that it is not. I have watched TV via antenta my entire life and never had a problem until digital. Did the cable companies push this law through?
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5 Posted by melodyf2 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:15PM EDT Report Abuse
Yes I would like to comment on mykeemk. This person is correct, even after purchasing the converter box you still need to purchase bunny ears, rabbit ears, whatever you want to call them. An antenna, I purchased two of the converter boxes. The one in my livingroom doesn't work because I don't have an antenna, but the one in my son's room does. He has a set of rabbit ears, that one of his friends gave to him. So a word of caution to everyone out there, you still need an antenna after purchasing the converter box. And yes they are not cheap, so if you receive your coupons from the goverment you are still spending your money for the antenna. They range from $9.95 to $109.99, depending on how much you want to spend.
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1 Posted by ebo768@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:51PM EDT Report Abuse
The following information was taken from www.dtvtransition.org. What is digital television (DTV)? Digital television (DTV) is a new type of broadcasting technology that is transforming television as we now know it. By transmitting the information used to make a TV picture and sound as "data bits" (like a computer), a digital broadcaster can carry more information than is currently possible with analog broadcast technology. The difference between analog and digital broadcasting is similar to that between compact discs and cassette tapes. Digital TV offers a better viewing experience with vastly improved picture and sound quality. DTV is also more efficient than analog TV technology so broadcasters will be able to produce additional signals using the DTV system. What is analog television? Analog television service is the traditional method of transmitting TV signals and has been the standard broadcast technology since the inception of television. Analog television service isn’t as efficient as DTV. It uses up much more valuable spectrum that - once the DTV transition is completed - will be provided to public safety organizations, such as first responders including fire and police departments. Remaining spectrum will be auctioned off for the production of new services.