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Community Newsletter: Q&A: Please clarify the digital TV (DTV) transition in 2009
- 5/16/08 3:56 PM
the straight scoop on what happens to TV reception
by pllam - 5/5/08 12:00 PM In reply to: Please clarify the digital TV (DTV) transition in 2009 by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
will my several analog TVs that are connected directly to cable still function? YES
will I need a converter box on each of them? NO
TV store salesmen say I will need a box on each. NO
Only the 'over-the-airwaves broadcasting' would be free of analog signals so those receiving TV via antenna will need a box on each analog TV. Is that correct? YES Plus a new digital antenna
Simple!
by gkhughey - 5/5/08 12:40 PM In reply to: Please clarify the digital TV (DTV) transition in 2009 by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Our television news statement was:
If you have cable or sattelite dish, you have no problem - don't need to do anything. If you are using an anteanna on your house or rabbit ears on your television, you will need the box.
Quick and Dirty answer: Only Antenna Reception Affected
by j_a_s_p_e_r - 5/5/08 2:34 PM In reply to: Please clarify the digital TV (DTV) transition in 2009 by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Cable, Sattelite and newer TVs with ATSC (digital TV) tuners are unaffected. Many VHS and DVD recorders that have NTSC tuners and will be affected, but again only if the source is from an antenna (rabbit ears or external). A HDTV antenna (ha! see rant below) will not convert the signal for your old analog TV, you will still need a converter box
The rest of this post is just my rant on antennas
The best antennas for Digital TV are not amplified and are highly directional. If you need amplification know that less is better, because of potential signal distortion. Some newer antennas have better amplification for digital, but I found better (!!!) results without amplification.
Answer for Chuck -- Please clarify the digital TV (DTV) tran
by Ddskidog - 5/5/08 3:01 PM In reply to: Please clarify the digital TV (DTV) transition in 2009 by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
The only people, with analog tvs, affected by the discontinued analog 'air' broadcasts, are those without cable hookup or satelite service. So, in short, if you rely solely on an antenna for your signal - you need a converter box. Some satelite requires antenna for local stations, and thus would require a converter for an analog tv.
Digital TV Signal Reply
by lmccarty1 - 5/5/08 3:54 PM In reply to: Please clarify the digital TV (DTV) transition in 2009 by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Chuck,
The cable company will not provide anything for free. You will need a cable box for each TV.
DTV transition
by Watzman - 5/5/08 5:07 PM In reply to: Please clarify the digital TV (DTV) transition in 2009 by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Analog OVER-THE-AIR broadcasting will cease next February. Analog TVs connected to ANTENNAS will no longer work without a converter box.
If you are connected to a cable system, exactly what happens is up to the cable company ... there are no absolute rules, each cable company sets it's own policy. FOR THE MOST PART, most cable companies are going to continue supplying "basic cable" in analog format on the lower analog channels (channels below 100 and mostly below 50). This will include the 3 major broadcast networks and the major cable networks. Note that they will do this by converting what will then be digital (and, often not always, HD) content into analog content ... this may produce some strange result in that if the programming is widescreen, they will either have to "lop off" the extra width or "squeeze" the image (people and objects may look abnormally thin; circles may not be circular but vertically lengthened elipses). Note that in general this will be available without any kind of coverter or cable box. But, again, it's up to your cable company, what they do is set by company policy not by govt. regulation.
If you need a converter box (for whatever reason), they are about $60 each, give or take, and you can get two coupons from the US Govt. for a $40 credit (e.g. your net cost on the first two will be about $20 each). IN GENERAL, YOU DON'T NEED A CONVERTER BOX IF YOU ARE ON A CABLE SYSTEM, the converter boxes only work with ATSC signals, cable systems use QAM instead of ATSC.
Hope that helps.
Please clarify the digital TV (DTV) transition in 2009
by maybebob1 - 5/5/08 5:51 PM In reply to: Please clarify the digital TV (DTV) transition in 2009 by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Chuck,
The reason for Digital television (DTV) transition is to free up frequencies for public and safety communications. For more info goto:
http://www.dtv.gov/whatisdtv.html and http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/digitaltv.html
As of February 17, 2008, Free over the air TV will start broadcasting in Digital format. This means, all your old Analog TV sets will require an additional converter box to view free over the air Digital broadcasting. Analog broadcasting will no longer be in use for TV broadcasting. However, one good thing is if you act quickly, The National Telecommunications and Information Administration is offering a TV Converter Box Coupon Program. The coupon is worth $40.ea (you can request 2 per household).You can use this coupon at many local retailers and many online. The coupon program is between Jan. 1, 2008 thru March 31, 2009 while supplies last. I have read that more coupons will be released, so don’t hesitate!…. Go here to apply: https://www.dtv2009.gov/ or call 1-888-388-2009
Your TV’s connected to your cable shouldn’t be a problem if they are connected using your cable providers box. However, there are Digital and Analog cable channels. If you subscribe or receive any Digital channels you should be fine. However, you should contact your cable TV service provider to find out if there are any problems of having an Analog TV connected to their services. As for my cable service (WOW) there will not be a problem because I am using their Digital cable box!
So to answer your questions Chuck………
“Those receiving TV via antenna will need a box on each analog TV. Is that correct?” Answer: YES.
“Will my several analog TVs that are connected directly to cable still function?
Answer: N/A It will depend on the service you subscribe to, or is offered to you. Some cable service providers will continue to use their Analog broadcast and should not affect you. You should still contact your cable service provider. I would bet there is info about the Digital transition on their web site.
Hopes this helps…..
Bob
Chuck, it is my understanding that...
by zysmith - 5/6/08 7:17 AM In reply to: Please clarify the digital TV (DTV) transition in 2009 by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
...
1) If you have cable and are using a set-top box, you will notice no change
2) If you have cable and are plugged directly into the TV set (no set-top-box), you will need to get a set-top box from your cable company.
3) If you have sattelite, you will notice no change
4) If you recieve TV signals over-the-air (using an antenna) you will need to purchase an analog-to-digital converter box.
re: Chuck, it is my understanding that ....
by gmclam - 5/9/08 11:14 PM In reply to: Chuck, it is my understanding that... by zysmith> 1) If you have cable and are using a set-top box, you will notice no change
Correct!
> 2) If you have cable and are plugged directly into the TV set (no set-top-box), you will need to get a set-top box from your cable company.
The change taking place on 2/17/2009 has nothing whatsoever to do with this. The change taking place is in regards to over-the-air or terrestrial broadcasting. Whether or not your TV needs a STB from the cable company depends on what kind of tuner your set has, the specific signals your cable company sends out, and the service you are subscribing to.
> 3) If you have sattelite, you will notice no change
CORRECT!
> 4) If you recieve TV signals over-the-air (using an antenna) you will need to purchase an analog-to-digital converter box.
Not totally true. If your TV has an ATSC tuner, you're good to go. If your TV is NTSC or only "digital ready", then you could purchase an ATSC TUNER or a CONVERTER. Of course, you might just want to get a new TV.
Please clarify the digital TV (DTV) transition in 2009
by kimbaa - 5/6/08 7:45 AM In reply to: Please clarify the digital TV (DTV) transition in 2009 by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
The converter box is only needed if you don't subscribe to cable nor sattelite. Some people still use the old "roof top antenna" from back in the day, (before cable came along). Or they use some other type of indoor antenna. These people will have to get the converter box. If you subscribe to cable or satellite, you need nothing different when you already have. You can go to DTVTransition.org to read about it.
Don't let them confuse you.
by mrkradall - 5/6/08 11:29 AM In reply to: Please clarify the digital TV (DTV) transition in 2009 by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hello Chuck,
I want to make this as easy and clear as I possibly can.
The statement you made below, is the correct answer to your question;
"Only the 'over-the-airwaves broadcasting' would be free of analog signals so those receiving TV via antenna will need a box on each analog TV. Is that correct?"
The only reason to get a digital cable box is get the channels above 99 or decode the premium and Payperview channels. Unless you just like throwing your money away.
If you have an HD TV, this conversation does not apply to you. You have to get the box and pay the extra fees just to get the HD signal decoded to your set.
Not all stations digital, not all local programming on cable
by rdunn - 5/9/08 10:52 PM In reply to: Don't let them confuse you. by mrkradallI've read that "low-power" stations will be allowed to continue broadcasting in analog.
I've also seen that cable companies that carry local stations do not provide -all- the new channels of local over-the-air broadcasters. Some tv stations are broadcasting more channels in digital than they did broadcast in analog.
So it may make sense to have a set-top box for over-the-air channels even if you have cable.
And some cable companies switching to digital boxes, require you to exchange your old analog cable box for a digital cable box.
Digital TV
by kb2tlb - 5/6/08 5:45 PM In reply to: Please clarify the digital TV (DTV) transition in 2009 by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hi Chuck, etal, For the latest on the conversion to digital tv,
try pasting this link in your brower....
http://www.fcc.gov/digital
You'll get all the info you need their.
Jim/kb2tlb
Digital TV
by WLStinson - 5/10/08 3:47 AM In reply to: Digital TV by kb2tlbI think this link would be better
http://www.dtv.gov/
Well...It depends....
by hoffa53 - 5/6/08 9:22 PM In reply to: Please clarify the digital TV (DTV) transition in 2009 by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Along with the Over The Air Analog to Digital transition, some cable companies are also going all digital. The FCC granted Integration Ban waivers to some cable companies who are going all digital by Feb. 17, 2009.
Most likely, these cable companies will be using QAM encoding instead of ATSC, so the OTA DTV Set Top Boxes will not work with the cable connected TVs. If the TV is newer and has a QAM decoder in it, then no box will be required. If it is an older analog or digital non-QAM TV, then a QAM decoder box will be required in these systems.
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2007/octqtr/pdf/47cfr76.1204.pdf (76.1204(a)(1))
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-07-47A1.pdf
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-08-438A1.pdf
I would suspect that in the near future (circa 2010-2012) most cable companies will be going all digital, so people should start to upgrade their sets soon!
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