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Community Newsletter: Q&A: Please clarify the digital TV (DTV) transition in 2009
- 5/16/08 3:56 PM
Please clarify the digital TV (DTV) transition in 2009
by Lee Koo (ADMIN) - 5/16/08 3:56 PM
Question:
I'd like the straight scoop on what happens to TV reception next year. Specifically, will my several analog TVs that are connected directly to cable still function? Or will I need a converter box on each of them? TV store salesmen say I will need a box on each. But I understood that the cable companies would continue to send both analog and digital signals over the cable. 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? Simple question, but I had to get the simple answer. Either I'm OK as is, or I need a bunch of boxes. If you can give me clear and definitive answer, that would be much appreciated! Thank you very much.
Submitted by: Chuck B.
Answers:
For starters please check out some of these helpful answers from our members here:
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-10149_102-0.html?forumID=7&threadID=293451&messageID=2769607#2769607
Many great addition advice following this post so please read on!
If you have any additional advice for Chuck B. click the "reply" link below to submit your answer. Please be as detailed as possible when submitting your answer. Thank you!
Cable TV
by droschke7 - 5/2/08 6:24 PM In reply to: Please clarify the digital TV (DTV) transition in 2009 by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
if you have cable TV then you don't have a problem, the box lets you watch the TV whether it is Analogue or Digital
"Box" semantics
by kcrlshell - 5/17/08 6:08 AM In reply to: Cable TV by droschke7The question is about cable ready TV's and cable boxes. I think he understands that OTA reception will require the OTA boxes. He has cable ready tv's...he gets cable WITHOUT renting cable boxes right now. So do I. And the question for us is: Is the cable company going to stop pre-converting cable signal to analog (put it all in the digital tier) and FORCE us all to rent digital cable boxes for every currently "cable ready" TV in our house?
re: cable TV
by gmclam - 5/19/08 12:37 AM In reply to: "Box" semantics by kcrlshell> The question is about cable ready TV's and cable boxes. I think he understands that OTA reception will require the OTA boxes. He has cable ready tv's...he gets cable WITHOUT renting cable boxes right now. So do I. And the question for us is: Is the cable company going to stop pre-converting cable signal to analog (put it all in the digital tier) and FORCE us all to rent digital cable boxes for every currently "cable ready" TV in our house?
This is actually a complex question because of the number of different cable systems around the country (even if many have the same brand). There are a lot of factors at work here. First you should understand why there is such a thing as "digital cable" in the first place. It has NOTHING to do with quality - it has everything to do with selling you as many channels as possible.
NTSC analog signals are "klunky" by today's standards and take up 6 MHz of bandwidth each. Cable companies learned years ago that they can squueze several channels into that same space. Eventually I see no compelling reason for cable companies to continue transmitting analog signals. Just like they do now, this will not alienate paying customers with NTSC only TVs - all they need to do is provide converters to those customers.
Although the cable giants have fought the issue, we do have CableCARDs right now which are supposed to provide people with cable ready TVs the ability to receive authorized cable channels. What we should have soon is a software version of the same thing. And the software version will work with pay-per-view, TV guide & 2 way stuff; something CableCARDs do not.
So in the long run expect cable to change totally. About the only thing you'll be able to do with NTSC is connect it to an old VCR or other such device.
freeview ariel ?
by billynry - 4/18/09 3:52 AM In reply to: Cable TV by droschke7I have Virgin cable for TV,broadband and telephone all are faultless. I also have my original freeview setup tv, of which was ok when I decide to check it out,- but in the last six months I have noticed picture breakup , something which is new and not had in the past few years with my freeview setup, I wonder why should this happen now, is the signals changing or what, I still used my old analouge ariel which was ok for a long while untill recently, do I now require a new digital ariel all of a sudden, if so why ?? I wonder if this is the case, any thought anyone ??
Billy
Is this CABLE or OVER-THE-AIR?
by gmclam - 4/20/09 10:32 AM In reply to: freeview ariel ? by billynry> I have Virgin cable for TV,broadband and telephone all are faultless.
The digital transition in this forum has nothing to do with CABLE.
> I also have my original freeview setup tv, of which was ok when I decide to check it out,- but in the last six months I have noticed picture breakup , something which is new and not had in the past few years with my freeview setup, I wonder why should this happen now, is the signals changing or what, I still used my old analouge ariel which was ok for a long while untill recently, do I now require a new digital ariel all of a sudden, if so why ?? I wonder if this is the case, any thought anyone ??
What is "freeview"? The digital transition in this forum only relates to TV broadcasting in the USA over-the-air.
But, here some points. Original analog (NTSC) broadcasters were 'loaned' a 2nd channel to simultaneously broadcast digital (ATSC) signals in the USA. This means TWO physically DIFFERENT channels are being used by those broadcasters. One of the two signals may be VHF while the other is UHF (or visa-versa); which require different antennas.
Without knowing the exact TV stations you are receiving, there is no way to clearly answer your question. There are just too many variables. Some analog broadcasts have already been shut down. All full power analog broadcasts will now end by 6/12/2009. There are broadcasters who were anticipating the original 2/17/09 date who switched to a lower power transmitter or aux antenna/etc so they could get their digital signal up to full power. In other words, there are lots of signals out there (analog & digital) which are not at full power, not broadcasting from their original/high antenna location, or from a secondary location.
Additionally, the physical channel which will be used by any given station may be different than was used during the transition, or might even be the station's original analog channel, once they terminate analog broadcasting. When these specific changes take place, you might need a different antenna, or might need to point your antenna to a (slightly) different direction.
In my area; analog channel 6 has been broadcasting digitally on channel 53. Once they turn off their analog signal, they plan to broadcast digitally on channel 9. Another broadcaster in my area was on channel 42 analog, but is moving their transmitter location and changing to channel 26. These scenarios are playing out all over the USA.
USA Freeview only,sorry I interupted !
by billynry - 4/27/09 1:57 AM In reply to: Is this CABLE or OVER-THE-AIR? by gmclamI did not reilize this was an US of A discussion only. I will check out UK only discussions.
Thanks to all who wrote?
New TV
by bhorn1 - 5/2/08 6:39 PM In reply to: Please clarify the digital TV (DTV) transition in 2009 by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
The best answer is to go to Sam's and purchase a new flat screen LCD that is HD and Digital ready and not buy a box which is a band aid fix to an obsolete TV. Your picture and sound will be many times better and you will enjoy watching Tv a lot more. A 32 inch can be had for less than $800 and a 26inch less than $500. Its time to move up into the digital world.
A number of responses out of touch...
by baseman - 5/12/08 6:37 AM In reply to: New TV by bhorn1What? You post, "The best answer is to go to Sam's and purchase a new flat screen LCD that is HD and Digital ready...". This reply is fairly condescending and oblivious to the fact a large number of Americans simply cannot afford $500-800 for a new TV as you suggest. Maybe you and I can, but there a quite a few people that have a hard time living week to week...especially with the cost of food and gas going up every week. Your simple response is breathtakingly ignorant of life in much of the country for a great number of Americans where $100 may be a make-it-or-break-it scenario each month. To paraphrase your post, maybe you should move into the real world.
The digital TV (DTV) transition
by RuskinRules - 5/12/08 9:51 AM In reply to: A number of responses out of touch... by basemanI thought your reply was harsher than bhorn1's and I didn't get the impression he was being callous, only helpful. He was simply stating that for the questioner, he/she is better off investing in the future long-run rather than piecemeal fixes because, and as we all know, one day any bandaid will be obsolete resulting in even more wasted money.
In my own experience, and despite me having a background in computers and digital media, I myself was confused about whether or not to purchase an HV-compatible television but because I don't watch a lot of TV (only view DVDs), I was debating on whether to simply buy a convertor box, or take the plunge.
Consequently, I sprung some cash over the weekend to purchase a brand new REGZA 42".
re: The digital TV (DTV) transition
by gmclam - 5/12/08 10:10 AM In reply to: The digital TV (DTV) transition by RuskinRules> ... He was simply stating that for the questioner, he/she is better off investing in the future long-run rather than piecemeal fixes because, and as we all know, one day any bandaid will be obsolete resulting in even more wasted money.
NO, we all don't "know" that! There is nothing about DTV converters that are going to make them any more obsolete than that new REGZA 42" you just purchased. The whole concept about converters is to be able to keep our standard definition TVs operational until they reach the end of their natural lives.
> In my own experience, and despite me having a background in computers and digital media, I myself was confused about whether or not to purchase an HV-compatible television but because I don't watch a lot of TV (only view DVDs), I was debating on whether to simply buy a convertor box, or take the plunge.
My background is in product development, computers and television broadcasting (over 30 years) - does that make me "more qualified" to provide an accurate answer? I don't watch much TV either, but that is not the point here. The point others are making is that A LOT OF PEOPLE can not afford costly purchases. Converters, and the $40 coupon are the least expensive solution enabling 10000s of consumers to continue receiving television past 2/17/2009. The purpose of the discussion here is to help those who need it, not brag about what you just purchased.
Chill out dude
by RuskinRules - 5/12/08 11:08 AM In reply to: re: The digital TV (DTV) transition by gmclamWow. You have some real issues going on there.
I wasn't "bragging'' about my new purchase, I was simply stating that even with my supposed knowledge and experience with digital technology, that even I'm confused about HDTV and I was only confirming other people's trepidation in purchasing. I never said that because of my background, that I consider myself "more qualified."
If you reread the initial question, no where does he state that he is concerned about being able to afford the new technology or let on that he/she is destitute.
I'll say it AGAIN, your responses and rhetoric were far more harsh and actually, pretty arrogant (as quoted below)...
"Your simple response is breathtakingly ignorant of life..."
"...maybe you should move into the real world..."
"This reply is fairly condescending and oblivious..."
You are combining two different responses...
by baseman - 5/12/08 11:27 AM In reply to: Chill out dude by RuskinRulesRuskinRules...You are combining two different responses into your thread above. I initially pointed out that it isn't easy for everyone to simply drop $500-100 for a new TV. Was I harsh in my comments? Possibly. Sorry if I was. But I have seen way too many people make it sound like you are an idiot if you don't switch to HDTV. Again, not everyone has the bucks. bhorn1 maybe should have said something along the lines of "if your wallet permits, the best way to go is...". The way it was worded made it sound like a no-brainer.
However, in your last response you said "...in your response(s)...". I only made one. gmglam responded to your last comment. The bragging comment was from gmglam and not me.
You are combining two different responses...
by RuskinRules - 5/12/08 11:52 AM In reply to: You are combining two different responses... by basemanYou're right. My apologies.
common misconception...
by Annie_in_SC - 5/17/08 7:18 AM In reply to: Chill out dude by RuskinRulesDTV (Digital TV) and HDTV are not the same thing! there are eighteen DTV Formats. You do not need High Def to receive a digital signal just a digital TV or a digital set top box. Cable and Satellite Is Good Until 2012
Subscribers to cable and satellite TV services are not affected by the switch until 2012. These are closed systems that are already sending analog signals to your TV. Due to orders from the FCC, satellite and cable services will provide analog TV until 2012 and will continue to convert programming that originates in digital back to analog for its customers until then.
The following is just for informational purposes:
DTV offers 18 digital formats starting with Standard Definition (SD), the digital counterpart of the NTSC analog standard, except without snow and ghosts.
Enhanced Definition (ED) offers the most formats.
High Definition (HD) provides 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound and requires a wide screen TV set (16:9) in order to eliminate the letterbox effect.
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