Community Newsletter: Q&A forum: Please clarify the digital TV (DTV) transition in 2009

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

> 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.

> 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.

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.

I 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".

Wow. 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're right. My apologies.

A simple question about the issue of converter boxes has turned into the same discussion we hate so much among politicians and the news media. The exchanges have digressed from the issue to personal confrontation, innuendo, who said what, what was meant to be said, yes you did, no I didn't........., it is sad and pitiful, but a reflection of the nature of our population. So, what is the point here..........., stick to the subject and stop trying to direct others as to how they should think, say and act.

I started reading this forum with interest, but forget it. Who needs all this nonsense.

" Live and let live!"

I think your reply is about as considerate as that of bhorn1. You guys seem to be oblivious to the fact that millions of Americans are suffering and through no choice of their own are living in a state of poverty.
Instead of talking up the benefits of digital TV you should be thinking of how you can help the disadvantaged and less fortunate among us. It is your duty as a human being to do so.
I can't help these people financially but I have spent every year of my life volunteering my help, doing anything I can to make their lives better and trying in some small way to help alleviate their suffering. I have always insisted on anonymity and I certainly don't want any recognition or credit for helping them.
To defend his answer is just as disgusting as his answer.

Hi Grams
<<My daughter's coupons expired and still no converter boxes to be found. There should not have been an expiration, that's totally wrong! Now she has no money to buy a converter box without a coupon.
Dish Network finally in Sept. decided they would just update our system and give us local channels for 6 months. We've had a mess with our bill ever since, not getting Dish on one of our tv's now and on top of that one of our network channels and been turned off!
This whole digital switch is a disaster as far as I'm concerned! The government should have just sent out converter boxes to each household, they waste money all of the time anyway!>>

Check http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.aspx first to see if your location even has any signals strong enough to bother getting a converter. Your local librarian can help if you are not familiar with it.

Have your daughter or a friend apply for a new coupon. Use a friend's address or your name if you never applied for one. Friends and family can be very helpful. :+) BestBuy now offers converter boxes online as of Dec 2008. That's an option if none of your brick and mortar stores in your area have stock. You can read the reviews to decide which best fits your situation. I realize the program is out of money now but you might as well get on the waitlist and/or find a friend/family who hasn't used up their coupons. The prices have dropped another $5 in 2009. There was no problem getting coupons beginning March 2008 last year. Many stores constantly restock as they run out. The 3 month expiration date is listed on the coupon and the online site when users apply. Keep checking your local stores and ask your neighbors/friends which boxes worked for them and where they got theirs. The expiration is so that if somebody doesn't use their coupons, the money can go to somebody else.

A onetime $14-20 for a converter is a lot less than Dish monthly. Since Dish isn't providing you much service, maybe you can save the monthly fee and get a new DVR with a tuner. It will convert and you get a recorder too. You just have to watch TV with it on since the converter is in the device. You still need an antennae no matter if you've got a converter or a dvr with tuner.
If you have strong signals in your area, you'll be pleased with them.
If not, then don't bother with a converter and maybe shop around for a different service.

New tvs are totally out of the question for me. I've got home heating oil & propane to buy! I refuse to pay for cable tv & am only willing to pay to support pbs & npr. Let the advertisers pay for the airways, not the public.

I received a government coupon for the digital box, had no other store close by to purchase the converter box (which is also supposed to allow analog signals in) other than Walmart (which just in the last month drove the local Radio Shack out of business); brought it home; hooked it up & got nothing but fuzz. My son came over to try again for me, he seemed to have it hooked up & scanning correctly but got no signal - so how is that going to help me & millions of others?

Please let me know.

Sandy: Before you spend any more money, try antennaweb.org. You just input your address and it will tell you all the channels you receive and your distance from the stations. Also, if you will go to (I think) dtv.gov and click on the section for antennas, you will find that you do not need any special type antenna. Sales people will tell you you need digital or amplified or some other type. I doubt you will. Just be sure you aim the dipoles as close to the direction indicated in antennaweb.org as possible, but near a window. I, too, bought a piece of junk (Magnavox) and had to return it. The new box works just fine. Pat

I have no idea what's going on, elsewhere, but my cable company (Comcast) does not charge extra for HD, per se.

First of all, though, remember that there may never be a time when all channels will be HD. I think some channels will remain in standard definition -- although all channels will be digital.

Originally, I had basic service, only, which meant the analog channels, and no set top box. After purchasing an HD set, I decided that I'd like to get the local broadcast channels in HD, so Comcast gave me a box which gave me just that -- the same analog channels I'd been getting, plus the local HD broadcasts (as well as the PBS standard def sub-channels). Since they had to give me a digital box to do this, they charged me an additional $5 a month for the box. I suppose we could get picky, and say they're charging for the HD channels, but, there really is no way they could deliver those digital HD channels to me without a box, since ATSC is the over-the-air digital format, and cable uses QAM. Therefore, I really do consider the $5 to be the rental cost of the set top box.

Later I decided to add the basic digital package which includes about a dozen, or so, HD channels, such as Discovery, Food, ESPN, TLC, etc., etc. I pay the same thing for that package that someone who has only a standard def TV pays, but I get the HD channels, as well. (Actually, those with older sets get those channels, but they're downconverted to standard def.)

So, ARE they charging extra for HD?

>>So, Yes, you have to pay more to get "premium" HDTV content from any provider. The only way to not pay more for HDTV is with an antenna and an HDTV tuner (either in a HDTV or an outboard tuner).<<

As I said, above, I subscribe to digital basic and I get at least a dozen HD channels, and I don't pay any more than those who have an analog standard def set and are subscribing to digital basic. So, I do not pay extra for HD. However, I've no doubt that if I subscribed to some premium packages I might have to do just that.

Even with just the basic package, I'm getting quite a few more HD channels than I would with an antenna, and at no additional cost.

Comcast may not charge extra for HD, but I do find that they compress the signal, badly. I've compared over-the-air HD transmissions with the channel on cable, and the OTA programs have considerably better resolution.

Right now, if you want full resolution HD, you'd better hope that FIOS is installed in your neighborhood. It isn't in mine.