[stevesnj]

Still have a TV hooked to an antenna and an analog tuner? In Feb. 2009 it wont work without a TV Converter box.

The link https://www.dtv2009.gov/

Info article Government offers TV coupons - CNN.com

What is the TV Converter Box Coupon Program?
Congress created the TV Converter Box Coupon Program for households wishing to keep using their analog TV sets after February 17, 2009. The Program allows U.S. households to obtain up to two coupons, each worth $40, that can be applied toward the cost of eligible converter boxes.

A TV connected to cable, satellite or other pay TV service does not require a TV converter box from this program.

Consumers have a variety of options. Options to explore include:
Keep your existing analog TV and purchase a TV converter box. A converter box plugs into your TV and will keep it working after Feb. 17, 2009, or
Connect to cable, satellite or other pay service, or
Purchase a television with a digital tuner.

[OwlBoy]

Am I the only one who was quizzed on this by older out of touch relatives at christmas?

-Owl

[64stang06]

Originally Posted by OwlBoy 

Am I the only one who was quizzed on this by older out of touch relatives at christmas?

-Owl

Nope, I was also.

[OldManMac]

I find it interesting that a government agency, in an administration which supposedly believes in free markets, can unilaterally make a ruling that requires American citizens to adopt a technology that they may not wish to.

[stevesnj]

Originally Posted by OldManMac 

I find it interesting that a government agency, in an administration which supposedly believes in free markets, can unilaterally make a ruling that requires American citizens to adopt a technology that they may not wish to.

Well we must move on and forward.....

[Cadaver]

Originally Posted by OldManMac 

I find it interesting that a government agency, in an administration which supposedly believes in free markets, can unilaterally make a ruling that requires American citizens to adopt a technology that they may not wish to.

Because the DTV spectrum will require less space, and the government can then reuse/sell the remaining bandwidth.

[The Godfather]

The administrators of this program won't check that the coupons don't land on a house with cable/satellite. What are they thinking? Millions of these devices will be bought for nearly free, unnecessarily, then shoved in a closet upon discovery that they only output composite signal, not HD.

[Big Mac]

Originally Posted by Cadaver 

Because the DTV spectrum will require less space, and the government can then reuse/sell the remaining bandwidth.

And certainly there would be no switch off of the analog broadcast stream if the networks objected to it.

[dav]

my current tv has both atsc and ntsc tuners built in. using the digital tuner, i lose reception every time a plane flys overhead, usually the audio, but sometimes i get a blue screen as well. this lasts for about 10 seconds, and is quite annoying. using the ntsc tuner i have no issues. so when they finally cut the analog broadcasts looks like i'm going to have to switch to cable or go mad.

[osiris]

So I guess portable TVs and handheld TVs will be useless very soon. :/

[stevesnj]

Originally Posted by osiris 

So I guess portable TVs and handheld TVs will be useless very soon. :/

The Digital signal will still be broadcast through the air but the tuner needs to be digital. Your regular roof antenna will still accept the signal for example but the TV its connected to must have a Digital Tuner or the converter box.

[osiris]

No no no, portable TVs - handheld pocket gizmos.

[climber]

Originally Posted by dav 

my current tv has both atsc and ntsc tuners built in. using the digital tuner, i lose reception every time a plane flys overhead, usually the audio, but sometimes i get a blue screen as well. this lasts for about 10 seconds, and is quite annoying. using the ntsc tuner i have no issues. so when they finally cut the analog broadcasts looks like i'm going to have to switch to cable or go mad.

I would look into getting a better antenna. If you are using an indoor antenna, install an outside one.

[osiris]

That could be a grounding issue as well.

[stevesnj]

Originally Posted by osiris 

No no no, portable TVs - handheld pocket gizmos.

right...if it has a digital tuner it will still work

[residentEvil]

Originally Posted by The Godfather 

The administrators of this program won't check that the coupons don't land on a house with cable/satellite. What are they thinking? Millions of these devices will be bought for nearly free, unnecessarily, then shoved in a closet upon discovery that they only output composite signal, not HD.

just to clarify, the digital TV broadcasting switch does NOT mean HD broadcasting. while many local networks that already turned on their digital broadcasting made the switch to send HD (like local news) at the same time, they don't have too. hundreds of thousands of syndicated programming, and even new programming, will still be SD when the switch is made. what many local networks are using that digital bandwidth for is to send 2 channels. for example, 1 channel will be a HD feed and 1 would be a normal SD feed; hence the 4.1 and 4.2 channels (a local example). some though are sending 3 or 4 SD feeds in their chunk of bandwidth; local network feed, all weather feed, music feed...for example.

we don't need to debate that the date will get pushed again

[Person Man]

Originally Posted by Big Mac 

And certainly there would be no switch off of the analog broadcast stream if the networks objected to it.

The networks did object to it. The rules were originally supposed to go into effect in 2006. People complained that they "didn't have enough time," even though we'd known it was coming for at least 5 years...

Why is it that no matter how much time the government gives us to make a change, that people wait until the last minute to do it, then complain that they weren't given enough warning or time to do something about it? Then the government grants an extension, and the same thing happens all over again.

Come to think of it, that's why. The government should hold hard and fast to things like this. "We weren't given enough time!" "Sorry. Five years was PLENTY of time to prepare/make the change. You made your bed, now sleep in it." Pretty soon people would listen sooner. But, it'll never happen.

It will be interesting to see what happens in February 2009 when it comes time to switch off the analog broadcast signals.

[stevesnj]

Im sure a TV Campaign will go out to inform of the switch.

[Laminar]

Before or after it happens?

[Kvasir]

Originally Posted by Person Man 

The networks did object to it. The rules were originally supposed to go into effect in 2006. People complained that they "didn't have enough time," even though we'd known it was coming for at least 5 years...

Why is it that no matter how much time the government gives us to make a change, that people wait until the last minute to do it, then complain that they weren't given enough warning or time to do something about it? Then the government grants an extension, and the same thing happens all over again.

Come to think of it, that's why. The government should hold hard and fast to things like this. "We weren't given enough time!" "Sorry. Five years was PLENTY of time to prepare/make the change. You made your bed, now sleep in it." Pretty soon people would listen sooner. But, it'll never happen.

It will be interesting to see what happens in February 2009 when it comes time to switch off the analog broadcast signals.

err, sort of like how the Dept. of State was sooo ready for the requirement for passports at the border last year? (btw, the law requiring passports had been enacted in 2004, and been in the pipeline for far longer, so State had 3+ years to get ready, yet the government still completely bungled the process)

[osiris]

Originally Posted by Laminar 

Before or after it happens?

After. Of course.

[Person Man]

Originally Posted by Kvasir 

err, sort of like how the Dept. of State was sooo ready for the requirement for passports at the border last year? (btw, the law requiring passports had been enacted in 2004, and been in the pipeline for far longer, so State had 3+ years to get ready, yet the government still completely bungled the process)

Exactly, but they probably assumed that people would start applying for passports sooner. But everyone waited until the last minute, like usual, so the blame in the passport debacle lies with BOTH the government and the people who waited until the last minute.

[nonhuman]

Originally Posted by Person Man 

Exactly, but they probably assumed that people would start applying for passports sooner. But everyone waited until the last minute, like usual, so the blame in the passport debacle lies with BOTH the government and the people who waited until the last minute.

I'd say it lies more with both the government and the people who elected them.

[peeb]

Originally Posted by OldManMac 

I find it interesting that a government agency, in an administration which supposedly believes in free markets, can unilaterally make a ruling that requires American citizens to adopt a technology that they may not wish to.

Because the US takes a socialist approach to broadcast spectrums, subscribing to the notion that they are publicly owned, and renting them to private firms.

[ghporter]

Originally Posted by The Godfather 

The administrators of this program won't check that the coupons don't land on a house with cable/satellite. What are they thinking? Millions of these devices will be bought for nearly free, unnecessarily, then shoved in a closet upon discovery that they only output composite signal, not HD.

Satellite TV household here. But only ONE receiver. My son (on his own) bought a TV so he can play his games and his own DVDs in his room (he's 20, by the way), so for the first time EVER, our house has two TVs. He gets local channels over the air-why shouldn't he get a discounted converter?

By the way, that web site is swamped-I haven't been able to connect to it yet, and I've been trying for over an hour.

Moments later...Spoke too soon-I just applied for my ONE coupon for my son's TV. We'll see how this works. By the way, the application page DOES ask if any/all of your household's TVs are connected to something like cable or satellite TV. They're not just throwing stuff out at people.

[SeSawaya]

what I love about the "coupons" is even if the government gave away a box for EVERY TV in America, they would still make over 80 Billion dollars from this conversion in band width selling.

Also, the worst thing for the consumers, Broadcasters are not broadcasting in anything over 500 lines of resolution because it's too expensive. So that 1070 lines (or whatever) your TV CAN produce, is being dumbed down significantly.

woo hoo for progress.

[stevesnj]

Originally Posted by SeSawaya 

Also, the worst thing for the consumers, Broadcasters are not broadcasting in anything over 500 lines of resolution because it's too expensive. So that 1070 lines (or whatever) your TV CAN produce, is being dumbed down significantly.

woo hoo for progress.

Standard Def TV is not going away... ie 480p just the broadcasted analog signal is.

[peeb]

[osiris]

That's probably the best advice.