Quote:
Originally Posted by jon1856
Benzgirl;
I thought I knew the answer myself but after reading your post, I am unable to formulate any kind of answer.
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What's scary is that I can't really formulate a complete one either -- and I work in this silly industry.
Whether you
set is analog or digital is really the wrong question, although I understand why you asked it.
The best I can say is that if your TV set was manufactured within (probably) the last ten years, it will have at least
some compatability with the new formats. That does not mean that you won't need a converter box of some kind.
Just because a TV has digital circuitry, doesn't mean it will receive digital signals. Digital is used in two different ways here. Digital electronics in a set may be used to enhance the picture or sound,
digital broadcasting is a basic change in how TV signals are sent through the air.
Someone mentioned Y2K. There may be some problems, but I agree with KSigRC that it will not be the end of life as we know it. When the digital "aspect ratio" changes from 4x3 (four units wide by three units high which is the present standard) to 16x9 (sometimes called "wide screen") some sets may make people on TV look short and fat and another will make the same people look tall and skinny. Other sets will show the programs in "letter box" with blank spaces at the top and bottom -- much like many of the shows shot in HD or movies already look.
Clear as mud, right?
Maybe the best advice would be to call, write or e-mail your TV set manufacturer and just ask what the change will mean to your set. Of course it is my belief that this mandated change was largely backed by the manufacturers to sell more sets.
But I'm a card carrying cynic.
As a good friend and now deceased TV Chief Engineer used to tell me, "If God hand wanted pictures to fly through the air, He would have given them wings."
They probably needed to see meemaw and papaw anyway. lol
Linear Mode
