Digital TV may adversely affect Seniors come 2009

[33girl]

If there's a converter box, and this is going to be widespread, I'm guessing the cable companies and whoever else is selling them will provide assistance. Why is this an issue?

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by 33girl

If there's a converter box, and this is going to be widespread, I'm guessing the cable companies and whoever else is selling them will provide assistance. Why is this an issue?

There may be a matter of folk getting the boxes, setting them up and etc....

I know in my area when comcast coverted thier boxes over earlier this year...the lines at the cable company were long and a lot of people had many boxes to swap out.

So part of this problem is not only may you have ot get a new TV but if you need a new cable box and your cable company doesn't offer an option to come to your home....what would a senior / disabled citizen have to do to get thier equipment upgraded?

[33girl]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

There may be a matter of folk getting the boxes, setting them up and etc....

I know in my area when comcast coverted thier boxes over earlier this year...the lines at the cable company were long and a lot of people had many boxes to swap out.

So part of this problem is not only may you have ot get a new TV but if you need a new cable box and your cable company doesn't offer an option to come to your home....what would a senior / disabled citizen have to do to get thier equipment upgraded?

If the cable companies are smart, they'll get this started well in advance of the actual changeover. Plus, I've never heard of a cable company that didn't service you at home. Even if such a thing exists...believe me, if these boxes need to be put in, someone will see the need for the service and perform it and make a profit.

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by 33girl

If the cable companies are smart, they'll get this started well in advance of the actual changeover. Plus, I've never heard of a cable company that didn't service you at home. Even if such a thing exists...believe me, if these boxes need to be put in, someone will see the need for the service and perform it and make a profit.

well comcast here in MD has days where u just wanna strangle somebody...a few months ago, one of my boxes was on the fritz and they wanted to charge me for DRIVING to come pick the box up from them or wiat 2.5 weeks for them to send a tech out...needless to say...I picked the box up and after a few choice words to the manager about thier customer service, I didn't pay for it either...



aaaahhhhh... verizon FIOS come Friday....hehehhee

[Kevin]

In undergrad and high school, I worked for Radioshack.. We dealt a great deal with the elderly and their technical ineptitude. For many seniors who can't figure out how to change the batteries in their TV remote, this really will be a serious deal. I figure that they'll eventually be able to figure it out themselves or ask someone to help. Every electronics store in the U.S. will be selling these converter boxes at what I'm hoping is a pretty reasonable price.

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by Kevin

In undergrad and high school, I worked for Radioshack.. We dealt a great deal with the elderly and their technical ineptitude. For many seniors who can't figure out how to change the batteries in their TV remote, this really will be a serious deal. I figure that they'll eventually be able to figure it out themselves or ask someone to help. Every electronics store in the U.S. will be selling these converter boxes at what I'm hoping is a pretty reasonable price.

you realize that one day that WE....will be one of those techologically inept seniors...LOL

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

you realize that one day that WE....will be one of those techologically inept seniors...LOL

I doubt it. I think folks are different now.

[Rudey]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

There may be a matter of folk getting the boxes, setting them up and etc....

I know in my area when comcast coverted thier boxes over earlier this year...the lines at the cable company were long and a lot of people had many boxes to swap out.

So part of this problem is not only may you have ot get a new TV but if you need a new cable box and your cable company doesn't offer an option to come to your home....what would a senior / disabled citizen have to do to get thier equipment upgraded?

Why do you need a new box?

From what I know, it's over the air signals that are affected (OTA) and that's a change from NTSC to ATSC.

-Rudey

[AGDee]

Won't you need new boxes if you don't have digital cable already? Also, the cable bill will skyrocket when you have to move to digital cable. Or, will this not matter? I keep trying to figure out how you know whether your TV is digital ready or not. <shrug>

I work in IT, but when it comes to audio/visual junk like this, I know nothing. So, I guess I better research this one, before Feb 2009

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by 33girl

If there's a converter box, and this is going to be widespread, I'm guessing the cable companies and whoever else is selling them will provide assistance. Why is this an issue?

Seriously, it's an issue because the people involved are old. That's it.

It's unreal.

[Tom Earp]

Isn't it true that the Cable and Sat Dishes boxes convert to digital pictures with their boxes?

But I guess that is the rub where Us Seniors cannot afford anything but rabbit ears or house directional wands.

So once again, lets screw the people that have kept this country going and growing and now want to just relax.