The Feb 17, 2009 change from analog to digital has wide effects/impact

[33girl]

OK, since all this got brought up...

Dad33 does not have cable. (It's available, he just doesn't want it.) Will he have to get cable plus a box to watch TV or will one of these boxes alone do the trick?

And NBH - as someone who had to sit through weeks of metric programming in elementary school for 6 years straight, yes. It's good to see how everyone embraced that. We would have never been able to compete in the world economy otherwise.

[DeltAlum]

He should not have to have cable or a cable box as long as the digital signal from the TV station is strong enough to be received through the air.

The problem is that digital signals act differently than analog ones, and with the power granted some stations, there may be "holes" in a stations coverage.

It'll be kind of hit and miss for a lot of people, I fear.

[33girl]

OK, cool, thanks. A lot of his friends are apparently under the impression that you must have cable or there's no chance of getting anything at all. I guess we'll have to see what happens. As long as he can get the local news and Seinfeld reruns, he'll be happy.

[DaemonSeid]

Not trying to say that I told you all so but......well.....I told you so....hehe


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[KSig RC]

I'm pretty sure this actually does NOT have "wide effects/impact" - it seems like any effects will be pretty narrow, and that there are contingency plans in place.

It will be pretty annoying to see the litany of commercials telling people to get a converter oh, about December of 2008, but that's neither here nor there - this really is just a controversy to cause a controversy. It's not fleecing anyone or lining any pockets, most people prefer the 16:9 ratio anyway, and in the end this benefits the consumer quite a bit. I don't get the uproar.

[AlphaFrog]

I'm pretty sure the only TV in our house that will be affected is the one in my daughter's room, which I got for Christmas when I was 7. Right now, that TV is used to naptime/bedtime DragonTales/Dora/Elmo DVDs. Panic will not ensue.

[Honeykiss1974]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

Not trying to say that I told you all so but......well.....I told you so....hehe


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Seriously, if you are currently watching analog with rabit ears, all you need to do is buy the converter box and you're ok. If it's a matter of setting it up, isn't that what kids are for? They probably needed to see meemaw and papaw anyway. lol

[Benzgirl]

call me stupid...

How do you know if your TV is analog or digital? I have 4 of them, and I'm sure that 2 are analog (they are old and are used for DVDs) and at least one is digital. I don't know about the other.

[jon1856]

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

call me stupid...

How do you know if your TV is analog or digital? I have 4 of them, and I'm sure that 2 are analog (they are old and are used for DVDs) and at least one is digital. I don't know about the other.

Benzgirl;
I thought I knew the answer myself but after reading your post, I am unable to formulate any kind of answer.

[Benzgirl]

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.

There has to be a list on the web where you can look up the make and model.

[DeltAlum]

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.

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."

[jon1856]

Originally Posted by 33girl

OK, cool, thanks. A lot of his friends are apparently under the impression that you must have cable or there's no chance of getting anything at all. I guess we'll have to see what happens. As long as he can get the local news and Seinfeld reruns, he'll be happy.

33girl and all others;
DA is correct in many of his points. As are some of the other posters, both here and in DS posting (sorry I missed it).

However, I am seeing a bit of IMHO or "it is my belief" type of postings here.
Just take the few minutes to read the stories.
The information is there.
And the neither the stories or the situation is all too clear or clear cut.
There are somethings still in air.