Help answer an argument - analog TVs purchased today

Brian Elwood · 04-27-2005, 03:34 PM

Are TV's being sold TODAY that will need to have the converter box when HD takes over?

So if a poor family buys a TV, in a few years they will either need to buy a converter or the government will subsidize and give them a converter?

Robert_J · 04-27-2005, 03:35 PM

Only if they use an antenna to get their programming. Satellite and cable users won't see any change. And there is nothing saying a station has to broadcast an HD signal in the future, just a digital signal.

-Robert

Brian Elwood · 04-27-2005, 03:45 PM

However - MSN says

Quote:

Americans are still buying over 20 million analog sets each year, all of which could be obsolete rather quickly

They are saying that all these TVs will not work at all when America is switched to Digital.

John S · 04-27-2005, 04:12 PM

It is true!! Any set without a DTV tuner will have to get one. Now, when this will happen?? Who knows....

Robert_J · 04-27-2005, 07:30 PM

Quote:

However - MSN says

MSN is trying to stir up traffic to their site using FUD.

Here are some quotes:
If enforced, that means that overnight, somewhere around 70 million television sets now connected to rabbit ears or roof-top antennas will suddenly and forever go blank, unless their owners purchase a special converter box.
Thus analog sets clearly need some kind of warning label, and proponents of a “date certain” say this will make the labels far more meaningful: i.e., “This television will no longer receive over-the-air signals after December 31, 2006.”
To continue to receive free broadcast television via antenna,
Many analog television owners won’t need a converter: 85 percent of Americans now get all their television from cable or satellite providers, so for the most part the change-over won’t affect them.

I can bet that they got the 85% number from NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) who is against this change-over. I think it is actually lower. Besides us HDTV nuts, how many people do you know that still use an antenna exclusively to get their TV signal?

For these people, predominately lower-income

I can drive through some of the worst neighborhoods in Memphis and there are satellite dishes everywhere. The rest are probably on cable (paying for it or stealing it). And it's not that hard to pick up channels in this area. I use a $5 antenna for my HDTV.

-Robert

-Robert

**HTF Ads**

David Judah · 04-27-2005, 08:58 PM

They've built enough exceptions into it so that it could potentially be a long time before they shut-off the analog signals.

John S · 04-28-2005, 06:35 AM

Interesting enough Pres. Bush is said to be in favor of it, as I have read this from a few different sources.

The FCC wants more coverage for critical disaster notification. I think this is the part that has the president in favor of it.

Would be a bold move on congresses part for sure to enforce the current deadline or even to only mildly move
it to a furtner off date.

Jack Briggs · 04-28-2005, 10:12 AM

Quote:

I can drive through some of the worst neighborhoods in Memphis and there are satellite dishes everywhere. The rest are probably on cable (paying for it or stealing it). And it's not that hard to pick up channels in this area. I use a $5 antenna for my HDTV.

Dick Boneske · 04-28-2005, 11:02 AM

The Federal government edict says stations HAVE TO broadcast a digital signal (not necessarily HDTV) by the deadline date--2006 or 2007.

No one has suggested stations will cease broadcasting analog signals at that time. Nearly all of them broadcast both analog and digital channels now.

Worrying about this is like worrying that AM and FM radio stations will stop operating because of XM and Sirius. As long as there are listeners, analog TV and radio will be here with us. I don't believe ANY TV's or radios will be obsolete--there haven't been any obsoleted in our lifetimes.

Robert_J · 04-28-2005, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Do you not think stealing doesn't occur in better-off neighborhoods?

Yes, I over generalized but it is much easier to share a cable connection with a neighbor when you share a common wall. If I wanted to tap into my neighbor's cable it would be much more difficult. I'd have to run well over 100ft. of cable through our yards and over his driveway.

-Robert

JeremyErwin · 04-28-2005, 03:06 PM

Currently, much of the UFH and VHF bands are wasted-- NTSC signals tend to interfere with each other if they're in adjacent frequencies. If, however, the stations all switch to digital television, the spectrum required will be somewhat less than it is today. The unused spectrum can then be sold off or relicensed. Some of that unused spectrum apparently will go to "emergency services", so there's a bit of "homeland security" element to it.

At some point, the analog signals will be shut off. In the meantime, there's a phased in requirement for including atsc tuners in television sets, starting with the bigger displays. By 2008, all televison sets 13 inches and larger will be required to have atsc tuners (or no tuner at all)