My opinion on 2-17-2009 - Is it going to be smooth or a big disaster.

[louisNatl]

While I agree that most people cry poor, you're forgetting in big cities like Chicago, dishes are not options. I live in a building with 50 apartments and there is no way you can get a dish. The buildings only have a few inches apart from each other. Some buildings are joined right next to each other. The flats share a common wall.

For me it's cable or nothing. The cheapest cable we have is $21.95 that's for OTA channels.

I have OTA only.

Being in a big city, you should not have any difficulty receiving many OTA digital channels. I live in a condo in Atlanta and a dish is not an option for me either. I can reliably receive 15 different channels with a simple set of rabbit ears and a UHF bowtie antenna. Even with my location, analog reception is poor with fading, ghosting, and audio static.

I think a lot of the transition will depend on how many people have cable or dishes. For instance I remember during the WTC Collapse, people in NYC that had cable didn't have any interruptions, (or so they told me) because the station don't need a transmitter to feed their signals to the cable / dish companies.

This was more of an issue with all of the major stations broadcasting from atop the WTC. This is not a digital vs. analog issue. According to Wikipedia, the satellite uplink feed of superstation WPIX was frozen on an image of the WTC crash after the collapse of the first tower. In many markets, the towers are located in different areas. I assume there had to be some TV stations in NYC that did not broadcast from atop the WTC.

I'm all for the digital switch and it certainly won't kill people to miss a few days without TV.

As for the converter box, I will wait to see how well it works if it all. Remember DTV tuners are different from each other. All though they operate basically the same, some are better than others. Some scan better, some lock channels better. So the converters might not all be the same. I don't know. Plus I know people that can't hook up a VCR, is it gonna be easy to hook these converters up?

This is why I'll wait till the last minute.

Sure, some people will have problems with this transition. Any change has its fair share of opponents. But if we catered to this segment of the population, we would have no internet, no personal computers, no cell phones, and probably not even the telegraph.

 

[tripinva]

I think a lot of the transition will depend on how many people have cable or dishes. For instance I remember during the WTC Collapse, people in NYC that had cable didn't have any interruptions, (or so they told me) because the station don't need a transmitter to feed their signals to the cable / dish companies.

This was more of an issue with all of the major stations broadcasting from atop the WTC. This is not a digital vs. analog issue. According to Wikipedia, the satellite uplink feed of superstation WPIX was frozen on an image of the WTC crash after the collapse of the first tower. In many markets, the towers are located in different areas. I assume there had to be some TV stations in NYC that did not broadcast from atop the WTC.

http://www.fybush.com/wtc-recovery.html

WCBS was back on the air from ESB within 15 mins or so.
WNYE, WXTV, and then-WHSE were on ESB full-time.

- Trip

 

[flashback]

one thing I am not sure about.

if you have an analog tv with cable( not a digital cable box ,just a basic cable with a cord attached to the back of the tv) will that cease to function feb 2009?

 

[jal41]

one thing I am not sure about.

if you have an analog tv with cable( not a digital cable box ,just a basic cable with a cord attached to the back of the tv) will that cease to function feb 2009?

No, unless you have Comcast. Around that time, Comcast will make their larger systems digital-only (as has already been done in Chicago). Locals (2-22) will be available without a box, but expanded basic will require a box or CableCard.

Comcast is running ads on its systems ad-insertion saying Comcast customers will be OK. If you are in Atlanta, San Francisco, or Philadelphia (where Comcast has its HQ), that will not be the case.

This will backfire on Comcast big time. They should hold off until at least 2010 before cutting off analog service.

 

[flashback]

one thing I am not sure about.

if you have an analog tv with cable( not a digital cable box ,just a basic cable with a cord attached to the back of the tv) will that cease to function feb 2009?

No, unless you have Comcast. Around that time, Comcast will make their larger systems digital-only (as has already been done in Chicago). Locals (2-22) will be available without a box, but expanded basic will require a box or CableCard.

Comcast is running ads on its systems ad-insertion saying Comcast customers will be OK. If you are in Atlanta, San Francisco, or Philadelphia (where Comcast has its HQ), that will not be the case.

This will backfire on Comcast big time. They should hold off until at least 2010 before cutting off analog service.

I have brighthouse.

 

[Markxxx]

Just FYI, I was in Walmart on North Ave in Chicago and I saw the converter boxes to convert Digital signals to analog sets. They are selling for $49.95 and there is a sign saying, you can get a $40.00 rebate from the government.

The cheapest set I saw at that Walmart that got digital signals (all the sets got digital and analog) was $94.95. But there were a LOT of sets for around $130.00. Of course none of those were HDTV and all were the 4:3 ratio.

The cheapest HDTV at that Walmart was 179.00 and it had the longer ratio (I forget the exact stats) and it gets digital and analog signals too. It was 32"

None of the DVRs or VCRs they were selling had tuners. They all had signs saying you have to have cable or dish to be able to record

 

[KML0224]

Yep, we have the same boxes at the W-M I work at in Connecticut. They're made by Magnavox (although the signage hints at Funai Corporation). I'm just waiting for one of two things to happen: 1- People will ask if we have the $40 rebate coupons and 2- Will they think it's a budget DVD player at first glance?

All of the TVs sold must have a digital tuner since it is mandated by the FCC. The smallest TV we sell is a 13" Magnavox TV/DVD player combo.

You seem to have your pricing details wrong. There is no way in hell you're gonna get a 32" LCD TV capable of HD for that low a price. Oh, the ratio you were looking for was 16:9.

As for the DVD/VCR combos, take a second look at them. An RCA model we sell with a 6 head VCR has a built-in digital tuner and both sides are capable of recording (I tried this model for a night to test it out, which was a major letdown). The Magnavox DVD recorder has a digital tuner included and is working just fine with basic cable. It even tunes in the digital locals separate from the other digital simulcast stations too!

 

[anotherguyTN]

one thing I am not sure about.

if you have an analog tv with cable( not a digital cable box ,just a basic cable with a cord attached to the back of the tv) will that cease to function feb 2009?

No, unless you have Comcast. Around that time, Comcast will make their larger systems digital-only (as has already been done in Chicago). Locals (2-22) will be available without a box, but expanded basic will require a box or CableCard.

Comcast is running ads on its systems ad-insertion saying Comcast customers will be OK. If you are in Atlanta, San Francisco, or Philadelphia (where Comcast has its HQ), that will not be the case.

This will backfire on Comcast big time. They should hold off until at least 2010 before cutting off analog service.

I've been told that Charter in West TN will be taking the same approach as Comcast. They've already converted some extended basic channels to digital and are changing "lifeline basic", which will still be analog, to channels 2-22. The remaining extended basic channels will be changed before the shutdown date.

The cheapest set I saw at that Walmart that got digital signals (all the sets got digital and analog) was $94.95. But there were a LOT of sets for around $130.00. Of course none of those were HDTV and all were the 4:3 ratio.

The cheapest HDTV at that Walmart was 179.00 and it had the longer ratio (I forget the exact stats) and it gets digital and analog signals too. It was 32"

This was probably an SDTV.

None of the DVRs or VCRs they were selling had tuners. They all had signs saying you have to have cable or dish to be able to record

I've seen DVD recorders and combos with VCRs that had digital tuners at Wal Mart that ran $150 and up.

 

[WPPCProductions]

If or when Comcast drops analog expanded basic in my area. I will till them forget the
expanded basic,which I was planning to dump for a long time. For $58.00 , It's not worth the entertainment what as they offer for the steep price.If thats the case, I will sign up for att or get a dish.Again I don't like what the fed's dictating this whole sneaky changeover, without going to the public first,Yes for years now I know the spectrum is running out, I have no problem with that. Yes they can take the upper tv channels, I don't care about that move.Again I'm sorry ,but thats how I feel about it.

 

[tripinva]

If or when Comcast drops analog expanded basic in my area. I will till them forget the
expanded basic,which I was planning to dump for a long time. For $58.00 , It's not worth the entertainment what as they offer for the steep price.If thats the case, I will sign up for att or get a dish.Again I don't like what the fed's dictating this whole sneaky changeover, without going to the public first,Yes for years now I know the spectrum is running out, I have no problem with that. Yes they can take the upper tv channels, I don't care about that move.Again I'm sorry ,but thats how I feel about it.

Uhh... this has been talked about for 20 years and has been public information for at least 12 years. Most stations have had digital signals on for at least 6 years. Nobody's been "sneaky" about this.

- Trip

 

[WPPCProductions]

If or when Comcast drops analog expanded basic in my area. I will till them forget the
expanded basic,which I was planning to dump for a long time. For $58.00 , It's not worth the entertainment what as they offer for the steep price.If thats the case, I will sign up for att or get a dish.Again I don't like what the fed's dictating this whole sneaky changeover, without going to the public first,Yes for years now I know the spectrum is running out, I have no problem with that. Yes they can take the upper tv channels, I don't care about that move.Again I'm sorry ,but thats how I feel about it.

Uhh... this has been talked about for 20 years and has been public information for at least 12 years. Most stations have had digital signals on for at least 6 years. Nobody's been "sneaky" about this.

- Trip

Ok,Yeah I personally know that I'm not trying to condenm the idea, as it sounds here. Us techie's on here know whats going on about the whole thing,In my trade I've been reading on about the whole idea for ions and I was excited over the idea. but ask the normal Jack and his wife Jill on the corner of the street about the subject. He will say,what in the hell are you talking about.Will I guess I'm caring to much about other people.Will Jack and Jill just have to catch up to the times of progress.Yeah 6 years ago or more they should make it mandatory for manufacturer's to start producing TV 's and recording equipment with the dtv tuners in them, if they done that,by now everybody will be ready for the switchover next year.they could save alot of money on those $40.00 coupons or don't bother with the coupons at all.

 

[JayR]

17 Feb 2009

Will I guess I'm caring to much about other people.Will Jack and Jill just have to catch up to the times of progress.

The FCC cannot be worried about the handful who want to remain in the dark ages. We must progress.

It's like a former boss once told an employee, "S#-- or get off the pot!" ;D

 

[tripinva]

Ok,Yeah I personally know that I'm not trying to condenm the idea, as it sounds here. Us techie's on here know whats going on about the whole thing,In my trade I've been reading on about the whole idea for ions and I was excited over the idea. but ask the normal Jack and his wife Jill on the corner of the street about the subject. He will say,what in the hell are you talking about.Will I guess I'm caring to much about other people.Will Jack and Jill just have to catch up to the times of progress.Yeah 6 years ago or more they should make it mandatory for manufacturer's to start producing TV 's and recording equipment with the dtv tuners in them, if they done that,by now everybody will be ready for the switchover next year.they could save alot of money on those $40.00 coupons or don't bother with the coupons at all.

Can't disagree with you there; though I will say they'd still need to do the box thing. In my house only one TV has been bought in the last 5 years, and that's only because the old one stopped working, and I know I'm not the only one. We'd still need boxes.

All that said, I don't think this is that big of a deal. 85% of the country is using cable or satellite to get TV anyway, and won't be the least bit effected. The rest will be getting boxes at a bargain (both to them and the government, considering how much money the spectrum auction is bringing in) or will subscribe to cable and satellite. There's no way that people won't know before all is said and done.

- Trip

 

[KML0224]

At my house, here's my situation:

My upstairs bedroom: 26" Sanyo LCD HDTV Model #DP26746 (owned since 6/1/2006) and a Magnavox DVD recorder with included SDTV digital tuner.
Other upstairs bedroom: Symphonic 20" flat screen TV (owned since post-Thanksgiving 2003)
Down stairs living room: Zenith projection TV with HD capable monitor (owned since ??)

End result? All set in my bedroom! Other bedroom will need its cable or a digital set-top box. The TV downstairs either need the digital set-top box or a tuner capable of HDTV.

 

[trusty]

Just received email from Markertek:
-----
Cable provider, Cox Communications has announced it will continue to broadcast analog signals for three full years after the upcoming switch over to digital broadcasts on February 17, 2009. Cox, the third largest provider in the US, states on its Website that it "recognizes that some customers will still have analog-only TVs [after the transition date]," thus it will continue offering "analog broadcast signals for at least three years after the deadline for those customers that have not upgraded all TVs to Cox Digital Cable." However, this move by Cox will only be helpful for customers who receive programming via cable and not OTA (over-the-air) programming. Viewers who do not subscribe to Cox cable service (after Feb. 17, 2009) will need a TV that has a digital tuner, or a digital set-top converter box to receive programming.
-----
Looks like Cox is trying to make the changeover smooth enough....

 

[imhomerjay]

With all due respect to Cox, it's an FCC mandate that they carry local broadcasters in analog for three years, so it's not really their call.

 

[zman]

one thing I am not sure about.

if you have an analog tv with cable( not a digital cable box ,just a basic cable with a cord attached to the back of the tv) will that cease to function feb 2009?

Here in La Salle, Peru Illinois we have basic cable through comcast and we have an HDTV with digital tuner and we are getting A couple digital channels through our basic cable. We are getting NBC 5.1 and 5.2 weather plus from Chicago. 6.1 KWQC TV from Davenport Iowa, and 8.1 WQAD DT from Moline Illinois so they are providing some digital channels on basic cable. We do not see these signals on our anologue TV in the bedroom. We only get them on the HDTV in the living room. The interesting thing is that they don't even carry the KWQC analogue signal on analogue basic cable in our market. They do carry WQAD and NBC 5 analogue

 

[WPPCProductions]

I have a question? Is the cable co's now receiving only dtv at the headend and converting down to analog or still relying on the normal analog signal at the headend. or receiving both at once.

 

[KML0224]

From what I can tell, they're receiving both types. Here in greater Hartford, analog channel 2 on Comcast is WFSB-TV (CBS) channel 3 of Hartford. It doesn't look any different now than it did 5 years ago.

 

[anotherguyTN]

At the present time Charter in Jackson, TN is carrying only 2 or 3 digital subchannels. They have a subchannel from WLJT PBS 11 in Lexington, TN, which is more PBS programming, and one from WSMV NBC 4 in Nashville that is Telemundo. Also according to some schedules the channel for ION might also be a subchannel from WPXX MNTV/ION 50 in Memphis, although the main station isn't carried on Charter in Jackson. In any case there aren't any subchannels from any other Jackson, Memphis, or Nashville stations on the system yet. So they have a long way to go.