Recyclers expect lots of TVs tossed

[DToTheJ]

I found an old analog TV on the curb tonight. It had dials to change channels and had rabbit ears attached to the top. I picked it up and saved it from the landfill. With a 75 to 300 ohm adapter, it can get some cable channels (below channel 14 and above channel 63). I plan to keep it.

I found yet ANOTHER analog TV on the curb today. Unfortunately, it rained so the TV won't work. At least I got one free TV out of the DTV switch. But it needs a converter box to get all the cable channels.
If your analog TV is working, there is no need to throw it out and buy a digital TV.

Ah, I love it... DTV Dumpster Diving!

 

[nd2023]

Am I the only one who found analog TVs on the side of the road up for grabs?

Also, what converter box would let me watch analog cable channels 14-65 on the ancient analog TV I found? I don't think it's "cable ready", it doesn't even have a remote.

 

[fybush]

I've put nearly 800 miles on my car between Friday morning and today all over western and central New York.

Total count of abandoned analog TVs by the roadside: 1.

No, I didn't stop to pick it up...

 

[oldiesfan6479]

But I'll bet even LCD's can't live as long as my 1979 RCA 25" console...

RCA New Vista Color TV? Did RCA still have the round tube in '79? (Just kidding.)

My 12" Sony Trinitron (1973 gold) is still going at it, when I drag it out for some
alternate viewing reason...or should I say "used to drag..." since it's likely final
use was last Friday to see various analog shutdowns...but I'll keep it around.

 

[kenrayc]

Am I the only one who found analog TVs on the side of the road up for grabs?

Also, what converter box would let me watch analog cable channels 14-65 on the ancient analog TV I found? I don't think it's "cable ready", it doesn't even have a remote.

The Digitalstream model 15-149 has a cable option I haven't tested it on cable, but it ask in the set up OTA or cable. to my original post besides my LG LCD TV , in the other rooms hooked to a cable box is 2 RCA 27 inch TV iv'e have for about 20 years , I also have a Curtis Mathes 13 inch I use for my display of my MP3 CDs , I have a Sharp 20 inch, and a Sylvania 20 inch that I have in storage that both still work, I'm not getting rid of any of my TVs their all back ups.

 

[kenrayc]

I tried to modify my original post but time expired, I use the DIGITALSTREAM box for the secondary stations not offered by Comcast on my RCA analog TV in my other room. I have a outdoor antenna connected to both my RCA with the DIGITALSTREAM box as well as my LCD 32 inch LG TV, I have a 2 tuner HD DVR connected to my LCD TV,and use the OTA tuner on it for those secondary stations not offered by Comcast.

 

[nd2023]

I wonder if the codec for digital TV is ever changed, will we start to see digital TVs on the side of the road?

 

[ssetta]

I remember a few months back, someone posted a tribute video to the older portable TV/boomboxes, Game Gear TVs, and handheld TVs, but I can't find it. Does anyone know where it is?

 

[nd2023]

I would like to get a handheld analog LCD TV that is now completely useless because it can't even be connected to a converter box. My favorite analog LPTV station is still on the air

 

[vchimpanzee]

I wonder if the codec for digital TV is ever changed, will we start to see digital TVs on the side of the road?

Don't even kid about that!

I wonder what happens if the TVs outlive the converter boxes?

 

[LKellerIII]

I wonder if the codec for digital TV is ever changed, will we start to see digital TVs on the side of the road?

Don't even kid about that!

I wonder what happens if the TVs outlive the converter boxes?

I wouldn't be surprised. The last few decades, analog TVs were very well made, and rarely needed servicing. Because they've only been available for a couple of years, I guess the jury is still out on digital LCD-TV and plasma.

I've had cable for 3 decades, and those cable boxes generally only last a few years before developing some problem or other...OR they become obsolete, and you can get a new box with more features for no cost...except that you have to schlep it down to the Comcast office and stand in line for 45 minutes...

 

[nd2023]

I wonder if the codec for digital TV is ever changed, will we start to see digital TVs on the side of the road?

Don't even kid about that!

I wonder what happens if the TVs outlive the converter boxes?

I wouldn't be surprised. The last few decades, analog TVs were very well made, and rarely needed servicing. Because they've only been available for a couple of years, I guess the jury is still out on digital LCD-TV and plasma.

I've had cable for 3 decades, and those cable boxes generally only last a few years before developing some problem or other...OR they become obsolete, and you can get a new box with more features for no cost...except that you have to schlep it down to the Comcast office and stand in line for 45 minutes...

I've had the same digital cable box from Comcast for 5 years. The first week we got digital cable, we had to drive 30 miles to the Comcast office to get the box changed because the first box didn't work after a day. The replacement box they gave us still works today. What more features could possibly be added to an over the air digital converter box that would make it obsolete?
I hope that sometime in my life, I will be able to find a discarded 52 inch digital HDTV that works on the side of the road. I only got to keep one analog TV out of this DTV switch.

 

[FreddyE1977]

You could fill an entire series of threads with horror stories revolving around Comcast and their converter boxes (and mind-blowing attempts to deal with their customer service over same)...

Getting ready to take my old friend to the recycling center. The red gun has finally blinked out on the picture tube (remember those?). 19" with detent tuners, bought from a Fretter Superstore in suburban Detroit just in time to see the start of the 1990 Super Bowl. Even survived some damage caused by fly-by-night movers and bumpy roads in West Virginia. I don't think anyone is around who even fixes them anymore.

You get strangely attached to these things after having it there for you at the end of every rough day at work for nearly two decades.

 

[vchimpanzee]

Time Warner just gave me a pair of wires to put in the back of the TVs. The installer hooked them up, then I had to unhook one for TiVo and reattach it.

 

[markwooldridge]

I expect to see digital TVs by the side of the road in 10 years for sure.

As for changing codecs, it's very possible... UK picked DVB-T for its system in the 90's. Didn't consider high definition TV. Now HDTV is all the rage and there's no HDTV transmission system. DVB-T can do HD but since DVB-T2 is now out, guess what? They're going to probably end up switching to that, effectively making all those DVB-T TV sets obsolete (unless they were sensible just to go with a set top box).

 

[FreddyE1977]

That does raise a very interesting point. In the IT and software world, technologies do get surpassed and go obsolete and an increasingly dizzying pace. And since DTV is basically a function of MPEG and embedded firmware, we can epect it to do likewise.
I think that the odds this standard will stand for 60+ yrs. like NTSC is highly unlikely.

 

[DToTheJ]

I would like to get a handheld analog LCD TV that is now completely useless because it can't even be connected to a converter box. My favorite analog LPTV station is still on the air

Go on eBay and see if you can get a Walkman with a TV band, that should be able to pick up your Pulse 87 crystal clear...

 

[nd2023]

I would like to get a handheld analog LCD TV that is now completely useless because it can't even be connected to a converter box. My favorite analog LPTV station is still on the air

Go on eBay and see if you can get a Walkman with a TV band, that should be able to pick up your Pulse 87 crystal clear...

I've always been curious as to what video WNYZ is airing on the analog channel 6. I never got a chance to watch WNYZ-LP since I could never get video on channel 6 besides WPVI. I managed to get WPVI video and WNYZ audio. I have a portable radio that tunes down to 87.7.