Posted on 02/02/2006 11:01:53 AM PST by kiriath_jearim
US analogue TV switch-off in 2009
The US Congress has approved plans to force broadcasters to switch off their analogue television signals by 2009.
Setting a date of 17 February 2009 was called a "great technical revolution" by Republican politician Joe Barton, a main advocate for the change.
Congress has allocated $1.5bn (£844m) to ensure Americans can convert their TV sets to receive digital signals.
The analogue television switch-off in the UK is set to take place gradually from 2008-2012.
The US measures, which were part of budget legislation, were passed in December, but Democrats in the Senate forced technical changes to the bill.
Entitled
Moves to bring about the end of analogue broadcasting in the US have been under way for years.
Under existing law, broadcasters would be required to cease analogue transmissions when digital TV reaches 85% of the population, but this is a threshold which is not expected to be reached.
About 16% of US viewers rely on over-the-air transmissions, while more TV sets use only an aerial to watch TV programmes.
Under the new digital conversion programme, each family will be entitled to $80 (£45) towards the cost of a set-top box.
In the UK, BBC Two is to become the first station to go fully digital ahead of a full switch-off of analogue signals.
More than 60% of households already watch digital TV, while government help has been pledged for those aged over 75 and with disabilities towards the cost of conversion.
Would I need the converter just to get a picture or will I get a picture without a box?
I receive 1 station over rabbit ears. Will I no longer receive this 1 station in 2009? Will I need cable or dish to watch TV?
Still I ask
Why do I need HD to watch crap?
The old 512 “HD” works for me.
Is this government taking of property with out compensation? Who’s going to pay me for the TVs, VCRs, Battery TV,.... I can't use now. I’m still P ed about having to buy new LP tanks.
BTW
If You've watch anything from the satellite that carries DirecTV's, RCA, TV.... Your looking a small portion of my handy work. I did the final assy. & testing of the TWT amps that are up there
Think of it as a tax cut. Same stimulus on the economy.
Looks like w/no converter, no picture. According to crutchfield.com, it is EDTV, not HDTV. This means you'll get better than a regular TV, but not quite as good as true High-Definition. You'll need a converter, but you have a few years, and they really aren't all that expensive.
Why do I need HD to watch crap?
The very reason I have not upgraded. I remember as a kid spending a ton of money chasing the perfect stereo system. The promise was always cleaner, better sound. Know what? It always sounded different, and only sometimes better, if only marginally so.
So now the same chase is on in the TV world. Spend massive amounts of money for the promised allure of the perfect home theater system. The best 7.1 sound, the best HDTV picture on a 55 inch LCD screen, and on and on. FOR WHAT? So you can have the best picture of Squiggy on LaVerne and Shirley?
It means,instead of having a fuzzy picture or a few lines on the screen,you will now have green pixels that dot the screen,frozen screens,and a few sounds like cats mating when there is a sound problem. :D Can you tell I have digital cable?
$80?!?!
how is that supposed to buy a $2000.00 digital TV?
It means that in 2009, you will be on the cutting edge of FReeperdom as you can say, "TV, never watch it."
However, if you have cable or satellite TV, you have no worries. They will make sure you can remain a customer.
Target practice.
All they're doing is changing a standard. They're not taking your property, just making it useless without a converter.
Now, if they came in and built a mall on top of your TV room...
I'm waiting for Verizon to finish laying the fiber optic cable so I have some choice besides Cox.
Yeah, they're just called HDTV tuners. Best Buy, HH Gregg, all the "Big Box" stores have them.
The same tuners that are available now to watch true HD also work as a downconverter for a regular television. Your Sharp Aquos is kind of intermediate between an analog tv and a digital.
Actually, this will require only a small box sitting on your analog tv(s). If competition and chinese mfg gets going on them, I expect that the boxes will be available for a lot less than $80.
Very good point.
"They're not taking your property, just making it useless"
Now, there's a distinction we can all understand.
bttt
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