Posted on 01/02/2008 10:52:25 AM PST by Kid Shelleen
The federal government doesn't usually give things away, but starting Tuesday broadcast TV watchers can apply for a gift that could keep their sets from going dark in 2009.
Via a toll-free hot line and Web site the Commerce Department will begin accepting applications for coupons worth $40 off a no-frills converter box to allow older televisions to receive digital broadcast signals.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
1. I don’t have cable or satellite.
2. The govt isn’t giving away the boxes, it’s a $40 coupon good for a box that’ll cost $70-$90.
3. Guess what, not all digital TVs have a digital tuner. Those without one will need the converter box too.
4. Digital local stations will be able to “multiplex” and have several channels so theoretically folks like me will get more “free” TV. They could still suck like the rest of TV though.
The bummer that alot of folks will realize though, is that there is no “grey” reception with digital. It’s all or none. So those folks who could “make do” with not-so-great reception, may not get a strong enough signal to get any reception.
RCA READIES ENERGY-EFFICIENT DTA800 DIGITAL TV ADAPTER FOR RETAIL CUSTOMERS
“The bummer that alot of folks will realize though, is that there is no “grey” reception with digital. It’s all or none. So those folks who could “make do” with not-so-great reception, may not get a strong enough signal to get any reception.”
Right now, it can depend on what day it is, or what the weather is that affects reception.
I wonder if it will be a similar situation with digital?
I’ll play PBS cartoon for the kiddies.
Somedays it is very clear - other days all you get is fuzz.
I’m guessing it’ll be similar, the upside being when it does come in, it’ll be a better picture.
But, I’m not sure of the precise factors that affect reception.
Well, I am one of those who will need one of these gizmos in order to watch TV. I have no way of buying a new TV or even of buying one of these converter boxes.
On top of that, there is no way I am going to apply for anything from the government if I can help it. There *will* be strings attached, all kinds of them.
They’ve already told me I don’t qualify for any help at all for any of the problems I have, in spite of having done everything I was supposed to for many, many years.
I don’t know how many FReepers have had to beg others for mercy or for their lives in the past few weeks, months, years - but I’m sick to death of it.
Maybe you were watching the SD ABC channel instead of the HD one? I watched the Rose Bowl in HD from the opposite coast over cable.
BUZZZZZ wrong... you were wrong... your statements were wrong. Maybe you should man up and admit you were wrong, 100% across the board.
While you may find it necessary to mentally compete with others, I do not. This is a political forum, it's not Jeopardy and you don't get to play Alex Trabec. I am here to enjoy the exchange of conservative ideas with like minded conservatives, not to argue technical semantics. If you want to discuss the politics of the matter, I'm all ears. But if you want to go on about the appropriate use of technical jargon, your just being annoying. Pardon me for not playing your silly game
Not everybody is a techie and not everyone cares.
No you didn’t make a valid point, your post was factually wrong. You didn’t just misuse “technical jargon” you made incorrect statements. There was no original point to address because your original point was false. And actually I did address your statement about interfering with the free market.
I’m not competing with you. I’m explaining why you were wrong. It’s not nitpicking to point out that someone is wrong. It’s not technical semantics, it’s about whether your statements are factually correct. When you say we’re switching to HD signal you make a factually incorrect statement, your desire to write that off as nitpicking shows a sloppy mind.
I’m perfectly willing to discuss the politics of the switch to digital, but since there is no switch to HD there are no politics to discuss of that “matter” which doesn’t actually exist. It’s not a matter of whether or not you’re a techie, it’s a matter of whether or not the event you’re objecting to is even happening. If you want to discuss the change over to digital then you need to discuss the change over to DIGITAL, not HD which is not a government mandated change over.
I stopped reading there.
Presently, Dish does not offer the local HD channels as part of it's local options. You still get the analog versions of your local stations, but the the digital ones. I think it might have been a licensing thing, or I don't know what. I've slept since then.
One would assume though (and you know what they say about assumptions), that when the local stations are no longer broadcasting the analog signal, the the Dish/local channel deal will roll over to the digital versions, whether or not that will include the local sub-channels or not, I don't know.
If you have a Dish HD receiver, you can hook an antenna up to it and bring in the local HD channels "over the air" and will be listed in you program guide, and be recorded to the DVR. If you don't have a Dish HD reciver, and want to pick up the over the air local channels, get an antenna and a converter box and you'll be fine. Whether or not you can record the local OTA channels to the Dish receiver built in (if you have it) DVR, or not; I don't know. I'll have to check it out on a friends older SD sat/DVR.
For a guy that says he wants to discuss the political issue you sure are obsessed with whining over being corrected on the facts.
Stop the whining.
If even one family doesn't get converted that is a family the campaign dollar won't reach.
Bad like on your econd entry. Mark to find.
Amen brother!!!
Bwahahahahahaha!!!
Let me guess, this free box will turn digital into analog so we can watch the same TV?
The Rose Bowl was in HD.
Some stations still have problems with the techincal side of HD.
A lot of stations lack the equipment to add local news crawls to HD feeds, so they switch to an SD feed when they have a weather bulletin or breaking news.
I’ve seen local broadcasts randomly switch between HD and SD for no apparent reason. Sometimes they will just forget to switch over when primetime HD programming begins. Then about 10 minutes into a show, the feed will switch into HD.
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