[edzo4]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22401907/print/1/displaymode/1098/

When the change comes, the estimated 30 million televisions that use traditional antennas will go to snow without a digital converter box. The cable industry is spending $200 million to educate customers, and Congress has set aside $1.5 billion to help subsidize the purchase of converter boxes.

[discostu]

There’s nothing wrong with using traditional antennas, digital goes over the same air spectrum, where the problem comes in is in the interpreting of those signals picked up by the antennas. Not sure why the cable companies would be educating anybody, if you get cable you’re already set for the change, I suppose it’s not a bad way for them to get more customers though.

[raccoonradio]

>>Congress has set aside $1.5 billion

I believe the money is made back when they sell the old frequencies to wireless companies.

Note also that those of you who have a Walkman with "TV Sound" will not be able to pick up Ch 2-13 anymore. The ones still in stores have a note on the package saying you'll need an adapter (yeah, right) to pick up TV sound after that date. Sometimes the TV sound can be useful if you want to hear a newscast (hopefully not TOO visual) and are away from home.

Examples: AM, FM, TV Audio, and Weather


>>CONSUMER ALERT This television receiver has only an analog broadcast tuner and will require a converter box after February 17, 2009, to receive over-the-air broadcasts with an antenna because of the Nation's transition to digital broadcasting.

[CDHart]

We are on Dish Network with two connections - one is not a slave connection, IOW. Neither of our TVs is HD ready. Will we need a converter box for both TVs? Or will Dish take care of the problem with their signal? Please don't tell me to call Dish, as I cannot understand any of their people who answer their phones. Thanks in advance for any help anyone can give.

Carolyn

[RightWhale]

Congress has set aside $1.5 billion to help subsidize the purchase of converter boxes.

If even one family doesn't get converted that is a family the campaign dollar won't reach.

[BillT]

Let me guess, this free box will turn digital into analog so we can watch the same TV?