Bye, Bye, Analog TV

kedoane · February-19th-2008, 04:04 AM

I have looked at the counter on the intranet for my workplace and I noticed that we are one year away from turning off our analog transmitter.

On February 19, 2009, all full power broadcast stations are to turn off their analog transmitters and be broadcasting only from their digital transmitters.

For those who have either cable via a cable box or satellite, this would not affect you for now.

For those who get their TV signal from an antenna, you'll either need to get a new TV with a digital tuner or get a converter box.

I have pulled this article from sfgate.com. This gives more information.

I'm just a master control operator doing my job in TV land.

Digital TV coupons in the mail

Ellen Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

The federal government will begin mailing $40 coupons today to help consumers prepare for the national shift to digital television.

Sunday marked the one-year countdown for the transition. On Feb. 17, 2009, viewers who get their favorite television shows through an antenna or don't have their television set connected to cable or satellite service will no longer be able to watch their regularly scheduled broadcast.

That's because the federal government has ordered broadcasters to shift from analog to digital television in a move to clear the airwaves for emergency services.

To help smooth the transition, the federal government is offering consumers $40 coupons to help cover the cost of a digital-to-analog converter box, which allows consumers to continue using their analog televisions and receive over-the-air broadcasts. Most boxes cost between $40 and $70.

The federal government started mailing the coupons today to people who have requested them. Nearly 5 million coupons, including about 400,000 in California, have already been ordered, said Todd Sedmak, a spokesman for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.

Consumers can ask for up to two coupons through a government telephone hot line or on the Internet at www.dtv2009.gov. The coupons are available to all households, regardless of income or whether they own a digital or analog television or subscribe to cable or satellite television.

The federal government, in a $1.5 billion project, has set aside 22.25 million coupons on a first-come, first-served basis. The coupons, which resemble plastic credit cards, are valid for 90 days. Consumers aren't allowed to request replacements if they expire or are lost.

Once the federal government issues 22.25 million of the coupons, it will offer an additional 11.25 million to households who receive only over-the-air broadcasts.

Some 9,700 retail stores, including Best Buy and RadioShack, are selling the boxes. Circuit City, for instance, is selling a Zenith digital-to-analog TV tuner for $59.99.

In the Bay Area, 8.8 percent of households receive only over-the-air television, according to the Nielsen Co. Nationwide, more than 13 million receive broadcasts only over the air, and 6 million households have at least one television that does. Hispanic families are the most likely to be hurt by the switch, according to the Nielsen report last week.

In a separate survey, the National Association of Broadcasters said that 79 percent of viewers are aware of the shift. And a survey by Harris Corp. found that more than 90 percent of broadcasters are ready for the transition.
Coupon clipping

For more information on the transition to digital TV, and to apply for a digital television converter box coupon:

By phone: (888) 388-2009

On the Web: www.dtv2009.gov

By mail: P.O. Box 2000, Portland, OR 97208

E-mail Ellen Lee at elee@sfchronicle.com.

Squaredancecalling Steve · February-19th-2008, 04:43 AM

Like the old days, there'll be only the radio to pollute the airways.

Monte Smith · February-19th-2008, 08:36 AM

More digital = more shitty, I guarantee.

Uli · February-19th-2008, 08:38 AM

More expensive, i'd bet.

Gary Sisco · February-19th-2008, 09:24 AM

There you go!

Radio will follow with the same, eventually, digital streaming.

And when it does, the gubmint still won't allow microstations on the FM dial.

What'll be cool is being able to listen to atmospherics without radio stations' interference.

Chris D · February-19th-2008, 10:05 AM

You do know that these digital broadcast signals go through the airwaves, right? You can get HD on rabbit ears.

Monte Smith · February-19th-2008, 10:46 AM

One of our English posters spoke about digital radio some years ago. He said the difference between digital and analog radio was that with analog radio when you have poor reception you have poor sound quality. With digital radio when you have poor reception you have no radio. But by all means, let's mandate that the human race rely on increasingly complex technologies. I can't think of any way there could ever be a glitch that would bring the whole fragile construct crashing down horribly, harrumph. You fools! If you would only listen to me rarrrrrrrrrrgh!

Gary Sisco · February-19th-2008, 11:14 AM

That's one of the reasons I didn't try internet via sattelite when we were using a dial-up. I have a friend who uses satellite. He told me it downloads fast but uploads slowly, and weather is a factor. Clouds, rain, snow. Everyday life, in other words.

Gary Sisco · February-19th-2008, 11:16 AM

There was an article in the Economist about underwater fiber-optic cables breaking down recently. Cut off internet connections for millions of people across south Asia.

It's opened up a new terrain for warfare.

Squaredancecalling Steve · February-19th-2008, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris D

You do know that these digital broadcast signals go through the airwaves, right? You can get HD on rabbit ears.

I do now

Jimmy Cantiello · February-19th-2008, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tippy

exactly. That's what I found out when I got my new tv in November. I get more weather stations (rah rah) and 2nd and 3rd rated network tv stations but can't always get a signal for the prime network stations. PBS - Channel 13 is gone for example. No more Nature, no more Masterpiece Theatre. So what's the improvement?

Digital Sucks a duck.

Tippy, don't blame your new tv for the limited channel choices you're offered. Blame your cable or satellite provider.

Chris D · February-19th-2008, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tippy

I don't have a cable or satellite provider. when I can't get tv anymore - that'll be it. I'm not adding any bills to the roster - it's bad enough keeping the phone and lights on.

You can try an amplified antenna.

Gary Sisco · February-19th-2008, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tippy

I don't have a cable or satellite provider. when I can't get tv anymore - that'll be it. I'm not adding any bills to the roster - it's bad enough keeping the phone and lights on.

Good thinking. Things you don't have can't become "necessities."

I've lived without it for many years. Until recently, I'd hardly watched movies on one, even, for several years. I watch dvd's with Bronwyn in recent times, to have something to do together.

I could easily go back to not doing it, though, without feeling like I'm missing anything.

I'd probably have given up the internet by now had we remained stuck with the dial-up. We are just barely in range to get high-speed access from Verizon (who just sold it to someone else, I can't remember, saw the headline).

Now of course high-speed access has become a "necessity." This is how they hook us.

First one's free, kid.

LennyH · February-19th-2008, 12:11 PM

Tippy, you'd be a lot happier if you'd just submit already!

These companies really do know what's best for you.

Dan G · February-19th-2008, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary Sisco

That's one of the reasons I didn't try internet via sattelite when we were using a dial-up. I have a friend who uses satellite. He told me it downloads fast but uploads slowly, and weather is a factor. Clouds, rain, snow. Everyday life, in other words.

Unless technology has changed dramatically in the past 8 years, you can't upload through satellite -it is a one way technology, so the uploading is slow because it is still through telephone lines. Or so my satellite company told me when I was getting a dish. They pretty much talked me out of it because they said I would still have to do dial-up, and the incoming data came via satellite, outgoing through the phone. Pretty stupid set up really.

As for satellites and weather, theyare getting a lot better. My provider switched to a different satellite, and only once in the last 3 years (at least...I'm thinking back to when I moved and got a new dish) have I had a loss of signal. I have friends with cable who have more outages.

Gary Sisco · February-19th-2008, 12:22 PM

Could well have been. I was going by memory from some years ago. It would explain the slowness of uploading, for sure.

Tippy -- I never tried using verizon's email. I use gmail and will keep it because free and so I don't have to notify people and reconnect if I move or switch providers. The Verizon wireless works very well here, though. 54 mb and works anywhere in the house. Might outside on the deck, too. I've never tried.

LennyH · February-19th-2008, 12:29 PM

Yeah, I ditched Verizon's mail. The spam is horrible.

Gary Sisco · February-19th-2008, 12:36 PM

I really like gmail. You get enormous memory, no out of pocket. Accessible from anywhere with any computer. Plus, they have a "report spam" button, which I like, though I don't get a lot of spam.

jesus marion joseph · February-19th-2008, 01:29 PM

I have Comcast digital cable/internet. 95% of the time I have no troubles with sound or picture quality opn TV, and even less so with the internets. Costs way too much, though, IMHO.

GoodSpeak · February-19th-2008, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jesus marion joseph

I have Comcast digital cable/internet. 95% of the time I have no troubles with sound or picture quality opn TV, and even less so with the internets. Costs way too much, though, IMHO.

Me too, also.

Besides, I'm with Tip on this one.....digital is overrated.

jesus marion joseph · February-19th-2008, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoodSpeak

Me too, also.

Besides, I'm with Tip on this one.....digital is overrated.

Not if you have a digital TV and a surround sound system, I can assure you.

Scott Dolan · February-19th-2008, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris D

You do know that these digital broadcast signals go through the airwaves, right? You can get HD on rabbit ears.

But isn't that because they're still broadcasting via an analog signal?

Once they go full digital rabbit ears and a buck and change will buy you some craptacular skunk burger from the dollar menu at Wendy's.

GoodSpeak · February-19th-2008, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jesus marion joseph

Not if you have a digital TV and a surround sound system, I can assure you.

Good point. The sound is very good.

All's I know is the visual difficulties with LCD and Plasma TVs [reflecting light on the screen, wrong angle to view the screen, distortion in size of figures on the screen, etc] is more of a problem than what they let on. Then there's the cost of buying one of those things. Wow!

Nah. I'll stick to my analog TV with the Comcast decoder until they perfect the technology....then I'll dive in.

jesus marion joseph · February-19th-2008, 07:05 PM

Price is a factor, that's for sure. I got pretty lucky and got a large LCD TV for a fraction of what it was selling for because the tube TV I originally bought was defective, and they gave me the LCD as a replacement with no additional cost. Basically I paid $700 and ended up with a TV that was going for $2500 at the time.

Chris D · February-19th-2008, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott Dolan

But isn't that because they're still broadcasting via an analog signal?

Once they go full digital rabbit ears and a buck and change will buy you some craptacular skunk burger from the dollar menu at Wendy's.

No. And you will be able to watch local channels on your HD set over the air.

Scott Dolan · February-19th-2008, 08:16 PM

But what if you don't have a HD tv set?

I guess I'm just not getting it.

Chris D · February-19th-2008, 08:18 PM

If you don't have an HD set, you can get a converter box. That's what those coupons the government is touting are for.

Pete C · February-19th-2008, 08:30 PM

When broadcasters go digital by mandate will the signal be 480i (current standard) or HD, and will the format be 4:3 (current standard) or 16:9 (widescreen)?

GoodSpeak · February-19th-2008, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete C

When broadcasters go digital by mandate will the signal be 480i (current standard) or HD, and will the format be 4:3 (current standard) or 16:9 (widescreen)?

The Beta vs VHS argument all over again. Quadraphonic stereo did that stuff to us, too.

See what I mean, JMJ?

Perfect the technology....then I buy.

jesus marion joseph · February-20th-2008, 07:15 AM

There's nothing more to perfect, as far as the TV sets are concerned. Any HD ready TV can handle any lower resolution signal as well as 4:3 or 16:9 formats. My guess is that eventually everything will be broadcast in 16:9, and if you still have a 4:3 screen, your picture will be "letterboxed".

My set is 16:9, and HD pictures fill the entire screen and are uniformly crisp and clear. Sports events, in particular, are incredible in HD.