Digital TV

[Dreman]

Ok, no one seems bothered by topics that have NOTHING to do with Sport Tracs, so here's my question...



Does anyone know anything about the new digital TV stuff coming down the way? Does anyone make a converter yet, or is it just easier to buy a new TV? We're not big-time TV watchers around here, but the extra broadcast channels sound interesting. We don't do cable or dish, just broadcast TV.

 

[EddieS'04]

I dont know if the converters are out there yet. Wont need it till '09 I think. We are in the same boat with you, all we watch is standard broadcast or rent a movie...

 

[Matthew W]

Will need to have a digital converter for standard TV's after 3/09, but only if you are getting channels off of the public airways ... if you have cable or satelite, you won't need it, as the cable/sat receivers take care of that for you ...

 

[Dre L]

The converter is only so you can receive the channels, it won't give you any of the HD benefits.



Wait until around '09. If your old TV still works, get a converter or cable. If your TV dies by then, get a new one.

 

[Dreman]

HD would be great, but I'm more interested in the content of the broadcasts right now. Are there any converters available now?

 

[Thomas Rogers]

Interestingly enough, Dreman, most all HD video recorders have analog standard def output as well as HD digital output. These are rather pricey ($500 to $1,000) devices, typically record to a HDD, and have your built-in HD tuner which can be hooked up to cable or an OTA antenna. I think the new HD Tivo is just one such box, see the spec below, but other mfgrs have similar HD DVRs on the market:

 

[user 62394]

My family bought my mom a new TV with an HD tuner for Christmas. She lives in a pretty rural part of Michigan (Saginaw/Midland area, for those who may know the area) and does not have satelite and cable isn't even available. She's always had trouble tuning in stations over the air. We bought a TV with an HD tuner and got a digital antenna. Anyway, the picture she gets over the air is crystal clear. I was very surprised.



Just my 2 cents, but I'd consider switching to the digital signal. While I would guess converters are out there if you look, I don't think they are readily available. I did not see any when I was shopping for the TV -- I get the impression they are trying to wait as long as possible to make converters available so they can get as many people to switch to digital TV's as possible. Kind of a scam.



Rocks

 

[Thomas Rogers]

MTURocks says:

I get the impression they are trying to wait as long as possible to make converters available so they can get as many people to switch to digital TV's as possible. Kind of a scam.

I don't think it's a scam or any scheme at play here.



Consider this:



1) The original date for all-digital broadcasts was aggressive, something like 2006 or early 2007. As said prior, broadcasters lobbied to have that date pushed out to 2009. The main reason for the delay was they simply aren't ready yet.



2) A major part of the feet-dragging is the move to HD and all that entails. Broadcasters would really rather not move twice, or even worse, in two directions. They would rather move JUST to HD, in it's various resolutions, and broadcast in that format (at least 780p) 24x7. However, that's a tall order, as content providers aren't ready for that. A mix of programming, some HD, some SD, has either upconverting or downconverting, and that satisfies some while disappointing others (depending on the viewer's hardware).



3) It's true that broadcasters show the rather slow adoption of HD capable equipment as evidence that the market is not ready for all digital in HD, but that's partly their fault (little programming). Only the past couple of years has HD equipment really taken off, and estimates are that it is still in less than 1/3 the homes, and often where it is in the home, it is still display a SD signal or used almost exclusively for DVD viewing.



4) It is in broadcaster's best interest to wait. By waiting, more and more people buy HD capable settops, and the elusive $50 digital settop box (that takes HD and digital SD signals in and has analog and digital outputs) becomes viable as today's generation of decoder chips become obsolete and bulk. When such a settop is possible, and can be purchased at WalMart, BestBuy and RadioShack for under $50 the market will be ready as there will finally be a solution for late adopters. Expect such settops to hit the market end 2007, early 2008.



TJR

 

[Tom Schindler]

I have no desire one bit to buy an HD TV. IMO, converting to Digital TV with HD is a waste of money.



There is so much more important things the government could have done for this country and its citizans then legislating digital TV signals.





Tom

 

[Thomas Rogers]

Caymen says:

I have no desire one bit to buy an HD TV. IMO, converting to Digital TV with HD is a waste of money.



There is so much more important things the government could have done for this country and its citizans then legislating digital TV signals.

There are millions of sports fans (especially Football and NASCAR) that would disagree with you.



Don't you pamper yourself at all, Tom?



TJR

 

[Tom Schindler]

Don't you pamper yourself at all, Tom?

Yes, don't we all?



Imagine what good the government could have done for this country by investing the money used to legislate Digital TV. Sure, watching a football game or a NASCAR race in HD might be awesome, but it isn't life and death.



There are many people in this country that could use a little help. The last thing they need is a TV with a perfect picture.





Tom

 

[Thomas Rogers]

Caymen says:

There are many people in this country that could use a little help. The last thing they need is a TV with a perfect picture.

Funny you should mention that. My church did missions work last year. Lots of churches go to other countries, but our church recognizes there are people suffering right in our own country. So, they went to Kentucky, to one of the poorest and unemployment heavy areas of the state. We ended up putting new roofs and updated electric and plumbing in several homes (shacks actually).



One thing they all seemed to have in common...each shack had a digital satellite receiver and a big LCD or plasma HD tv. Mostly for watching TV all day and NASCAR on the weekends. It's all the folks inside these homes seemed to want to do.



So, yes, there are many out there that need help, and my church gave it to them. They seemed pretty ambivalent to the help provided. But they SURE liked their HD TV. To them, that seemed like the FIRST THING, and LAST THING they really needed.



TJR

 

[Tom Schindler]

each shack had a digital satellite receiver and a big LCD or plasma HD tv.

Those people did not deserve your help.



Some years back, we had some neighbors have their house burn down. My sister and I took the shoes off our feet and gave them to the kids that lived there. We ran home, grabbed a few shirts, pants, and socks and gave them to the family to help them since they were standing outside their house engulfed in flames in their underwear and PJ's.



The next day, dad told mom to go to the bank and get a hundred bucks to give it to them to help them out. We went over there to give it to them. They were in a tent with a cooler full of beer and smoking cigarettes. Dad looked at them and said "Looks like you have everything you wanted, you don't need and aren't getting my help". We walked away.



Hungry and smoking cigarettes? You aren't hungry enough? House falling apart and you have an expensive TV? (I have a 5 year old Toshiba 27" TV purchased with money saved after my wife purchased this house before we got married) Your hose isn't broken enough.



You are not getting my help.





Tom

 

[Mark Grumpy]

Tom,

I agree with your statements concerning those that need help versus those that would rather watch TV while their house falls down.

But the switch to digital signals mandated by the government was done for a reason other than better pictures. It was done to free up airspace or bandwidth. With the boom in wireless technologies we are running out of air.



grump

 

[Tom Schindler]

With the boom in wireless technologies we are running out of air.

We were told the same thing with telephone numbers. We have another Area Code within our area code so we now have to dial 10 digits to call our neighbor. It has now been 6 years and we still don't use the new area code and we are not out of phone numbers.





Tom

 

[Thomas Rogers]

Caymen, I used to think you were a liberal given your distain for Republicans. But now, given your distain for the poor, I suspect you are more of a moderate. Either way, you are one tough nut to crack.



Yes, I said "distain" for the poor. Most poor are poor due to the bad decisions they make and that's just a fact. We give the poor a hand-up in this country, and often with no strings attached. We can complain about those on assistance that buy cigarettes, have a 5th child, etc, but the reality is, that's just petty.



If you believe in true charity, then you give with a "willing" heart, and recognize that once you give that which you give, becomes that of the recipient to be used as they see fit. If you don't think that way then it's not charity...it's "bribery" or "paid reprogramming" (you are giving them something and demanding it change their actions).



Also, what Grumpy said is true. We have run out of frequencies used in the analog spectrum. The govt is trying for expedite the switch to digital so that it can free up bandwidth in the analog spectrum and use it for emergency communications...in no small part due to the failure in emergency services communications displayed on 9-11. The switch from OTA analog to OTA digital will free up a tremendous amount of bandwidth.



TJR

 

[Bill V]

It has now been 6 years and...we are not out of phone numbers.

Correct, we're not--in large part because of the increased number of area codes. New codes aren't added to a region at the time they're critically needed--they're added years ahead of time to prevent the need from ever becoming critical.



At some point, we're going to need to expand from 10 digits to 11 (or even 12)--unless technology and pricing advance to where it's practical for a person to not need separate numbers for home, work, cell, etc....

 

[Tom Schindler]

Caymen, I used to think you were a liberal given your distain for Republicans. But now, given your distain for the poor, I suspect you are more of a moderate. Either way, you are one tough nut to crack.

I don't label myself. I can be an extremist in some things, but could care less about other stuff.



I do not agree with abortion, but it should not be the government to decide if it is allowed. Just because the government says it is legal does not mean it is right.



Gay marriage...who cares. Marriage did not originate with man, so how can man decide who can get married? How does two guys or gals getting married affect me in my household?



Gun control...I do not feel anyone should own an assault riffle. At the same time, why shouldn't a law abiding citizen be able to own any weapon he/she chooses to own.



Smoking. It is disgusting and it stinks, but my rights are not more important then a smokers. The government does not need to tell us where we can or can't smoke. If there is a demand a non-smoking or smoking establishment, then someone will open one up.



As for employment, the employees need to come to an agreement with the employer for wages, benefits, punishment, etc. Unfortunatly, there are too many buddy deals between bosses and employees and it hurts not only the ones that work there, but the little ones at home.



I have no problem with charity. If you are hungry, I will feed you. If you are thirsty, I will give you water, coffee, soda, or juice. If you need clothing, I will give you the clothes off my back. Your vehicle is out of gas and you have no money, I will give you gas. I WILL NOT give you money. I will not help you get drunk or high. I will not support your habit. If you want money, you can wash my car. You earned the money and can spend it as you wish. When I give you my money, you will spend it my way or you aren't getting my money.



I believe that mom should stay at home and take care of the kids and the household. I do not wash dishes. I do not wash clothing. I go to work every day and I work hard for my money to support myself and my wife. If she HAS to go to work to pay the bills, I will help out around the house. If she CHOOSES to go to work on her own, she can work and take care of the household. I am very old fashoned when it comes to family and two person working households, IMO, is a major cause of divorce and problem children.



I am very secure with myself. I like who I am and I will not change for anyone. I am my own person, I live a clean life, and I try to help others out. I put 110% in at work and I do my best I can possibly do. I take pride in my work. My job is very important to the security of the USA and knowing what we build and how many lives that could be at risk if it fails feels really good.



My hobbies are not the typical "guy" hobbies. I like to crochet and do counted cross stitch. I have a hard time working with wood, but love to turn wrenches on vehicles.



You all can laugh at me now.





Tom

 

[TomT]

Crochet? LOL.



(Sorry. Couldn't resist.)

 

[Bill Ellis]

Rosie Greer the football player liked to do needle point. I doubt anyone here would be willing to insult him about that in person. No one he ever told that to on TV was willing to either; not even Johnny Carson. Me, I enjoy working with wood and turn wrenches when necessary. Getting to the tail end of adding two bedrooms, a family room and bathroom [900 sq.ft.] in my walkout basement. Done it all but final drywall finishing. My brother-in-law does that for a living. Never took on a project like this so I read all about it and am doing it. Now the TV part about this is that I have a projector on the ceiling for TV and DVD which gives me a 96 inch diagonal wide screen picture.