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Entry bubble Digital TV Transition Update

By: Jake | August 18, 2008 | Category: General

I was watching the Olympics this weekend and saw one of those DTV transition commercials. It made me realize that we are less than six months away from the full digital television transition.

What this means is on February 17, 2009 broadcast television stations will only air on digital frequencies. If you live in the Wilmington, North Carolina area you've only got three weeks to prepare. Local TV stations will switch over to solely digital transmissions on September 8 as a test market for the transition.

If you don't have a digital or High Definition (HD) TV, the chart I've included will tell you what you need to do. If you have cable, you should check with your service provider to see if there is anything you need to do. Those of you with an analog television (no cable) will need to get a signal converter box (you can get a coupon for it) to receive the digital television signals. If you don't have paid service and aren't sure if your television is digital or HD, there are ways you can tell.

The Federal Communications Commission's digital tuner rule specifies that as of March 1, 2007, all new TVs must include digital tuners. Many DTVs and digital television equipment have labels or markings on them, or statements in the informational materials that came with them, to indicate that they contain digital tuners. These labels or markings may contain the words “Integrated Digital Tuner,” “Digital Tuner Built-In,” “Digital Receiver,” or “Digital Tuner,” “DTV,” “ATSC,” or “HDTV” (High Definition television).

Do you own: Get your programming from: By Feb 17, 2009 you’ll need:
Analog TV Over-the-air or an antenna A Digital-to-Analog Converter box or to purchase a digital TV.
Analog TV Cable, satellite, or other paid service You DO NOT need a converter box. Contact your service provider.
Digital or High Definition TV Over-the-air or an antenna Do nothing.
Digital or High Definition TV Cable, satellite, or other paid service You DO NOT need a converter box. Contact your service provider.

The transition is happening because digital airwaves allow for better picture and sound quality. I must admit I've been impressed with the digital television I've seen. My girlfriend was able to get a used one from a friend that was moving last fall.

The digital picture and sound are a lot better than analog television sets, even when an analog set has cable. If you have cable for your digital television, the picture is much better. Of course buying a digital television takes some research and a little extra money, but the Digital TV website and Pueblo have resource pages that can help you find one.

I've given you my take, what is your take on digital TV?

| View Comments [13] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: digital_television   digital_tv_transition   jake  

Comments (13):

blue comment bubble Posted by holalola on August 18, 2008 at 01:19 PM EDT

A lot of people are not aware that not all converter boxes are the same. If you watch any low-power television stations, and that includes a lot of local and community stations as well as Spanish-language stations, many converter boxes will not work for you. Make sure you get a converter box with analog pass through. The names with an asterix on this list will do the trick:
https://www.ntiadtv.gov/cecb_list.cfm
Don't rely on salespeople to make the choice for you. Many are not aware of this either. My advice would be to print the list and take it to the store to make sure that you purchase a converter box that will bring you all the channels.

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blue comment bubble Posted by Jake on August 18, 2008 at 01:23 PM EDT

Thanks for the tip Holalola

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blue comment bubble Posted by Ted Nesbitt on August 18, 2008 at 02:14 PM EDT

I got the converter box from Comcast, my cable company. They have already changed some channels to digital only. Here's the problem: I learned that my VCR cannot reocrd a program, since the VCR is analog and the box converts the program to digital. A Comcast rep told me that I would have to "rent" a special Comcast digital recorder, made especially for Comcast by Motorola. That's RENT at $15 per month. They are NOT for sale, according to him.

What is the true story on recording devices that will work with digital TV? VCRs are out forever? What's taking their place?

Thank you.

Ted

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blue comment bubble Posted by JR on August 18, 2008 at 04:10 PM EDT

Good one, Jake.

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blue comment bubble Posted by Joan on August 18, 2008 at 04:44 PM EDT

Check to see if there's an expiration date on that coupon that entitles you to a converter box. A friend of mine got one, and told me that she noticed (too late) that it was only good for 3 months, which had already elapsed.

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blue comment bubble Posted by Jake on August 18, 2008 at 05:09 PM EDT

Ted,

There seems to be a way to record digital TV with your VCR. It may require
another converter box though. Take a look at the diagrams on this page:
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/converterbox_vcr.html

Joan,

I just checked this website and it says when you sign up for the coupons, they
expire 90 days after their mailing.

https://www.dtv2009.gov/ApplyCoupon.aspx

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blue comment bubble Posted by Mark S Jenks on August 18, 2008 at 05:39 PM EDT

From what I understand, you can still record with your VCR, but you can not program the VCR to record from its own built in tuner. You would have to set your converter box to the channel you want to record, set the VCR to channel three or whatever channel it needs to be set on to accept the signal.
In other words, imagine you were recording from one VCR to the other. It would be almost the same thing, the video signal input to the VCR that is doing the recording must bypass the built in tuner, if you have an older VCR with a built in analog tv tuner.
Therefore, you could no longer program your VCR to record from different channels at different times. But you can still record manually, what ever channel the converter box can recieve in your area.
You might want to use two tv's at first to make sure you have it set up properly. Look here: signal source(ant.)>>>[converter box]>>>[splitter]>>>[VCR]>>>[tv#2]
At the splitter, run out a short cable to [tv#1]. When the picture matches on both tv's, you're all set. It might take some patience, but it can be done. Fiddle around with your remote and you'll get there. Before you start recording, take out the splitter and the 1st tv, so you don't loose too much signal. I'm fairly sure that will do it for ya'll.

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blue comment bubble Posted by Karen on August 18, 2008 at 07:01 PM EDT

The question that I want answered and that no one seems to be paying attention to is this: What about an antenna? My mom has only an analog TV, and she bought a converter box and hooked it up, but she has not been able to pick up the over-the-air digital signals now being broadcast in our area. The converter box (an RCA product) has paperwork suggesting one buy a "Smart Antenna," but I've looked everywhere (even the RCA web site) and cannot find further information about price, availability, or need.

Help!

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blue comment bubble Posted by Ham Radio Operator on August 19, 2008 at 09:50 AM EDT

Mark is right abotu the VCR recording, what the VCR "sees" is a signal coming in on Analog Signal, Channel 3, similar to DVD players requiring an "RF Modulator" which changes the digital DVD signal to a standard TV signal.

As far as antenae go, the higher and more conductive surface (bigger) you can get the better you generally are. Reception is better at the top of a hil than at the bottom and objects near the antenna can obstruct the signal.

"SMART" antennae have have a plug that looks similar to a phone plug but any old antenna will work just fin, provided there is enough signal, and enough antenna to gather the signal. Think of the antenna as a net for the signal.

A lot of antenae at the store are marketed as "Digital" they are no different than your old antenna, don't pay extra for the word digital written on it. Amplified on the otherhand may be worth your $$. Amplification is measured in Decibels or dB. Every 3 dB is a doubling of signal strength. 3dB = 2x, 6dB = 2x2 = 4 etc

hope this helps!

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blue comment bubble Posted by Karen on August 20, 2008 at 12:21 PM EDT

Thank you, Ham Radio Operator! Very useful information!

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blue comment bubble Posted by Dee on August 26, 2008 at 05:08 PM EDT

My question is regarding VCR/DVD players. My TV is DTV having a digital tuner. I don't have a cable box, I have cable coax fed directly to my VCR to my TV. My VCR just broke and I am looking to replace it. I mainly use my VCR to record TV shows using the VCR pre-program feature. I am not looking for exceptional quality, just basic recording at the least expensive cost. All I am finding on the market is combo VCR/DVD players, which is fine. However, they come in two categories: tuner free and with a digital tuner (costing $100+ more.) My question is will a tuner free VCR/DVD player work to pre-program shows since my TV has a digital tuner or do I need to buy a VCR/DVD player that has a digital tuner as well?

Thanks!

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blue comment bubble Posted by HDTV Tuners Now on August 27, 2008 at 04:26 AM EDT

[Trackback] Jake at Gov Gab has a great post about the DTV transition and a nice table to help you figure what DTV solution you need for the Big Switch. His table reminds us that if we watch TV on an analog television, we need to get a DTV converter box.



What ...

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blue comment bubble Posted by ourgang on August 31, 2008 at 04:58 PM EDT

Use to burning tv shows to be watched later after babysitting. Have WOW and noticed channel 36 (AMC) is completely digital. Can not record this station - not even the commercials. Is there a way to record on a normal DVD recorded after the whole contry goes digital in Feb 2009? Or does the public at large need to have a dvdr?

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