Entry bubble Digital TV Switch for Analog Cable and Low Power Stations

By: Jake | December 22, 2008 | Category: Home and Family

Last week I blogged about the digital television transition and I'm back on it this week with a new development.DTV Transition

To keep this as simple as possible, let's summarize what we have stated so far. Most over the air broadcast stations will transfer from analog to digital-only broadcast on February 17, 2009. If you have a digital TV, you will be able to receive broadcast channels over-the-air. Those of you with analog TV's will need a converter box to get the digital stations over-the-air. You can apply online for coupons to get a $40 discount on the converter boxes.

We've also established that people with satellite and cable service may need equipment to receive digital transmissions on their analog TV's because of the transition, but you should go to your service provider for details. Cable companies have been moving channels from analog to digital systems for the transition, but the news is that this week they stopped.

In this letter to Congress, the National Cable and Telecommunications Association, who represents 90 percent of cable companies, told Congress that cable companies were halting their transition until March to avoid customer confusion. It seems that in some instances analog cable subscribers using analog TV's will need a different converter box, which will be supplied through their cable company. In the letter the cable companies say they will provide this converter equipment for free to subscribers with analog TV's from March to June. Remember that NCTA does not represent all cable TV providers so you should contact your cable company for details on your particular situation.

As a commenter pointed out last week, not all broadcast stations will have to transfer to digital-only broadcast on February 19. There are four classes of broadcast TV stations: "full-power," "low-power," "Class A" and "translator." The latter three, which are for local programming and extension channels that rebroadcast "full-power" station programs in remote areas, do not have to meet the digital TV transition deadline in February. The FCC will be establishing a deadline for them in the near future and the coupons for the digital TV converter boxes stop going out at the end of March. They recommend you play it safe and get a coupon.

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Entry bubble Making the Digital TV Switch

By: Jake | December 15, 2008 | Category: Home and Family

A friend has ruined me with his huge digital TV. I won't go into the gory details, but let's just say I'm saving up for a huge digital TV.

DTV TransitionSince I have digital television on the mind, it's a good time to remind you that all stations in the U.S. will be transitioning from analog to digital-only broadcast on February 17, 2009. If you live in Wilmington, NC you already have digital-only broadcast and Hawaii will go digital-only on January 15. The rest of us have two months prep time. My post from August talks about the difference between analog and digital TVs and the chart below outlines what you need to do:

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 Contact your service provider for information.
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.

If you have an analog TV and need a digital-to-analog converter box, you can apply for a coupon to get one and you can go back and check the status of your order. Be sure to test your converter box after you install it.

We had some great discussions the last time I posted about this and since then I've found this PDF paper that answers some more detailed questions. If you have any questions or issues with the transition, let me know in the comments. Suggestions for a new large screen digital TV are also appreciated.

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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?

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