NTIA OKs 19 DTV-to-Analog Converter Boxes, 250-Plus Retailers

Needs a converter box for the off air analog tv when tv goes digital next year...

Here's who will have them so far....

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6517843.html

NOTE this only for tv sets that receive the signal over the air via rabbit ears or outside antenna. Cable and satellite and phone fiber optic delivery don't need it.

I didn't know there were people in the USA that did not either have cable or Sat TV. I think it will be very intresting to see how many people get one of these boxes. What they should have done is make the cable companies provide free access for all to local brocast channels and done away with over the air reception. I know when I bought my house I had 2 days without cable and I could not get a single channel over the air.


It's it funny how QVC is going to setup a special number for people to call and get them. If you don't have cable you don't get QVC.

I believe it's something like 40% of the population will NOT have cable due to it just not being economically feasible. You have to have a certain population density before you'll even get cable.

Example; my parents live in the middle of the sticks of Michigan and live about 30 miles from the nearest town of over 10,000. They will never get cable in their lifetime, just not enough people. Their only option is over the air or satellite. If my folks weren't as well off as they are, the ONLY option would be over the air.

One of our local TV stations is offering $40 off coupons for these boxes... www.wsbt.com

This is true. Cable television is not available in many rural areas.

My brother and his missus live in the house we grew up in. It's 'way out in the boondocks of Chesapeake, VA. There's a small Navy landing strip up the road a bit. The new pilots are trained in touch and go out there.. and the noise can literally rattle the china in your kitchen cabinets. It's deafening at times. We all grew up with it.

Many years ago, the Navy bought up development rights to the surrounding area to keep even more people from complaining about the jet noise.

That means no more houses being built ~ and no cable TV, ever. There aren't enough potential customers to justify extending cable out there.

A recent storm toppled our antenna from its rooftop perch.

Its still up there, connected, but one UHF channel (58) is now very grainy.

I did some research at

www.dtvfacts.com

and found out where to go for the Free $40 Coupons

(You can call them toll free at 1-866-219-0036)

Order your coupons NOW: They have a limited supply and when they are gone....too bad for you!!!

We don't have satellite and cable is not available at our hilltop residence.

One thing they don't mention,

even if you get the $60 converter box for $20, YOU STILL NEED A NEW DIGITAL ANTENNA to receive the signals.

One thing I found out: some channels from San Francisco, that we get because of our high altitude (2000 feet) and our direct path to the Bay Area.......we will no longer get them because HDTV signals have a shorter path.

My wife is very disappointed that we won't receive KRON 4 (San Francisco all-news station) that is 120 miles away and has a clear VHF signal, but won't reach us when they go to a HDTV-only broadcast in 2009.

NO YOU DO NOT NEED A NEW DIGITAL ANTENNA!!!!

"DIGITAL ANTENNA" is a marketing buzz word, to generate antenna sales.

If you can receive UHF and VHF with your current antenna, then you are all set. RF is RF you are still using the same frequency band as long as the band being used remains the same, it doesn't matter whether the signal is analog or digital.

Here's a FAQ from the FCC regarding digital TV:

http://www.dtv.gov/consumercorner.html#faq12

Doug,

From what I've been told, the new Digital signals have a "shorter path" and cannot be as easily picked up by the older UHF antennas.

The newer DTV-only antennas are UHF-only, have a longer range, and you don't need those long elements for VHF any more.

We are 55-58 miles from the transmitter towers.

In my case, the old antenna was an eye sore, its long and spidery (about 10 feet tall) and some of the elements (including the UHF) broke off or bent in the storm.

Most cases, it will be better to REPLACE a wind-battered storm-damaged old antenna, with a shorter pole (only 4 feet is needed from the highest point on the rooftop) and the new unit would be much smaller and less visible from the street.

They also recommend that you change out the Coax from the old RG-59 to the newer standard of cable, for better signal transmission.

So if I do this, its for cosmetic reasons, too!

DTV is not exclusively on UHF. Here in Indy we have some stations digital on VHF and UHF that will remain on those channels once the change over occurs.

I got this info from one the engineers at a local tv station. I think someone is looking to sell you a new antenna install I think. What you are telling me is nothing really correct info according to my engineering contacts.

I'd check into the FAQ's from the FCC and Consumer Electronic Association for more info.

You do not need a special antena to recieve a digital signal you just need a tv that has a built in decoder or a decoder box... a plain jane set of $9.00 rabbit ears that sit on top of your tv will do the trick... Get an amplified set if the signal is weak that's it... nothing special. I have a set on my HD capable LCD and pick up the off air HD singals just fine in my area.

One of our local TV stations is offering $40 off coupons for these boxes... www.wsbt.com (http://www.wsbt.com)
It'll only tune in their station! :rofl:


(Just Kidding!)