will all current tv sets become obsolete?
 

In article ,
Bert Hyman wrote:

But there is a requirement that all over-the-air TV stations in the US
switch to "digital" broadcasts by Feb. 18, 2009.

Not that most of us care about them, but I haven't seen much said about
low-power TV stations. There is a fund available to reimburse low-power
for the cost of new equipment, including up to $1,000 per translator
station for D-to-A equipment, but they are allowed to broadcast in
analog after the date, and some of them will even be allowed to continue
broadcasting on channel 52 and up.

http://www.benton.org/index.php?q=node/1257
http://www.benton.org/benton_files/dtvbillsummary.doc

http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:....org/benton_fi
les/dtvbillsummary.doc (Google cache HTML version of the above .doc file)


As for me, I have one 4:3 CRT TV which is "HD-ready" (no digital tuner),
but I leave it and its STB in 480p mode all the time because the scan
switch is annoying. I have two other STBs connected to NTSC sets, one
of which I recently set up for my mother because the low VHF on her
cable TV was getting bad reception. It can receive all but one of the
digital stations local to her with rabbit ears on top of the TV, and
that last one can be received by touching the UHF loop.

will all current tv sets become obsolete?
 

will all current tv sets become obsolete?
 

common_ wrote:

Now if you really want to start a flame war here - suggest that in
2009 OTA HD will go away in favor of the OTA stations sending out 5
channels of SD, and selling their HD produced content to Sat and
Cable companies.

No need for me to start any flame wars here. g

But....is that scenario above likely?

And if yes....what's the big benefit in doing so?

will all current tv sets become obsolete?
 

"Elmo P. Shagnasty" wrote:

To say "digital" can mean anything. Think of digital cameras--some are
1 megapixel, some are 10 megapixels. But they're all digital.

Excellent analogy!

Thanks!

will all current tv sets become obsolete?
 

Bert Hyman wrote:

To say "digital" can mean anything.

But in the context of over-the-air digital TV in the US (presumably
the topic of this thread), it means ATSC.

Not understanding your pint.

Can you explain please?

Thanks!

will all current tv sets become obsolete?
 

Bruce Tomlin wrote:

As for me, I have one 4:3 CRT TV which is "HD-ready" (no digital tuner),
but I leave it and its STB in 480p mode all the time because the scan
switch is annoying. I have two other STBs connected to NTSC sets, one
of which I recently set up for my mother because the low VHF on her
cable TV was getting bad reception. It can receive all but one of the
digital stations local to her with rabbit ears on top of the TV, and
that last one can be received by touching the UHF loop.

Will STB's be extinct in time tho?

Id much rather have my tuner separate of the display
but it seems damn hard to find a decent OTA STB

will all current tv sets become obsolete?
 

wrote:
wrote:

So basically a station can broadcast in digital but NOT
at the definition required to technically be "High
definition", correct?

Do I have it right?

Yes, that is correct.

Thanks Chip!

But that begs a question..... what would be the
advantage for a station to transmit in digital but NOT
at HD level?

Are there still some big advantages to digital even at
much lower resolutions?

A station can send out up to five low resolution digital channels in the same bandwidth as one hd channel. That COULD mean more revenue,
if they can sell the advertisement. That's a big if.

Chip

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will all current tv sets become obsolete?
 

() wrote in
:

Bert Hyman wrote:

To say "digital" can mean anything.

But in the context of over-the-air digital TV in the US (presumably
the topic of this thread), it means ATSC.

Not understanding your pint.

Can you explain please?

When you say "digital" in the context of US over-the-air TV, it can't
mean "anything", it means ATSC.

"ATSC: An acronym for Advanced Television Systems Committee, and the
name of the DTV system used by broadcasters in the U.S."

http://www.dtv.gov/glossary.html

--
Bert Hyman | St. Paul, MN |

will all current tv sets become obsolete?
 

will all current tv sets become obsolete?
 

In article ,
wrote:

Id much rather have my tuner separate of the display
but it seems damn hard to find a decent OTA STB

That's probably mostly because the big box stores can make money by
signing people for satellite, but not from OTA boxes, so they don't push
OTA STBs on consumers. And consumers still aren't generally aware of
OTA, so they don't know to ask for it.

Besides, there's nothing that says you _have_ to buy from a "brick &
mortar" store. Macintosh users learned years ago that their best option
was to buy via mail-order, though things have gotten a little better in
the past few years. Web sites have simply made this easier.

I don't think you will ever _not_ be able to purchase a STB via
mail-order, even after the rush in 2009-2010 ends.