HDTV Confusion - Newbie
 

First time poster....
OK, I am sure this topic is probably way old for everyone here.
Instead of replying, feel free to just post a link to information sources.

If I dont have a TV that is HDTV ready, what will happen when TV signals go
all digital?
I am a comcast subscriber.
I have a brand new Sony 36" TV, model KV36FS100.
I am sure I will need some type of converter, which I presume Comcast would
provide??
Will my TV be obsolete?
Will I get at least the same quality picture as I have now?

Anyway, if anyone can point me in the right direction for RELIABLE
information, that would be great.
I think I have received 5 different answers from Circuit City, Best Buy
sales people.

Thanks!

--
Mark Watts
www.reverbrockets.com
www.silverfoxpercussion.com

"Wishbone" wrote in message
news:[email protected]_s54...
First time poster....
OK, I am sure this topic is probably way old for everyone here.
Instead of replying, feel free to just post a link to information sources.

If I dont have a TV that is HDTV ready, what will happen when TV signals
go
all digital?

When all OTA goes digital, you will need a new ATSC receiver to convert the
signals if you want to see over the air broadcasts. But it will be a long
time before the analog OTA channels are forced off the air. US law says 80%
of households have to have digital receivers for a forced turn-off after
2006.

I am a comcast subscriber.

Then you don't really care about over the air signals anyway. Comcast will
do it all for you.

I have a brand new Sony 36" TV, model KV36FS100
I am sure I will need some type of converter, which I presume Comcast
would
provide??

Comcast will continue to send conventional analog for a long long time. New
channels and services will be added via conventional resolution digital
(what comcast calls "Digital Cable") and true HD channels and services will
be added as well (currently 9 channels on my Comcast system). Depending on
the set top converter box, the HD services may or may not be downconverted
and viewable with a conventional TV (my Scientific Atlanta 3100HD box does
not downconvert).

Will my TV be obsolete?

Yes... but will still work, only not display to full resolution of what is
being sent.
Additionally, most HD is 16:9, so your 4:3 screen will letterbox.
Assuming of course that you have a set top box that downconverts to S-Video
or 480 interlaced component.


Will I get at least the same quality picture as I have now?

Yes... probably better if comcast downconverts HD for you.


Anyway, if anyone can point me in the right direction for RELIABLE
information, that would be great.
I think I have received 5 different answers from Circuit City, Best Buy
sales people.

CC and BB people are not well trained... it is a major problem for them (but
not so major as to force them to pay higher salaries for more knowlegeable
people).

What information are you looking for?
AVS forum is good.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forum...3 b&forumid=6

In article , rsweeney1
@comcast.net says...
But it will be a long
time before the analog OTA channels are forced off the air. US law says 80%
of households have to have digital receivers for a forced turn-off after
2006.

The long term US budget is based in part on the revinue to be
obtained from the sale of TV spectrum freed after the conversion from
analog to digital. It is naive to believe Congress will allow minor
technical considerations to delay the spectrum sale. First, digital
availability will be redefined such that any household with satellite
or cable will be deemed to have digital availability. Then, the 80%
will be lowered to whatever percentage is needed to declare
conversion complete. The broadcasters will not oppose this as they
cannot afford to operate the complete 24 hrs/day full power
simulcasting of analog and digital that will be mandated by the end
of 2006. It will happen.

All IMHO, of course.

/Chris, AA6SQ

Chris Thomas wrote:

In article , rsweeney1
@comcast.net says...

But it will be a long
time before the analog OTA channels are forced off the air. US law says 80%
of households have to have digital receivers for a forced turn-off after
2006.


The long term US budget is based in part on the revinue to be
obtained from the sale of TV spectrum freed after the conversion from
analog to digital. It is naive to believe Congress will allow minor
technical considerations to delay the spectrum sale. First, digital
availability will be redefined such that any household with satellite
or cable will be deemed to have digital availability. Then, the 80%
will be lowered to whatever percentage is needed to declare
conversion complete. The broadcasters will not oppose this as they
cannot afford to operate the complete 24 hrs/day full power
simulcasting of analog and digital that will be mandated by the end
of 2006. It will happen.

All IMHO, of course.

/Chris, AA6SQ
The stations you are talking about are channels 52-69. Of these channels
4 are reserved for Public Safety, 63,64-68,69. Of the remainder three
have already been sold.

When Congress first proposed selling this spectrum they anticipated many
billions in revenue. In 2000 Britain sold similar spectrum for $35
billion and Germany for $45 billion. Those sales triggered the recession
we have been in since. The Dot.com bust was 2% of the Telecom bust that
accompanied it.

The sale of the three channels, 54,55 and 59 sold so far brought in a
total of $80 MILLION. This is less than the US treasury spends between
midnight and one A.M. on any given day. This is not anymore a budget
fixing option.

Do the math, there are 11 station left to sell. At $80 million for three
that would be $320 million for 12 or a little less, $293.3 MILLION for 11.

That is a little shy of the $700 BILLION with a B bandied about as the
market value at auction for this spectrum.

"Minor technical considerations" were not the reason the auctions of
this spectrum were held up for six times when the chance of getting
BILLIONS was very good from 1999 till 2002. And "Minor technical
considerations" did not stop the auction of all the stations 52 to 69 in
2002. The House had already voted unanimously in early 2002 to cancel
the auctions of 52 to 69 INDEFINITELY!! The Senate was about to vote
when Senator Stevens bill contradicting the cancellation showed signs of
life because of the misgivings of rural Senators. The compromise was an
auction of 3 channels.

IT WAS ALL POLITICS as it always is. The telcos and broadcasters first
of all want to keep the spectrum off the market. Second if it comes on
the market they want it to be useless or they want it for themselves.

They are very good at this. Broadcasters and politicians are in a
symbiotic relationship here. The politicians need the broadcasters to
get elected and the broadcasters need the immense funds that our corrupt
political process generates. A significant part of broadcasters income
comes from political advertising.

The cancer runs deep and the public and pundit reasons given for FCC and
Congressional actions have little to do with the reality.

Now that we have had the auctions and the broadcasters find that they
will not be paid billions to leave stations early like the FCC and
Congress expected would and promised them would happen they are more
interested in getting it over with.

You are right that they do not want to continue dual broadcasting. There
is a chance that the DTV transition may speed up.

When and if this happens the phony 85% which means nothing and never did
will be dismissed and gotten rid of with the flimsiest of excuses.

The Tauzin requested GAO mission to Berlin is the fist shot in the next
act of the digital transition. Berlin had a digital transition of
exactly 9 months.

"Bob Miller" wrote in message
...


You are right that they do not want to continue dual broadcasting. There
is a chance that the DTV transition may speed up.

When and if this happens the phony 85% which means nothing and never did
will be dismissed and gotten rid of with the flimsiest of excuses.

The Tauzin requested GAO mission to Berlin is the fist shot in the next
act of the digital transition. Berlin had a digital transition of
exactly 9 months.

But Bob, except for you, everyone here is interested in an HDTV transition.

thanks for the quick answers!


"Randy Sweeney" wrote in message
...

"Bob Miller" wrote in message
...


You are right that they do not want to continue dual broadcasting. There
is a chance that the DTV transition may speed up.

When and if this happens the phony 85% which means nothing and never did
will be dismissed and gotten rid of with the flimsiest of excuses.

The Tauzin requested GAO mission to Berlin is the fist shot in the next
act of the digital transition. Berlin had a digital transition of
exactly 9 months.

But Bob, except for you, everyone here is interested in an HDTV
transition.