Why Buy a Converter?

Is there any reason for those of us who rely on cable or satellite,
and expect that we always will, to buy a subsidized converter for
our analog-TV's? Maybe just in case someone blows up our
cable-headquarters and takes out the satellites?

Rog' wrote:
Is there any reason for those of us who rely on cable or satellite,
and expect that we always will, to buy a subsidized converter for
our analog-TV's? Maybe just in case someone blows up our
cable-headquarters and takes out the satellites?

How about losing your power and you drag out your battery TV that you
plugged into the car to check on the storm? I keep one just for that
reason as I live in Florida.

L e e

In "Rog'"
wrote:

Is there any reason for those of us who rely on cable or satellite,
and expect that we always will, to buy a subsidized converter for
our analog-TV's? Maybe just in case someone blows up our
cable-headquarters and takes out the satellites?

Does your cable or satellite service give you all the digital
sub-channels that are available from your local stations OTA?

Can you receive your local channels from your satellite service at no
extra charge?

If your cable service does provide all the digital subchannels, do you
have to rent a digital converter from them in order to see them?

--
Bert Hyman St. Paul, MN

"Bert Hyman" wrote:
"Rog'" wrote:
Is there any reason for those of us who rely on cable or satellite,
and expect that we always will, to buy a subsidized converter for
our analog-TV's? Maybe just in case someone blows up our
cable-headquarters and takes out the satellites?

Does your cable or satellite service give you all the digital
sub-channels that are available from your local stations OTA?
Can you receive your local channels from your satellite service at no
extra charge?
If your cable service does provide all the digital subchannels, do you
have to rent a digital converter from them in order to see them?

Hmmm. Food for thought.
I suspect that local OTA stations will only get one spot each from
these service providers. However, Cox is, at least, promising to
analog support three years. "The signal will be down-converted
from its digital format, enabling customers to receive digital
broadcast programming in an analog format."

In "Rog'"
wrote:

I suspect that local OTA stations will only get one spot each from
these service providers.

I don't have cable service myself, but it looks like the local provider,
Comcast, does supply the digital sub-channels from at least two of the
local stations, but they're in the "digital" tier so you have to rent a
converter from Comcast in order to see them.

However, Cox is, at least, promising to analog support three years.
"The signal will be down-converted from its digital format, enabling
customers to receive digital broadcast programming in an analog
format."

A lot of that depends on what kind of franchise agreement, if any, the
cable provider has with the city they're operating in.

Here in St. Paul, prior to the switch to all digital, there was a
requirement that the cable system provide the local channels for a low
rate. I don't know what happens to this agreement after the switch takes
place.

--
Bert Hyman St. Paul, MN

"Rog'" wrote in
:

"Bert Hyman" wrote:
"Rog'" wrote:
Is there any reason for those of us who rely on cable or satellite,
and expect that we always will, to buy a subsidized converter for
our analog-TV's? Maybe just in case someone blows up our
cable-headquarters and takes out the satellites?

Does your cable or satellite service give you all the digital
sub-channels that are available from your local stations OTA?
Can you receive your local channels from your satellite service at no
extra charge?
If your cable service does provide all the digital subchannels, do you
have to rent a digital converter from them in order to see them?

Hmmm. Food for thought.
I suspect that local OTA stations will only get one spot each from
these service providers. However, Cox is, at least, promising to
analog support three years. "The signal will be down-converted
from its digital format, enabling customers to receive digital
broadcast programming in an analog format."




3 years from now,OTA DTV converters may not be available.They were only
meant as a temporary fix for fairly new analog TVs already owned.
After some time,you may be expected to buy a new TV.

The OTA converters may be discontinued for lack of sales after the initial
rush to buy once the analog signals go silent.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net

On Sat, 26 Apr 2008 16:44:58 -0400, "Rog'"
wrote:

I suspect that local OTA stations will only get one spot each from
these service providers. However, Cox is, at least, promising to
analog support three years. "The signal will be down-converted
from its digital format, enabling customers to receive digital
broadcast programming in an analog format."

Here (central Kansas), Cox provides the local channels in analog but
only one sub-channel (constant radar/ in digital) from any of the
broadcast networks in the area. I don't think there are any plans to
add more local channels.
The main reason I need a converter box (or a TV with a digital tuner)
is for the times when the cable service is disrupted. It does happen.


Mike O.

Does your cable or satellite service give you all the digital
sub-channels that are available from your local stations OTA?

Who cares - OTA is dead

"Lee" wrote in message
. ..
Rog' wrote:
Is there any reason for those of us who rely on cable or satellite,
and expect that we always will, to buy a subsidized converter for
our analog-TV's? Maybe just in case someone blows up our
cable-headquarters and takes out the satellites?

How about losing your power and you drag out your battery TV that you
plugged into the car to check on the storm? I keep one just for that
reason as I live in Florida.

L e e

Doesn't the converter box require AC power?

On Sat, 26 Apr 2008 15:56:51 -0400 Rog' wrote:

| Is there any reason for those of us who rely on cable or satellite,
| and expect that we always will, to buy a subsidized converter for
| our analog-TV's? Maybe just in case someone blows up our
| cable-headquarters and takes out the satellites?

You never know about those ter'ists.

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