How long will analog tuners be offered?

Analog OTA mostly goes away in February, but apparently cable operators
have to supply analog signals through 2012. When would you expect
analog tuners to no longer be offered in new sets?

Mark F wrote:
Analog OTA mostly goes away in February, but apparently cable operators
have to supply analog signals through 2012. When would you expect
analog tuners to no longer be offered in new sets?

I would be surprised to see many once the models available in February
are replaced with new models. Why would someone want to watch an analog
feed on a cable system that duplicates the programming on a digital
feed? The network analog feeds are often the center of the HD feed with
the sides cropped off anyway. Many cable providers are gradually making
non-local channels digital exclusive to reduce duplication and reduce
their availability to basic/economy tier subscribers.

Mark F wrote:

Analog OTA mostly goes away in February, but apparently cable operators
have to supply analog signals through 2012. When would you expect
analog tuners to no longer be offered in new sets?

Low power TV stations and translator stations do not go away in February.
For some, those are their sources of TV. It would be stupid to not supply
analog tuners until those are forced off the air.

Kimba W Lion wrote:
Mark F wrote:

Analog OTA mostly goes away in February, but apparently cable operators
have to supply analog signals through 2012. When would you expect
analog tuners to no longer be offered in new sets?

Low power TV stations and translator stations do not go away in February.
For some, those are their sources of TV. It would be stupid to not supply
analog tuners until those are forced off the air.

The reported plan at the FCC is to require all Low Power (LP) and
translator (TX) stations to convert to digital by sometime in 2012, but
that has not been made official. Many LPs have filed for and been
granted a digital channel & power allotment, so some will go digital
next year (a few LPs already have). So figure on a 3+ year conversion
process with a diminishing number of analog Class A, LP, and TX stations
over time. The last analog holdouts will likely be remote TXs in Alaska
and the west which won't be cost effective to convert and will instead
go dark when they have to turn off.

Besides analog broadcast, many rural and less well capitalized cable
systems will likely retain analog channels pass 2012. There are also
many basic cable type systems in retirement homes, hospitals, and
apartment complexes that are analog only. Going to cost money and take
time to convert them to all digital.

If the FCC does not step in and require NTSC tuners to be included in
TVs to a certain date - and the FCC may well do this - I expect NTSC
tuners will be included in all primary TVs for several years past 2009.
Might see NTSC tuners start to get dropped in some TV models in the 2011
or 2012 model year even if there are still analog stations on the air if
the FCC doesn't require them. How long will NTSC tuners stay in the low
end DVD recorders, portable TVs, and similar stuff pass 2009 - probably
not long.

Alan F

"Alan F" wrote in message
news:[email protected]
Kimba W Lion wrote:
Mark F wrote:

Analog OTA mostly goes away in February, but apparently cable operators
have to supply analog signals through 2012. When would you expect
analog tuners to no longer be offered in new sets?

Low power TV stations and translator stations do not go away in February.
For some, those are their sources of TV. It would be stupid to not supply
analog tuners until those are forced off the air.

The reported plan at the FCC is to require all Low Power (LP) and
translator (TX) stations to convert to digital by sometime in 2012, but
that has not been made official. Many LPs have filed for and been
granted a digital channel & power allotment, so some will go digital
next year (a few LPs already have). So figure on a 3+ year conversion
process with a diminishing number of analog Class A, LP, and TX stations
over time. The last analog holdouts will likely be remote TXs in Alaska
and the west which won't be cost effective to convert and will instead
go dark when they have to turn off.

Besides analog broadcast, many rural and less well capitalized cable
systems will likely retain analog channels pass 2012. There are also
many basic cable type systems in retirement homes, hospitals, and
apartment complexes that are analog only. Going to cost money and take
time to convert them to all digital.

If the FCC does not step in and require NTSC tuners to be included in
TVs to a certain date - and the FCC may well do this - I expect NTSC
tuners will be included in all primary TVs for several years past 2009.
Might see NTSC tuners start to get dropped in some TV models in the 2011
or 2012 model year even if there are still analog stations on the air if
the FCC doesn't require them. How long will NTSC tuners stay in the low
end DVD recorders, portable TVs, and similar stuff pass 2009 - probably
not long.

Alan F



They can install Hybrid tuners in television for many years to come and D or
A tuning won't effect the average viewer. A Hybrid tuner can tune ATSC, Qam
or NTSC, but only one at a time. I seen several sets that use a Hybrid tuner
that have a D / A button on the remote, two inputs to the tuner and can
switch from Qam to NTSC or ATSC to NTSC, all that's required is setting up
the tuner properly in the set's software.

There is no need to require a "NTSC" tuner, but simply require a tuner be
installed that is also capable of NTSC tuning, even if it's not used for
NTSC it may have value for tuning another source.

Mark F wrote:
Analog OTA mostly goes away in February, but apparently cable operators
have to supply analog signals through 2012. When would you expect
analog tuners to no longer be offered in new sets?



Through numerous discussions here, I don't think cable operators *have*
to offer analog signals at all, though many still do. I think some are
drooling at the idea of turning analog off entirely.

--
jer
email reply - I am not a 'ten'

Elmo P. Shagnasty wrote:
In article ,
RobertVA wrote:

Analog OTA mostly goes away in February, but apparently cable operators
have to supply analog signals through 2012. When would you expect
analog tuners to no longer be offered in new sets?
I would be surprised to see many once the models available in February
are replaced with new models. Why would someone want to watch an analog
feed on a cable system that duplicates the programming on a digital
feed?

Um, because one doesn't want a ****ing cable box tuner in the middle?

One day, this will all shake out and again I'll be able to plug the
cable into the back of my TV and use the TV (or TV recording device) and
its tuner directly to tune to the channels I want to watch--but the
channels will be delivered 100% digitally and not analog.

Until then, right now I have the same setup but with analog delivery.
That suits me and many others I know. We don't want cable boxes in the
middle, screwing things up.



Holy cow Elmo, just be honest, you're just a cheap ******* who doesn't
want to pay for something that's better than you have now. "From my
cold dead hands...." (Apologies to Charlton Heston)

--
jer
email reply - I am not a 'ten'

Jer wrote:
Mark F wrote:
Analog OTA mostly goes away in February, but apparently cable operators
have to supply analog signals through 2012. When would you expect
analog tuners to no longer be offered in new sets?



Through numerous discussions here, I don't think cable operators *have*
to offer analog signals at all, though many still do. I think some are
drooling at the idea of turning analog off entirely.

Correct. Cable operators can go entirely digital if they choose to do
so. Some smaller operations already have or are doing so. Comcast
reduced the analog to local stations & public interest channels only (to
around 30 analog channels total, IIRC) in Chicago last year in what
obviously a test case. If the cable franchise goes all digital, the FCC
requires that they provide a free or low-cost digital step box for the
analog subscribers.

Alan F

"Alan F" wrote in message
news:[email protected]
Jer wrote:
Mark F wrote:
Analog OTA mostly goes away in February, but apparently cable operators
have to supply analog signals through 2012. When would you expect
analog tuners to no longer be offered in new sets?



Through numerous discussions here, I don't think cable operators *have*
to offer analog signals at all, though many still do. I think some are
drooling at the idea of turning analog off entirely.

Correct. Cable operators can go entirely digital if they choose to do so.
Some smaller operations already have or are doing so. Comcast reduced the
analog to local stations & public interest channels only (to around 30
analog channels total, IIRC) in Chicago last year in what obviously a test
case. If the cable franchise goes all digital, the FCC requires that they
provide a free or low-cost digital step box for the analog subscribers.

Alan F

I think it makes far more sense for cable operators to stop wasting
bandwidth on analog because it's so inefficient. Would imagine it's far
cheaper to provide a low cost digital set top box and use the bandwidth for
more channels or "less compression" although I doubt they will go the less
compression option!

Elmo P. Shagnasty wrote:
In article ,
RobertVA wrote:

Analog OTA mostly goes away in February, but apparently cable operators
have to supply analog signals through 2012. When would you expect
analog tuners to no longer be offered in new sets?
I would be surprised to see many once the models available in February
are replaced with new models. Why would someone want to watch an analog
feed on a cable system that duplicates the programming on a digital
feed?

Um, because one doesn't want a ****ing cable box tuner in the middle?

If you have an analog only TV you may need one anyway, because cable
systems are dropping duplication of digital channels on analog. As soon
as the supply of SD digital converters meets the demand and the provider
can cover the converter's depreciation expenses with a rental that meets
the government's "low cost" standard (whatever that amount is) that D to
A conversion is going to be taking place in your home. Subscribers
buying new HD ready displays will be trading in their existing digital
SD converters for HD converters, returning them to the cable provider's
inventory.

One day, this will all shake out and again I'll be able to plug the
cable into the back of my TV and use the TV (or TV recording device) and
its tuner directly to tune to the channels I want to watch--but the
channels will be delivered 100% digitally and not analog.

Many of the ATSC capable TVs already have this capability for
unencrypted cable channels, usually limited to your local broadcasters
and a few public access channels. Look for Cable Card compatible TVs for
access to other digital channels with a rental authorization card
(monthly fee usually lower than for the full converter).

Until then, right now I have the same setup but with analog delivery.
That suits me and many others I know. We don't want cable boxes in the
middle, screwing things up.