If you live in the US you're hopefully already aware of the Digital TV (DTV) transition that will be occuring next February. At that time nearly all analog television broadcasts will be shut off forever, replaced by DTV signals which require an ATSC tuner, and for older TVs the use of a special converter box. But if you didn't know about it, or aren't yet prepared according to a new report ... [ read the full article ]
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Is it just me or do all the TV commercials and media attention to this transition seem like a waste of money?
I mean the NAB must be spending a truckload of money to inform the remaining 10,000 people that still use rabbit ears on an analog TV that they aren't going to have a signal in 8 months.
They could have upgraded those few to HDTV for a whole lot less.
Got my voucher already and have used it to buy a converter. Might need it for my TV not connected to cable. But then . . .
Cable company commercials state I won't need a converter for my set that is connected to cable. On the other hand, I have been told this is true only IF the set receives through a "box" from the cable company. I have NO box and currently receive directly through cable "from the wall". This other source (Best Buy) says I WILL need a converter. Which Idiot should I trust?
I have a converter anyway as stated - but have NO way to verify it actually works before Feb 2009 and by then any WARRANTY on the unit will be expired.
I already watch over the airHD. LOL @ the people with digital tuners still saying they were doing to get prepped for the transition... despite already having the necessary equipment.
Hook your converter to your TV, it is ALMOST idiot proof in set up! Use an old UHF bow tie or any other old antenna..most HD channels are on UHF. The box will seek and enter channels in set up. You can use another input for the converter. Tho I STRONGLY suggest you use other than supplied cable to hook up! Mine were not well made! The ends tend to lose signal at the slightest twist. This refers to the Zenith. Most usually have some coax laying around. You will be AMAZED at the pic quality from the converted source! And NO microwave interference from the kitchen ! If you are in a weak signal area more than 20 miles from broadcast, this method may or may not work.
Transmitting in HD should also mean the picture should be broadcasted in a widescreen format. What?s the point of the HD transition if the image will continue to be full frame? The converter boxes should also allow the image to be resized in order to get 16x9 but it won?t resemble true 16x9. I have a widescreen 40 inch Samsung. I don?t have HD programming because its way too expensive; I have enough issues trying to maintain room and board. Have you guys noticed that TV shows like on the Science are presented in a 16x9 letterbox format but the image doesn?t fill the screen even though you may have an HD widescreen set? Until one adjusts the image then its full 16x9 but even by adjusting the image true 16x9 is not achieved because the image is being vertically stretched. The television stations everywhere should broadcast full 16x9 without one having to adjust the picture. Those who expect too much about this HD transition will be greatly disappointed. Only HD-DVD and Blu-ray movies have achieved true HD. The HD receiver boxes that DirecTV and cable companies provide are not entirely full HD. The image is often resized by these receivers. My TV flickers thorough the many view mode settings it has. This shouldn?t be happening but know it occurs to everybody, I?ll just wait and see.
if you have a cable plugged into the back of ur old asss tv.. then your fine.. now if you cant afford cable/sat and are still using channels 02 - 68... then you will need a cool little box.. that gets you 5 HD channels.. on ur old non HDTV.. so why bother doing anything.. lol.
Sigh... all this "HD" talk in the "DTV" article discussion. For the bazillionth time: Broadcast television in the United States is not going "high def" in Feb. 2009. It is going digital. "High Definition" and "Digital" are two completely different animals. I'd already explained to my father (who's generally pretty tech savvy) a couple times that they didn't have to do anyting since they had all their tv's hooked up to cable, so hopefully he just used this whole thing as an excuse to go and buy and HDTV, because he didn't need one. In fact they've got no HD-channels nor a Blu-Ray player, so for the most part, it was just a waste of money.
