The dtv switch

[KBallenger53]

Hi Everybody,

I've got a question for Ya! As we all know, for the past year and a half, we've been reminded about the DTV switch which was originally set for Feb. 17, 2009. Therefore putting an end to all of the analog signals we've been receiving since the invention of Television almost 100 years ago. (Well maybe not that far back, but you get the point, I hope)

And as we all know by now, the DTV switch has been postponed until Jun. 12, 2009, because too many people are still not ready, and it will give the "Govern-Ment", time to come up with the funds to issue more Discount Coupons.

Tell me this, after being reminded about something, each and every day, sometimes 7 times a day, for a YEAR AND A HALF, what kind of people are these, that say: "I'm still not ready", and what in the Hell could they have been doing for the past YEAR AND A HALF???

'NUFF SAID

[needlefingers]

They are called the "poor" and the "elderly".

I'm not trying to be funny, but they are not in a position to pay for new televisions and/or understand what's going on.

To do this in the middle of winter, and with an economic downturn, adds to the problem.

Case in point, and an arguement I have heard, is nursing home residents. The homes do not buy the residents televisions and there is generally no cable. Nor is there money for new tv's or to bring cable in. And yet, television is most of their day's activity. Multiply that by 2 to 3 million.


I myself, have not yet bought a television with a digital tuner. I still own 2 fine tube tv's and have cable hookup. But my cable comapany forced us to take a digitial box so now my VCR can only record the channel I'm watching. And I have to pay more for it.

And I admit that I count my pennies, am not in a rush to get the latest technology, will wait for the price to come down, and am no big fan of digital television. Picture may be better, but there is always that halt before it starts, and it is affected easier by power surges or loss, causing freezes and pixilate back in...sometimes this goes on for hours.

It's like the new light bulbs. We have to pay lots more for what they say will last longer. And yet every winter, those bulbs "pop" on the first cold snap, and I'm now paying $5-10 a bulb, whereas I used to get a box of 4 for .99 cents.

I think they should have given this digital television changeover a 10 to 20 year fade-out/crossover period.

I'm sure there is a "generation" hold out, and for various reasons. Including those I have mentioned. And my opinion is that it's not fair to argue that everyone should, or even has to, be on the same page on this matter.

But the lobbyists in our local and national politics have the force to do this. And their number one reason is money.

[KBallenger53]

[quote=needlefingers;152051]They are called the "poor" and the "elderly".

I'm not trying to be funny, but they are not in a position to pay for new televisions and/or understand what's going on.

To do this in the middle of winter, and with an economic downturn, adds to the problem.

Case in point, and an arguement I have heard, is nursing home residents. The homes do not buy the residents televisions and there is generally no cable. Nor is there money for new tv's or to bring cable in. And yet, television is most of their day's activity. Multiply that by 2 to 3 million.


I myself, have not yet bought a television with a digital tuner. I still own 2 fine tube tv's and have cable hookup. But my cable comapany forced us to take a digitial box so now my VCR can only record the channel I'm watching. And I have to pay more for it.

And I admit that I count my pennies, am not in a rush to get the latest technology, will wait for the price to come down, and am no big fan of digital television. Picture may be better, but there is always that halt before it starts, and it is affected easier by power surges or loss, causing freezes and pixilate back in...sometimes this goes on for hours.

It's like the new light bulbs. We have to pay lots more for what they say will last longer. And yet every winter, those bulbs "pop" on the first cold snap, and I'm now paying $5-10 a bulb, whereas I used to get a box of 4 for .99 cents.

I think they should have given this digital television changeover a 10 to 20 year fade-out/crossover period.

I'm sure there is a "generation" hold out, and for various reasons. Including those I have mentioned. And my opinion is that it's not fair to argue that everyone should, or even has to, be on the same page on this matter.

But the lobbyists in our local and national politics have the force to do this. And their number one reason is money.


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I know you weren't tryin' to be funny Needlefingers, but I couldn't help but crack up over the reality of what you're saying!!! I recently had to get a Convertor Box for my Grandmother this past X-Mas. She's 90 years old and in the section of VA where she stays, they only get 3 broadcast channels anyway!!! (Talk about livin' out in the Boonies!!!)

After we got it hooked up for her, because she still has a rooftop antenna, she was amazed with all the additional channels she now has, and the clarity of the picture. BUT, it was the matter of SHOWING HER HOW TO WORK IT!!! Believe me, if you've never tried to explain a new piece of "Modern Technology" to a 90 year old lady, who lives out in the country, and still draws water from a well, MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE YOUR PATIENCE IN ORDER!!! Because it can be veeery trying!!!

I don't have a Digital Tuner either, so I bought my Convertor Box last summer when I received my Discount Coupon. And I must admit it does give a clearer picture, but as you've mentioned, that pixalation, is a pain in the ***!!! Then I thought, it may be my antenna, so I went and bought one of those "Hi-Tech Amplified Antennas" that you plug into the wall. I bought it from Radio Shack, and the thing looks like a little satelite dish mounted onto the wall.

But the same damn thing is happening!!! And it always happens on the good parts!!! Now, I do admire the fact that I'm receiving extra channels, and many of them are comparable to what's being offered on Basic Cable or Dish Network, without the HBO, Showtime, Cinemax and all the rest of the Premium Channels.

And I agree with you Needlefingers, it's all about MONEY!!! Since this world's in such a bad economic state, they need to try to get ahead by: "ANY MEANS NECESSARY"!!! Tell you the truth, I really don't see the need for a Digital Signal anyway. We've been watching TV this way as long as I can remember, and I've never complained. As my father used to say: "If you've got something that works, you don't fix it".

Now they've got all these HDTVs, Plasma TVs, Liquid Crystal TVs, Kryptonite TVs, etc, etc, etc, that're supposed give you such a "LIFE LIKE" picture, that it seems like you're actually there!!! I guess the next step will be to make everything in 3-D, so that it will seem like "Virtual Reality"!!! Can you imagine that, an HDTV in 3-D!?!

Come on, it's not like, you can actually reach out and touch the people!!! Because if that were so, I'd pop in every Porno Flick that I've got, and join in on the action!!!

'NUFF SAID

[needlefingers]

I know the situation well. I have neighbors I have to help everytime there is some change with the cable company. And you can only explain "so much" to them without making it more difficult for them ......and me.

I just got my coupons and do want to try the new channels. I almost wanted to cancel the cable for a while, but they dropped my bundle package to a very low price, that, for now, I will keep it. But with this "digital age" maybe cable will become obsolete.

As long as I can have my newS/political shows, Golden Girls, Nickelodeon and TV Land. And more and more, I am finding what I want on the internet.

Someday......someday.....I will go on my balcony and scream "I AM MAD AS HELL AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE!"

[KBallenger53]

Originally Posted by needlefingers

I know the situation well. I have neighbors I have to help everytime there is some change with the cable company. And you can only explain "so much" to them without making it more difficult for them ......and me.

I just got my coupons and do want to try the new channels. I almost wanted to cancel the cable for a while, but they dropped my bundle package to a very low price, that, for now, I will keep it. But with this "digital age" maybe cable will become obsolete.

As long as I can have my newS/political shows, Golden Girls, Nickelodeon and TV Land. And more and more, I am finding what I want on the internet.

Someday......someday.....I will go on my balcony and scream "I AM MAD AS HELL AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE!"

Hey, that's funny!!! Now I feel like playing El Coco's version of that!!! But on the Real Side, you will be able to enjoy those shows that you like because DTV offers channels similar to what's included in the basic or extended basic packages.

The best part about it is, while you're laying across the couch, doing your THUMB EXERCISES trying to find something on, you don't have to worry about paying the cable or dish network company an Arm and a Leg, for your work outs!!!

It's Free TV, the way it should be!!! I'm sure as time goes on, they'll work out the kinks, and more people will get hip to it and give up paying for TV services!!! Besides, with Bootleg DVD sales, and the quality of them being on the rise, who needs HBO anyway???


'NUFF SAID

[needlefingers]

Like I said..."I am mad as hell....."

Kill your television: Man shoots TV in DTV-fueled anger : Christopher Null : Yahoo! Tech

[KBallenger53]

Originally Posted by needlefingers

Like I said..."I am mad as hell....."

Kill your television: Man shoots TV in DTV-fueled anger : Christopher Null : Yahoo! Tech

Kill your television: Man shoots TV in DTV-fueled anger

Mon Feb 23, 2009 10:56AM EST
See Comments (17)
Buzz up!on Yahoo! You suddenly find that your television, which worked fine up until February 17, is now showing nothing but static on your favorite channel. Do you:
a) Turn the TV on and off again?
b) Call the cable company and/or the local station in question to see what's up?
c) Obtain a firearm and proceed to shoot multiple holes in the TV set?
I probably needn't tell you which choice a 70-year-old Missouri man selected on Friday, after he couldn't get his DTV converter box to work. According to reports, after the Joplin resident lost his cable and fussed with the DTV box for a bit, he gave up, and eventually turned to the oldest of analog solutions -- good old-fashioned firepower -- to get the television to start working.
This in fact did not work and the man was arrested and charged with unlawful discharge of a firearm.
Additional details on the story are scarce, but Broadcasting & Cable has the inevitable conclusion to the ordeal: "According to the man's wife, he had been drinking."







MAN, THAT'S CRAZY AS HELL!!!

'NUFF SAID

[KBallenger53]

Well, now that we've finally made the SWITCH, how's everybody making out with it???

I'm doing OK with it. The picture is much clearer, and the sound is much better! I can tell because I have it hooked up to my DJ Equipment. The only problems I have now, as previously discussed, are with the pixilations. Most of it occurs due to a weak signal, or due to bad weather.

But Hell, I've experienced the same things when I had Dish Network!!! At least now I don't have to worry about a monthly bill!!! I may not have the Premium Channels anymore, but DTV is just like watching a Basic Cable or Dish Network Package!!!

I'm sure they'll get the Kinks out of it!!!

'NUFF SAID

[Feisty Diva]

From a UK point of view here.


The switchover here is being done on a region by region basis. The first transmitter switched last year as a test. The official switch started earlier this month and will progress gradually until the final transmitter (and its relay stations) switch over in 2012.

Many people have already got some form of DTV in the way of cable, satellite and DTT (Freeview). There is help and information being given to those that need it and although I can't confirm it, subsidies for the elderly and registered blind to help them switch over.

I don't yet have one of those 'fancy' flat panel screens as my cable connection works fine on my trusty (PAL/SECAM/NTSC) CRT tv. I will change it however when we get some more HD choice in the UK across the cable and DTT platforms.

[KoolChris]

Originally Posted by Feisty Diva

From a UK point of view here.

There is (....) subsidies for the elderly and registered blind to help them switch over.

I'm sure there's a logical answer, but subsidized digital television for the blind?????????