TV Convertor Box is it required?

[C&H from NorCal]

Does anyone out there understand all this Digital to analog TV conversion stuff that will happen next year? Are we Alpine owners going to have to have convertor boxes in order to watch over-the-air (local) TV ? As I understand it DirecTV and Dish are not affected as they are already digital. Comments?

[C&H from NorCal]

Does anyone out there understand all this Digital to analog TV conversion stuff that will happen next year? Are we Alpine owners going to have to have convertor boxes in order to watch over-the-air (local) TV ? As I understand it DirecTV and Dish are not affected as they are already digital. Comments?

[Rick 2005 Dolphin 5376]

I understand it. In Feb you'll need a converter box or digital tuner in your tv to watch over the air tv. It doesn't matter what kind of coach you own. If you don't care about local tv and have DTV or Dish, you are good to go. This is no different than cassette replacing 8 track or cd replacing cassette or dvd replacing cd. It's just technology marching on. I have raised my bat wing 5 times in the last 2 years. All to clean the roof. Network TV is void of content.

[Ray,IN]

Instead of buying a convertor box, I'm planning on replacing the old DVD player with a DTV DVD player. This upgrades the old DVD player and allows digital signal to the tele. All the information about DTV is here.
If you have a television made within the last 3 years, call the mfgr phone number in your owners manual and inquire if your make,model, serial# has a Digital tuner.

DTV is not the same thing as HDTV.

[historyljc]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Network TV is void of content. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
This is just about true for cable and satellite also. 250 channels of nothing.

[wagonmaster2]

Ray,IN - Replacing the DVD/VCR combination player with one with a digital tuner is what I'm planning on doing also. BUT be careful, I found out the other day that there are new DVD players on the shelves that don't have tuners in them so they will be useless for what we want to do. I wondered why some of them were around $85 and others were $180, now I know. Can't imagine why anyone would want one without the tuner, how are you going to tell it which station to copy?
Wagonmaster2

[wagonmaster2]

Historyljc - I'll certainly agree with you on the 250 channels of Nothing. When I signed up with DTV and getting 150-200 channels I thought, wow I'll never lack for something to watch. Wrong. Out of all those channels, if I can find a couple each evening worth watching I consider it a wonder.
Wagonmaster2

[Bill Adams]

C&H,
The simple answer without the soapbox add-on's about the good, bad and ugly of TV programming is that if you want to watch over-the-air TV you MUST have a converter, a new TV with a digital tuner or use something like the DVD option mentioned above.
There is great information available at www.dtv2009.gov including:
"At midnight on February 17, 2009, all full-power television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting in analog and switch to 100% digital broadcasting."
This is also where you can apply for 2 $40 coupons usable for 2 converters (only 1 coupon per box).

[Tom N]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">"At midnight on February 17, 2009, all full-power television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting in analog and switch to 100% digital broadcasting." </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I suspect the digital TV deadline will be like the passport deadline. The change over will be a fiasco and analog broadcasting will go one for a couple years.

And there is always radio.

-Tom

[hamguy]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Tom N:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">"At midnight on February 17, 2009, all full-power television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting in analog and switch to 100% digital broadcasting." </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I suspect the digital TV deadline will be like the passport deadline. The change over will be a fiasco and analog broadcasting will go one for a couple years.

And there is always radio.

-Tom </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Will you come back on Feb 18 and say the same. From what I have heard virtually all of the TV stations have already complied. If not, they will be taken off the air AFAIK.

[Tom N]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by hamguy:

Will you come back on Feb 18 and say the same. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I see this is not a question but I'll be here Feb 18th, God willing.

And what does AFAIK mean???

-Tom

[hamguy]

It was a question because I am not 'quite' that cynical when it comes to technical advances.

AFAIK= As Far As I Know.

[Tom N]

I'm not cynical of technical advances, I'm cynical of a government mandate.

After the passport "fisco" , I'm sceptical of the analog to digital TV mandated change date.

The shutting down of analog cellphone service last winter is another example. I had analog service in VA 2 weeks ago.

As I stated I'll be here next Feb., to eat crow.

-Tom

[C&H from NorCal]

Hey Tom, I had to look up Sarver, PA. I grew up in Pleasantville which looks like it's about 50-60 miles NNE of you. I have been in most, if not all, of the 50 states but I have never seen The United States from the perspective of your map. Is that as viewed from China? Harold