Are your televisions prepared for 2009?

[bicker]

Yes, I have heard about it. Wow, the federal government is giving two (not one) $40 vouchers to each household for converter boxes. The same legislation that passed this voucher program (The 2005 Deficit Reduction Act, signed into law in 2/06) significantly cut funding for student loans, Medicare, and the child support program. I am so reassured to know that my government has its priorites in order. (Just in case you didn't catch it, yes, that last sentence is dripping with sarcasm).

Whoa, there! You're missing a very important distinction -- the $40 vouchers are fully funded by the program itself. The conversion from analog to digital raises money, and some of that money was necessary to get approval for the legislation that brought about the conversion and thereby raised the money. The Members of Congress would have gotten their heads cut off if they didn't offer something to smooth over the transition.

The other things you mentioned are expenses.

 

[bicker]

OK, technology idiot here. We have DSL. The line comes into the house that has the phone, TV and internet. It goes to a box that splits it between the places it needs to go. We have to use special remotes (not the one that came with teh TV) and leave the TV on a certain channel. You control the TV's with these remotes. what will I need?

Sounds like you already have a digital converter provided to you for each television. You're all set, if that is the case.

 

[Wishing on a star]

We have Satellite.
So, does this mean that our 'box' is adapting a digital satellite signal to our 10 year old television???

Our TV is on it's last legs anyhow. I can't wait to buy a nice new one!

A digital TV will get a much better picture than an analog on a converter, right????

The HD packages right now are so expensive, and we really don't want them. So, does this mean that a new digital HD-TV will have a great picture, even if it is not full HD???

 

[bicker]

We have Satellite.
So, does this mean that our 'box' is adapting a digital satellite signal to our 10 year old television???

I suppose that's one way of putting it.

A digital TV will get a much better picture than an analog on a converter, right????

No, not necessarily. Analog televisions cannot receive or display digital channels, such as HD channels. Those channels will, unquestionably, look better than anything you've ever seen on your old television. However, the analog channels will tend to look worse on your new digital television. HDTVs tend to be larger, thereby magnifying the imperfections that have always been there in the analog signals. What's worse, you have that shocking contrast, between the incredible picture quality of the HD channels and the comparatively muddy picture quality of the analog channels.

The HD packages right now are so expensive, and we really don't want them.

We don't pay anything extra for HD.

 

[disykat]

I voted "no, I have no idea". I've heard of this, but I figured there would be plenty of info coming out closer to the actual date and I'd take care of it then. No sense getting worried about it now. If we buy new tv's prior to then, we'll keep it in mind though.

 

[Kitty 34]

I have no clue what you're talking about but we'll definetly need a new TV set by then anyway!!

 

[cybrkitn]

I believe we are all set. Our local cable company went to digital a few years ago to compete with the satelite companies due to loss in customers (us being one of them). We've had Dish for over 6 years and that has always been digital.

OP, I have heard about this awhile ago. But I thought the networks were being forced to broadcast in HD?

 

[zulaya]

Are you ready to gasp? From this thread, I'm one of the only people on the planet who doesn't subscribe to cable or satellite. I'm not a TV junkie...although I do admit to enjoying the extra channels when we are on vacation.

I guess this is great news for people who need a reason to buy a new, more expensive TV. I'm a kind of use-it-until-it-dies type person. I'm not looking forward to being forced to get a new TV because my older models may not be smart enough to just receive the on-air stuff.

 

[Alesia]

Are you ready to gasp? From this thread, I'm one of the only people on the planet who doesn't subscribe to cable or satellite. I'm not a TV junkie...although I do admit to enjoying the extra channels when we are on vacation.

I guess this is great news for people who need a reason to buy a new, more expensive TV. I'm a kind of use-it-until-it-dies type person. I'm not looking forward to being forced to get a new TV because my older models may not be smart enough to just receive the on-air stuff.

We don't have cable or satellite, either. I thought we must be the last household in America without it. Glad to know we're not alone!

 

[Aidensmom]

We have digital cable, with a converter box on one TV, in the living room. The TV in my son's room is used 99% of the time for watching DVD's, so that wouldn't be a problem. We'd probably just get a converter box for the TV in the master bedroom (it currently now only gets the non-digital channels, but till this thread, I never really realize why). I'm one of those use it till it dies people too, I won't replace a TV that can still be adapted to work.

 

[poohandwendy]

We have digital cable, with a converter box on one TV, in the living room. The TV in my son's room is used 99% of the time for watching DVD's, so that wouldn't be a problem. We'd probably just get a converter box for the TV in the master bedroom (it currently now only gets the non-digital channels, but till this thread, I never really realize why). I'm one of those use it till it dies people too, I won't replace a TV that can still be adapted to work.

I can't believe you allow your son a TV in his room. For shame!!!

We basically have the same scenario. Main TV has the digital box and I'm not about to go around replacing the others so the kids have more options, LOL. They pretty much only use them for DVDs anyways.

 

[Charade]

We have satellite (Dish) on two TVs and since we use Comcast for internet, we get basic cable (analog) TV for the same price as internet alone. Comcast is pushing (for free) their digital boxes for a while but the digital service is only free for a limited time (I think a year) then it's a few dollars more a month. I don't want to spend any more for TV so I hope they will reduce the price of internet alone. It'll be interesting to see what they do. My guess is the monthly cost of internet will remain the same and I won't be able to get any TV service unless I sign up for a digital box which will more than I pay now.

 

[rparmfamily]

No cable either, just the local channels only. And my TV is over 10 years old. Oh well...guess I'll be "forced" to buy a converter thingy. Hopefully they aren't expensive or I'm going to be peaved. I'm not buying a new TV over this.

 

[Becky2005]

We'll punt.

I've heard of it but until it becomes an absolute necessity (and really even having a TV is not an absolute necessity anyway)....I'm just going to punt.

Might actually save us some money because if we can't seem to get our cable to work, guess we can get rid of cable & save us the $$$ from it.

We have a DVD player, internet, etc... We can get pretty much everything we need via the internet. True we won't be able to watch some of our favorite shows but you can see a lot of stuff on-line.

I really have no idea what we are going to do. I know our TV is definitely not compatable though as it's about 16 years old. It works just fine for now.

 

[TinkerbellMama]

Am I the only person who doesn't think this is a really big deal?
The worst that can happen is we all have to go out and buy some new TVs in 2.5 years. Big whoop!

 

[Charade]

Am I the only person who doesn't think this is a really big deal?
The worst that can happen is we all have to go out and buy some new TVs in 2.5 years. Big whoop!

It might mean more than just a new TV. With an all digital signal, the providers now have complete control on the content that they deliver which might mean an increase in cost for those that subscribe to cable. I don't know anyone that uses an antenna anymore. They either have cable, satellite or fiber (from the phone company). They will also be able to control the things you can record or even playback.

 

[Sleeping~Beauty]

I'm so proud of myself. I already heard about this.

The reason why I'm proud is because I have no interest or real understanding of the technical process, and yet I'm current on news pertaining to it anyway.

Ok, no making fun of me.

 

[TinkerbellMama]

It might mean more than just a new TV. With an all digital signal, the providers now have complete control on the content that they deliver which might mean an increase in cost for those that subscribe to cable. I don't know anyone that uses an antenna anymore. They either have cable, satellite or fiber (from the phone company). They will also be able to control the things you can record or even playback.

Hmmm, I think I'm still gonna have to go with, "so what?" Seriously...if cable goes up a few bucks, that's life. I don't see it as something I need to start worrying about two and a half years in advance. Maybe it's just me. I am not that into television. I can't finish ANY TV show all the way through. It could be the most interesting show on earth...I'm just not a TV junkie. We didn't even have cable until last June, and we survived! And we STILL don't have TiVo or record shows. If there were no television tomorrow, I don't think I'd really care. Yes, as with most things, I'm probably in the minority on this.

 

[dementia412]

I heard about this years ago, but by the time I got a new tv about two years ago, I couldn't remember what exactly I was suposed to get on my tv to keep watching... also when I first heard this on the news they where saying it would happen much sooner.. maybe 2006-07.

Not that it matters much. Our tv sits unused most of the time. We use it for movies, and an occasional show... mostly we just watch everything on the computer.

ps.. we don't have cable.. only use rabbit ears.

 

[azgal81]

I heard about this a long time ago and I'm not prepared. I'm going to be buying an new tv though so I'll be prepared then! No sense in worrying about it now.