2/19/09

[JohnnyWalkerBlackLabel]

mark the date on your calendars, it's the day we finally play catchup to Europe as far as digital tv is concerned............

those of us with current gaming systems (360, Wii, PS3) should be able to enjoy the functionality of the system as a digital box in comparison to Tivo

should be fun

[Coroner]

If America exists in 2009. You know, "I am Legend"....

[SarahG]

If America exists in 2009. You know, "I am Legend"....

It should, the world doesn't end until Dec 21 2012.

[Coroner]

If America exists in 2009. You know, "I am Legend"....

It should, the world doesn't end until Dec 21 2012.

According to the Maya. They were so wrong in many other things. :lol:

[SarahG]

If America exists in 2009. You know, "I am Legend"....

It should, the world doesn't end until Dec 21 2012.

According to the Maya. They were so wrong in many other things. :lol:

More of the reason to trust them, right?

I mean why not? that logic works for the government. It MUST be reality!

[Ecstatic]

And those of us who've been happy with our TV purchases made before 2003 will be laying down big bucks for plasma flat screen digitals, giving the economy the boost that the Fed hasn't been able to with the current housing and mortgage crisis.

(Watch for the tonnage of TVs to be dumped, with only a small portion properly recycled.)

[rickie]

Who´s that chick in your avatar?...looks great!!!

[Trogdor]

And those of us who've been happy with our TV purchases made before 2003 will be laying down big bucks for plasma flat screen digitals, giving the economy the boost that the Fed hasn't been able to with the current housing and mortgage crisis.

(Watch for the tonnage of TVs to be dumped, with only a small portion properly recycled.)

I am still using a TV from the early 1990's, and see no need for some digital upgrade. I'm fine with TV as it is.

Won't help the economy much, either.....just some corporations and the chinese manufacturors.

Gotta love the idea that this digital stuff is gonna be shoved down your thorat, if you want it or not. :roll:

[Ecstatic]

Well, Trogdor, it's either a digital TV upgrade or a converter box for you, my friend. It's all a scam to pump consumer dollars into the marketplace and free up frequencies for cellphone use so we can have more idiots driving while texting on our highways and byways.

Anybody here remember rabbit ears? Three channels? UHF being the big noise?

[iloveshemales77]

Anybody here remember rabbit ears? Three channels? UHF being the big noise?

ohhh yes! My Bang & Olafson bought in 1984 works just fine. It's still hooked up to the Panasonic Video I bought in 1990. Never had anything go wrong with either. And for time shift TV pure and simple, video beats all else hands down.

Thanks for the info on set top boxes for digi TV. They don't market those here in Europe at all for fear of jeapardising digi TV sales.

[BeardedOne]

I am still using a TV from the early 1990's, and see no need for some digital upgrade. I'm fine with TV as it is.

Likewise. The only one in the house is laying on its side in the kitchen, holding up another piece of furniture. I don't think I ever plugged it in. I accepted it, grudgingly, as payment for transporting a dot-matrix printer from Boston to Philadelphia.


Anybody here remember rabbit ears? Three channels? UHF being the big noise?

Gawd, I am so freakin' old right now. I remember envying my friends in "The richest town in the state" because they could get Feep and Willy Whistle on 38 and 56. :D

From the JibJab site:

To the tune of Battle Hymn of the Republic


There was a time, not long ago, when each and every day,
At six o'clock each evening you knew news was on its way.
From anchors of integrity and three channels to choose,
IT'S WHAT WE CALLED THE NEWS!

http://www.jibjab.com/originals/what_we_call_the_news#top_of_comments

[Trogdor]

Imagine someone watching "The View" in digital high definition......you though the she-hags look bad NOW......


*imagines those people's eyeballs bursting. * X3

[Ecstatic]

There's actually a plan afoot in Congress to allot 2 $40 coupons to all Americans (or is that to all families? not sure of the deets) to offset the cost of the digi TVs or converter boxes. Still, I have at least three TVs which will be obsolete.

[SarahG]

There's actually a plan afoot in Congress to allot 2 $40 coupons to all Americans (or is that to all families? not sure of the deets) to offset the cost of the digi TVs or converter boxes. Still, I have at least three TVs which will be obsolete.

That program is already running. But 2 coupons is the most you can get from the program, and if they're cheap chinese made crap chances are they're not gonna last the life of your analog TV.

[cage801]

lol I love watching you guys talk about this stuff. No TV will be obsolete. We can already do all this stuff in the US you just have to do a little research.

On the TV issue, the only time you would need a "box" is if you only receive your TV thru the air. If you have cable or satellite you have no problem regardless of how old your set is.

If you want to have a Tivo like system get yourself a Media Center PC for about $400 or add a TV card. With a Media Center PC your PC is a DVR.

There are so many tricks available to get exactly what you want.....Now!

Sooner or later you will break down and get an HDTV. Did anyone else watch the games this weekend in HD? Awesome. You can see the blades of grass on the field.

Come on guys, use your Big Head on this one......lol

[iloveshemales77]

The only thing that would get me to upgrade is HDTV. Imagine watching porn in HD!

[SarahG]

On the TV issue, the only time you would need a "box" is if you only receive your TV thru the air.

Alot of people do however, and of those that do- I am going to guess most aren't gonna know of these converter boxes (let alone the coupon program) and will think that their TV can no longer work... and will go use their already near-maxed out creditcards to buy a new TV set.

You're giving the American masses' technical knowledge far too much credit!

[Ecstatic]

On the TV issue, the only time you would need a "box" is if you only receive your TV thru the air.

Alot of people do however, and of those that do- I am going to guess most aren't gonna know of these converter boxes (let alone the coupon program) and will think that their TV can no longer work... and will go use their already near-maxed out creditcards to buy a new TV set.

You're giving the American masses' technical knowledge far too much credit!
My point exactly. Estimates vary, but approximately 14% of Americans rely on over-the-air TV reception, or about 15.5 million households. On top of that, between 30 and 40 million households have TVs which are not connected to their cable service (spare sets, basement, whatever). While I own four obsolete TVs, one is connected to our cable DVR and two to the cable (but not to the box), and one is airborne.

But as Sarah rightly points out, millions of Americans will think they have to buy new TVs and will max out their credit to purchase new ones--and of course, they'll 'have' to get 40" or larger HD sets.

[SarahG]

But as Sarah rightly points out, millions of Americans will think they have to buy new TVs and will max out their credit to purchase new ones--and of course, they'll 'have' to get 40" or larger HD sets.

It should do wonders for the economy though, I mean look at how much massive personal debt has helped the housing market.

[Ecstatic]

It should do wonders for the economy though, I mean look at how much massive personal debt has helped the housing market.

:) Well, that's what the talking heads keep telling us. You mean we're not being told the truth? :lol:

[SarahG]

It should do wonders for the economy though, I mean look at how much massive personal debt has helped the housing market.

:) Well, that's what the talking heads keep telling us. You mean we're not being told the truth? :lol:

Lying is when you purposely say something you believe/know to be false

Incompitance is when you pretend to say something you know nothing about.

[Trogdor]

But as Sarah rightly points out, millions of Americans will think they have to buy new TVs and will max out their credit to purchase new ones--and of course, they'll 'have' to get 40" or larger HD sets.

It should do wonders for the economy though, I mean look at how much massive personal debt has helped the housing market.

Maybe the Chinese or the Indian economy, perhaps. :P

Anyhow, I don't have cable TV.
Plus the image of land fills with tens of millions of television sets is not going to be pretty. :roll:

[Ecstatic]

Lying is when you purposely say something you believe/know to be false

Incompitance is when you pretend to say something you know nothing about.

Well then, some of the talking heads are lying, some are incompetent, and some are both. (OK, to be fair, some are both truthful and competent, but these are rare.)

[RogerUK]

you Americans are such fools. Cage laid it out and you just don't get the simplicity of it. You have format wars and we have HDTV. fight it out you Yankee fools. You have the internet right mates. haha you have all the info you need but you're too lazy to look it up. you just pay for your ignorance. :lol:

[cage801]

And those of us who've been happy with our TV purchases made before 2003 will be laying down big bucks for plasma flat screen digitals, giving the economy the boost that the Fed hasn't been able to with the current housing and mortgage crisis.

(Watch for the tonnage of TVs to be dumped, with only a small portion properly recycled.)

Very simplistic thinking. Take charge of your life brother

[cage801]

Well, Trogdor, it's either a digital TV upgrade or a converter box for you, my friend. It's all a scam to pump consumer dollars into the marketplace and free up frequencies for cellphone use so we can have more idiots driving while texting on our highways and byways.

Anybody here remember rabbit ears? Three channels? UHF being the big noise?

How old are you? I'm in my 50's and know better than this. It's your ignorance that prevents technical progress. Go ahead and sit in your easy chair with your beer and watch the world pass you by.

[JohnnyWalkerBlackLabel]

you Americans are such fools. Cage laid it out and you just don't get the simplicity of it. You have format wars and we have HDTV. fight it out you Yankee fools. You have the internet right mates. haha you have all the info you need but you're too lazy to look it up. you just pay for your ignorance. :lol:

that was unnecessary

to be fair I got the idea for this thread from watching a commercial with a senior citizen telling people who didn't have cable or satellite television how to use their current sets after 2/19/09. So the message is getting out there, I'm sure people won't be left out in the cold.

What initially sparked my interest in this was reading this:
It's been rumored before, now Sony's marketing manager for Computer Entertainment in New Zealand has apparently, and likely pre-emptively, unveiled Sony's intentions to turn the PS3 into a digital video recorder. Sony's Warwick Light is quoted in an interview with New Zealand's The Press as saying, "We're also hoping next year – about the same time that Freeview launches its terrestrial broadcasting service (expected to be in March) – to release a digital tuner for the PS3, turning it into a programmable TV recorder." Sure, why not, but we're going to need a hell of a lot more than 80GB or 120GB of storage to make that thing useful for HD recordings.

I'm assuming Wii owners and 360 owners will have the same thing, but for PS owners like me adding an external terabyte drive to one of the USB ports OR networking one of my internal terabyte drives to it to save shows is no big deal.

[cage801]

There's actually a plan afoot in Congress to allot 2 $40 coupons to all Americans (or is that to all families? not sure of the deets) to offset the cost of the digi TVs or converter boxes. Still, I have at least three TVs which will be obsolete.

That program is already running. But 2 coupons is the most you can get from the program, and if they're cheap chinese made crap chances are they're not gonna last the life of your analog TV.

Wrong...the max is 4 and the box is pretty simple technically and the Chinese can make it for a lot less than us. What's your problem. The new ViaSat satellite will be up before the changes take place and those in rural areas will have access that you can only dream of. Why do we Americans always complain when we have THE best technology in the World?

[hippifried]

2/19/09 is the date that TV stations will cease to broadcast analog on the VHF band. VHF! Channels 15 on up (the UHF band) will still be broadcasting analog & there's no plan in the works to change that. All VHF stations in the US are already broadcasting in digital for at least the last 6 months. Their deadline has already come & gone. You can tune in to it now. Most late model VCRs will allow you to pick it up. Analog TVs are dirt cheap nowadays. Even digital ready doesn't cost that much more. If you have cable, it's a moot issue. In a few years, nobody'll even remember any of this. Kind of like FM on your radio. I remember when it was a big deal too.

[cage801]

2/19/09 is the date that TV stations will cease to broadcast analog on the VHF band. VHF! Channels 15 on up (the UHF band) will still be broadcasting analog & there's no plan in the works to change that. All VHF stations in the US are already broadcasting in digital for at least the last 6 months. Their deadline has already come & gone. You can tune in to it now. Most late model VCRs will allow you to pick it up. Analog TVs are dirt cheap nowadays. Even digital ready doesn't cost that much more. If you have cable, it's a moot issue. In a few years, nobody'll even remember any of this. Kind of like FM on your radio. I remember when it was a beg deal too.

It's nice to hear from someone in the know. I get HD for free and anyone can.
It's a shame to hear people cry because they "Want their MTV". Come on folks this is the USA. I'm tired of hearing you all bitch because you're too lazy to figure it out.

[Trogdor]

Well, Trogdor, it's either a digital TV upgrade or a converter box for you, my friend. It's all a scam to pump consumer dollars into the marketplace and free up frequencies for cellphone use so we can have more idiots driving while texting on our highways and byways.

Anybody here remember rabbit ears? Three channels? UHF being the big noise?

How old are you? I'm in my 50's and know better than this. It's your ignorance that prevents technical progress. Go ahead and sit in your easy chair with your beer and watch the world pass you by.

That's what the church and congress is for.

[cage801]

Then God Bless you

[JohnnyWalkerBlackLabel]

2/19/09 is the date that TV stations will cease to broadcast analog on the VHF band. VHF! Channels 15 on up (the UHF band) will still be broadcasting analog & there's no plan in the works to change that. All VHF stations in the US are already broadcasting in digital for at least the last 6 months. Their deadline has already come & gone. You can tune in to it now. Most late model VCRs will allow you to pick it up. Analog TVs are dirt cheap nowadays. Even digital ready doesn't cost that much more. If you have cable, it's a moot issue. In a few years, nobody'll even remember any of this. Kind of like FM on your radio. I remember when it was a beg deal too.

It's nice to hear from someone in the know. I get HD for free and anyone can.
It's a shame to hear people cry because they "Want their MTV". Come on folks this is the USA. I'm tired of hearing you all bitch because you're too lazy to figure it out.

LOL, I'm watching tv on my HD box right now, my point wasn't aimed towards that though. I'd love to be able to eliminate my local cable company's current extra $$$ needed monthly to record shows if I could use my PS3, it would be great specifically if there was a live event and I could record it then send it to friends that weren't in a position to get it right away, something you can't really do with tivo or the local cable dvr box, but could easily be accomplished on a private machine...........

[cage801]

Johnie, we must talk :D

[SarahG]

Wrong...the max is 4 and the box is pretty simple technically and the Chinese can make it for a lot less than us. What's your problem. The new ViaSat satellite will be up before the changes take place and those in rural areas will have access that you can only dream of. Why do we Americans always complain when we have THE best technology in the World?

The max is not 4. Do you want me to take a screenshot for you? :roll:

https://www.dtv2009.gov/FAQ.aspx

It's on the gov's own website, it specifically says the max is TWO.



My chinese comment is because it will probably be cheaply made, and made to be disposable (you really think these units can be serviced? Even most modern TVs including some of your higher priced models are designed to be unservicable, open them up and there goes your EEPROM!). Just what we need, more overpriced, low quality crap.

[cage801]

Really don't have the time for such ignorance. If you want to believe all that you read, so be it. You are spreading bad info. Sit back and watch and stop bitching. The Consumer Electronics manufacturers have a major lobby on this. Shut the fuck up and do your research. Whatever you see today will be different tomorrow. After 30+ years working for the top manufacturers I will tell you, you won't tell me. :D

[Fox]

It's going to be a pain in ass if my mother ever drops DirecTV. Her boyfriend and I have to drag her kicking and screaming to learn to use a digital camera over the limited disposable kind lol

[SarahG]

Really don't have the time for such ignorance. If you want to believe all that you read, so be it. You are spreading bad info. Sit back and watch and stop bitching. The Consumer Electronics manufacturers have a major lobby on this. Shut the fuck up and do your research. Whatever you see today will be different tomorrow. After 30+ years working for the top manufacturers I will tell you, you won't tell me. :D

Educate me then, which part would you consider to be "bad info"?

[Ecstatic]

Well, Trogdor, it's either a digital TV upgrade or a converter box for you, my friend. It's all a scam to pump consumer dollars into the marketplace and free up frequencies for cellphone use so we can have more idiots driving while texting on our highways and byways.

Anybody here remember rabbit ears? Three channels? UHF being the big noise?

How old are you? I'm in my 50's and know better than this. It's your ignorance that prevents technical progress. Go ahead and sit in your easy chair with your beer and watch the world pass you by.

Hey noob, back off! There's no call for this response. I'm 56, I work in IT, and resent being called ignorant by someone who has no basis upon which to make that judgement. I'm talking about how a great number of Americans will respond to this information, and what effect that will have on the marketplace. Many people--quite possibly millions--who are currently using analog TVs for over-the-air reception will go out and buy new TVs next year. This is good for the economy in the short term, but it may not be good for their credit lines. And as Sarah points out, the max federal government coupons is 2, not 4:


Only two coupons can be used per U.S. household address, and the coupons are intended for the resident of that household.