Ok, when April 2009 comes and the analog signal ends and digital is the only game in town, what are we going to do with our TV's in the bus that we so neatly built the cabinet just to fit tightly around it? What will we do with our batwing antenna that has worked so well all these years and the holes in the roof and ceiling that we so carefully sealed so the darn thing would never leak?
The change was supposed to take effect Jan 09 but the broadcasters said, "no, no", it will mess up the Super Bowl." Then it was changed to March and again they said, "no, no, it will mess up NCAA basketball tournament." April was the date I last heard about. Seems like it would be after the May sweeps month. It may be deferred again. Who knows?
Can you imagine 200,000,000 obsolete tv sets being thrown out a truck at the nearest county road bar ditch since the garbage haulers are not allowed to take them to the local landfill? Gee, isn't Congress brilliant?
David
The antenna you currently use will still work, and one can buy a astc tuner and connect your old TV to it. I have been receiving HD channels over the air for about three years in my local area and expect to do the same wherever I travel in my bus.
Satellite and cable will still work the old TV,s. Use it as a good excuse to get a dish for the bus (I am).
Regards
Jerry 4107 1120
Hmmm, It looks like an ATSC tuner may run as much as a new TV in certain circumstances.
I see them listed for anywhere from $75 to over $1500
Well, I have cable to 8 TV's here. I sure hope the cable boxes take care of everything I need.
Richard
Of course given the current trends, by 2009 a new 40" HD plasma flat panel will cost less than a tank of diesel fuel. ::)
Finding a date to do the change over might be a little hard.
Lets see
1 Super Bowl & Daytona Jan
2 PGA Golf starts Feb
3 NCAA Tournament March
4 The Masters April
5 Ky Derby May
6 US Open Golf & French open Tennis June
7 Summer Nationals in LawnMower racing July A gotta see event & British Open Golf
8 PGA golf & US Open Tennis Aug
9 US Open Tennis continued & NFL Football starts Sept
10 MLB Playoffs and World Series Oct
11 Thanksgiving football Nov
12 NFL Playoffs Dec
Gee I just don't see anywhere in there for them to implement this change. And I haven't even listed all the Bus Bashes, lol what will everyone do if they can't watch that one eyed monster. I am sure you all could find a lot more events that I have missed.
WVaNative
P.S. Lawnmower racing is a hoot
Converters are expected to cost far less once production ramps up. Also, the government is auctioning off the old radio spectrum and there supposedly is going to be either a $40 coupon or $40 tax credit to help pay for the converters.
The amount of electronic waste will be staggering as many people will just get new TVs instead of converters. The good thing is a lot of states are starting to require recycling now.
Why not just fill in the old TV cabinet to make the front flat and then mount a flat panel TV on that?
If you have cable or satellite you have nothing to worry about.
If you are on an antenna you will need a DT receiver or DT ready TV.
I have had a DT receiver for a couple of years and there is a ton of programming to view and half of its not even active yet.
If you only want a basic service with a HD signal its the way to go.
Remember, broadcasters can transmit 5 or more channels now in the same 6 MHz bandwidth.
Cliff
QuoteIf you have cable or satellite you have nothing to worry about.
I don't know that I agree with that 100%. There are still cable systems out there distributing analog signals to analog TVs. Even though the cable companies are trying to force everyone to switch to digital service (at an extra co$t), analog still exists.
I personally hate set top boxes and have so far avoided them. It is not so much the cost as it is the aggregation. It ads unnecessary complexity to cabling and remote control use, especially if you tie into VCR/DVD recorders and home stereo systems. Plus I don't really want another box to look at.
Coming into my home I have what Comcast calls analog service, although it also carries digital signals. My primary TV has a built in digital tuner, so I am able to handle digital signals on the cable, including HD. Other sets in the house are analog only, however.
Today, this is working out reasonable well for our family's needs. But as more of the analog content is replaced by digital HDTV, I will face equipment obsolescence. The "just ad a set top box" solution, is not a particularly good one. If I count up my TVs, VCRs, and DVD recorders, I'd be looking at 9 boxes.
I think HDTV is going to drive a lot of folks to replace their entire TVs. I think there will be less people upgrading an SD set to receive digital signals than some people predict.
So what is going to happen to all of the analog broadcasting equipment? Couldn't someone buy it and start their own station broadcasting in analog? Will the analog signal interfere with the digital?
Sounds like a great opportunity for someone to start an underground TV station....
The spectrum used by analog TV is going to be auctioned off by the FCC for other uses. The analog equipment is probably quite obsolete since stations probably have delayed upgrades since they knew digital is the the future.
In the past six months I purchased one new TV and helped two other people purchase theirs. I guess it helps to be a bit of a techo-geek, as I am sure a lot of people find today's TV shopping task pretty daunting. Lot's of competing technologies, multiple industry standards, and enough marketing buzz words and acronyms to last a lifetime.
I thought the TV industry was pretty messed up until I started looking at personal video recording devices. That's my term I'll use for what we used to call a VCR. Trying to shop for one of these devices was a major PITA.
Ten years ago, you went into a store, chose one of five VCRs they had on the shelf, and took it home. Recently I tried to assist someone else with a purchase of a VCR replacement and tried to put some effort into an intellegent DVD recorder decision. I was rewarded by an industry with its head up its ...
First off, the VCR format is not totally dead, so there are lots of VCR/DVD combo units clogging up the store shelves. Want to record to DVD? Well my friend isn't the most technical savy so I was looking to make sure that most of the DVD media was supported (R-, R+, RW-, RW+, etc). Found that some do, but lots don't. Personally, the units with internal hard disc units make a lot of sense to me. But I would only pick a non-TiVo brand, as I am not going to pay TiVos monthly subscription fees. There aren't many with the internal HD, and most that do lack in other features. I also found lots of brands touting the "upconverting" for HDTVs, but I know from research that some do it well and others are a waste of money. Oh, and watch out about tuners. You would think they all should have digital (ATSC) tuners inside. Nope. Some are still analog, and on many there is no tuner AT ALL. They rely on the cable or satellite box for its tuner.
The problem is compounded by the fact that the stores have row after row of black (or silver) units sitting there with a 3"x5" price tag. Externally they all pretty much look the same, but you have to spend five minutes studying the fine print on each unit, only to find a key difficiency. Next!
I also spent significant time on-line trying to do some research. If you look at the customer reviews for the DVD recorder units, they are some of the worst ratings for any electronics I have seen. Everybody is thrilled with their TVs, but trash their DVD recorders. Quality issues, can't get features to work, incompatibilities with other hardware, and just general disappointment. Even major brands get mediocore ratings at best.
I tried my hardest to find a "winner" to buy, but the best I could find was a "settle for" unit.
There. I am done venting.
Is this something I need to worry about now? Can't I just wait till March 2009. Nick, please remind me then.
My guess is the old equipment will be sold to third world countries.
Bill
Still in Phoenix for a few more weeks.
You are going to see a lot of devices with the digital receiver built in, like DVD recorders etc. I think it will be unlikely that there will be a lot of people buying a stand alone tuner. I had to dig the old roof top antenna out of the woodshed to get a HDTV signal here where I am to far out to get cable. HDTV has been one of the only items that I have been an early adopter of, and it was mostly by accident. After watching digital TV I would think that most people would be more than happy to trash their old analogue sets. Yes, it's that much better. 8)
BTW.....Keep your batwing antenna; you will need it for your new flat screen HDTV. ;)
Quote from: FloridaCliff on July 11, 2007, 09:35:45 AM
If you have cable or satellite you have nothing to worry about.
If you are on an antenna you will need a DT receiver or DT ready TV.
I have had a DT receiver for a couple of years and there is a ton of programming to view and half of its not even active yet.
If you only want a basic service with a HD signal its the way to go.
Remember, broadcasters can transmit 5 or more channels now in the same 6 MHz bandwidth.
Cliff
Note to self.....
purchase stock in a DT reciever company AND electronics recycling business before 2009!
Quote from: wvanative on July 10, 2007, 07:50:39 PM
Finding a date to do the change over might be a little hard.
Lets see
1 Super Bowl & Daytona Jan
2 PGA Golf starts Feb
3 NCAA Tournament March
4 The Masters April
5 Ky Derby May
6 US Open Golf & French open Tennis June
7 Summer Nationals in LawnMower racing July A gotta see event & British Open Golf
8 PGA golf & US Open Tennis Aug
9 US Open Tennis continued & NFL Football starts Sept
10 MLB Playoffs and World Series Oct
11 Thanksgiving football Nov
12 NFL Playoffs Dec
Gee I just don't see anywhere in there for them to implement this change. And I haven't even listed all the Bus Bashes, lol what will everyone do if they can't watch that one eyed monster. I am sure you all could find a lot more events that I have missed.
WVaNative
P.S. Lawnmower racing is a hoot
Ya forgot NASCAR! YOU forgot NASCAR? Ya know NASCAR, where they go 'round n 'round? I can't believe YOU forgot NASCAR! Ooopps I forgot youse is a W. VA native an they don't do NASCAR in W. VA! LOL!
NOTE; I tried to delete this post and only have the next one , but I can't !
Quote from: David Anderson on July 10, 2007, 05:15:10 PM
Ok, when April 2009 comes and the analog signal ends and digital is the only game in town, what are we going to do with our TV's ?
The change was supposed to take effect Jan 09 but the broadcasters said, "no, no", it will mess up the Super Bowl." Then it was changed to March and again they said, "no, no, it will mess up NCAA basketball tournament." April was the date I last heard about. Seems like it would be after the May sweeps month. It may be deferred again. Who knows?
David
Uhhh, well ya could throw 'em under yer drive tires, and run over 'm until they are tiny bits and pieces! (oh but then again I just don't care for TV at all!)
Quote from: wvanative link
Finding a date to do the change over might be a little hard.
Lets see
1 Super Bowl & Daytona Jan
2 PGA Golf starts Feb
3 NCAA Tournament March
4 The Masters April
5 Ky Derby May
6 US Open Golf & French open Tennis June
7 Summer Nationals in LawnMower racing July A gotta see event & British Open Golf
8 PGA golf & US Open Tennis Aug
9 US Open Tennis continued & NFL Football starts Sept
10 MLB Playoffs and World Series Oct
11 Thanksgiving football Nov
12 NFL Playoffs Dec
Gee I just don't see anywhere in there for them to implement this change. And I haven't even listed all the Bus Bashes, lol what will everyone do if they can't watch that one eyed monster. I am sure you all could find a lot more events that I have missed.
WVaNative
P.S. Lawnmower racing is a hoot
Ya forgot NASCAR! YOU forgot NASCAR? Ya know NASCAR, where they go 'round n 'round? I can't believe YOU forgot NASCAR! Ooopps I forgot youse is a W. VA native an they don't do NASCAR in W. VA! LOL!
bk, i was looking for something more creative than that from you!
TV by itself is a huge waste of time. they don't even have busnuts on TLC or Discover. Now you are upset about bumper cars not being mentioned?
but since we are discussing it - we just bought 2 flat screen hdtv units and mounted them on the wall. the holes we filled with things that had been stored in less convenient places. actually, the pictures are better on the new TV's, but we don't have satellite TV.
Just becuase i pay $100/month for Internet on the bus, does not mean i'll spring for another $100 to get 1000 channels. i have a big screen to look at. it's called a picture window. thru it i can see more interesting wildlife than on animal planet. ;)
Quote from: manasst
bk, i was looking for something more creative than that from you!
TV by itself is a huge waste of time. they don't even have busnuts on TLC or Discover. Now you are upset about bumper cars not being mentioned?
Just becuase i pay $100/month for Internet on the bus, does not mean i'll spring for another $100 to get 1000 channels. i have a big screen to look at. it's called a picture window. thru it i can see more interesting wildlife than on animal planet. ;)
Sorry I guess I got carried away! Don't throw 'em under yer drive tires! Ya might get a flat tire that way! Bring 'em to the Bus Bash @ BK's and we'll put 'em in a huge pile and have a big ol' BONFIRE that'll chase all the mosquitoes away!!!
As for the bumper cars, I don't watch 'em on TV. But I know lots of other
folks ahhh.. rednecks do! Personally I like to go see 'm live when I get the chance!!
Oh yeah as for the BIG SCREEN, you probably can see more wildlife just about everywhere ya look these days (especially the 2 legged ones!) LOL!
Quote from: Busted Knuckle on July 13, 2007, 09:13:22 AM
Quote from: wvanative on July 10, 2007, 07:50:39 PM
Finding a date to do the change over might be a little hard.
Lets see
1 Super Bowl & Daytona Jan
2 PGA Golf starts Feb
3 NCAA Tournament March
4 The Masters April
5 Ky Derby May
6 US Open Golf & French open Tennis June
7 Summer Nationals in LawnMower racing July A gotta see event & British Open Golf
8 PGA golf & US Open Tennis Aug
9 US Open Tennis continued & NFL Football starts Sept
10 MLB Playoffs and World Series Oct
11 Thanksgiving football Nov
12 NFL Playoffs Dec
Gee I just don't see anywhere in there for them to implement this change. And I haven't even listed all the Bus Bashes, lol what will everyone do if they can't watch that one eyed monster. I am sure you all could find a lot more events that I have missed.
WVaNative
P.S. Lawnmower racing is a hoot
Ya forgot NASCAR! YOU forgot NASCAR? Ya know NASCAR, where they go 'round n 'round? I can't believe YOU forgot NASCAR! Ooopps I forgot youse is a W. VA native an they don't do NASCAR in W. VA! LOL!
NOTE; I tried to delete this post and only have the next one , but I can't !
BUSTEDKNUCKLE, slow down there boy, have you been forgetting your Prozac in the mornings LOL. Take a good look at the 1st line of my list. little feller, there you will see Supper Bowl & Daytona as in Daytona 500. Oh My God!!!! I can't believe you missed it, I know you probably read my list after a long days drive with a bus full of old people, while you were sitting in your hotel pool with your laptop sucking down a nice cold beer, and feeling tired and sleepy. Oh yeah as for not doing Nascar in WVa LOL. Those Nascar boys wouldn't last long with those miners trying to get home on those curvy mountainous roads where one little mistake would be the death of them. Those old hillbillies down there drive like they are in a Nascar race, but unlike the big boys of Nascar who drive around in circles with no obstacles coming back at them on the road and no cross traffic.
BK, I still think your a great guy even if you missed it on my list. Oh sorry I didn't get down to see your dad when he broke down in Mattoon, IL. I was getting ready to go see him when we found out at the last sec my 14yr old had to be at a bb game. I would like to have meet him.
WVaNative
Quote from: wvanative
BUSTEDKNUCKLE, slow down there boy, have you been forgetting your Prozac in the mornings LOL. Take a good look at the 1st line of my list. little feller, there you will see Supper Bowl & Daytona as in Daytona 500. Oh My God!!!! I can't believe you missed it, I know you probably read my list after a long days drive with a bus full of old people, while you were sitting in your hotel pool with your laptop sucking down a nice cold beer, and feeling tired and sleepy. Oh yeah as for not doing Nascar in WVa LOL. Those Nascar boys wouldn't last long with those miners trying to get home on those curvy mountainous roads where one little mistake would be the death of them. Those old hillbillies down there drive like they are in a Nascar race, but unlike the big boys of Nascar who drive around in circles with no obstacles coming back at them on the road and no cross traffic.
BK, I still think your a great guy even if you missed it on my list. Oh sorry I didn't get down to see your dad when he broke down in Mattoon, IL. I was getting ready to go see him when we found out at the last sec my 14yr old had to be at a bb game. I would like to have meet him.
WVaNative
Yeah I have to admit that I missed the Daytona part! (But ya did that on purpose hide'n it in there with that football thing!) It ain't like that's the only race of the year!
And Naw I been home more this (all) month, than I have the past 4 months together! No hotel pools, and well ya a few beers.
And no problem onmmeting Dad either he didn't make it up there the day we thought he was going to, he was 2 days later! (his excuse was,"You don't realize how hard it is to just take off from here when yer the only one here and the phones won't quit ringing and theres tons of stuff need'n done!"). HMMM sounds like he finally got a little taste of what I gop through when he an Ma are gone all the time! LOL! Oh well alls good! He did make it up there an did get the bus home, and now he's been gone a week, and coming in for a pitstop tonight (I gotta change his oil, and lube everything). Then they leave at midnight tomorrow headed to Daytona for a week, and when they get back to Memphis, thet reload to Dallas for a week! (I'll teach him to complain about
ME being gone forever!) Because when the get back from Texas they only have a few days before going to Milwaukee! (maybe I can find something for them to do between TX & WI! LOL!
;D BK ;D
The reason they don't have Nascar in Wv is simple...
They'd have to put 24.5's on one side of the car and 13's on the other, then swap them out for the other side of the track. Otherwise all the fuel would leak out.
Besides, can Nascar climb hills?
WWJGD*>>> oo(0)(0)oo <<<WWJGD*>>> oo(0)(0)oo<<<WWJGD*>>> oo(0)(0)oo <<<WWJGD*>>> oo(0)(0)oo <<<WWJGD*>>> oo(0)(0)oo <<<
*(What Would Jeff Gordon Do?)