I'm willing to bet the majority of us have digital cable or satellite and depending on your service won't have a problem come February '09. However,,,,, Even tho I do have digital satellite in two rooms (living rm and bedrm,,) I don't have any source of external connection to the TV in my computer room,, and right now I get at least 15 channels very clear with just an antenna plugged in the back. I may get 2 or three without it,, and that is only because the TV stations are near me locally and even that isn't a guarantee so it will be necessary for me to purchase a converter box. I watched a special program the other day and apparently those consumers with only a P.O box address does not qualify to receive a converter box coupon,, and many people are upset about that,, you have to have a physical address to receive a coupon, the gov't solution to that is to have a relative or friend with a physical address that only needs one coupon- or doesn't need one at all to go on line or call( 1-888-dtv-2009) to get the coupon and/or on line check the option to receive two coupons so they can give you one .
here is the Gov't link for the coupon with FAQ's and other info ..
I don't understand this whole thing (what's new). I'm not very smart with electronics....we have cable but not the digital kind. So does that mean we need a converter box in February?
~~Tam~ You can bury all your troubles by digging in the dirt.
They advertise it here, just never was smart enough to check about it. it's great though that they allow a rebate of some sort. I definately need to check it out.
~~Tam~ You can bury all your troubles by digging in the dirt.
I guess maybe the box can be plugged in thru a VCR or DVD player maybe externally to the TV????? Thru the plug ins on that and then the VCR or DVD player just kept on?
All 4 of our TV's have the little plug in jacks on them....And I have Comcast TV and they say that you don't have to worry about the conversion if you have them.......I haven't thought too much about it actually.
I read somewhere the coupons will only be issued to those who live within 5 miles of a store that sells the converter boxes. I can't imagine I'm understanding that right? It seems if you live W/I 5 miles of a best buy,circuit city, whatever, you'd also live close enough to a large city and would be able to pick up the digital signal with just a tv antena? Our tv is digital. we use an anteana and we can't pick up any of the digital stations. also don't live close to a retailer that sells the boxes.
Cricket
Ah, summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it. ~Russel Baker
I have caaable--but I had not heard about eh 5 mile thing--th would be rediculous---not efveryone lives within 5 mijles of a store--in fact it is likley that VERY FEW do.
________
Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain!! .....
We got our coupons and boxes already hooked up, we have tv's not hooked up to the direct tv too.. they are just little boxes about the size of a small dvd player... they convert the digital signal into one the (old) analog only tv's can understand.. lots of stores sell them - walmart- target,radio shacks... they do expire though ... never heard the no po box rule- but we sent for ours a while back... Nana
the way I understand it most new tv's are digital, but they also have to contain a digital tuner. all tv stations are already broadcasting in digital. on our tv we can go to the menu and change from analog to digital then scan for stations. we get nothing, but then again our analog signal is not very strong. supposedly if you can get a very strong anaolg signal with an antena, and your tv is digital and it has a digital tuner inside you should be able to pick up the digital stations no problem. ???? I think the whole thing is gonna be a nightmare.
Cricket
Ah, summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it. ~Russel Baker
Rundown of the problem: The Govt wanted to sell the airwaves to companies; that's the dollar drilldown... They want money, blah blah blah...
What's good for you: Digital broadcasts, so places farther our will be able to get better signals (as they're transmitted at a much larger frequency.
How it's fixed: these little boxes convert the digital signal to something your older set can understand.
Where are the boxes: everywhere, there are several brands that several shops have; they're about 40-60$.
Lowdown: You'll need one of these boxes if you have a TV which just "pulls" a signal from the sky. If you have Satelite or Cable you don't need a box UNLESS you have a TV which just pulls in a signal on its own.
You'll connect the box from your antenna and then to your existing euipment (vcr -> TV or just directly to the TV).
If you'd like to learn more about my family and I, you can do so at Corthell.net [corthell.net]!
You can go to the site I posted and all your questions you asked are there,, I read it will work on all tv's even if you have the old ones with out the "jacks" you can still purchase adapters with the screw in types and the jack on the other end then connect the converter,, never heard or saw on the site about the 5 mile rule,, ,, that would be ridiculous seeing how the Gov't has created yet another way to get $$ out of us why would they cut off their nose in spite of their face
"Grace without perfection is more to be desired than perfection without grace."
you need to get hold of your cable company to and ask them, if they are running digital thru your cable,, more than likely they are,, but better to find out now,,.
"Grace without perfection is more to be desired than perfection without grace."
No, this affects "Over the Air" broadcasts only; if you have cable or satelite this change will NOT affect you at all... As you pull your signal from the wall and thus your provider...
Again, this would only affect you if you use over the air broadcasting...
If you'd like to learn more about my family and I, you can do so at Corthell.net [corthell.net]!
So, if you have a digital tv with a dig. tuner...and use an antena now for analog, but can't get any digital signal. wouldn't it be better to get a better antenea that would pick up the digital signal, than to get a converter. they're would be nothing to convert?
Cricket
Ah, summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it. ~Russel Baker
Well, "older" sets can't READ a digital broadcast signal; whereas newer sets can read a digital broadcast with a good antenna... The point here really is that the analog signals will no longer be broadcasted over the airwaves, so older sets which can't interpret digital broadcasts will not be able to watch television without one of these boxes (unless they are pluged into a cable or satelite provider which pulls the signal elsewhere)
If you'd like to learn more about my family and I, you can do so at Corthell.net [corthell.net]!
yesterday we were able to pick up three digital stations using our tv antena! I was very excited, since so far we haven't been able to pick up anything. I'm wondering if they are playing around and tweeking the signals, or if the weather was just right? we're still getting them today too along with a couple of others.
Cricket
Ah, summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it. ~Russel Baker
Well, some stations have ran HDTV signals for a while; but no one has to until Feb; keep in mind it costs more money to transmit afterall ;)... You'll find though that some stations will send out multiple signals...
For example, KGW (our channel 8) sends out 3 broadcasts, they show as 8 (analog), 8-1 (digital1), 8-2 (digital 2); heck, our PBS sends out 4...
If you'd like to learn more about my family and I, you can do so at Corthell.net [corthell.net]!
We got the box so we dont give old tv away..PS......One is 2 years old only..LCD moniter.
Good will or salvation army refuse them here......... No resale.
Parlor??????????? What do you call the relaxing room?????????Living room.
My old fashioned way of talk????????? It is where we watch tv.........Company usually lands in the kitchen and doesnt move......Isnt often.. Farmers are outside mostly ........
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