Death of Analog TV

[CheapboatKev]

Sooooooo..whenever this thing does go through and is enacted...

What happens to all of my battery operated B&W TV's that I have as part of my hurricane supplies?

I guess they figure I can get my important emergency info via the radio...

 

[mthieme]

Re: Death of Analog TV

...until that goes (completely) digital too.

 

[mphy98]

Re: Death of Analog TV

I just came up with the million dollar idea, make a battery powered digital converter box!!!! I want half if anyone makes it for giving you the idea

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: Death of Analog TV

I just came up with the million dollar idea, make a battery powered digital converter box!!!! I want half if anyone makes it for giving you the idea

Already made one. But you can just duct tape the digital converter on top of the little TV, then duct tape a 200 Watt inverter on top of that, in true iBoats jury-rigged tradition......

I had to use my little monstrosity last night, when the tornado warning sirens went off last night. I wonder if I can get one of those things for my truck?

 

[Nos4r2]

Re: Death of Analog TV

Oh, are you guys getting nailed with this one too? Our lot are doing it, but the takeup rate is so low for digital that it's looking like they'll have to delay switchover.

Hopefully we wont go to digital radio-DAB sets are expensive and very poor quality compared to analogue here.

 

[JB]

Re: Death of Analog TV

Lots of convenience stores could use them in their security systems.

 

[idrownworms]

Re: Death of Analog TV

The government has pushed back the switchover date a few months, but that doesn't help me the stations I watch are switching over on the original date.
The downside for me is that I live in a fringe area with analog it was always a little snowy but I got to watch tv. with digital if conditions are right I can watch, but like last night we had heavy winds rain and scattered lightning and I got terrible reception. The weather service came on and I heard the screach and then the tv told me no signal and when it came back the anouncement was over. Would have been nice to know if I was in the path of a tornado
nothing is ever broke so bad the government can't make it worse
jamie

 

[j_martin]

Re: Death of Analog TV

With analog, humans can usually extract usable information from a pretty lousy signal. With digital, it's either clear as a bell, or it's not there. That's because the data is compressed, which is like encryption, so when it gets wacked, a whole block of information is lost instead of a spec.

On yer problem, you might modernize a bit. Get a 200 buck used laptop computer and throw a digital TV tuner card in it. It'll use a lot less electricity than the converter routine. You can use a small (like lawnmower) 12 volt battery, maybe with a small 6 volt in series with it, and run the laptop for days through the dc connector on the back.

hope it helps
John

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Death of Analog TV

The correct rooftop antenna will greatly increase the digital reception.
About 100 bucks.Then go to antenna web.org and type in your address.It will show you what direction to point it.I'm pulling in stations 100 miles away at about 75 percent signal...the closer stations are in the high 90's.

This is the one i use and it works great,
http://www.antennasdirect.com/DB8_HD_Antenna.html

 

[david_r]

Re: Death of Analog TV

ill just be glad to be rid of the commercials!!

if you dont know about the switch by now.......you dont watch enough tv for it to matter!!

i like having both. i have a wide screen that has a "a/d" button to switch from analog to digital.........digital is good and all but as stated above it either comes in or it dont. there is no snow.......so if you are experiencing bad weather then forget the updates on tv.

 

[duscarter]

Re: Death of Analog TV

ill just be glad to be rid of the commercials!!

if you dont know about the switch by now.......you dont watch enough tv for it to matter!!

+1000

 

[mthieme]

Re: Death of Analog TV

nothing is ever broke so bad the government can't make it worse

Hope you don't mind if I transpose this tidbit to a banner over my desk at work...
I work for local government.
I am one of their biggest cynics. They can't wait until I retire!

 

[mphy98]

Re: Death of Analog TV

This is like any government program, they refuse to analog die a simple death, it will probably still be here in 10 more years!!! What a wasteful thing for congress to do. I would have thought they would put more energy into more important things.

 

[idrownworms]

Re: Death of Analog TV

Hope you don't mind if I transpose this tidbit to a banner over my desk at work...
I work for local government.
I am one of their biggest cynics. They can't wait until I retire!

You have my express written permission
jamie

You also have my sympathies

 

[JB]

Re: Death of Analog TV

ill just be glad to be rid of the commercials!!

In your dreams, David. Or do you mean the commercials about the switchover?

They will only be replaced by commercials for drugs that are so dangerous they spend more time telling you why not to take them than they do extolling the benefits.

And then there are all the insurance companies that save you bazillions of bux and never pay any claims.

 

[idrownworms]

Re: Death of Analog TV

In case of death continue taking as prescribed and consult you doctor

 

[joed]

Re: Death of Analog TV

Analog TV is not actually disapearing. Low power local stations are still going to be allowed to operate

"The law does not require "low-power" television (LPTV) stations to go digital. These smaller LPTV stations, and low-power "translator" stations that boost a signal's strength at distances far from the station's main transmitter, may continue broadcasting in analog after February 17, 2009."

 

[Vlad D Impeller]

Re: Death of Analog TV

According to Sherlock Holmes, the clue lies with the dog that did'nt bark.

The older analog TV's will still work along with your cable or satellite connections, just not with the regular rabbit ears or roof top antennae.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: Death of Analog TV

The older analog TV's will still work along with your cable or satellite connections, just not with the regular rabbit ears or roof top antennae.[/QUOTE]

Exactly my point, the little battery operated TVs used for tailgating or for emergency news info will be useless...But hey, they were down to 10 or 12 bucks last one I tucked away in my hurricane supply bin

 

[Bard1]

Re: Death of Analog TV

It's the death of free T.V.
Just like 'Pong"