Comments on: Misconceptions About the Transition to Digital Television http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/misconceptions-about-the-transition-to-digital-television/ A premier personal finance blog, established 2003. Within, Flexo discusses his own experiences with money, and he and other authors comment on a wide range of personal finance topics. Tue, 29 May 2012 02:26:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: John http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/misconceptions-about-the-transition-to-digital-television/comment-page-1/#comment-187952 John Thu, 05 Feb 2009 19:56:50 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2008/01/10/misconceptions-about-the-transition-to-digital-television/#comment-187952 Many people are finding that now they need a (directional) roof antenna and an amplifier in order to get anything watchable. With digital TV you need a much stronger signal. Digital TV with even a moderate signal is terrible. Even with a strong signal there is occasional glitches and hang-ups. I think that each of the pols and liberals that supported this should be forced to watch several hours of broadcast digital TV. Many people are finding that now they need a (directional) roof antenna and an amplifier in order to get anything watchable. With digital TV you need a much stronger signal. Digital TV with even a moderate signal is terrible. Even with a strong signal there is occasional glitches and hang-ups.

I think that each of the pols and liberals that supported this should be forced to watch several hours of broadcast digital TV.

]]> By: Marlene http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/misconceptions-about-the-transition-to-digital-television/comment-page-1/#comment-132561 Marlene Fri, 11 Jan 2008 18:15:32 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2008/01/10/misconceptions-about-the-transition-to-digital-television/#comment-132561 Thanks Flexo. I wasn't really looking forward to buying a new tv. Thanks Flexo. I wasn’t really looking forward to buying a new tv.

]]> By: Andy http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/misconceptions-about-the-transition-to-digital-television/comment-page-1/#comment-132559 Andy Fri, 11 Jan 2008 17:23:50 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2008/01/10/misconceptions-about-the-transition-to-digital-television/#comment-132559 When purchasing a converter box it is important to buy one with a pass through option. Meaning it will still pass the old analog signal through to your TV. Many low powered stations as well as repeating towers in rural areas will not have to be switched to digital by the deadline next year. So if you buy the converter and you watch a low powered station or get your affiliate from a repeater, you will lose your signal with the wrong box. When purchasing a converter box it is important to buy one with a pass through option. Meaning it will still pass the old analog signal through to your TV.

Many low powered stations as well as repeating towers in rural areas will not have to be switched to digital by the deadline next year. So if you buy the converter and you watch a low powered station or get your affiliate from a repeater, you will lose your signal with the wrong box.

]]> By: Flexo http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/misconceptions-about-the-transition-to-digital-television/comment-page-1/#comment-132555 Flexo Fri, 11 Jan 2008 16:30:00 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2008/01/10/misconceptions-about-the-transition-to-digital-television/#comment-132555 Marlene: If you can currently connect your DVD player to your TV, then you can use the new converter boxes or a box from a cable company. You'll probably want to pass the signal through the DVD player as you suggested (or get a signal switch) if you want to switch between watching a DVD and watching over-the-air or cable programming. Here are your pass-through options (the switch options are difficult to describe using text). [CABLE Connection from Wall] --> [Converter Box from Cable Company] --> [DVD Player] --> [Old Television] [ANTENNA] --> [Converter Box from Retail Store] --> [DVD Player] --> [Old Television] Marlene: If you can currently connect your DVD player to your TV, then you can use the new converter boxes or a box from a cable company. You’ll probably want to pass the signal through the DVD player as you suggested (or get a signal switch) if you want to switch between watching a DVD and watching over-the-air or cable programming.

Here are your pass-through options (the switch options are difficult to describe using text).

[CABLE Connection from Wall] –> [Converter Box from Cable Company] –> [DVD Player] –> [Old Television]

[ANTENNA] –> [Converter Box from Retail Store] –> [DVD Player] –> [Old Television]

]]> By: Marlene http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/misconceptions-about-the-transition-to-digital-television/comment-page-1/#comment-132548 Marlene Fri, 11 Jan 2008 16:02:27 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2008/01/10/misconceptions-about-the-transition-to-digital-television/#comment-132548 I have a question for anyone reading this that might know the answer. I read or saw on tv somewhere that really old tv might not be able to work with the converter box? Would it work if I connect to a newer dvd player and connect that to the tv. I don't have or plan to get cable and my tvs are at least 15 years old. Maybe even older. I'm not a tech person. I have a question for anyone reading this that might know the answer. I read or saw on tv somewhere that really old tv might not be able to work with the converter box? Would it work if I connect to a newer dvd player and connect that to the tv.

I don’t have or plan to get cable and my tvs are at least 15 years old. Maybe even older.

I’m not a tech person.

]]> By: Maurice http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/misconceptions-about-the-transition-to-digital-television/comment-page-1/#comment-132504 Maurice Fri, 11 Jan 2008 05:42:04 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2008/01/10/misconceptions-about-the-transition-to-digital-television/#comment-132504 I found an excellent site; it had all the info about the Digital Transition and requesting the $40 coupon. I ordered my 2 coupons from it. http://www.digitalconverterbox.org I found an excellent site; it had all the info about the Digital Transition and requesting the $40 coupon. I ordered my 2 coupons from it. http://www.digitalconverterbox.org

]]> By: Sasha http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/misconceptions-about-the-transition-to-digital-television/comment-page-1/#comment-132502 Sasha Fri, 11 Jan 2008 04:10:42 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2008/01/10/misconceptions-about-the-transition-to-digital-television/#comment-132502 Bah. I'm one of the few holdouts refusing to upgrade my TV set (it's big, it's not flat, but it's fine) and it annoys me that the stores are spreading misinformation just so more landfills can get stocked with discarded perfectly-good TVs. I'm glad you're setting it right, though. Bah. I’m one of the few holdouts refusing to upgrade my TV set (it’s big, it’s not flat, but it’s fine) and it annoys me that the stores are spreading misinformation just so more landfills can get stocked with discarded perfectly-good TVs.

I’m glad you’re setting it right, though.

]]> By: Mrs. Micah http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/misconceptions-about-the-transition-to-digital-television/comment-page-1/#comment-132495 Mrs. Micah Fri, 11 Jan 2008 02:15:30 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2008/01/10/misconceptions-about-the-transition-to-digital-television/#comment-132495 One commercial I actually like is by either Verizon or Comcast all about how people with their cable service don't need to worry. Not quite a PSA, but actually useful. One commercial I actually like is by either Verizon or Comcast all about how people with their cable service don’t need to worry. Not quite a PSA, but actually useful.

]]>