After Feb. 2009 can they still broadcast in analog when there is an emergency?

[Shawn]

Anyone know? My parents have an old portable B&W TV that they've used the last few hurricanes when the power went out. Just wondering if there is any reason to keep it after Feb. 2009.

 

[sswingle]

Nope

 

[Born2bwire]

They auctioned off the analog spectrum so they aren't going to be broadcasting anything on it I imagine. Folks could probably replace the TV for a radio for emergency broadcasts.

 

[woodie1]

I thought that the low power analog stations would still be allowed to broadcast. Why would some of the converter boxes have pass-thru if it served no purpose after the change over. I'd keep the TV.

 

[spidey07]

No.

 

[compman25]

Low power stations can continue to broadcast.

 

[Capt Caveman]

I believe it'll work with one of those converter boxes.

 

[Baked]

You should have a battery operated transistor radio for emergencies anyway.

 

[imported_weadjust]

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
I believe it'll work with one of those converter boxes.

That is correct, but you would need electricity to plug in in. So technically it will work but would do you no good with your battery powered portable tv since the power is out.

 

[spidey07]

Why this change is so difficult for the collective and individual brain power of AT is simply beyond my understanding. I really feel for the average joe.

 

[potato28]

Short answer: No.

Long Answer: Not without one of the converter boxes.

 

[woodie1]

Once again the low power TV stations are not required to go to DTV.

 

[IGBT]

..ten years or so into it who's going to have analog equip.to watch??

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: IGBT
..ten years or so into it who's going to have analog equip.to watch??

..probably those enviro-weenies who want to minimize their TV's carbon footprint by only replacing it when it stops working entirely.

 

[Jschmuck2]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: IGBT
..ten years or so into it who's going to have analog equip.to watch??

..probably those enviro-weenies who want to minimize their TV's carbon footprint by only replacing it when it stops working entirely.

Don't you have a baby seal to be clubbing?

 

[JujuFish]

Originally posted by: Jschmuck2

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: IGBT
..ten years or so into it who's going to have analog equip.to watch??

..probably those enviro-weenies who want to minimize their TV's carbon footprint by only replacing it when it stops working entirely.

Don't you have a baby seal to be clubbing?

Are you an enviro-weenie?

 

[TruePaige]

Originally posted by: woodie1
Once again the low power TV stations are not required to go to DTV.

I don't know why that is so tough for people. They say it on every ad that this only affects full power stations.

 

[IGBT]

Originally posted by: Jschmuck2

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: IGBT
..ten years or so into it who's going to have analog equip.to watch??

..probably those enviro-weenies who want to minimize their TV's carbon footprint by only replacing it when it stops working entirely.

Don't you have a baby seal to be clubbing?

..much rather a whale steak.

 

[Shawn]

What the hell is a low power TV station and how are you supposed to tell the difference?

 

[woodie1]

Originally posted by: Shawn
What the hell is a low power TV station and how are you supposed to tell the difference?

Google is your friend.

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: Shawn
What the hell is a low power TV station and how are you supposed to tell the difference?

Low power TV stations have less power than regular TV stations.

 

[GeekDrew]

Originally posted by: woodie1

Originally posted by: Shawn
What the hell is a low power TV station and how are you supposed to tell the difference?

Google is your friend.

Yes, anyone here can google. There are thousands of people in my immediate area alone that don't have internet access, and haven't got a clue about the digital TV changeover -- either they haven't heard of it (easy -- they don't pay attention to commercials, and that's when DTV announcements are made) or they don't understand what it means. I'm trying to tell everyone I know that they need to get a converter box. I live in a rural area, and a tremendous number of people have antenna reception -- no cable or satellite. There are also no low-power tv stations that service our area. The full-power tv stations occasionally advertise that lowe-power stations will not be changed, which further complicates the situation... nobody knows which is which unless you Google it.

Also, I would venture to guess that many low-power stations will go offline or switch to DTV after the deadline, because after that point, most people aren't going to have analog TV, or if they do, won't know how to use it together with their digital-only TV tuner.

List of low power tv stations:
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/dtvcoupon/LPTVmap.html