After Feb. 2009 when analog TV no longer exists....

[computer]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: computer
The tuner that comes in a TV is a native tuner. For decades, they have had to be tuned to ch. 3 or 4 and your cable box was used through that channel and this is how you watched premium cable. So what kind of tuner, how many channels, and PIP is all useless and irrelevant if one always uses the cable box. All the TV needed was ch. 3 or 4 (or some kind of video input) to watch your cable TV premium channels through the cable box. As you are aware, I, anyone I would assume, have to bypass the box through which you watch premium cable in order to record one basic cable program while watching another basic cable program. This is when the TV's native tuner is used. I'm trying to ascertain if this will remain unchanged.

The only reason you are tuned to channel three is because that is how your TV accepts input over the RF input. This is a very poor connection resulting in very poor video quality. Really you aren't really using much of your "native" tuner right now at all! All it is using that as is a video input. The same thing would be accomplished if you connected your cable box via any other video connection. Now, if you are tuning via your TV to access the cable channels without a remote then that is a bit different.

Look above again, I said it's this way with premium cable only. With basic cable the TV's own native/internal tuner is used. That's the way I normally watch TV, with the digital* box bypassed (*as it's called here, but not an accurate description), because with the box turned off, bypassed, is the only way to watch one channel while recording another. If I want to watch something on any of the movie channels or premium channels I turn the box back on and that's when the TV's tuner is on 3, or the video input is used. I covered that above.

As for the rest of the response. Smile, you now know you don't have anything to worry about .

Well as for as portable TV I do, but as for the rest I hope not.

 

[bruceb]

That is not quite what I would do with it.

Analog TV sets with no ATSC tuner will remain usefull for:

*Watching analog cable TV ... Yes

*Watching Sat Dish TV from the Sat Box analog outputs. ... no use Video output to the TV Video Input if you have one .. much better as the whole point of Dish or DTV was better picture quality.

*Watching DVD's from your DVD player's analog outputs. .. DVD should
never be sent thru Analog as quality is lousy .. Use Component Video if
your TV supports it or even just plain Video Out / to TV Video In is better

*Recording from your cable box's analog outputs. .. not the best .. use the Video Out / VCR Video inputs for better results

*Connecting to your HTPC's analog TV output. ... no comment here

*Connecting your Game console's analog output. .. ok for cheap games,
but game Video Output to TV Video Input is much better

 

[ProfJohn]

If I was in tech support for a TV or cable company I would be taking a vacation that week.
The number of phones calls is going to hit the roof as a bunch of people ignorant to the change turn on their TVs and get nothing.

I would also hate to be working at any retail store that sells TV, same thing. Bunch of pissed of angry people yelling because their TV no longer works.

 

[erwos]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
If I was in tech support for a TV or cable company I would be taking a vacation that week.

Again, this doesn't affect cable customers.

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by: bruceb
That is not quite what I would do with it.

Analog TV sets with no ATSC tuner will remain usefull for:

*Watching analog cable TV ... Yes

*Watching Sat Dish TV from the Sat Box analog outputs. ... no use Video output to the TV Video Input if you have one .. much better as the whole point of Dish or DTV was better picture quality.

*Watching DVD's from your DVD player's analog outputs. .. DVD should
never be sent thru Analog as quality is lousy .. Use Component Video if
your TV supports it or even just plain Video Out / to TV Video In is better

*Recording from your cable box's analog outputs. .. not the best .. use the Video Out / VCR Video inputs for better results

*Connecting to your HTPC's analog TV output. ... no comment here

*Connecting your Game console's analog output. .. ok for cheap games,
but game Video Output to TV Video Input is much better

I think you are confused...

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: Shawn

Originally posted by: bruceb
That is not quite what I would do with it.

Analog TV sets with no ATSC tuner will remain usefull for:

*Watching analog cable TV ... Yes

*Watching Sat Dish TV from the Sat Box analog outputs. ... no use Video output to the TV Video Input if you have one .. much better as the whole point of Dish or DTV was better picture quality.

*Watching DVD's from your DVD player's analog outputs. .. DVD should
never be sent thru Analog as quality is lousy .. Use Component Video if
your TV supports it or even just plain Video Out / to TV Video In is better

*Recording from your cable box's analog outputs. .. not the best .. use the Video Out / VCR Video inputs for better results

*Connecting to your HTPC's analog TV output. ... no comment here

*Connecting your Game console's analog output. .. ok for cheap games,
but game Video Output to TV Video Input is much better

I think you are confused...

agreed

 

[bruceb]

Everyone has their own view on what to do with old tv sets and how to
use them. Confused, no.

 

[ultimatebob]

So......after Feb. 2009 when analog TV no longer exists:

What happens to all of our portable TV's? All those battery
powered hand-held TV's and 5-7" TV's? TV's in our cars?
Useless? Money thrown away?

Unless your portable TV's are plugged into an analog cable box, analog satellite box, or a DTV converter box (which would kinda defeat the whole "portable" function of the TV), they're officially useless. I'm getting screwed on this one as well, since I have two analog portable TV's.

What happens to our TV tuner cards for our PC's? Useless?
Money thrown away?

They're only useless if you're trying use a digital broadcast source without a converter box.

What happens to our VCR's or any other recording device when we
need to record one program while watching another, something
done millions of times each day? Tuff?

Yeah... adding a converter box is definitely going to screw up your scheduled recordings on your VCR. It's not going to be a big deal if you're still using analog cable like most folks, though.

If we are going to be shackled by these stupid boxes our cable
companies are blackmailing or extorting us to use--which in
turn render the native tuners in the TV's totally useless
REGARDLESS of whether or not they have H/DTV tuners, I supposed
they'll offer coupons for EACH of them for EACH recording
device instead of the one-per-household?? And they are going
to have them battery powered and shirtpocket size?? I smell
the largest suit in USA history.

Meh. Stop whining and buy some new TV's. Spend that surplus check and stimulate the economy!

 

[ultimatebob]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
If I was in tech support for a TV or cable company I would be taking a vacation that week.
The number of phones calls is going to hit the roof as a bunch of people ignorant to the change turn on their TVs and get nothing.

I would also hate to be working at any retail store that sells TV, same thing. Bunch of pissed of angry people yelling because their TV no longer works.

All TV's sold for the last year or so are required to have a digital tuner. While I can imagine a few folks trying to return their two year old TV's in 2009 because they no longer "work" with their TV antennas, I'd imagine that most folks will have wised up by then.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: bruceb
Everyone has their own view on what to do with old tv sets and how to
use them. Confused, no.

You seem to imply that I can't take a TV without a ATSC tuner after the feb 2009 date and connect it to the following:

1. Digital cable
2. Sat box with HDMI out
3. DVD player's HDMI output
4. Recording from a cable box's HDMI output
5. Connecting to my HTPC's digital output
6. Connecting my PS3/XBOX with a HDMI cable

all of which are wrong.

That is why you sound confused.

 

[bruceb]

I never said you could not. Just saying the Best way to
interface all those devices to any TV set if you want the best results.
And the comment above about newer tv sets having a built in digital
tuner, while true, may not always work, as some cable companies,
scramble all of the Digital Signals forcing the use of their converter box.
I know Time Warner does this. Some sets that have a Cable Card slot
would be ok, but only if your cable co is willing to provide the card with
your level of service on it for the tv. Not all of them do that. They prefer
you Rent the box .. more $$ for them each month that way.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: bruceb
I never said you could not. Just saying the Best way to
interface all those devices to any TV set if you want the best results.
And the comment above about newer tv sets having a built in digital
tuner, while true, may not always work, as some cable companies,
scramble all of the Digital Signals forcing the use of their converter box.
I know Time Warner does this. Some sets that have a Cable Card slot
would be ok, but only if your cable co is willing to provide the card with
your level of service on it for the tv. Not all of them do that. They prefer
you Rent the box .. more $$ for them each month that way.

Now you're even confusing me with your argument. You said that TV's without a ATSC tuner would remain USEFUL for the following items. None of which included a form of digital connection. This implies that this can no longer be done which isn't true.

Then to get even more confusing you stated:

"DVD should never be sent thru Analog as quality is lousy .. Use Component Video if
your TV supports it or even just plain Video Out / to TV Video In is better"

Component video is analog...And all the methods you suggested here are analog. Why are you saying analog should never be used, but then you just stated:

"I never said you could not. Just saying the Best way to
interface all those devices to any TV set if you want the best results."

All of which were analog means of interfacing.

I don't even know why you are separating analog vs digital connectivity in a topic like this that has nothing to do with that provided you are using a video device that does not depend on OTA transmissions.

Same goes for cable. If they go digital, you'll get a box just like they do now which has analog outputs. It's not an issue.

"

 

[matintexas]

I got here by accident - looking for answers to some of the same questions "Computer" posed regarding double hook-ups for folks with PIP sets. I too have an analog (JVC PIP) tv, which I would like to keep using, as the swap feature on this set turns over everything - video AND audio - unlike my Samsung HD which requires I go into the menu and change everything in order to hear the audio on the "2nd" screen. I want to know how to keep my PIP functional or if there is no way - other than to hook another converter box up to the CABLE ANTENNA connection (which is the 2nd screen). I said I knew what "Computer" was talking about - anything hooked up to the converter box (if you have a digital converter box) will work just like now - the problem with the PIP is that the 2nd screen is to a cable antenna connection - from wherever the cable comes into the room - directly to the back of the TV. The problem is NOT with the cable but the TV. What is being referred to as a "native tuner", is the tuning capacity of the TV and/or its remote control. My TV will NOT tune stations above 125 - that's as far as the remote/tuner will extend, so no matter that I have cable, I can't see the digital tier of progeramming - because my TV will not tune as high as that tier.

 

[matintexas]

For me it is not so much about how much I've spent on what will become obsolete equipment, as it is about what will replace that outdated equipment. Having just spent several days without power in the wake of Hurricane IKE, I can honestly say - had this happened to Houston next year instead of this - we could be a city TOTALLY cut off. For the problem with digital converter boxes running everything - no power, no converter box, no digital broadcast. I listened to one of the local TV channels on a battery operated radio. I am worried that when the analog signals go away - the industry is not going to be ready to give the consumer the tools they will need to "stay connected" as it were, in our new communications era.

 

[Modelworks]

Originally posted by: matintexas
For me it is not so much about how much I've spent on what will become obsolete equipment, as it is about what will replace that outdated equipment. Having just spent several days without power in the wake of Hurricane IKE, I can honestly say - had this happened to Houston next year instead of this - we could be a city TOTALLY cut off. For the problem with digital converter boxes running everything - no power, no converter box, no digital broadcast. I listened to one of the local TV channels on a battery operated radio. I am worried that when the analog signals go away - the industry is not going to be ready to give the consumer the tools they will need to "stay connected" as it were, in our new communications era.

If you are living in an area prone to hurricanes I suggest picking up two things:
1 - a weather radio with alert function
2 - a handheld cb radio - they work regardless of any other infrastructure and 99% of the USA still monitor the emergency bands.

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Originally posted by: vi edit

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH

Originally posted by: vi edit

Originally posted by: erwos

Originally posted by: vi edit
I just want to know if there are any "whole house" DTV converters I can install off the antenna and share out to every TV in the house instead of individual converter boxes.

Nothing that I'm aware of. The device you're describing would de-facto have to simultaneously tune every ATSC channel it could find, convert it to NTSC, and then pipe it down some coax. That strikes me as super-expensive, since you'd need 12+ tuners in the box. No, you're better off just sucking it up and buying new ATSC tuners as needed.

You don't have a constitutional right to television. It is a service, like any other. It'd be like suing the cell phone companies because they finally turned off AMPS this year.

Meh.

I'll probably just be a good consumer and just write it off as a reason to put a shiney new LCD HDTV with a tuner already built into it in their place.

I would have thought you'd be happy to stick it to the wife's face:

vi: "I have to buy these TV's. Next year these crappy regular TV's won't work no more without a box to convert the signal"
vi_wife: "But...but..."
vi: "Suck it."

No need to get mean.

I'll just sell it as "Oh hey look honey...now you'll be able to watch Dancing With the Stars in high definition while making me a sammich with the HDTV I get for the kitchen!"

Edited

jk jk

 

[matintexas]

Originally posted by: Modelworks

Originally posted by: matintexas
For me it is not so much about how much I've spent on what will become obsolete equipment, as it is about what will replace that outdated equipment. Having just spent several days without power in the wake of Hurricane IKE, I can honestly say - had this happened to Houston next year instead of this - we could be a city TOTALLY cut off. For the problem with digital converter boxes running everything - no power, no converter box, no digital broadcast. I listened to one of the local TV channels on a battery operated radio. I am worried that when the analog signals go away - the industry is not going to be ready to give the consumer the tools they will need to "stay connected" as it were, in our new communications era.

If you are living in an area prone to hurricanes I suggest picking up two things:
1 - a weather radio with alert function
2 - a handheld cb radio - they work regardless of any other infrastructure and 99% of the USA still monitor the emergency bands.

 

[matintexas]

Originally posted by: Modelworks

Originally posted by: matintexas
For me it is not so much about how much I've spent on what will become obsolete equipment, as it is about what will replace that outdated equipment. Having just spent several days without power in the wake of Hurricane IKE, I can honestly say - had this happened to Houston next year instead of this - we could be a city TOTALLY cut off. For the problem with digital converter boxes running everything - no power, no converter box, no digital broadcast. I listened to one of the local TV channels on a battery operated radio. I am worried that when the analog signals go away - the industry is not going to be ready to give the consumer the tools they will need to "stay connected" as it were, in our new communications era.

If you are living in an area prone to hurricanes I suggest picking up two things:
1 - a weather radio with alert function
2 - a handheld cb radio - they work regardless of any other infrastructure and 99% of the USA still monitor the emergency bands.

Thanks - I do have a weather radio (battery operated)., What we found was those radios with tv channels were getting certain tv stations which were broadcasting over radio and if we had battery operated tv's we could see those transmissions. When we go to digital, unless there's something out there set up for digital and that's mobile (like the battery radio and tv), we will be without communications, save weather bands - which drive me crazy.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

why do you have so many portable tv's?

 

[DW in UT]

I work in a place where listening to TV sound on "walkman" style portable radios is popular. That method will stop working with the digital tv changeover, and so far we don't see any replacement for this. A web search found a new Sony with digital TV sound pickup, but it looks like it is only available in Japan so far, and is priced at $300 dollars.

Anyone know of other options? (Must be battery powered and portable - "walkman style" - in order for us to use it on this job.

Thanks!