The end of analog tv

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: NiKeFiDO
the government cares if we use digital TV vs analog? what do they have some sort of control mechanisms they can only use with digital or something? whats their incentive to do this?

From the article, third page:

And finally, there?s a bonus for the U.S. Treasury as well?much of the new spectrum will be auctioned off to the highest bidders, raising billions of dollars.

 

[NiKeFiDO]

cool

 

[woowoo]

It used to be that the FCC just managed the spectrum for public good.
Now the FCC sells the spectrum to the highest bidder.

BTW,
I have been working on the DTV conversion for eight years.
And I don't even own a DTV reciever at home

 

[Demon-Xanth]

I can actually see NBC/ABC/CBS/Fox getting together and subsidizing a cheap tuner box (ie: sub $20) for digital TV. Atleast for one that can view thier stations. Afterall, CNN isn't affected by the decision, they're cable.

 

[StageLeft]

Asinine, and exactly why gov't should have no say on certain things. I have seen HDTV. It's nice, but I've no inclination to get an HD setup any time soon, so if this went into effect I'd have to buy some silly convertor? Yaye. And what about people with less money than me? I guess they would too. Hey, if the gov't wants to give me a tax credit equal to the amount I spent on my convertor then I have no problem with it. Otherwise, fvck off and let the market dictate this.

Doesn't matter anyway really, because they can use that loophole to move this deadline back, and that's what they'll do.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Asinine, and exactly why gov't should have no say on certain things. I have seen HDTV. It's nice, but I've no inclination to get an HD setup any time soon, so if this went into effect I'd have to buy some silly convertor? Yaye. And what about people with less money than me? I guess they would too. Hey, if the gov't wants to give me a tax credit equal to the amount I spent on my convertor then I have no problem with it. Otherwise, fvck off and let the market dictate this.

digital != HDTV

The digital move has NOTHING to do with HDTV.

 

[Sunbird]

Back on the rain influencing the digital TV, maybe snow does too.

No TV cause its raining, maybe I ought to go outside and do something, oh wait.......

So where are the benefits in digital for the ordinary person?

 

[Last Rezort]

Originally posted by: MrBond
Wow - I didn't realize that analog TV's just wouldn't work after the switch to digital. I figured stuff would be simucast for a while longer at least.

My parents have 6 TVs in their house - one has Satallite, but still uses OTA signals for locals. They'd have to buy 6 tuners just to continue to use all their TVs.

Wow thats alot of tvs.
BTW HDTV is the coolest thing ever. the day i got my 50 inch plasma up to 1080i i spunked all over myself. the signal is so clear, and the picture so sharp, its like being at a studio recording. i mean the picture looks amazing

 

[Sunbird]

Originally posted by: Last Rezort

Originally posted by: MrBond
Wow - I didn't realize that analog TV's just wouldn't work after the switch to digital. I figured stuff would be simucast for a while longer at least.

My parents have 6 TVs in their house - one has Satallite, but still uses OTA signals for locals. They'd have to buy 6 tuners just to continue to use all their TVs.

Wow thats alot of tvs.
BTW HDTV is the coolest thing ever. the day i got my 50 inch plasma up to 1080i i spunked all over myself. the signal is so clear, and the picture so sharp, its like being at a studio recording. i mean the picture looks amazing

Just like with games, the content is more important than the graphics. Descent rocks!!!

 

[StageLeft]

Oh well. I did actually read the rest of the article

 

[IHYLN]

HDTV is awesome, can't believe we've been stuck with standard def crap for so long.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: Sunbird
Back on the rain influencing the digital TV, maybe snow does too.

No TV cause its raining, maybe I ought to go outside and do something, oh wait.......

So where are the benefits in digital for the ordinary person?

Rain and snow has NEVER effected my OTA Digital stations. And I live in the midwest (bad weather) with very distant towers.

Now, it can have an effect on my Sat dish, but that's entirely different.

 

[woowoo]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
so if this went into effect I'd have to buy some silly convertor? Yaye.

Scoorb,
We are in the transition period now
The end is in sight.....

 

[meltdown75]

Originally posted by: getbush
So, worst case scenario, people get off their asses and go outside more?

:roll:

does this mean my bunny ears are useless now? damn - i guess i'll have to pay for TV again. :'(

 

[Demon-Xanth]

As far as weather is concerned, the signal will either be there perfectly, or not at all. If the signal was a little snowey on analog it'll be perfect on digital. If it was heavily snowy on analog, it'll be a black screen on digital.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: meltdown75

Originally posted by: getbush
So, worst case scenario, people get off their asses and go outside more?

:roll:

does this mean my bunny ears are useless now? damn - i guess i'll have to pay for TV again. :'(

Bunny ears work for digital better then ever.

No more fuzzy, ghosting images. With digital, a weak signal looks as good as a strong one.

 

[meltdown75]

Oh so they're just changing how the signals are being sent out?

Sorry btw - MSN never works for me @ work so I couldn't read the article...

 

[woowoo]

Originally posted by: meltdown75
Oh so they're just changing how the signals are being sent out?

Correct
Digital data on an analog carrier.
8vsb modulation
19.39 Mbs. Data rate
Most standard definition feeds need 3-4.5 Mbs
HD can be done using 14 Mbs or more.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: meltdown75
Oh so they're just changing how the signals are being sent out?

Sorry btw - MSN never works for me @ work so I couldn't read the article...

Yeah. You'll need a new tuner to decode them, but bunny ears will still work.

All new TVs will have digital tuners built in (or no tuner at all).

I get all my local digital channels with an antenna. The picture quality of OTA digital is OUTSTANDING, even for standard definition programming.

 

[arod]

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: meltdown75

Originally posted by: getbush
So, worst case scenario, people get off their asses and go outside more?

:roll:

does this mean my bunny ears are useless now? damn - i guess i'll have to pay for TV again. :'(

Bunny ears work for digital better then ever.

No more fuzzy, ghosting images. With digital, a weak signal looks as good as a strong one.

Yep.... there is no inbetween with digital which is nice.... You get a perfect picture or you dont.

 

[Amused]

Just for the record. I oppose this law on moral grounds.

However, since my bull isn't being gored and the outcome of this benefits me greatly, I'm not very vocal against it.

But if I was forced to vote on it, I would vote against it.

 

[meltdown75]

Sweet. As long as I get to watch Monday Night Footba-- DOH!

er - well, cheers for technology I guess. :beer:

 

[FoBoT]

it won't happen like that

 

[knyghtbyte]

For standard quality broadcast, i'd prefer analog, if the signal does get a bit poor you just get ghosting or a bit of static, but you can still watch it, also the sound usually stays good although it might switch to mono.
With digital though, if the signal gets poorer, the picture breaks up into lots of squares (the blocking effect) and the sound goes all strange with lots of odd squitchy noises, unwatchable and unlistenable!

for HDTV tho you will need a solid connection i reckon like Cable, or an expensive satellite setup, unless you live in a wide open area with fair weather patterns year round. I live in London, and anything Aerial based sucks, and Satellite can still show up problems....

the HDTV, is that in Dolby Digital only, or does some stuff broadcast in DTS?

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: knyghtbyte
For standard quality broadcast, i'd prefer analog, if the signal does get a bit poor you just get ghosting or a bit of static, but you can still watch it, also the sound usually stays good although it might switch to mono.
With digital though, if the signal gets poorer, the picture breaks up into lots of squares (the blocking effect) and the sound goes all strange with lots of odd squitchy noises, unwatchable and unlistenable!

for HDTV tho you will need a solid connection i reckon like Cable, or an expensive satellite setup, unless you live in a wide open area with fair weather patterns year round. I live in London, and anything Aerial based sucks, and Satellite can still show up problems....

the HDTV, is that in Dolby Digital only, or does some stuff broadcast in DTS?

Analog becomes unwatchable LONG before a digital channel starts breaking up.

Most people in the US can get good reception with a simple antenna.