DTV Transition

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by '97ventureowner

The converter boxes are basically the next step in technology. Like when tv replaced the radio as a main source of entertainment, then color tv replaced B&W. Another analogy was when radial tires replaces bias-ply tires. Something comes along that is a better technology and in order to get people to be convinced and take advantage, sometimes they need an incentive to do so, as that may be the only way we can get ahead.

No question DTV is an improvement and a technological advancement IMO for the better. I noticed when I set up the converter (Magnavox) for the spare analog TV there were some nice features that spruce up older analog TVs. Of course features may vary with the brand converter. For example the banner indicator at the top of the screen, built in signal strength meter to check channel signal or align your antenna, VChip, EPG, and the subchannels operating off the main channels giving a better variety of stations. Basically the main advantage is DTV allows for multiple signals called sub channels sent simultaneously on one main channel by using high compression technology. And there is no question the picture quality is superior.

[CL8]

Originally Posted by '97ventureowner

The word "stimulus" has really taken hold in the English language lately started by then President G.W.Bush's stimulus check program in 2008. Now it seems everybody wants to label any type of help as stimumlus : The fact that the DTV program was started in 2005 with the introduction of the bill does not constitute a stimulus program. Money was made available (although not enough it seems) to provide coupons for anybody who needed them to purchase the boxes needed for the transition. It's along the same lines as the Sunday manufacturer coupon supplements that appear in the newspaper. Should we be calling those stimulus' to buy cereal, coffee, frozen bagels, etc. instead of coupons?

The difference is, those manufacturers are not taking someone elses money to give you a discount. The members of congress aren't usuing their own money, but the taxpayers money, to give people something they should pay for themselves. That is selfish, wrong and stealing from one person to give to another.

Why should i give you $40 to buy a converter box when you can get them for as little as $9.99? You had enough time and warning to request your very own coupon to get your own box and enough time to save $10 to buy your own. Don't have the money to buy one? How about you forgo eating out one night or not go to a movie, and you'll have enough enough saved to get one. It's not rocket science "Too lazy or irresponsible "to get one? Too bad.

Well, the sad truth is, you have already paid for someones converter box, without your prior consent, because those coupons are paid for by your tax money!

As previously stated, it doesn't have to cost $50 for a box. with proper planning,( you had enough forewarning that this was going to happen on 2/17/09)you could have requested, received and purchased your own box and be ready. Again, if people don't want to participate in this, it is their right. It's like buying a VCR or DVD to watch movies. It was a personal decision. If they wanted to view the movies, then they would have to buy their own player. And stores even offered discounts, coupons and rebates for consumers to buy those items too! Should they be faulted as well? Should that be considered a "stimulus-type " program by the stores too?

They aren't taking money from someone else to pay for those rebates like the government is with tax payers money for the coupons.

The converter boxes are basically the next step in technology. Like when tv replaced the radio as a main source of entertainment, then color tv replaced B&W. Another analogy was when radial tires replaces bias-ply tires. Something comes along that is a better technology and in order to get people to be convinced and take advantage, sometimes they need an incentive to do so, as that may be the only way we can get ahead.

I don't remember the government giving out coupons for DvD players, or VCRS, or Radial tires.

Now I wasn't around when T.V. first came out did the government give coupons to people for T.V.s then?
If consumers didn't get government "coupons' for those items, and the economy and society adjusted just fine then, why do people think we need government help now?

And don't say it's the economy, T.V.s came out at the time of the great deppresion, and VCRs, when the economy wasn't so great.
There are just too many Americans with the "spoiled brat" mentallity today, wanting someone to give them everything.

[BNaylor]

Regardless of whether you agree with the reasons for switching over to DTV or the coupon program keep in mind that there are two main reasons why the government has mandated the transition. To free up those analog frequencies for public safety communications, i.e. police, fire, and emergency rescue and even the military. Also, opening up frequencies for commercial use and ventures like advanced commercial wireless. The latter won't be free and blocks of frequencies will be auctioned off to commercial entities meaning the government will make money on the deal.

Here is an interesting read from Popular Mechanics. Obviously many took advantage of the coupon program but there is proof of procrastination.

As of Jan. 14, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) program had mailed out 44.6 million government-issued coupons to defray the cost of DTV converter boxes. (There’s a limit of two coupons per household.) Of those, 19.8 million had been redeemed, 13.7 million coupons were about to pass their 90-day expiration deadline, and 11 million were still active but unused.

Link to Article

[HotZ28]

Originally Posted by CLB

Well, the sad truth is, you have already paid for someones converter box, without your prior consent, because those coupons are paid for by your tax money!

Isn’t that what the government is for, to take care of those who are to lazy & irresponsible to take care of themselves?

[CL8]

Originally Posted by HotZ28

Isn’t that what the government is for, to take care of those who are to lazy & irresponsible to take care of themselves?

How about some government coupons to pay for new "cleaner" vehicles like hybrids and such? My 99 Caravan is starting to have a few problems, I could use a new vehicle, more that digital T.V.!

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by CL8

How about some government coupons to pay for new "cleaner" vehicles like hybrids and such?

Sorry the government already thought of that whether you agree with it or not in the form of energy tax credits for buying a hybrid vehicle.

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/Feg/tax_hybrid.shtml

['97ventureowner]

Looks like we will have 4 more months to convert:
http://www.informationweek.com/news/...on=All+Stories

But that still won't stop some tv stations from flipping the switch in 12 days going all digital. Out of the 3 local affiliates in my area, one is going ahead with the switch on 2/17 and the other 2 have not made a decision as of today.

[CL8]

Originally Posted by BNaylor

Sorry the government already thought of that whether you agree with it or not in the form of energy tax credits for buying a hybrid vehicle.

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/Feg/tax_hybrid.shtml

well at around $20,000 for a hybrid I'll need more than just $3000.00 in credit, I'll need more like at least $15,000 in a tax credit!

['97ventureowner]

http://www.kentucky.com/572/story/685815.html
Here's an interesting article about the DTV transition.It explains that the US is essentially bold in the way it's going through the process of analog to digital in basically one swath,( although, arguably, one could say we now have 2 shutdown dates.) Other large countries have done this over a period of time or regions, while smaller countries with less tv viewers/population have tended to do it like the US, all at once. The article also explains what other governments have done to assist their population to convert their tv's to be able to receive the digital signals.
It also states that there are still 3.7 million requests still unfulfilled for the DTV coupons, and the economic stimulus plan has allocated roughly $650,000,000 to correct this issue .

[CL8]

Originally Posted by '97ventureowner

http://www.kentucky.com/572/story/685815.html
Here's an interesting article about the DTV transition.It explains that the US is essentially bold in the way it's going through the process of analog to digital in basically one swath,( although, arguably, one could say we now have 2 shutdown dates.) Other large countries have done this over a period of time or regions, while smaller countries with less tv viewers/population have tended to do it like the US, all at once. The article also explains what other governments have done to assist their population to convert their tv's to be able to receive the digital signals.
It also states that there are still 3.7 million requests still unfulfilled for the DTV coupons, and the economic stimulus plan has allocated roughly $650,000,000 to correct this issue .

That is quite an informative article.
I gather, if it goes well the U.S. will look pretty smart.
If there are alot of problems with the switch, the U.S. will look pretty stupid.

[CL8]

I got some excellent news for myself today.

I had lunch with a former client of mine.
We started talking about the digital switch in Television.
When mentioned I don't have a converter box yet, she told me to hold off on purchasing one
because she is getting ready to move and has 2 converter boxes and she will give me one!

So, Praise the Lord, I won't even need that government coupon after all!!

[fredjacksonsan]

On time. If people can't get with it in the 2 years they've had already....

This always happens, some last minute heroics for people that haven't taken responsibility for their own action. Or inaction, in this case.

Of course my old TV was 18 years old and I waited for a sale last month.

[CL8]

Originally Posted by fredjacksonsan

On time. If people can't get with it in the 2 years they've had already....

This always happens, some last minute heroics for people that haven't taken responsibility for their own action. Or inaction, in this case.

I wasn't looking or asking for that offer, as I said before, I couldn't care less if they take my T.V. away. Very little is worth watching anyway on T.V. But if a friend offers to give me a converter I will take it.

Of course my old TV was 18 years old and I waited for a sale last month.

[thrasher]

I think it needs to be delayed, and here is why...

I have had my converter box for at least 6 months now, and have been experimenting with all possible locations of my antenna to get a clear signal. After an enormous amount of frustration, I have finally given up, and have stopped watching broadcast TV. I can regularly watch 2 channels in digital, and one of them is Fox, so that leaves me essentially screwed. It is my understanding that the Government performed VERY few in home tests to see whether the transition would work for those with bunny ears, and the tests they did do were mostly in homes with outdoor antennas 10m off the ground.

The problem is that the government stepped in and mandated that private corporations change their practices without sufficient justification and also without sufficient research and development. The public has been accustomed to free over the air broadcast television for decades and are now being told that they will have to purchase and install outdoor antennas at a likely cost of hundreds of dollars (if they pay for labor). It's absurd, and it needs more time to fixed and set in motion correctly!

[fredjacksonsan]

Originally Posted by thrasher

I have had my converter box for at least 6 months now, and have been experimenting with all possible locations of my antenna to get a clear signal. After an enormous amount of frustration, I have finally given up, and have stopped watching broadcast TV. I can regularly watch 2 channels in digital, and one of them is Fox, ...

Just a quick note...we had similar issues, and at first tried using the old bunny ears. When we switched to the digital TV, we got maybe 8 digital stations, most of which broke up frequently -- so I was as frustrated as you sound, having just spent a bunch of cash on a new TV.

I went to Target and for $40, got a powered antenna especially for digital. Although this required extra moola, it also gets us about 30 digital stations, only 1 of which breaks up. BTW, we live in the country, about 30 miles away from two cities.

Before the digital stuff, we received 6 analog stations, which were badly affected by weather.



Side note: The changeover date is when the stations must cease analog broadcasts....they MAY start earlier if they so desire, so an extension doesn't really help the viewers.