DigitalTV Switch

[Faux]

Okay, US is switching from analog to digital in February and Canada will do it in 2011 just before the world ends.

 

 

 

Does this mean that every TV will require a digital box? This is what my friend believes, but I always thought it will only affect the people who uses antenna. People who uses cable won't be affected.

[purfishx]

Why does everyone believe the world will end in 2012?

[ForsakenMage]

As far as I know, those with cable are fine. Those without cable, satellite, etc. should get the box.

 

 

 

https://www.dtv2009.gov/Options.aspx <= More info there.

[Evaluate]

Mayan calender ends on 12/12/2012 if I'm not mistaken. That's why.

 

 

 

I use cable, so this doesn't effect me, but I think it's probably best to swap.

[indy500fan]

The only people who are affected are the people who use antennas, like you thought. If you have satellite and get your local channels through that then you will be fine. However if you have satellite but still get your local channels through antenna then you will need the converter box.

[ThurinEthir]

I'm pretty sure RCN is switching completely to digital though. My family had to get a digital box a few weeks ago, and now one of our TVs is useless.

 

Other providers, probably not.

[Faux]

ah alright. i guess my CRT tv is still safe for now -_-

[Riku3220]

I can't wait until television is broadcast exclusively with telepathy. \

[Ouchy]

I can't wait until television is broadcast exclusively with telepathy. \

 

 

 

As awesome as that would be, I don't see it happening in anyone's life time. -.-

 

 

 

On Topic: New Zealand, my country, is making the switch to digital next year, I think. That's a problem for me, as one of the channels I watch isn't on the digital box...Doesn't matter, our pay-monthly digital has it ;)

[BlueLancer]

Yep, once the analog broadcasts stop, you pretty much *have* to buy a digital signal converter, or "box". If you still want to watch TV, that is. Some countries already have switched to digital-only so you're not alone.

 

 

 

Another great option to bypass the need to buy an expensive box is buying a converter that makes TV available on your computer or laptop via the USB port: http://www.tvstickshop.com/products/pro ... &prodid=15

 

 

 

Downside is some people don't like watching TV on a computer screen. It's way cheaper though, around $30-$40 bucks. I'd personally get both despite not watching much television, just in case something interesting is on

[Sbrideau]

I won't be paying for TV if they want me to buy an expesive box. They will provide it to me if they want me to keep paying the monthly fee to have the cable.

[Riku3220]

I won't be paying for TV if they want me to buy an expesive box. They will provide it to me if they want me to keep paying the monthly fee to have the cable.

 

 

 

You only need to buy the box if your getting TV from an antenna. Why are people who this doesn't even affect going crazy about this?

[Sbrideau]

If you have a CRT Tv, you will need the box as well, since those Tvs can't understand Digital, only analog signal.

[indy500fan]

If you have a CRT Tv, you will need the box as well, since those Tvs can't understand Digital, only analog signal.

 

 

 

Only if you get your TV over the air via antenna. If you have cable or satellite, you don't need anything.

 

 

 

Yep, once the analog broadcasts stop, you pretty much *have* to buy a digital signal converter, or "box". If you still want to watch TV, that is. Some countries already have switched to digital-only so you're not alone.

 

 

 

Another great option to bypass the need to buy an expensive box is buying a converter that makes TV available on your computer or laptop via the USB port: http://www.tvstickshop.com/products/pro ... &prodid=15

 

 

 

Downside is some people don't like watching TV on a computer screen. It's way cheaper though, around $30-$40 bucks. I'd personally get both despite not watching much television, just in case something interesting is on

 

 

 

You can get a $40 off coupon, and every place is selling the converter boxes for $60 so it only comes out to be $20. I already watch TV on my computer screen because of the Internet and because I am using my 32" HDTV as my monitor :D .

[Faux]

indy, 1080p or 720?

[indy500fan]

indy, 1080p or 720?

 

 

 

Sadly only 720p, I wouldn't recommend getting a 32" 720p HDTV for a monitor. It's a little too big for a monitor (and a little low resolution wise) and not quite as big as I would like for a TV, but it was affordable ($450 for 6ms seek/1200:1 contrast ratio, great deal at the time).

[duncdar2]

Doi! It's 2009..... not 2011. I hate it though... But it's those damn cell phone users.

[indy500fan]

Doi! It's 2009..... not 2011. I hate it though... But it's those damn cell phone users.

 

 

 

2009 for the US, 2011 for Canada.

 

 

 

Oh and I forgot to ask Carlo, have you started watching Battlestar Galactica yet? I seem to remember you mentioning that you felt like watching it.

[Faux]

Sadly only 720p, I wouldn't recommend getting a 32" 720p HDTV for a monitor. It's a little too big for a monitor (and a little low resolution wise) and not quite as big as I would like for a TV, but it was affordable ($450 for 6ms seek/1200:1 contrast ratio, great deal at the time).

 

 

 

yeah, your room is huge compared to mine. bust out the piggy and put a 42" plasma in there. a 32" would be decent in my tiny room though. still deciding if 1080p is worth the premium (planning to hook up a PC to it) or i can always just get a 720p and stream the media instead

 

 

 

and i haven't started umm... getting the episodes yet. I have to wait a few more days til my bandwidth cap resets.

[indy500fan]

Sadly only 720p, I wouldn't recommend getting a 32" 720p HDTV for a monitor. It's a little too big for a monitor (and a little low resolution wise) and not quite as big as I would like for a TV, but it was affordable ($450 for 6ms seek/1200:1 contrast ratio, great deal at the time).

 

 

 

yeah, your room is huge compared to mine. bust out the piggy and put a 42" plasma in there. a 32" would be decent in my tiny room though. still deciding if 1080p is worth the premium (planning to hook up a PC to it) or i can always just get a 720p and stream the media instead

 

 

 

and i haven't started umm... getting the episodes yet. I have to wait a few more days til my bandwidth cap resets.

 

 

 

If you are going to use a HDTV as a monitor, I would recommend getting 1080p. But if you go smaller that 32" (you really should if you plan on browsing the 'net with your head 2ft away from the screen) then you could probably just get a 24" computer monitor for cheaper. Just glancing at the first page of monitors on newegg I see this 24" monitor for $300 and it gets better than 1080p resolution.

 

 

 

However if you are just going to be using that PC as a media center then a HDTV would work just fine. Use this chart for a guide on whether you need 1080p or 720p, I originally was planning on using this as only a TV and was going to be sitting about 8 feet away from the screen, at that distance with a screen size of 32" people with 20/20 vision can't possibly tell the difference between 720p and 1080p.

[jasignhagj]

Mayan calender ends on 12/12/2012 if I'm not mistaken. That's why.

 

 

 

I use cable, so this doesn't effect me, but I think it's probably best to swap.

 

 

 

Dammit couldnt they wait till AFTER christmas

 

 

 

edit-- since when do we believe the people that believed the Spanish were gods?

[Faux]

Why does everyone believe the world will end in 2012?

 

 

 

 

 

The Mayan calendar ends on December 12, 2012. (12/21/12)

 

 

 

Then some [bleep] spread it to the Internet and here we are. :wall:

 

 

 

Relax, I was kidding. Jesus

[lordkafei]

Most of the newer satellite boxes have digital tuners built in them, so if you get your locals through an antenna and have that antenna attached to your satellite box, you don't need a 2nd converter box.

 

 

 

Bottom line: if something in your setup has an ATSC tuner, then you are ready for digital.

 

 

 

NTSC tuners are analog; ATSC are digital.

 

 

 

Be warned - the coupon boxes don't have all the bells and whistles. Manufacturers are only required to put certain features in the voucher boxes.

 

 

 

 

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has established guidelines that limit the functions and features of eligible boxes to only those that are needed to convert digital signals to a format that can be displayed on an analog TV. Video is only output as 480i standard definition regardless of what format the signal is broadcast in. The boxes also won't output the Dolby Digital 5.1-channel sound that's part of the HDTV broadcasting standard, instead downconverting that audio to two-channel stereo.

 

[thrash-boy]

i heard a while ago that here in aus the goverment is paying stations to keep broadcasting in analogue, instead of going digital only, and that all the money their spending keeping the analogue going they could buy a digital box for every house in the country, at no expense to the person in the house.

 

 

 

sadly my familys still on a ancient [cabbage] box tv, i swear its longer depth ways (from crappy screen to back) than it is width ways (from screen left to right). its a 'Masuda' brand, which i have NEVER heard of before.

 

 

 

thats the way it is around here unfortunately. my mum still uses a vcr and old tapes (old as in been sitting around for years aswell, not just because its old technology).

 

Last time the vcr screwed up, she bought another vcr despite them being old then (there was 2 in the shop i think, among all the dvd recorders).

 

I suppose the vcr thing has something to do with her backlog of 'neighbors' and 'days of our lives' tapes (no joke, shes 6 years behind what the story's upto at the moment with neighbors). Thats only set to get worse though, she rarely watches 5 episodes a week (which is how many she tapes because there on Mon-fri). I think I worked out ages ago that in 20 years she will be 5200 episodes behind or something, god knows how many tapes that will be if the series is still even going.

 

 

 

I hope i dont get addicted to old technology like that when im older.

[dsavi]

Wow, America is slow.