Finally saw the "digital TV" commercial.

[kx250rider]

Originally Posted by MRX37

If a big enough stink is raised, analog might come back... in some form...

That seems to happen every time a big event like this is planned. Especially if the ACLU gets it's nose poked in on it. Somebody will definitely sue and whine discrimination, and the taxpayers will wind up holding the bag for some kind of payout, as usual.

Charles

[Carmine]

Originally Posted by kx250rider

That seems to happen every time a big event like this is planned. Especially if the ACLU gets it's nose poked in on it. Somebody will definitely sue and whine discrimination, and the taxpayers will wind up holding the bag for some kind of payout, as usual.

Charles

The discrimination in this case is against those of us who like to imagine we live in a free-market economy where broadcasters and consumers would decide when we "go digital", not lobbyists representing an industry that needs a big seller to keep the assembly lines running in the Shang-Dong province of a communist nation.

We (taxpayers) are already subsidizing the cost of this switch via the $40 set-top coupons... Or were you expecting to see your federal taxes reduced because the government is about to have a windfall for the analog spectrum? Then we'll subsidize the clean-up and/or recycling of millions of TV sets obsoleted overnight by government decree.

But I digress...

Since I've already accepted/expected greed and corruption as a system of government years ago; it would be nice if all-knowing big-brother would allow at least some portion (1-2 channels worth) of the vacated spectrum TV to remain for local public/non-profit/emergency usage. I would think boss-man would allow us at least this symbolic table-scrap.

[Thyratron]

Great points all, Carmine. This whole thing is a mistake, in my opinion.

[NowhereMan 1966]

Originally Posted by RCAkid

I saw the HD ad Christmas Eve here in Oklahoma City. No real fanfare, just an animated spot giving the basic details.

I am sure most people don't have a clue and will freak come Feb 2009, assuming this really happens.

I know. If my maternal grandmother was still alive, she would be one of the ones who would freak, she used a 1962 RCA B&W (no UHF either) set up until she almost went into a nursing home and then passing away. She would go apecrap if she could not watch "her stories" (soap operas) anymore. BTW, FWIW, I did order my two coupons from the government today, hey if we are having this thrust down our throats, at least they should cover most or all of the costs to convert. The 1982 Zenith is on cable but I have two sets here that use antennas to get signals, my 1964 Sony B&W and a Commodore monitor hooked to a dead VCR, I figure I'll need those two boxes and what if I get my 1970 Zenith to work?

[NowhereMan 1966]

Originally Posted by MRX37

I am anticipating that unless some unforseen event happens, poorer people will be VERY angry come February 2009, and a big stink will be raised. Accusations that the FCC is against poor people will be made.

If a big enough stink is raised, analog might come back... in some form...

Well, I always semi-joked where someone should write Al Sharpton and Jessie Jackson on this and see what happens.

[NowhereMan 1966]

Originally Posted by Carmine

The discrimination in this case is against those of us who like to imagine we live in a free-market economy where broadcasters and consumers would decide when we "go digital", not lobbyists representing an industry that needs a big seller to keep the assembly lines running in the Shang-Dong province of a communist nation.

We (taxpayers) are already subsidizing the cost of this switch via the $40 set-top coupons... Or were you expecting to see your federal taxes reduced because the government is about to have a windfall for the analog spectrum? Then we'll subsidize the clean-up and/or recycling of millions of TV sets obsoleted overnight by government decree.

But I digress...

Since I've already accepted/expected greed and corruption as a system of government years ago; it would be nice if all-knowing big-brother would allow at least some portion (1-2 channels worth) of the vacated spectrum TV to remain for local public/non-profit/emergency usage. I would think boss-man would allow us at least this symbolic table-scrap.

OK, what I would do is, if I was king, the VHF channels (2 - 13) and UHF channels 14 thru 50 would still be NTSC and 51 thru 83 would be HDTV (ATSC). If I understand correctly, the old AMPS phone standard for cellphones was supposed to stop in 2007 thus freeing channels 70 thru 83 again. If AMPS is still around, then make the allocations 14 - 45 NTSC and 46 - 69 HDTV then. That way, let the free market decide. Then if HDTV takes off, I would then use all the UHF channel for it and then I would still leave NTSC on the VHF channels, I mean it would be nice for emergencies, otherwise HDTV would be useless and AM radio would be our only source of news and the like.

I think it is wrong to sell off the spectrum, it is a limited resource and there is not a lot of it so keeping it in the public interest would be the wisest thing to do. Unfortunatly ever since the Reagan era, we have put up a lot of things that should still be publically held up for sale. I understand doing this with some public lands, there is a whole buttload of land other there that can be utilized better but when it comes to the radio spectrum, a very limited resource, it is dead wrong. Sorry for getting a little political there but IMHO, there are very few on them who really work for the public interests, most have sold out to their "Big Governess" (a coalition of Big Business and Big Government) lobbyists.

[Carmine]

Coincidently, I just saw a local HDTV conversion spot where the y'ocal weatherman flunky says something along the lines of "It's too complicated to explain..." (While complex math problems flash across the screen).

The man loves to keep his sheep stupid!

[Fred Sanford]

Speaking of stupid sheep, there's a nice little part of the Dept. of Commerce rules on this conversion:

52. Most commenters on the subject supported the inclusion of both composite video/audio and RF outputs in the converter box. THAT Corporation (THAT Corp.) noted in its comments that “[t]o utilize these (composite video) outputs, consumers must be able to connect three separate cables from these converter box outputs to three corresponding inputs on the TV monitor. . . such a hookup requires a degree of technical competence lacking in many consumers.”[ 96 ]

Nice.

The DTV ad is running almost constantly here, and adding insult to injury the audio is absolutely wretched- massive sibilance and distortion. Mmmm, can't wait, hey thanks!

je

[Keefla]

such a hookup requires a degree of technical competence lacking in many consumers.

sad part is this statment is probably true.

[ChrisW6ATV]

Originally Posted by NowhereMan 1966

If I understand correctly, the old AMPS phone standard for cellphones was supposed to stop in 2007 thus freeing channels 70 thru 83 again.

AMPS (analog cell phone service) is mostly gone already, and may end entirely in 2008, but I don't think it has a mandate to shut down. In any case, it will not release any RF spectrum. That same 800 MHz band is used by Verizon and others for their CDMA cell phones, so the analog shutdown will simply allow them to improve their (already excellent) coverage.

[andy]

http://www.news.com/Broadcasters-get...l?tag=nefd.top

It looks like the FCC wants to speed things up.

[freakaftr8]

Saw it here on Fox 40 news last night, and there showing some cheap-0- walmart brand crt tv working with an atsc tuner box. Kinda interesting glimpse into the future... They noted that you do not have to throw away your old set, just get the box..