Just one month left of analog NTSC (again)

[wa2ise]

I don't think they're going to extend it yet again.

[zenith2134]

Doubt that they will. Would be nice to have one more summer of OTA analog for the portables though...

[Sandy G]

Deja Vu all over again...But yeah, this time I think its for real...Still think this is one of the most boneheaded things The Gummint has ever done, NOT trying to get political or anything like that.

[radiotvnut]

I'm not trying to get political either; but, I think it would be nice if they would allow one station per market to remain analog, at least for the next few years. There are too many battery operated TV's around that we all depend on during emergencies. Now, I'm going to have to rig a converter and a DC power source to work with my battery operated TV for use during emergencies. I do own a weather radio and many regular transistor portable radios; but, the local TV station (still analog) does a far better job when it comes to weather coverage.

[zenith2134]

Another related note: Many of us now rely on Voice-Over-Internet-Protocol (VOIP) phone services. This means that the phone will not work in a power failure without a backup battery which most people neglect to install.

I was watching a 1940's movie before and there was a blackout, and the phone worked fine.

In some ways, things move in reverse as time marches on.

[peverett]

I have a weather radio and have found it to be essentially worthless. The reason being is that you cannot set the alarm different for warnings vs watches. Because of this, if you turn it on while a watch only is issued, you will be alarmed as long as the watch exists(storms or no storms). Try to sleep with that going on. The alarm is the same for warnings or watches-another stupid design defect. I wrote the manufacturere and they claim that the signal transmitted is the same for watches/vs warnings and they cannot differentiate.

I keep hopeing that with all the severe storms recently, someone with some influnce will notice how much better analog TV performs during storms and do the common sense thing-keep at least one analog TV station running in areas prone to severe weather.

[Jeffhs]

Originally Posted by zenith2134

Another related note: Many of us now rely on Voice-Over-Internet-Protocol (VOIP) phone services. This means that the phone will not work in a power failure without a backup battery which most people neglect to install.

I was watching a 1940's movie before and there was a blackout, and the phone worked fine.

In some ways, things move in reverse as time marches on.

Not only VoIP phone service is affected during power outages. If you have digital phone service, it too will be useless if the power goes out. This includes 911 emergency calls. I cannot speak for other digital phone carriers, but AT&T's digital telephone service does not have backup batteries or other means of keeping the network going in case of an outage. IMHO, they should have designed a backup power system into the digital network right from the start. Many computer users (and most businesses depending on 24/7 reliability of their online systems) now have uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs) for their computers/networks; why not for digital telephone service as well? Hmmm.

BTW: Yes, the DTV transition date now seems to be set in stone, and will not be pushed back again. As I read in today's issue of Broadcasting and Cable magazine's email newsletter, the NAB's campaign to educate viewers about the DTV switch seems to be working well; at the latest count, only a bit over one percent of the American public is not prepared for the transition. In the same issue of B&C was a statement that the FCC will launch a program shortly in which it will send representatives to homes not yet prepared for DTV, installing converter boxes and/or educating viewers as to what they must do to continue watching local TV after the analog stations leave the air forever. This may be the only way to convince those few diehard TV viewers who do not believe analog TV will end for good on June 12 that such will happen, like it or not.

[wilkes85]

No matter what, there will always be a number of morons out there. Despite all the warnings on TV, there's still gonna be a number of people wondering why their TV wont work.
And there is a whole lot more idiots who think that the DTV conversion effects everyone; those with cable, satelite, etc. and not just those who just got rabbit ears.
But then again that impression was given earlier on, in an attempt to make people think they have to buy a new digital flatscreen POS plasma or some dumb thing like that.

Kinda like in school, you always get the one or two morons; "Teacher, I lost my textbook!" and especially in band; "I lost my music/insturment/uniform/etc!!"

But if you ask me, this digital conversion is just a great big waste of time, money, and energy.
Soon this will happen to AM and FM radio.
Soon, not only that we won't get free TV anymore, but no more free radio either.

And it is a fact that the masses are complete morons.
And if these idiots still don't understand the DTV conversion after all this hype, then fuck em.

[zenithfan1]

Originally Posted by wilkes85

And it is a fact that the masses are complete morons.
And if these idiots still don't understand the DTV conversion after all this hype, then fuck em.

Well said!

[radiotvnut]

Yes, let's get on with this on schedule or just drop the whole thing. The fact is that some people just are not going to get it unless they get a good kick in the butt, as in turning on their TVs on 6/13 just to be greeted with snow.

[Dave1384]

Originally Posted by zenith2134

Doubt that they will. Would be nice to have one more summer of OTA analog for the portables though...

Three of mine will be quitting..
The taxpayers pay for PBS and it won't come in. There you have it.

[Dave1384]

Originally Posted by zenithfan1

Well said!

It applies to those elected who gave us this, whoever they are.
Gee, AM stereo..just what I need to listen to news.

[radiotvnut]

Originally Posted by Dave1384

Three of mine will be quitting..
The taxpayers pay for PBS and it won't come in. There you have it.

All we have left is the ABC affiliate and an LP Christian station. I'm sure the low power station will remain since they are not required to switch.

Just for the record, the digital PBS signal is harder to receive than the former analog signal. I guess it's a good thing I don't watch PBS much; but, there are others that do. The only thing I watch on a regular basis is RTN and the 6 PM local news.

[BwanaJim]

Radiotvnut is right, DTV signals are much easier to screw up I live within 15 miles of 5 broadcast towers and get analog signals just fine but when a bus pulls up out front or a big truck passes my DTV signal drops to 0%. I normally average 65% to 85% signal strength with one of those big 2' x 3' home made antennas but each day the signal direction changes, sometimes the antenna points 90 degrees to the direction of the broadcasting antenna!

[AUdubon5425]

Originally Posted by radiotvnut

I'm not trying to get political either; but, I think it would be nice if they would allow one station per market to remain analog, at least for the next few years. There are too many battery operated TV's around that we all depend on during emergencies. Now, I'm going to have to rig a converter and a DC power source to work with my battery operated TV for use during emergencies. I do own a weather radio and many regular transistor portable radios; but, the local TV station (still analog) does a far better job when it comes to weather coverage.

I agree - I like seeing the radar. I looked into battery-operated DTV sets and I'm not about to spend that much money for some Chinese crap that won't work when I take it out of the closet next hurricane season.