USA to delay digital TV switch

[Keith1701]

Just watch. People STILL won't be ready when June 12th arrives since they'll still be waiting until the last minute.

This is a true statement.

 

[John Picard]

The Senate voted and passed a resolution to delay the transition again.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28930229/

It goes to the House next week.

 

[Lindley]

If the House rejects it a few more times, it'll be the 17th and it won't matter.

 

[Saturn0660]

Doesn't have anything to do with cable tv, though, which is what Bigdaddy was talking about. Pretty much all TVs in the past 15-20 years have been sold as cable-ready. Means you can just plug it into the cable wire, and you get the basic 75 or so channels from the cable feed. Has nothing to do with analog vs digital tuners, as the analog tuners work for the cable signal.

However many cable companies are in the process of shifting out of town channels to exclusive digital.

Up until a couple of years ago TVs had analog digital ready tuners capable of receiving unscrambled cable channels, usually all but premium channels like HBO and Showtime. Analog and high Definition channels require more cable bandwidth than standard definition channels, so cable companies started shifting channels from analog to standard definition digital to make room for high definition channels. Shifting a channel to digital has the added benefit of allowing the cable company to encrypt it, which allows the cable company better opportunity to limit reception to customers that actually pay for the applicable programming bundle. Thus, the newer TVs with QAM (digital cable ready) tuners are often limited to receiving the local broadcasters and a few local access channels.

Feb 1st the local cable here is going full Dig... You need to have a QAM or a DCA box from them... Now if you want HD you need their HD cable box.. But, on the high said they are adding 40+ HD channels on top of the 24 they have now..

 

[ITL]

Very interesting thread this. We're going through a phased analogue switch-off at the moment over in the UK, but aside from a few grumpy pensioners it doesn't seem to have caused anywhere near as much hassle.

On topic, anyone who hasn't upgraded by now? Fuck 'em. They'll learn soon enough.

My area will switch to digital in 2011, so I have a while to get my arse into gear - I have a digibox ('twas a gift) but I need a new roof aerial. And if I haven't sorted that out by 2011 it'll be my own stupid fault for being a lazy get.

Does your digital box pick up anything? It it does, it may simply be a low quality signal, and when they increase the power of the signal after switch off you may be fine without a new aerial.

I have a crappy indoor aerial and the digibox picks up nothing. When the "install" button is pressed the channel search doesn't pick up one damn channel. And yes, the digibox is in good condition.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

My area will switch to digital in 2011, so I have a while to get my arse into gear - I have a digibox ('twas a gift) but I need a new roof aerial. And if I haven't sorted that out by 2011 it'll be my own stupid fault for being a lazy get.

Does your digital box pick up anything? It it does, it may simply be a low quality signal, and when they increase the power of the signal after switch off you may be fine without a new aerial.

I have a crappy indoor aerial and the digibox picks up nothing. When the "install" button is pressed the channel search doesn't pick up one damn channel. And yes, the digibox is in good condition.

Ok, then it's definitely down to the aerial, and not the signal quality in your area then. All I did was get a cheap £10 aerial kit from a cheap local DIY shop, and paid a neighbour £10 to go on the roof and point it the same way as the others And I get a better signal than my neighbour who paid £120 for a professional install.

 

[John Picard]

***** DELAYED *****

House Votes to Postpone Transition to Digital TV

 

[Frontier]

Sorry, but can anyone provide that from a legitimate news source? I can't believe anything that comes from FOX News.

 

[John Picard]

Sorry, but can anyone provide that from a legitimate news source? I can't believe anything that comes from FOX News.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/02/04/BU5L15N8V6.DTL

http://newsok.com/article/3343240

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2009-02-04-digital-tv_N.htm

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress has now decided to give people four more months to prepare for the upcoming transition from analog to digital TV broadcasting.
The House voted Wednesday to postpone the end of analog TV signals until June 12. The move is meant to address concerns that more than 6.5 million Americans with older TVs would not be ready by Feb. 17, the originally mandated deadline.
The House took up the question last week but under a special procedure that required more than a simple majority. This time it went through a normal vote.
The Senate passed the measure unanimously last week and the bill now heads to President Barack Obama for his signature. Obama's spokesman has said the president will sign it.

 

[Trekker4747]

Sorry, but can anyone provide that from a legitimate news source? I can't believe anything that comes from FOX News.

But... but it's fair and balanced.



This decision is a load of bullshit. We have to hand-hold the luddites who couldn't get off their ass and buy a $50 piece of equipment. Now major broadcasters and such are going to be out thousands upon thousands if not millions of dollars to operate equipment for several more moths not to mention the inconvience to those who need that freed up bandwith.

Christ.

The networks/affiliates should just shut off their analogue transmitters anyway.

Fuck the luddites.

 

[John Picard]

Sorry, but can anyone provide that from a legitimate news source? I can't believe anything that comes from FOX News.

But... but it's fair and balanced.



This decision is a load of bullshit. We have to hand-hold the luddites who couldn't get off their ass and buy a $50 piece of equipment. Now major broadcasters and such are going to be out thousands upon thousands if not millions of dollars to operate equipment for several more moths not to mention the inconvience to those who need that freed up bandwith.

Christ.

The networks/affiliates should just shut off their analogue transmitters anyway.

Fuck the luddites.

Reading and comprehension -- TRY IT

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/02/04/BU5L15N8V6.DTL

The delay does not mean every station will continue to broadcast in analog. Broadcasters will be permitted to shut off their analog transmission before June 12. That creates a potential uneven transition for analog viewers, who might still lose some channels, depending on what local stations decide to do.

 

[Frontier]

Wow. That makes it even MORE stupid, the whole "some may turn off analog before June 12"

This is just... dumb. Plain dumb.

What's worse? The Republicans voted against this dumb thing. Which means, I actually agree with the Republicans for the first time in as long as I can remember.

I feel so dirty.

 

[RoJoHen]

Ugh, that just means putting up with those stupid commercials for another 4 months.

Come on, America! Get your ass in gear!

I will say it's a sad state of affairs when this much trouble is caused because some people won't be able to watch TV anymore. Maybe it'll force them to read a book or something.

 

[Trekker4747]

The delay does not mean every station will continue to broadcast in analog. Broadcasters will be permitted to shut off their analog transmission before June 12. That creates a potential uneven transition for analog viewers, who might still lose some channels, depending on what local stations decide to do.

Yes because I read your silly little article links.



What the fuck is your problem with me, anyway? Do you get off on following me around, responding to all my posts with your little remarks, your "fixed it for you"s and nitpicking my posts?

 

[bigdaddy]

Is there anyway I can get a mod to edit the title and put "Not delayed!" at the end.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Is there anyway I can get a mod to edit the title and put "Not delayed!" at the end.

No, no, don't you see, you have to call it NOT.DELAYED.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

What's worse? The Republicans voted against this dumb thing. Which means, I actually agree with the Republicans for the first time in as long as I can remember.

I feel so dirty.

I had the same thought reading that article!

 

[John Picard]

What's worse? The Republicans voted against this dumb thing. Which means, I actually agree with the Republicans for the first time in as long as I can remember.

I feel so dirty.

I had the same thought reading that article!

Come to The Dark Side -- They have cookies!

 

[Mr. Adventure]

What's worse? The Republicans voted against this dumb thing. Which means, I actually agree with the Republicans for the first time in as long as I can remember.

I feel so dirty.

I had the same thought reading that article!

Come to The Dark Side -- They have cookies!

Do I have to listen to Rush and O'Reilly if I do?

 

[Frontier]

What's worse? The Republicans voted against this dumb thing. Which means, I actually agree with the Republicans for the first time in as long as I can remember.

I feel so dirty.

I had the same thought reading that article!

Come to The Dark Side -- They have cookies!

Well hey, at least you admit that conservatives/republicans are on the dark side. That's progress, I guess.