Have we talked about the requirement of having a digital converter for the television?

I understand it will give us all a better picture -- but why will it be "illegal" for anyone to transmit a television signal other than digitally?

I'm uncomfortable with being required to do something with no other option, as you may have noticed.  LOL
Mel

 from what I understand the smaller TV stations will not have to switch....but I don't know what they mean by smaller....lower watts I guess...

and I think they are in cahoots with the digital TV makers....sell a new TV to everyone etc..... 

I think the whole thing stinks really.  It doesn't effect me because I have cable, but my inlaws have to get boxes for all their televisions.  They can't get cable where they live.

I'm upset that our little battery-powered TVs won't work and that I won't be able to listen to TV sound over the radio.....if I'm understanding the change properly.  I rely on those devices for info in storms, power outages, or if I'm too busy to sit down in front of the TV and just want to listen to the news while I bop around the house or do something else.  

I saw battery-powered TV's that have digital tuners @ Best Buy, but they wanted over $100 for them!  

I read on one of their websites the other day,that there will still be some analog TV stations after the "Big Switch"  They way I understood it,was you know how sometimes you are watching a stations,and the Logo is,lets say Channel 13,but you are watching it on,lets say 27.  Those will still be Analog,but the Main stations will be digital.

I have been using my Digital converter box for a couple months now.  No cable here,and don't have satellite.  I like it in some ways and HATE it in others.  I'm out in the middle of no mans land,so all TV stations are a long ways off.  What I HATE about it is,when ever it is raining or foggy in the city the station is at,we can not pick signal.  Or,if it's raining here,NO signal.  We get allot of tornado's around here,and we track storms on the TV to see when we need to head for cover.  Well,we can't do that now on account of loosing signal.  So we then have to unhook from the back of the TV and go through all of that and switch back to Analog.  Well,come 2009 we will no longer be able to switch back to Analog and track storms.  Also,if a station is not coming if PERFECT,we still loose signal.  But,again,I unhook everything and switch back to Analog and that same station on Analog is coming in almost perfect.

What I DO like about it is,IF the weather is near perfect,we get LOADS of stations,even a 24/7 weather channel,just for this area though.  But now,we get 4 PBS stations,which is a HUGE hit with the kids.  We also get like 3 ABC stations,4 CBS stations,and so on.

Out here in the Hinterland we had cable TV furnished by "Midcontinent" and phone and internet service by "Consolidated", latter a lone ranger small company serving only parts of w ND, a small part of  s ea Montana and a small part of n w SD.

Then our IP decided to go fiber opric and didgital and include digital TV to gove the cable company competition. THis went into effect earlier this year.

Now the cable company will also be converting to digital by April 2009 and  you either sign up at a higher price or you are left out in the cold unless you have a dish and most of those do not carry local stations (from what I have heard).. There is a network station ijn Bismarck and a sub station in Dickinson and nobody will be able to get them after April 09 unbless you get digital, even f you have cable now..

Yes, it stinks and is also more expensive. Like  years ago nobody ever thought of going to a STORE to pay a high price for bagged BS (cow poop)

As far as the picture goes, I really don't see that much difference except for a sometimes brightness that is hard on the eyes.

For news there is always good old RADIO. Our PBS station has good classical music and also good impartial news..

Summer, that's my concern too.  A couple of times down here, due to hurricanes, I had no electricity.  The last time for more than 2 weeks.  That battery powered tv was very important, and now it won't work.

I hope the information you all provided re: some analog stations is true.

Mel

Does anyone know if that new thing will effect my VCR/DVD player. I just got a new one but my friend got a real expensive one (250.00) one and the salesman said she will have to get some other part for it when we switch. Anyone know about this?

I don't have a VCR hooked up to my TV,but I do a DVD player.  My DVD player hooks up using those cords that have a yellow end on one wire,a red on the other and white on the last.  The converter box hooks up to the back of your TV where your antenna normally would,then you hook the antenna into the back of the converter box.  So,with my DVD player,having the converter box has NO affect on the DVD.  They hook up to different things on your TV.

I bought 2 of the boxes,one at Walmart one at Best Buy.  The MANAGER is the one at Best Buy who help me find their boxes.  This was a couple months ago.  He was trying to talk me OUT of buying the box then,saying that I wouldn't need it till 2009,that I couldn't use it until then. I said,what are you talking about?  He said,well things won't be digital until 2009.  I told him,well about 2 weeks ago,I got 1 box from Walmart and have been using it every sense and get LOADS of digital channels.  He was dumbfounded.  Didn't know you could watch Digital now...and he was running their store!

We got a couple of converters over a month ago.  We do have basic cable that came with internet, and we also have had a 10 ft satellite dish for around 23 yrs. 

Not all the digital channels are offered with the basic cable -- like there are 4 PBS channels I get with the converter. 

As someone else mentioned, weather can be a problem with reception. 

Our provider furnished the boxes free of charge (but they do take it put of your hide in monthly fees).. I have 3 of them. on in the living room, one in the bedroom for a small bedside TV and one in the basement for rare company or when I am down there during a storm. Of course, when the power goes off, a battery radio still works and the Bismarck stations keep us informed where the storms or possible tornadoes are, they are pretty good about it.

Grelo,are you talking about cable/satellite boxes or the digital converter boxes?

I'm not happy about having to change either, but we need a new tv anyway so I guess we will just buy a new one instead of buying the converter boxes.....

Same here, Jet.  Truth to tell, I've got a Zenith tv that was made when the Dinasaurs were still roaming about.

WEll, if we have problems,  like Lil,  and not be able to get a signal because of rain, or living in a valley, then, we'll probably end up having to get satellite.

I've had a horrible time trying to get the coupons for our converters.  I finally called them, and on the second day of trying, got a person to talk to. She is sending two coupons. I won't get them till August. I was afraid it was too late.

I hate it. I won't be able to get anything, anyway,  but, I just don't see the purpose of it.