In the U.K the last Transmitter to switch to Digital only will be in 2011....
Us brits take a bit ore time with everything....
Posted by: Damon at June 28, 2007 11:05 AM
That seems to be the case (2011) in Canada also, thank goodness because I have an ancient non-digital TV and really DISLIKE being forced to upgrade...bad enough to have to do it with computers and software all the time.
And I wonder how the switch will affect folks like us, far enough from the transmitter (yes, I still use an antenna to get 5 or 6 channels depending on weather etc.) that the signal is never the best anyway. So will digital make it better, or will we not be able to see it at all and be forced to get satellite?
And what's with that anyway - why do governments feel compelled to force broadcasters (and hence citizens) to upgrade to digital TV even though we've never had a voice in the process?
Cheers,
Lelani
Posted by: dunstergirl at June 29, 2007 10:09 PM
Well, I have satelite and they only offer about four HDTV channels.
So, that settles theat for me. http://www.domdedomdom.com/
Posted by: Dominick at July 1, 2007 10:32 AM
I think it is terrible that they make the people of the U.S. do this. This is just for money so that you have to buy the box or a new TV. What is wrong with what he have. Many people do not have jobs and if they have several old TV's that have to get a boxs for each and if you cannont attach the box to make yours work YOU ARE OUT OF LUCK. They should be able to both systems and let the 3 million people keep their old TV's WHO DO NOT HAVE CABLE. All this is a money making business. The public have nothing to say as poeple above us in office have the first say so. If they need that channel, create a new system just for that and let us alone with what we have..
Posted by: jensen at December 3, 2007 3:47 PM
Okay, I am so very informed of this digital transition that I feel like a little info overload. I have had satelite for years since we live in no-where-ville. However, I have an Emerson weather band radio with TV sound. I use it when the satelite goes out in foul wx (Oklahoma). What I am not finding an answer to is will I be able to hear TV on my radio when the broadcast goes digital? If not, then where does that leave those of us who rely on non-tv based news updates?
Posted by: Christine at June 5, 2008 1:13 PM
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1
I believe that old radios that recieve TV audio-only will no
longer work.
I'm hopeful that new digital versions of those radios will
be made available.
In the mean time, the only alternative I can see is to just
listen to actual radio stations and not TV.
My converter box and new upgraded antenna are installed, but some channels only come in if I have my hands on the antenna. What's up with that?
Sounds like you're not getting a strong enough signal on the antenna. Too many variables for me to say what to do, but that's the thing to focus on.
- Leo 04-Nov-2008
Posted by: Sonja at November 3, 2008 9:18 AM
Dumb question I'm sure but I currently pay for premium HD channels through my local Cable provider. With this change over, will everyone who has an HD set get these for free?
No. The change only affects people getting things via antenna, and does not change what they get, only how they get it.
- Leo 29-Jan-2009
Posted by: Deb at January 28, 2009 1:18 PM
I am only 31, but I too find it frustrating. I have a portable TV and a radio, with a tv band on it. I use the portable tv when the power goes out at home. Now I will have to spend $200 for a new digital portable tv. I too started a new less paying job, I don't know when I will be able to get one. In addition, they also say we may need a new antenna. They cost about $20. Are they going to give us a coupon for that. nope. And as far as the radio goes, I realize a lot of people have ipods or can use radio via computer, if your job lets you. But I spent $70 on my radio/tv band, and it still works great, but now I can only listen to radio. I don't like Ipods and I hate having things in my ears. Just because the government says its for our own good, doesn't mean it is. I hope they don't conjure up anything else we'll have to pay for until, the economy is completely better. Technology, whoopee!
Posted by: Mark Sherman at June 12, 2009 11:53 AM
For people like me who listened to TV on their special radios with TV band tuners, there is a way to listen to digital TV without getting a TV. You have to be able to receive the Digital TV signal in your area. Just get one of those government subsidised converter boxes. And it actually functions as an audio tuner/radio. All you do is add headphones. So, get one of those digital converter boxes paid for with the government issued coupon. Make sure it is a model with with the two audio OUT plugs on the back. (Most have this I believe) Then hook up an antenna. Then you hook up your headphones to the back of the digital converter box using two adapters from Radio Shack. (The radio shack people will get you them. Then you connect up a tv (one time only) navigate to the auto scan and scan in all your stations. Then get rid of the tv and just use the converter box remote control to tune in stations and adjust the volume. The sound is great. And all you need is a converter box, the headphones, antenna and those audio cable adapter. HEre's a website I created today to see a picture of the setup, the adapter and the instructions. I hope it helps people since FCC and no one else is providing any good answers on this problem since the transition.
-Rick Allen
Comments
Read the article that everyone's commenting on.
Subscribe to the RSS Feed for comments on this article.
In the U.K the last Transmitter to switch to Digital only will be in 2011....
Us brits take a bit ore time with everything....
Posted by: Damon at June 28, 2007 11:05 AMThat seems to be the case (2011) in Canada also, thank goodness because I have an ancient non-digital TV and really DISLIKE being forced to upgrade...bad enough to have to do it with computers and software all the time.
And I wonder how the switch will affect folks like us, far enough from the transmitter (yes, I still use an antenna to get 5 or 6 channels depending on weather etc.) that the signal is never the best anyway. So will digital make it better, or will we not be able to see it at all and be forced to get satellite?
And what's with that anyway - why do governments feel compelled to force broadcasters (and hence citizens) to upgrade to digital TV even though we've never had a voice in the process?
Cheers,
Posted by: dunstergirl at June 29, 2007 10:09 PMLelani
Well, I have satelite and they only offer about four HDTV channels.
Posted by: Dominick at July 1, 2007 10:32 AMSo, that settles theat for me.
http://www.domdedomdom.com/
I think it is terrible that they make the people of the U.S. do this. This is just for money so that you have to buy the box or a new TV. What is wrong with what he have. Many people do not have jobs and if they have several old TV's that have to get a boxs for each and if you cannont attach the box to make yours work YOU ARE OUT OF LUCK. They should be able to both systems and let the 3 million people keep their old TV's WHO DO NOT HAVE CABLE. All this is a money making business. The public have nothing to say as poeple above us in office have the first say so. If they need that channel, create a new system just for that and let us alone with what we have..
Posted by: jensen at December 3, 2007 3:47 PMOkay, I am so very informed of this digital transition that I feel like a little info overload. I have had satelite for years since we live in no-where-ville. However, I have an Emerson weather band radio with TV sound. I use it when the satelite goes out in foul wx (Oklahoma). What I am not finding an answer to is will I be able to hear TV on my radio when the broadcast goes digital? If not, then where does that leave those of us who rely on non-tv based news updates?
Posted by: Christine at June 5, 2008 1:13 PM-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1
I believe that old radios that recieve TV audio-only will no
longer work.
I'm hopeful that new digital versions of those radios will
be made available.
In the mean time, the only alternative I can see is to just
listen to actual radio stations and not TV.
Leo
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: GnuPG v1.4.7 (MingW32)
iD8DBQFISWSxCMEe9B/8oqERAsGDAJ4vo6CvKfjmQNaw3W4rJ1ubIlXthQCgiQNf
Posted by: Leo at June 6, 2008 9:24 AMleugmtLeCPstTso1zq7Xahs=
=Jtxd
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
My converter box and new upgraded antenna are installed, but some channels only come in if I have my hands on the antenna. What's up with that?
04-Nov-2008
Dumb question I'm sure but I currently pay for premium HD channels through my local Cable provider. With this change over, will everyone who has an HD set get these for free?
29-Jan-2009
I am only 31, but I too find it frustrating. I have a portable TV and a radio, with a tv band on it. I use the portable tv when the power goes out at home. Now I will have to spend $200 for a new digital portable tv. I too started a new less paying job, I don't know when I will be able to get one. In addition, they also say we may need a new antenna. They cost about $20. Are they going to give us a coupon for that. nope. And as far as the radio goes, I realize a lot of people have ipods or can use radio via computer, if your job lets you. But I spent $70 on my radio/tv band, and it still works great, but now I can only listen to radio. I don't like Ipods and I hate having things in my ears. Just because the government says its for our own good, doesn't mean it is. I hope they don't conjure up anything else we'll have to pay for until, the economy is completely better. Technology, whoopee!
Posted by: Mark Sherman at June 12, 2009 11:53 AMFor people like me who listened to TV on their special radios with TV band tuners, there is a way to listen to digital TV without getting a TV. You have to be able to receive the Digital TV signal in your area. Just get one of those government subsidised converter boxes. And it actually functions as an audio tuner/radio. All you do is add headphones. So, get one of those digital converter boxes paid for with the government issued coupon. Make sure it is a model with with the two audio OUT plugs on the back. (Most have this I believe) Then hook up an antenna. Then you hook up your headphones to the back of the digital converter box using two adapters from Radio Shack. (The radio shack people will get you them. Then you connect up a tv (one time only) navigate to the auto scan and scan in all your stations. Then get rid of the tv and just use the converter box remote control to tune in stations and adjust the volume. The sound is great. And all you need is a converter box, the headphones, antenna and those audio cable adapter. HEre's a website I created today to see a picture of the setup, the adapter and the instructions. I hope it helps people since FCC and no one else is providing any good answers on this problem since the transition.
-Rick Allen
http://www.lustronconnection.org/digitaltvonradio/
Posted by: Rick Allen at June 20, 2009 9:58 AMTo post a comment on "I hear TV and Radio are converting to all digital. How will that affect me?", please return to that article's main page.