is this gonna be a big deal for most americans?

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richardbenson
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18 Jan 2008, 12:20 pm

http://www.dtvanswers.com/

i wont have electricty, but was wondering how many americans this will affect? this seems a little suspect to me, and im almost certain the government has something to do with it

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MrMark
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18 Jan 2008, 12:40 pm

Listen to what Harry Shearer has to say about it.

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18 Jan 2008, 1:05 pm

Government basically said that in Feb 09, network television companies ( NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox, Etc) will no longer be able to use the old analog radio waves to disperse their signals. Instead they have to switch to DTV ( basically HD tv radio waves). So if you get you network tv from an Antenna, you will ether need to switch to a HD TV or buy a little box that grabs the DTV out of the air and converts it to analog which you then watch on your non HD tv.

Basically old analog non HD signals are being phased out. In 10 years everything will be HD or HD like quality.

Nan
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18 Jan 2008, 3:38 pm

you only need to get a converter box if your tv reception is via the airwaves through an antenna. (not cable tv) on an older tv set. there is at least one website that i have seen where you can register and be sent up to two certificates good for $40 each towards the purchase of the converter boxes. i believe the converters are expected to cost about $50-60.

the last stats i saw indicate that this will impact less than 1/4th of tv households in the usa.

Tim_Tex
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18 Jan 2008, 3:58 pm

They're not phasing out the analog cables, they're just reserving them for emergency response (this concept was partly as a result of 9/11 and the hurricanes of 2004-2005).

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18 Jan 2008, 9:55 pm

Does this affect satellite TV? I would assume that satellite signals travel through the atmosphere.

V001
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20 Jan 2008, 6:28 pm

Basic over the air DTV starts at 720 by 486 that is what the converter box connected to an att will give you. Dtv is not HD 1080 widescreen tv mode. If you have a d-cable box or satlite you do not need to get a converter box. The US gov is providing certificates that pay for the converter box. See this website for more info
http://www.dtv.gov/consumercorner.html

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is this gonna be a big deal for most americans?