Any other rabbit ear folk out there? Anyone get tv reception via an antenna?

[mdmc]

What will happen to us in 2009?
I refuse to pay for the shit that is on tv. There are many shows that I love, and I own / rent them on dvd.
There is no way that I am going to pay for tv.

What will happen to me in 2009? Will my tv just be static and will I only be able to watch dvds?

Will they at least allow PBS to be picked up by rabbit ears? Isn't that supposed to be the people's station?

Anyone with data please check in.

[rawtribe]

1. You'll need a converter box

Info here:

https://www.dtv2009.gov/

[mdmc]

5. thank you for this link

going to read now.
peace and low stress and thanks for the reply

[Warpy]

2. Supposedly, all broadcasts will be HDTV only

meaning if you have rabbit ears, you're fucked. Your choice will be to buy an HDTV compatible set or buy a translator box.

People on satellite or cable will be unaffected by the changeover.

The problem is that most stores are still selling analog sets and not informing customers of the change. My guess is that the changeover is going to be pushed back again when enough people realize they're being fucked over.

[Nickster]

9. Well, not exactly. You can still use the rabbit ears, you just need the convertor box to translate

the signal to the tv. You don't need an HDTV set to get it, just the box. I haven't priced the boxes out, but it sounds like at least half of the price would be covered by a government voucher. So I'm thinking the total outlay would be 40-50 bucks?

It would be even cheaper, here's the first thing I found at Best Buy. Total price is 60 bucks, then you get 40 bucks from the gov't, so 20 bucks out of pocket.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8624081&st=digital+convertor&lp=1&type=product&cp=1&id=1199495190393

[Warpy]

15. It's still having to shell out to get what was formerly "free"

or at least only for the price of watching commercials, something the OP didn't want to do.

[dysfunctional press]

20. you have to purchase a television to even see an analog tv signal in the first place...

so it was NEVER formerly "free".

i'm guessing he purchased those rabbit ears too.

and the converter box would fall into the same one-time fee as the rabbit ears and the original tv- which won't last forever.

and he can get a check from the government to help pay for the converter box.

so NO, it isn't at all "having to shell out to get what was formerly "free""...

sheesh...:eyes:

[Warpy]

23. My set that just conked out recently

was a 20 inch color set I'd gotten at a thrift shop for $25. I couldn't afford a new set at the time. My guess is that there are a lot of people in that particular boat and that there will be a mini revolution if they try to do the conversion on schedule.

Besides, how are they going to propagandize people with the nightly news if their old sets can't handle the format and they can't afford another box?

They've postponed it before. They'll postpone it again.

[dysfunctional press]

25. no, they won't be postponing it again.

get used to it.

[Warpy]

28. I'm exempt

because changing fortunes allowed me to get a dish.

However, a lot of people out in TV land are getting poorer by the day. Tell THEM to get used to it and have a jolly time trying to pick all your teeth out of your rectum.

Just sayin. Folks are NOT going to be happy and they'll show it.

[dysfunctional press]

47. the vast majority people already know, and won't be affected...

between cable, dish, & people who have already upgraded their over-the-air setup- not too many people overall are going to be left to be affected.

[pitohui]

32. i'll tell a funny story

even my antenna is free, we put it up when the neighbors threw it out about a million years ago

i guess i win the cheapskate sweepstake!

[Warpy]

37. BTDT

One side of my rabbit ears was supplemented by a length of wire coat hanger. I have never had rabbit ears survive for long, damn cats always managed to knock them down or I snagged a sweater in them, or...

[pitohui]

44. we might have a new winner *sob*

i do remember seeing old time rabbit ears "supplemented" by wire coat hangers, boy, that takes me back tho!

[Nickster]

35. If it's really important to someone to get the new signals, they'll find a way to shell out the 20

bucks. I guess I'd be more worked up about it if the change forced people to buy new televisions.

[Winterblues]

38. But it will all be digital now so no more snowy pictures or weak signals

Should make it all better.

[Oeditpus Rex]

41. If the signal is received via antenna

it'll still be subject to interference, digital or not — same as a wireless internet connection.

There may be some advantage in the digital channels' much narrower bandwidth, i.e. "10.1" rather than "10." I don't know how the digital tuners are designed, and I'm not an electrical engineer in any case, but they may get a stronger "lock" on the narrower bandwidth.

[leeroysphitz]

45. I just went digital via antenna and there is a huge difference.

Unless you are very close to the broadcast source over the air analog signals are fuzzy, distorted and filled with static Permanently regardless of weather even with outdoor antennas. The digital signal on the other hand is crystal clear with zero noise, distortion or static.

If the signal is weak or is interfered with you will see some pixelation and the audio may give you a digital hiccup but if you can receive the signal at all then even the non HD programming picture quality will beat standard definition cable or satellite signals hands down.

It's kind of amazing.

[Winterblues]

46. That is not true at all. I receive all my TV by satellite dish antenna

You either get a perfect signal or no signal, there is no in between. There is no longer any snowy reception with digital..

[Oeditpus Rex]

48. We're talking radio wave propagation here, not satellite transmission

There's a big difference between a signal bounced off a satellite and one that travels along the Earth's surface.

Anyway, when I had DirecTV, there were frequent periods of pixelated pictures.



p... p... p... p...

[Xithras]

13. Not HDTV, just digital. Big difference.

Many broadcasters are choosing to change their signals to HD at the same time they go digital, but it isn't required. Those that do broadcast in HD also typically broadcast in SD, so even older TV's can watch.

All the rabbit eared folks need is a little converter box to translate the new digital signal into an old fashioned analog one their old TV's can understand. Alternately, they can ALSO just buy themselves a new DVD player with a digital tuner built in, and use THAT to switch channels.

By the way, any stores that are selling analog TV's that do NOT warn buyers about the changeover are breaking the law. The FCC required retailers to start warning buyers in May 2007, and they ARE enforcing it. It's an $8000 fine PER unlabeled TV on the sales floor PER store. If you see a TV store selling analog sets without warning buyers, call the FCC complaint line and report them. They've already nailed dozens of stores, and the fines are a big part of Best Buys reasoning to stop selling analog sets altogether.

[dysfunctional press]

21. rabbit ears will still pull in the digital signal...

and the government is giving out checks to help defray the cost of the converter box.

[Wilms]

3. I suppose it could happen in 2009, though it was originally planned to be done by now.

You'll need a converter box when it happens. There's a coupon offer to help defray the cost.

https://www.dtv2009.gov/Default.aspx


And another thing...don't assume it will work.

http://www.current.org/dtv/dtv815reception.shtml

[aquart]

18. What IS the cost of those things?

Are they made by Republicans? Why are we being forced into this? What happened to the idea of the free market deciding?

[Wilms]

24. It's a bigger story than I know about.

But...

"Expect to pay $50 to $75, according to a government estimate in early 2007, for a basic DTV converter box. Retail prices may start higher but fall as demand for the device increases. Two leading manufacturers are now targeting a $60 price for entry models."

http://dtvfacts.com/59/how-much-will-set-top-boxes-cost/

[uppityperson]

4. I was but moved over a hill, now have minimal satellite.

Looks like I will be ok, don't really want to shell out lots of money for a new tv when my 20 yr old one with hand adjustable sound works fine (no remote works with it). From link in #1 reply:

Consumers have a variety of options. Options to explore include:

1. Keep your existing analog TV and purchase a TV converter box. A converter box plugs into your TV and will keep it working after Feb. 17, 2009, or
2. Connect to cable, satellite or other pay service, or
3. Purchase a television with a digital tuner.

[msongs]

6. rabbit ears here. You have to get a decoder box, then you can use rabbit ears and/or

an antennae. plus your ears into the box and plug the box into the tv. bingo, tv!

this link to info on antennas

http://www.mcall.com/business/local/all-karp.6274302feb17,0,1521099.column

info on discount coupons here

https://www.dtv2009.gov/

we get 4 pbs stations very well and some junk stations above channel 24.


Msongs

[Lorien]

7. I have a $300.00 HD LCD Sharp TV

it has an internal digital receiver, and rabbit ears make the reception about perfect. I also refuse to pay for cable, so it's the perfect solution for me. otherwise, a converter will be the only way to go.

[MADem]

8. If you have an analog tv, you will have to buy a box. You can get a coupon

for the box from the gubmint, but they are limited in supply.



If you are within range of digital tv stations, you should be able to pick them up.

This website courtesy of BIG BROTHER the US government should answer all your questions: http://www.dtv.gov/

[John1956PA]

10. I bought a rooftop HDTV antenna but have not installed it yet.

I am thinking that if I ever get around to installing the antenna on my roof, my HD television set will be able to pick up HD signals. Presently, I do not have any TV hooked up in my house, since I am not much of a TV watcher anyway. If one goes the rooftop HDTV rooftop antenna route, that setup it is most apt to work if the station broadcasting HDTV signals is no more than 25 miles away any there are few hills between the station and one's home.

[Oeditpus Rex]

42. A rooftop antenna should pull signals from much more than 25 miles

It depends a lot on the terrain, the type and height of the antenna and the elevation of the transmitter — and, of course, its strength.

My antenna is at about 25 feet and, with a signal amplifier, it gets stations in San Francisco, which is about 86 miles from here by line-of-sight, with hills of more than 3,000 feet in between.

The best TV antennas are VHF-UHF Yagis. Mine's from Radio Shack and cost about $70. I have a rotor on it so I can point it directly at a transmitter. (Kinda necessary because I live between two marketing areas.)

Antennaweb should answer any questions about antennas and reception, including digital and HDTV.

[damntexdem]

11. Your life could improve. You could have time for your family.

Or, alternately, you could get a converter box.

[mdmc]

49. point taken

I am addicted to seinfeld and simpsons and all comedies... but I have the dvds....

[KharmaTrain]

12. Rabbit Ears Should Work Fine...

I've had DTV here for over 5 years and a lot of people are confused about what the change-over is about.

First...yes, your DVD, VCR, Betamax, Playstation and any other device that currently connects to your TV will still work. In many cases, if you have cable you may be good to go...your cable box still generates an analog signal and even the digital boxes have hook-ups for analog TV.

There will be converter boxes available that are well worth the investment as the DTV an HDTV quality and quantity is superior to the 60 plus year old system we have been using. Every broadcast TV station has a digital signal already on the air and in many cases they offer not just one but several channels. For example, in many areas, you can get several PBS programs and clear than you see right now. In many areas where there is poor reception...ghosting...it's a thing of the past with digital.

In most areas, a good set of rabbit ears should do the job. I live 40 miles from the closest DTV signal and get them just fine. There are also new digital TVs that are on the market for $500 or less...or an even less expensive way is to use your computer...WINDTV is one such program (around $200) that allows you to watch on your monitor.

This change is long overdue and is one of the rare instances where regulation is a good thing. Yes, old TVs will fade...but so did turntables and typewriters.

[aquart]

34. Turntables are back.

[ileus]

14. we used em back in the 80's

[SteelPenguin]

16. I prefer to call it Wireless TV

My choices were Comcast cable, Direct TV or Broadcast. Comcast literally stole money from me and refused to return it, so they'll never get my business again. I called Direct TV and they wouldn't give me a monthly price without me giving them my social security number first to do a credit check. Screw that.

So I grabbed my old rabbit ears from the basement.

[tomreedtoon]

17. Here's a cheap way to do it...

Okay, first off, I'm a TV engineer/director, and since I'm paid pennies (as we all will soon, thanks, Mr. Bush!) I do things cheap.

This is a very basic converter - sorry, those Government coupons don't apply to this, but it IS cheap. It's from an old pay TV experiment that failed, and they've turned them into digital converter boxes. This is an eBay listing which will probably be extinct soon, but don't worry, they got thousands of these things.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Used-HDTV-Digital-Tuner-Hisense-With-Warranty_W0QQitemZ180216260677QQihZ008QQcategoryZ61396QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

This is NOT a high quality converter. But it does work. For $30 or so plus shipping, it's a miracle it works at all.

And yes, it will work off rabbit ears in an urban environment. Out in the country, you'll need an outside antenna. But the signal should be better, since ATAC (the new digital standard that replaces NTSC) was intended to be optimized for rural area viewing. I was surprised to see the number of HDTV channels available in my town - there's even one from my local college that I never even heard of.

By the way, all you stuck-up people who "only watch PBS" may be surprised to learn that we commercial broadcasters offer the same sort of no-fun programming you watch PBS for. (I used to work at a PBS affiliate - God help me, I know.) For instance, my ABC affiliate station runs our expensive weather radar 24/7 on our secondary digital channel. We will probably find a use for our third and fourth digital channel sometime in the future.

Oh, PS - do NOT buy or sell anything on eBay this week. There's a strike against their higher rates and contempt for the ordinary people who are scraping by a living by selling on eBay. Show the rich-ass eBay CEO who called us a "crummy flea market" where his income comes from. Boycott eBay from now until the 25th!

[Robbien]

22. bookmarking.

for use AFTER the 25th

Thanks for the link tomreedtoon

[Dimensio0]

19. I have been using a VHF/UHF antenna for receiving television broadcasts for some time.

I find the picture quality far superior to the same channels as viewed from cable reception. I have given serious consideration to cancelling my cable television service.

I will be unaffected by the change in television signals, as my television has a built-in QAM tuner which enables it to decode and display digital broadcasts, including high-definition broadcasts.

I suspect that televisions without such a tuner will require a set-top adapter to decode the digital signal and then re-encode it as an analog signal.

[Zorro]

36. I think it's an ATSC tuner not QAM

A QAM tuner will demod digital cable signals, though. The ATSC tuner is what demods OTA broadcasts.

[ChazII]

26. My tv is a dinosaur

and will be using that converter box. We agree about that carp (misspelling intended) on tv.

[Liberal In Texas]

27. Sure, I'm getting HD off the air (rabbit ears) right now.

16x9 Digital High Definition. No problem.
I've had a box for a couple of years.

[alfredo]

29. They have my request for a coupon. Now the waiting begins.

[pitohui]

30. i just have an antenna but i'm not too helpful

i have no idea the answer to your questions, considering the teevee is turned on once or twice a month i guess i haven't given it much thought

there aren't "many" shows that i love, to be honest, i think i've watched 5 programs plus the superbowl since i returned from africa some weeks back...

[paulk]

31. We use rabbit ears!

No cable.

If it goes to static, it won't bother me much - I hardly watch any tv anyway...

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

33. I don't know if you'll be missing much

I have the full Dish Network package, including all the HBO channels, all the Showtime channels, all the ESPN channels, all the TMC channels, all the Max channels, all the Encore channels, the Starz channels, Flix, Sundance, and a great host of others. I often go out and rent movies or just watch Sundance or Turner Classic Movies because frankly there's nothing else on. The movie channels have gradually stopped showing any new or interesting old films but lately have ended up playing the same old crap over and over again. And network TV, the kind you could pick up with rabbit ears is worse torture than sitting and watching the wall. As a big boxing fan, I like to watch boxing on ESPN, Showtime, and HBO but more and more of the fights are Pay-Per-View now. I'm seriously tempted to cancel everything and just read. Lately, I've been reading all of H.P. Lovecraft's works which you can find on the Internet. I know that if I tune in to one of the movie channels, old multi-repeated crap like the Bad News Bears will be playing.

[candice]

39. upgrade old TV antenna....

Each household can get up to two $40 coupons towards digital converters.

First-come, first-serve basis. dtv2009.gov or 888-388-2009.

[SoCalDem]

40. Books & magazines? n/t

[jus_the_facts]

43. I use a stereo antenna on one old TV... works even better than rabbit ears....

...haven't paid for television since the early 90's and I'm fiercely proud of it! :D

edited to add...only PBS and local news matters to me much anymore...except for sports..guess I'll just listen to what sports is on the radio from then on.......

[hyphenate]

50. Here's some info for you:

http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_8294047