TV without cable after Feb 17, 2009 .. Yes it will still work..

[Fumesucker]

Reading another thread here I realized that a lot of people don't know that you will still be able to pick up TV stations over the air after the HDTV changeover on Feb 17, 2009.

A converter box is available, there are several different models and most of them run around $50 or so.

Not only that but a coupon worth $40 toward the purchase of a converter box is available for free from the government, you can get the details at this website. Two coupons for two converter boxes are allowed per household.

https://www.dtv2009.gov/

Any old TV antenna will work with HDTV signals, they are on the same frequencies as analog TV and you do not need a special "digital" antenna.

That being said, you may need a better, stronger antenna to pick up the HDTV stations, however one good thing is that if you can pick up the station at all the picture will be excellent.

Just thought some of you might like to know.

[leftofcool]

1. Comcast

is taking care of this for all customers so no converter is necessary, at least that is what we have been told.

[Fumesucker]

2. There will be no change at all for cable customers..

I'm speaking to those who do not have cable and rely on over-the-air signals broadcast from the station.

All of your cable connections will remain exactly the same and you will not need anything at all if you subscribe to cable or satellite like DirecTV.

[leftofcool]

3. I see

What I know about cable, cable wires, cords, electricity, signals and hookups can almost fill a thimble

[madokie]

4. Tv's wear out and the new ones are ready to go without anything extra

plug ,em in, hook up the antenna, which can be as simple as a close hanger and turn 'em on. If no plans to buy a new tv then get a converter box before they go sky high around the end of the year is my advice.

[Fumesucker]

6. A good quality TV will last for twenty years fairly easily.

We have a Sony three beam projector (the type that hangs on the ceiling) that was built in the early 80's and still works perfectly.

We dropped cable and satellite a long time ago and have been watching TV over the DSL for years..

[madokie]

11. No doubt about it

Actually I can only remember one set that up and quit on me, its usually I get tired watching an old set when a new one has so much the better picture and take up much less space.

we got a note in last months dsl bill that they were offering tv service now too but no difference we'd still be paying. Our son has an hdtv and he uses a coat hanger for an antenna and gets close to 20 channels for free. Puts our old analog sets to shame too, in fact it takes a little bit to readjust back to ours when we get back home.

[Liberal In Texas]

12. Actually, the price is probably going to go DOWN as demand increases.

Also the boxes will be getting better. You don't need this until next year and the coupons are only good for 3 months.

http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9906407-1.html

[Fumesucker]

5. That's why I posted..

I know there's a lot of people that don't get this stuff.

Just get the word out to anyone you know that does not have cable or satellite.. They don't have to go and buy a new TV and if they shop wisely their total outlay for the changeover could end up being zero.

[dmallind]

7. I'd just add one thing to this useful reminder

There is a difference between digital and HD.

Most of the TVs sold for many years have been digital ready, and need no converter box at all.

You do NOT need one of the new flat panel LCD or plasma jobbies. They are nice of course so no problem if you want one!

The OP refers to HDTV signals and since "HDTV" is often shorthand for the newer TVs I thought I'd mention the difference. Digital signals can be handled perfectly well by almost any recently produced TV (not just last few years either - it's been the norm for a decade or more). I have a Sony regular old 4:3 deep box cathode ray tube TV from the mid 90s for example. It's digital ready and would have no problem getting digital signals over the air (I have cable as it happens but that's immaterial).

[Fumesucker]

9. Not entirely true..

"Digital ready" means that it lacks an ATSC (digital signal) tuner.

You will still need a digital tuner which, if you want true HDTV quality, will cost more than just a converter box.

Once more, none of this applies if you have a cable or satellite subscription service.. This is strictly for those who are picking up local broadcast stations with an antenna.

[dmallind]

10. We are talking about two different things

HD <> Digital. If you want true HD quality you will need an HDTV and in most cases an HD box.

Neither are necessary for digital broadcast reecption. That's the point I'm trying to make.

EDIT - I just realized you are right in that I made an error by using the term "Digital ready". I should have used the term "digital tuner" (usually called DTV). Digital ready indeed will normally mean what you state - a need for a converter box. Slip of the fingers there - my bad. The rest stands as written but should be read as "tuner" not "ready". Apologies for confusion.

[Stinky The Clown]

8. Almost right .....

.... the switch in broadcast is to Digital TeeVee (DTV) not High Definition TeeVee (HDTV)

[hlthe2b]

13. thanks for the reminder...

[KharmaTrain]

14. The Law Affects Over-The-Air Television

If you're wired up to cable or have a dish, the digital "flash-over" will not affect you at all. It's only those who still live off the old rabbit ears that will be affected. While most of these people are low and middle income, this change is long overdue.

DTV (not all digitial is HD yet...and an HD package will cost a lot more than a standard package) offers more channels and a better TV picture. Also making obsolete those clunky, power-draining cathode ray tubes is not a bad thing either.

Another way to get economical DTV is with one of the tuners for your computer. WinDTV is one such program and works real nice.

[Fumesucker]

15. Flat panel TVs are a good bit more expensive than a CRT model

Not everyone has the disposable income to go out and buy a new TV..

And it takes a fairly powerful computer to properly run a DTV tuner, I have one in my dual core 2.66 ghz Pentium box and it stutters if you have much else else running besides the TV program.