[BC] RE: Digital TV

[Wade Giddens]

This TV report did mention that present TVs would be obsolete for 
over-the-air viewing in two years.  It mentioned the converter box, but 
said, if I recall correctly, that one doesn't exist, yet, so the price isn't 
certain.  This brings up an interesting point.  I bought a digital converter 
box two years ago from Wal-Mart.  Now, it is very possible that this box 
does not meet the specifications that the government is requiring for the 
boxes that the vouchers will cover.  Also, I don't think they made it clear 
enough that the transition will affect over-the-air reception and not cable 
or satellite reception.  I believe that nationwide, something like only 20% 
of TV viewers rely on OTA reception alone.  They seemed to emphasize the new 
HDTV sets more than using a box for the old analog set.  After all, to fully 
appreciate the new technology, you need an HDTV set and not a converter box 
for an analog set.

Clark Howard, if I recall correctly, was suggesting use of  the new "rabbit 
ears".  The TV station also mentioned "bunny ears".  From my experience, 
with the USDigital converter box that I have, rabbit ears are pretty much 
useless.  But, I haven't tried any of the new, fancy ones.  Do they actually 
work well?

As far as my results, with the USDigital receiver...it is good and band.  I 
get several digital stations quite well...usually.  It has an aggravating 
tendency to lock up and suddenly have no audio, only a blank, green screen, 
or no reception at all.  Unplugging it for about 20 seconds gets it going 
again.  Like most new TVs, you won't ever know that a new station is there 
unless you scan for channels periodically.

Circuit City has a digital TV tuner. It can be used with an analog TV that 
has a component input.

I use the CVI (YPrPb) input on my analog TV, and I've had success using the 
"game" input on another TV, using the composite output of the box.

I haven't seen any of the USDigital boxes that I bought at Wal-Mart in the 
last year or so.

I suppose these boxes, covered by the vouchers, will have an RF output.  I 
don't know that for a fact, but it would make sense.  Otherwise, you'd have 
to have a modulator in addition to the box.


From: Rich Wood <richwood at pobox.com>

"I've noticed a number of newscasts and other discussions/promos of
the need for a converter box. Each one has said there would be a
voucher system. The voucher probably wouldn't cover the total cost
even if such a box existed."