[BC] HDTV's impact on portables

[Dennis Cope]

Willie,

When I went to the Pentagon to help with E-coms for the Salvation Army just
after 9/11, I brought along my little Sony Watchman with my 2 meter rig.

At that time it was the only way to get information of what was happening in
New York and DC.  At one time I looked over my shoulder and had several
Army brass types trying to watch with me.

I used this same Sony when, as a RACES member, I went to several Virginia
flood areas after Floyd & Dennis hit.  Again it was our only source of
information including the WAVY TV-10 weather radar.

I guess my little Sony will make a good paper weight.  It is sad because it
works fine till 2009.

Dennis
WESR, WCTG, NOAA
KD4NVM



-----Original Message-----
From: broadcast-bounces at radiolists.net
[mailto:broadcast-bounces at radiolists.net]On Behalf Of WFIFeng at aol.com
Sent: Monday, March 19, 2007 14:00
To: broadcast at radiolists.net
Subject: [BC] HDTV's impact on portables



While on the way home form work, I was chatting with a local ham. This
gentleman (in all senses of the word) gave me something to think about... I
mentioned to him the nature of this Forum, and how I have not seen anyone
else
address
this very real concern. I had no answer for him, so I told him that I would
pass along his question to this fine group:

"What about all of the poeple who rely upon battery-operated TV sets to get
news and information in emergencies?"

That one stumped me. How *IS* anyone with a battery-portable TV going to use
the proposed HDTV converter box? Obviously, they aren't! (Unless they're
going
to make a model with a DC power input, which I tend to doubt.) He was rather
adamant about this, and once he expressed this to me, I knew what he was
getting at.

All of those battery-portable radio/TV units will be nothing but radios come
2009, when analog TV goes away. Not even the "TV sound " radios will hear
anything useful anymore. In many emergencies, yes, Radio is still a vial
link,
but
so is TV. Come 2009... "Now what?"

Thoughts?

Willie...