Are you an early adopter to HD - new 67" HD TV and a Blu-Ray player plus cable or satellite in HD?

Or are you waiting til some sort of STANDARD develops before sinking in around a grand of your hard stolen earned cash?

This doesn't FULLY piss me off. It more perplexes me.

When I drop by friend's houses and see that they just bought a $5000 HD TV only to notice that they're running SD DVD and SD cable into the TV, expanding the 4:3 image left/right to fill the 16:9 screen (resulting in distorted images) and then hearing them boast how they're watching cutting edge HD.

Haha.

I have never spent more than a few hundred dollars on a TV. There is nothing that can be seen on a TV that is worth more than a few hundred dollars.

Posted by MutantMandias I have never spent more than a few hundred dollars on a TV. There is nothing that can be seen on a TV that is worth more than a few hundred dollars.

Amen to that.

I bought my TV about 14 years ago (brand new) and it is working just fine. I'll keep it going until either it breaks down or I can no longer use it. I don't watch enough TV to justify the expense and I prefer to wait until prices come down and the initial bugs are worked out before investing in new technology.

I will not invest in an HD DVD yet until the format is decided. I do however own two HD TV's that I use on digital cable and watch shows when possible on the HD channels. I am one of those that stretches to fill the sides, but I'm used to it. Regular cable.... sucks, but the same shows on HD channels are broadcast widescreen and are no longer distorted. I'm pissed off that SD is still broadcast, why can't all shows be broadcast in HD and if you have a SD television, there must be a box available to down convert.

Posted by Nvr2loud I will not invest in an HD DVD yet until the format is decided. I do however own two HD TV's that I use on digital cable and watch shows when possible on the HD channels. I am one of those that stretches to fill the sides, but I'm used to it. Regular cable.... sucks, but the same shows on HD channels are broadcast widescreen and are no longer distorted. I'm pissed off that SD is still broadcast, why can't all shows be broadcast in HD and if you have a SD television, there must be a box available to down convert.

Right, let's all pay tons of money to upgrade everything to support HD broadcasts just so the small minority of people with HDTVs can have their HD broadcasts. We haven't even completely converted to digital cable yet.

Small minority of HD Television owners... You can only buy a SD TV at walmart now. All televisions sold here are HD and most people have either digital cable or satellite already. I'm suggesting that to save money on cable costs... broadcast only in HD and the cable companies can 'loan/give' a down convert box to subscribers who have SD TV's. Right now things are produced and broadcast in both SD and HD and all subscribers are paying more money to enable both formats, I just want to drop the less common format which is SD. I'm not saying "screw you SD TV people" I'm saying a converter should be provided free from the cable company to down convert.

Posted by Nvr2loud Small minority of HD Television owners... You can only buy a SD TV at walmart now.

Nonetheless, the vast majority of tvs are still SD.

Posted by MutantMandias Nonetheless, the vast majority of tvs are still SD.

Maybe where you are, but around here the majority is HD and has been for a few years.

You've got it backwards. It should read definition: high, and should come with a carefully worded text explaining the mental condition of one who is high.

Posted by Nvr2loud Maybe where you are, but around here the majority is HD and has been for a few years.

So, did you go around and kick in all of the millions of televisions that people have bought over the past 20 years? How long have HD tv's been available? 3 or 4 years? And still not at anything resembling a reasonable price. Do you live on a street made of golden palaces?

How many televisions last 20 years? The majority of new televions sold over the past 3 or 4 years have been HD but there have been HD televisions sold prior to them becoming the majority of sales. My belief is that these new TV's are replacing older TV's that are either discarded or placed in bedrooms as secondary TV's. This is a ridiculous argument anyway since SD was already slated to be discontinued by 2007. The cut-off date was pushed back to 2009 to allow more time for people to upgrade their TV's. That is the part that isn't fair, anyone with an SD TV will shortly find it is useless because big broadcast companies do not want to produce SD and HD any longer. That attitude is a "You're shit-out-of luck" if you don't have an HD television. My attitude, as stated above, is go ahead and broadcast in HD only, however give the consumers the hardware to continue to use their SD TV's until they decide to stop using them themselves.

Public demand drives the economy, the public demands HD, so broadcasters want to satisfy the demand.

Posted by Nvr2loud How many televisions last 20 years? The majority of new televions sold over the past 3 or 4 years have been HD but there have been HD televisions sold prior to them becoming the majority of sales. My belief is that these new TV's are replacing older TV's that are either discarded or placed in bedrooms as secondary TV's. This is a ridiculous argument anyway since SD was already slated to be discontinued by 2007. The cut-off date was pushed back to 2009 to allow more time for people to upgrade their TV's. That is the part that isn't fair, anyone with an SD TV will shortly find it is useless because big broadcast companies do not want to produce SD and HD any longer. That attitude is a "You're shit-out-of luck" if you don't have an HD television. My attitude, as stated above, is go ahead and broadcast in HD only, however give the consumers the hardware to continue to use their SD TV's until they decide to stop using them themselves. Public demand drives the economy, the public demands HD, so broadcasters want to satisfy the demand.

The vast majority of people still own their trusty SD televisions. HD is still very much a niche market. Case in point, Casino Royale may have set sales records for the high def DVDs (59,000 copies on Blu-ray) but it's still the SD format version that sold millions.

The 2009 cutoff in the USA refers to stopping analog broadcasts, presumably to free up the analog spectrum for the greater good of mankind (haha). SD will still continue, as SD digital (your digital cable and DirecTVs) and in HD over-the-air in big cities and on cable/satellite.

Posted by Nvr2loud Public demand drives the economy, the public demands HD, so broadcasters want to satisfy the demand.

Not in the least bit true. Legislation and corporate greed have driven the change.

As fedge noted, the change is not an end to SD, but an end to analog broadcasts, which is not driven by any kind of public demand. It is driven by the government wanting to reclaim some frequencies for use and auction. Also, broadcasters want to move to digital because they will be able to cram more data into a smaller bandwidth channel.

It is not at all about increased quality for the consumer. It's about maximizing efficiency for the broadcasters. And digital is not better than analog by definition. It amazes me that people have bought that line of crap.

The rumor around here is that the government is going to subsidize the cost of the HD/SD converters so that the will be about $10 retail. I haven't seen any evidence to back this. I hope it’s true.

Posted by fedge The vast majority of people still own their trusty SD televisions. HD is still very much a niche market. Case in point, Casino Royale may have set sales records for the high def DVDs (59,000 copies on Blu-ray) but it's still the SD format version that sold millions. The 2009 cutoff in the USA refers to stopping analog broadcasts, presumably to free up the analog spectrum for the greater good of mankind (haha). SD will still continue, as SD digital (your digital cable and DirecTVs) and in HD over-the-air in big cities and on cable/satellite.

I have been talking about HD TV's and Cable / satellite, I'm well aware that the HD DVD market is very young and most people, including myself, won't invest in a format when the dominent format hasn't been decided yet, very simply it is like the Bata / VHS issue years ago.

And the 2009 cutoff date I read more about after your post, it appears you are correct that the switch is bsically to digital from analog, however it is being marketed as a switch to HD by the retailers. After digging through several explanations about the cutoff date, it seems that when saying by 2009 you need to have an HD TV or HD ready TV, all they mean is a TV capable of accepting digital signals. This makes no sense to me because currently I own 3 televisions, 2 of them are HD so I don't care about that, however the 3rd one is a SD Sony Trinitron that was built in 1991. I've had a digital cable box on that TV for the last 4 years, so it appears to be able to accept digital signals. On the other hand, the retailers around me have told me it will no longer work on cable after the cutoff date because it isn't HD, so I have believed all this time that the switch is to HD. I'd like some truth to this matter, will it work after the cutoff or not?

Okay, I hate to google spam, but this seems to explain the difference between Analog, SDTV, EDTV, and HDTV. I realize that the line "you must have an HD ready TV by 2009" is simply a sales ploy. The majority of new televisions sold are HD so with each TV sold, the scales are tipping towards ownership of HD Tv's to become the majority. I've enjoyed mine, but the cost hasn't been that high for the HD since I've had digital cable for a few years anyway.

What is digital TV?
Digital TV (DTV) is a newer form of technology used for sending television broadcasts to your home.

For viewers, digital TV can offer improved picture and sound, and potentially more programming options. Digital TV can also offer interactive features, such as electronic program guides.

Broadcasters throughout the U.S. are making the transition to digital transmissions. Currently, local stations simultaneously transmit their broadcasts in both the digital and the older analog forms.

Televised information can be sent more efficiently in digital form. Sending TV content digitally will leave more of the broadcast spectrum free for new uses once the transition is complete.

In very basic technical terms, digital broadcasts are encoded streams of zeroes and ones—the same binary language used by computers. The digitized signal is sent over the airwaves to be received by your TV.

(Digital TV broadcasting is sometimes called “digital terrestrial television” (DTT or DTTV). The longer name is used to differentiate digital TV broadcasting from other digitized forms of television, including digital cable or direct broadcast satellite.)

What is analog TV?
Analog TV is the technology that has been used for U.S. television broadcasts since the 1940s. TV stations are currently making the transition to digital broadcasts.

In very basic technical terms, analog signals are transmitted to your TV by continuously varying radio waves.

(Cable television companies also deliver programming to many of their subscribers in analog form, though most also offer digital tiers or are making the transition to all-digital systems.)

Why is the TV broadcasting standard changing from analog to digital?
Congress passed legislation, beginning in 1996, mandating the change from analog to digital TV broadcasts.

The switch to digital TV promises several benefits:

• Viewers should notice improvements in picture and sound quality, particularly in the case of high-definition (HDTV) broadcasts. (To get the full effect, you’ll need a high-definition set, and the broadcaster and, if applicable, cable or satellite provider must provide a high-definition signal.)

• Digital transmissions make more efficient use of the broadcast spectrum, leaving more of the airwaves available for additional channels or interactive data services.

• When analog TV broadcasts end, broadcasters will return those frequencies to the federal government. Some have been pre-allocated to public-safety uses, including communications systems for police and fire departments. The government is likely to auction off much of the rest to wireless companies and others for commercial uses.

Is DTV the same as HDTV?
Digital television (DTV) includes broadcasts in standard definition (SDTV), enhanced definition (EDTV) and high-definition (HDTV) formats.

Digital SDTV offers resolution comparable to analog TV broadcasts. Yet picture and sound quality are noticeably better because digital transmissions are free of snow, ghosts, or static noises.

HDTV offers significantly improved images in high resolution—comparable to what you experience in a movie theater—along with CD-quality surround sound. Most digital TVs sold in the U.S. are high-def.

While TV stations will be required to convert to digital broadcasts, they need not offer high-definition broadcasts. But most stations deliver some HD programming and are adding much more as time goes on.

HDTV features a wide-screen, “16 X 9″ format—the screen’s area is 16 units wide by 9 units high (a 16:9 aspect ratio). Conventional television displays (including analog TVs) are 4 X 3.

(SDTV and EDTV displays are available in both aspect ratios, with lesser image quality.)

It isn’t enough for your favorite show to be produced in HD. To actually see it in high-def, two more things are needed: First, an HDTV signal must be received from the transmission source—either over the airwaves or via digital cable or satellite service. Second, you will need an HDTV set to watch it on.

HDTV shows can be viewed on other DTV displays, but they will not be in high-def.

An HDTV can also receive standard-definition programs, but they won’t be in high-def, either.

What is SDTV?
Standard Definition Television (SDTV) is the base-level format for digital or analog TV. Digital SDTV provides pictures and sound comparable to the best available analog TV.

For more information, see Is DTV the same as HDTV?

What is EDTV?
Enhanced Definition TV (EDTV) is a product category for digital television sets between Standard Definition TV (SDTV) and High Definition TV (HDTV).

EDTV picture quality has been compared to the DVD format, and for some viewers the perceived quality is nearly comparable to HDTV. EDTV models are generally priced lower than HDTVs, and many consumers were content to sacrifice image quality when it meant saving a thousand bucks. But HDTV prices have now dropped so much that EDTV may not seem like much of a value.

EDTVs are available in wide-screen (16:9 aspect ratio) or conventional (4:3) formats.

Will my current TV still work after the switch from analog to digital?
Yes—but some viewers will need additional equipment.

If you get all of your TV programming through a direct-broadcast satellite service (and receive your local channels via satellite), you should still be OK. For more details, see our Facts for satellite subscribers.

For cable customers, the picture remains murky. If you have digital cable, you should be fine. What about standard analog cable subscribers? The answer is not yet clear. Analog cable customers may need additional equipment, which cable companies may elect to provide. Or they may need to upgrade to digital cable. The solution should become clearer as the shutdown of analog TV broadcasts approaches. See our Facts for cable customers.

The rest of this answer applies to viewers who watch over-the-air broadcasts: You will need either a TV with a digital tuner or a set-top converter box that attaches to your analog TV. Without a converter box, analog TVs will no longer receive broadcasts once the switch to digital broadcasting is complete.

Keep in mind that even many brand-new TVs sold today are still analog.

If you have a digital TV, you should be OK, as long as it includes a digital tuner. Many digital TVs, including some labeled “HD-Ready,” do not include digital tuners—so they, too, will require set-top boxes to receive broadcasts after the conversion.

Again, the key question is: Does your set have a digital tuner? How can you tell? A digital tuner is sometimes called an “ATSC tuner” (after the Advanced Television Systems Committee, which created the U.S. digital TV standard). So look for a label that refers to an ATSC or digital (or “ATSC digital”) tuner. A TV labeled “HD Built-In” or “Integrated HDTV” should include a digital tuner.

Also: Many viewers will need better antennas. A household that gets acceptable or marginal analog TV reception with an indoor antenna may need an outdoor one to get digital broadcasts.

For more details, see our Facts for over-the-air viewers.

What is a set-top converter box?
A set-top converter box is an electronic device that hooks up to your analog TV set, allowing it to receive digital broadcasts. The box may also be called a “digital-to-analog converter,” “digital TV adapter” (DTA), or “digital set-top box” (DST.

For those who own analog TVs and want to continue receiving over-the-air programming, getting a set-top box will be an alternative to buying a new TV.

(If you already receive all of your TV programming via digital cable or direct-broadcast satellite, you shouldn’t need to buy a separate converter box. What about standard analog cable subscribers? The answer is not yet clear. Analog cable customers may need additional equipment, which cable companies may elect to provide. Or they may need to upgrade to digital cable. The solution should become clearer as the shutdown of analog TV broadcasts approaches.)

After the switch from analog to digital broadcasts is complete, analog TVs will be incapable of receiving over-the-air broadcasts without the addition of a set-top converter box. The function of the box is to take in digital signals, convert them to analog form and send them to your TV. While the image you see on an analog TV won’t be high-definition, you should notice a slight improvement.

A set-top receiver will also be needed for a digital TV that does not include a built-in digital tuner, if you plan to use it for over-the-air reception. This includes TVs labeled “HD-ready.” For more details, see Will my current TV still work after the switch from analog to digital?

As the deadline for switching to digital approaches, converter boxes are expected to become more widely available through mass retailers, electronics stores and online retailers. The federal government will make coupons available to consumers to help defray the cost of the converter boxes.

(Other types of set-top box (ST devices exist, including those provided by cable or satellite companies and others designed to marry televisions and personal computers. In this answer, however, we are concerned only with set-top converter boxes for receiving over-the-air digital broadcasts.)

How much will converter boxes cost?
Set-top converter boxes have been available for several years, although steep prices (from just under $200 to several hundred dollars) have limited the market. But affordable converter boxes should begin to reach U.S. consumers in 2007, manufacturers say.

Expect to pay $50 to $75, according to a government estimate in early 2007, for a basic converter box. Retail prices may start higher but fall as demand for the device increases.

A federal subsidy program will provide two coupons by mail, each worth $40 off the cost of a converter box, to households that request them. For details, see How do I get my $40 coupon from the converter box subsidy program?

A converter box that includes a digital video recorder (DVR) or other high-end features will command a higher price than a bare-bones model. But remember, the $40-off coupon applies toward the purchase of a basic model only, according to government rules.

When will analog TV broadcasts end?
Under current law, full-power broadcast stations must complete the transition to digital television by Feb. 17, 2009. After that date, analog TV broadcasts will cease.

The digital TV transition plan received final approval from Congress and was signed into law by President George W. Bush in February of 2006. (The law is being challenged in court on procedural grounds, but the current cutoff date appears likely to stick.)

For the latest updates on the transition, watch DTV Facts.

Are any TV stations exempt from the 2009 cutoff date?
Low-power television (LPTV) stations and translator stations are exempt from the digital TV transition deadline of Feb. 17, 2009, which applies only to full-power stations.

No deadline has been established for low-power stations, which have a limited broadcast range (and limited viewership) in rural or urban areas. TV translator stations, which retransmit signals from full-power stations, are in the same boat. Under the current plan, these stations will continue analog broadcasts after the dominant stations have switched to digital.

Between October 2007 and September 2009, a federal program will make payments to eligible low-power stations to assist with the transition to digital TV. The program will be administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), which is part of the Commerce Department.

What is a digital TV adapter?
See What is a set-top converter box?

How do I get my $40 coupon from the converter box subsidy program?
The converter-box subsidy program will be administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), an arm of the federal Commerce Department.

The program has not launched yet, but here is what we know right now:

• The program will provide two coupons by mail, each worth $40 off the cost of a digital TV adapter, to households that request them. You may only use one coupon per box purchased.

• Applications are to become available sometime between January 1, 2008, and March 31, 2009, in accordance with the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005. (Under the law, analog TV broadcasts end on February 17, 2009.) Coupons will expire three months after they are issued.

• Coupons may be applied only toward purchase of a stand-alone digital-to-analog converter box. According to the subsidy provision, the box must not perform any other functions, but it may include a remote control.

Once the coupons become available, you may not want to wait:

Consumer groups say the $1.5 billion allocated to the program is not enough to cover all the analog TVs—73 million sets, by some estimates—that might need them.

For more information on the subsidy program as it becomes available, watch DTV Facts: The Latest.

How does digital TV give me extra local channels for free?
Digital TV allows each local station to offer up to five or six separate program streams at once.

For details, see What is multicasting?

What is multicasting?
Multicasting is a digital television technology that gives viewers access to additional local broadcast TV channels.

That’s right: More local channels. A single station can now provide multiple channels of separate programming simultaneously, free and over the air. Each separate program stream is called a multicast. New multicast channels are already on the air in many metropolitan areas throughout the U.S., and in some smaller markets, too.

Thanks to digital TV, we can now have five or six channels in one. This magical feat is accomplished by using the broadcast spectrum more efficiently.

Compared with analog TV, local broadcasters can now send pictures, sound and other information over the public airwaves in smaller packages. The packages are so small, in fact, that your local digital TV station can broadcast not just the single channel you’ve always had, but up to five more.

HDTV broadcasts—which must be sent over the air in bigger packages—limit broadcasters’ ability to multicast. See Are HDTV and multicasts competing technologies?

(Also, multicast technology allows some stations to rent out unused portions of their FCC-licensed spectrum allotment to pay-TV providers, or to use them for other information services.)

Many broadcasters already offer multicast channels today, which are available over the air to viewers who own newer TVs equipped with digital tuners. For example, channel 4 in your area may offer separate digital programming streams on channels 4.1, 4.2, and 4.3 in the digital band. A converter box will allow you to watch multicast channels on your old analog TV.

Muticasting can also be called “multiplexing.”

Are HDTV and multicasting competing technologies?
In some ways, yes.

To provide high-definition television (HDTV) images with surround sound, broadcasters must send huge chunks of information over the airwaves. During HD broadcasts, a local station has only enough room left in the digital pipe (”bandwidth”) to provide one or two more multicast programming streams, rather than perhaps four more otherwise.

A station may “downconvert” a program that was produced in HD into standard definition to make room for more multicast channels. Viewers equipped with HD displays may notice diminished quality in such cases.

It’s a classic case of quality vs. quantity—and a zero-sum choice.

Station owners must weigh the costs and benefits of providing a single program in high-def or multiple programs in standard definition (SD). Will one show in HD bring in as many viewers in the desired demographic as multiple shows in SD? In this calculation, a key consideration for broadcasters is whether cable systems would carry the additional multicast channels, vastly increasing the size of the potential audience.

HDTV and multicasting may also be seen as complimentary, in that many stations offer high-definition programs at certain times of the broadcast day (especially during prime time) but add additional multicasts at others.

What kinds of programming are offered on multicast channels?
Multicast TV offerings in some cities include round-the-clock weather (can you ever have too much weather? Umm, maybe…) and a wide range of public television programming.

Public TV, with the most ambitious plans for multicasting, announced the launch of four channels:

• Viva TV: Spanish-language programming.

• PBS Kids Go!: Shows aimed at school-age children.

• World: Documentaries and public affairs.

• Create: How-to, travel and possibly some local programming.

Create is already on the air. Viva and PBS Kids Go! are scheduled to debut in fall 2006, with World slated for January 2007. The channels should be available in many TV markets, over the air or on cable.

Commercial networks may also offer feeds on multicast channels.

And, hate to say this, but they might be a tempting outlet for infomercials.

Will my cable company carry the new local multicast channels?
Cable companies are not required to carry any extra “multicast” channels—neither today, nor in 2009, when the transition to digital TV broadcasting will be completed.

Under existing “must-carry” laws, cable systems are required to set aside channels for local analog broadcast stations. As of the cutoff date for analog broadcasts, cable companies must carry local stations in digital form—one channel per station. (This applies to stations that exercise their “must-carry” rights. Commercial stations also have the right to request compensation from cable companies in exchange for carriage—a practice known as “retransmission consent.” If a consent agreement cannot be reached, the broadcaster can forbid the cable system to carry its station.)

When the shift to digital TV is complete, cable operators will not be authorized to “downconvert” high-definition broadcasts to lower quality. Instead of broadcasting in HDTV, a local station could choose to offer six standard-definition multicast channels—which, actually, would not require any additional space (or digital “bandwidth”) to send through the cable pipe into your home. But your cable operator would need to reserve extra channel positions for these multicast programming streams, which the company’s owners may consider competitors to existing cable networks (some of which are owned by the same mega-corporations that own many cable companies).

No law compels cable owners to carry multicasts. But cable companies are free to negotiate agreements with station owners to secure slots for multicast channels. Public TV stations already have a deal with major cable systems to provide programming on as many as four digital channels, and some commercial broadcasters also have carriage agreements.

For station owners (including the broadcast networks), billions of dollars in advertising revenues are at stake. A top priority for Washington lobbyists who represent broadcasters is to pass legislation requiring cable companies to carry multicast channels. Thus far, lawmakers have resisted, and the FCC has declined to impose its own multicast must-carry rules. The cable TV industry strongly opposes multicast carriage requirements, saying they would violate the Constitution and cost them billions.

Whether viewers want such channels—perhaps in place of cable networks they currently receive—remains to be seen.

The legal justification for existing “must-carry” rules is that they serve a public purpose: to advance local programming. That said, most local stations fill their schedules with network or syndicated programming, setting aside a small part of the broadcast day for locally produced content.

Will my satellite provider carry the new local multicast channels?
Direct-broadcast satellite (DBS) services like Dish Network and DirecTV will not be required to provide local digital-TV multicast channels, except in Alaska and Hawaii.

In those two states, carriage of local broadcast digital TV stations must begin by June 8, 2007; this will include both HDTV and multicast programming.

The Alaska and Hawaii “multicast must-carry” requirement was issued by the FCC as part of its implementation of the Satellite Home Viewer Extension and Reauthorization Act (SHVERA) of 2004. The order was apparently intended to provide greater access to local TV stations for those states’ viewers—many of whom live in remote areas.

No plans have been announced to extend the multicast carriage requirement to other states.

At its option, your satellite company could hammer out carriage agreements with broadcasters to provide multicast channels.

What is an electronic program guide (EPG)?
An electronic program guide (EPG) is an on-screen listing of television programs, similar to the TV listings in your local newspaper.

Digital television technology allows local broadcasters to transmit program-guide information to your digital TV (or set-top converter box) along with regular programming content. Digital TV brings electronic program guides—already familiar to many satellite and cable viewers—to households that rely on over-the-air broadcasts.

Why doesn’t my new digital TV receive digital broadcasts?
Sometimes a digital TV will not include a tuner (or decoder or receiver) for receiving over-the-air digital broadcasts. This type of television is known as a digital TV monitor. (Sometimes an HDTV monitor will be labeled “HD-ready.” Retailers sometimes call this type of TV a “component solution.”) Consumers who subscribe to cable or satellite TV, or who will use the TV only for watching videos or playing games, may choose a monitor. But if you want to use the monitor to watch over-the-air TV, you will need to purchase additional equipment, such as a set-top receiver.

A digital TV that includes a built-in digital tuner is known as an integrated DTV. (HDTV models with built-in digital tuners may be labeled “HDTV Integrated.”) The digital tuner may also be called an ATSC tuner (or ATSC digital tuner), after the Advanced Television Systems Committee, which created the U.S. digital TV standard. Like the TVs we have always known, an integrated digital TV is ready to receive broadcasts when attached to an antenna. Keep in mind that if your household currently receives analog TV with an indoor antenna, and the reception quality is merely so-so, you may need a rooftop antenna to receive digital broadcasts.

The labels for digital TV products can be confusing, or even wrong in some cases. If you aren’t sure whether a particular model is a monitor or an integrated DTV, ask your retailer.

Do I need a new antenna to get digital TV?
An antenna used for watching analog TV over the air can also be used for digital TV, including HDTV. Viewers in some areas, however, will find that a better antenna—a rooftop one, perhaps—is needed to ensure reliable digital TV reception.

First, a word about how digital TV reception differs from analog: Essentially, you either get a perfect digital signal for a particular channel, or nothing at all. It’s what’s known as a “cliff effect.” You will either find yourself at the very peak of reception capability or—less happily—in the deepest ditch.

Digital reception is unlike the familiar world of analog, in which a partial signal above a certain threshold may be viewable (or at last hearable), albeit with static or other flaws. If your digital reception is erratic, it will be difficult to tolerate, because at varying intervals the picture and sound will disappear entirely. You may not want to watch Dateline if Stone Phillips gets replaced every few seconds by a blank, blue screen (though I actually prefer it that way). If you live in an area where reception is marginal, a bargain-priced indoor antenna may not cut it anymore. Even viewers who live in urban areas close to broadcast transmitters may encounter interference caused by neighboring buildings, hills, trees or other obstructions.

To view all television stations in your area, you may need an antenna for both VHF (channels 2 through 13) and UHF (channels 14 and up) bands. With the switch to digital in 2009, many stations will move to new channels and, in some cases, switch bands.

Your antenna should point toward the TV station’s broadcast tower. If you encounter reception problems because local stations’ transmitters are located in different directions, consider installing a rotor (sometimes called a rotator) that can reorient the outdoor antenna according to which channel you are viewing.

Wow. That sucked.

Okay, a couple of things.

Digital TV is not superior to analog in quality. It is typically less tolerant of faults. The pushers all say how you won't have static with digital. Well, the truth is, when you get a little analog static, you can still see the video and hear the audio. When digital gets slight aberrations, the audio stops and the video turns to alternating chunks of black and paused video. So Awesome!

Back when they shuffled everyone over to digital cell service, they did it by offering the digital cell service and phones much cheaper than the analog service and phones, while telling us that Digital is better!!!! If it's better, why was it so much cheaper? It's cheaper, because they didn't want to support the analog anymore, since they can make more money doing digital only. Digital is not better.

I'm sure most people here won't remember this, but there used to be huge controversies over music CD's when they came out. The quality of music recorded on a CD is lower than the quality of music recorded on a vinyl record. It's true that the reproducibility of the CD is higher; it doesn't deteriorate as much as a record, and the reading mechanism is cleaner, but the digital recording process eliminates parts of the original sound.

And of course, now everyone listens to MP3's, which are based on an even greater digital decimation of the sound.

Bah. Whine whine whine.


But, yeah, the mutlicasting thing, too. What a fucking joke. They keep selling that feature with all of this nonsense. It will be better for the consumer! More channels! We'll be able to give the consumer MORE, using LESS bandwidth! That is such complete bullshit. At least this thing you pasted above mentions that a likely use of that BONUS space will be channels of JUST infomercials. That's more honest than most reports. Count on the majority of those data channels being used to report data upstream about your viewing habits and anything else that millions of dollars of innovation research dollars spent by RIAA type organizations can figure out how to make money off of you, NOT how to improve your viewing experience.

Posted by MutantMandias Wow. That sucked. Okay, a couple of things. Digital TV is not superior to analog in quality. It is typically less tolerant of faults. The pushers all say how you won't have static with digital. Well, the truth is, when you get a little analog static, you can still see the video and hear the audio. When digital gets slight aberrations, the audio stops and the video turns to alternating chunks of black and paused video. So Awesome! Back when they shuffled everyone over to digital cell service, they did it by offering the digital cell service and phones much cheaper than the analog service and phones, while telling us that Digital is better!!!! If it's better, why was it so much cheaper? It's cheaper, because they didn't want to support the analog anymore, since they can make more money doing digital only. Digital is not better. I'm sure most people here won't remember this, but there used to be huge controversies over music CD's when they came out. The quality of music recorded on a CD is lower than the quality of music recorded on a vinyl record. It's true that the reproducibility of the CD is higher; it doesn't deteriorate as much as a record, and the reading mechanism is cleaner, but the digital recording process eliminates parts of the original sound. And of course, now everyone listens to MP3's, which are based on an even greater digital decimation of the sound. Bah. Whine whine whine. But, yeah, the mutlicasting thing, too. What a fucking joke. They keep selling that feature with all of this nonsense. It will be better for the consumer! More channels! We'll be able to give the consumer MORE, using LESS bandwidth! That is such complete bullshit. At least this thing you pasted above mentions that a likely use of that BONUS space will be channels of JUST infomercials. That's more honest than most reports. Count on the majority of those data channels being used to report data upstream about your viewing habits and anything else that millions of dollars of innovation research dollars spent by RIAA type organizations can figure out how to make money off of you, NOT how to improve your viewing experience.

Don't you shoot with a digital camera? Ha I'm just busting your balls. I agree with everything you just said. How could I not, its all facts : O )

Posted by ryanxpromise Don't you shoot with a digital camera? Ha I'm just busting your balls. I agree with everything you just said. How could I not, its all facts : O )

GODAMMIT!

Posted by MutantMandias Wow. That sucked. Okay, a couple of things. Digital TV is not superior to analog in quality. It is typically less tolerant of faults. The pushers all say how you won't have static with digital. Well, the truth is, when you get a little analog static, you can still see the video and hear the audio. When digital gets slight aberrations, the audio stops and the video turns to alternating chunks of black and paused video. So Awesome! Back when they shuffled everyone over to digital cell service, they did it by offering the digital cell service and phones much cheaper than the analog service and phones, while telling us that Digital is better!!!! If it's better, why was it so much cheaper? It's cheaper, because they didn't want to support the analog anymore, since they can make more money doing digital only. Digital is not better. I'm sure most people here won't remember this, but there used to be huge controversies over music CD's when they came out. The quality of music recorded on a CD is lower than the quality of music recorded on a vinyl record. It's true that the reproducibility of the CD is higher; it doesn't deteriorate as much as a record, and the reading mechanism is cleaner, but the digital recording process eliminates parts of the original sound. And of course, now everyone listens to MP3's, which are based on an even greater digital decimation of the sound. Bah. Whine whine whine. But, yeah, the mutlicasting thing, too. What a fucking joke. They keep selling that feature with all of this nonsense. It will be better for the consumer! More channels! We'll be able to give the consumer MORE, using LESS bandwidth! That is such complete bullshit. At least this thing you pasted above mentions that a likely use of that BONUS space will be channels of JUST infomercials. That's more honest than most reports. Count on the majority of those data channels being used to report data upstream about your viewing habits and anything else that millions of dollars of innovation research dollars spent by RIAA type organizations can figure out how to make money off of you, NOT how to improve your viewing experience.

Well, you made me check into it, now I'm convinced it is all BS. I still like my HD because I love the widescreen without the stretch. Like I said before, I've had digital cable for a few years, and you're right, when there is a small problem it pixilates or freezes, no static. The cable company has been to my house three times to 'sort-out' the lines outside.