Where is the initaitive?

[SteamWake]

After seeing the commercials, print ads, and other 'warnings' for months on end for at least a year now...

Congress votes to delay switch to 'digital' TV

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/01/26/senate-unanimously-votes-push-digital-tv-transition/

WTF is a 4 month delay supposed to accomplish?

(Hey look no mention of Obama :D )

[August]

After seeing the commercials, print ads, and other 'warnings' for months on end for at least a year now...

Congress votes to delay switch to 'digital' TV

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/01/26/senate-unanimously-votes-push-digital-tv-transition/

WTF is a 4 month delay supposed to accomplish?

(Hey look no mention of Obama :D )

Well first when people see the downsides of broadcast digital they are going to be irritated but the main reason for the delay was in the article:

...Commerce Department hit a $1.34 billion funding limit for government coupons that consumers may use to help pay for digital TV converter boxes. The boxes, which generally cost between $40 and $80 each and can be purchased without a coupon, translate digital signals back into analog ones for older TVs.The National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the arm of the Commerce Department administering the program, is now sending out new coupons only as older, unredeemed ones expire and free up more money. The NTIA had nearly 2.6 million coupon requests on a waiting list as of last Wednesday.

[SteamWake]

I still dont get why the goverment should be involved in 'helping' people upgrading their entertainment system(s).

Sure you can make an argument "Well they need to be 'in touch' in an emergency". As far as I know radios still work.

[AVGWarhawk]

I still dont get why the goverment should be involved in 'helping' people upgrading their entertainment system(s).

Sure you can make an argument "Well they need to be 'in touch' in an emergency". As far as I know radios still work.

Man, you are a tough one Steam. Has it occurred to you that perhaps the elderly who are on fixed incomes eating very little because they can not afford much that a 42 inch plasma TV with cable is just not in the cards? It was extended 4 months for the elderly and those who are having trouble getting the money together even with the coupon with the discount. We can at least give them the 3 snowy channels they watch.

[SteamWake]

Some things are more important than 'whats on TV'. How about helping this poor guy out?

WW2 vet freezes to death after city cuts his power because of non payment.

http://www.wnem.com/news/18566890/detail.html

Also there is this nagging deficit... :hmm:

Im sorry I dont see the federal goverment getting involved with citizens Television.

[AVGWarhawk]

Some things are more important than 'whats on TV'. How about helping this poor guy out?

WW2 vet freezes to death after city cuts his power because of non payment.

http://www.wnem.com/news/18566890/detail.html

Also there is this nagging deficit... :hmm:

Im sorry I dont see the federal goverment getting involved with citizens Television.


I did see this and it is a shame. They guy owed like $1000.00. Come on, give me a break. The company said they were in their legal rights. This was far and beyond a legal right. We have not heard the end of this one.

To be honest Steam, I'm not sure why the Fed is involved with the TV deal. Is it possible they initiated the change over and felt compelled to assist those that would need help?

[SteamWake]

Is it possible they initiated the change over and felt compelled to assist those that would need help?

"Felt compelled"... indeed, appealing to their base, whom evidently are un-able to tie their shoes without goverment help.

[AVGWarhawk]

Is it possible they initiated the change over and felt compelled to assist those that would need help?
"Felt compelled"... indeed, appealing to their base, whom evidently are un-able to tie their shoes without goverment help.

Well, the coupons are obviously targeted to the lower income. But, why have a change over to all digital anyway? What is there to gain?

[SteamWake]

Well, the coupons are obviously targeted to the lower income. But, why have a change over to all digital anyway? What is there to gain?

Ah Ha ! Now we get to the point...

That one is easy to answer... to sell new hardware of course.

Yes better picture better sound but to take full advantage you will need a new reciever and monitor.

In short to stimulate the economy in a round about sort of way. Too bad most of the products are comming from Korea, China, etc.

So there you have it, in delaying the change they are inderectly hampering the economic recovery.

[AVGWarhawk]

Is that really the driving force to all of this? Seems a bit far fetched to me. I have to check this out.

Here we go:

The committee is readying legislation expected this year that would require all American televisions to run on digital signals by the end of 2008. That would free up the analog, or 700 MHz, spectrum for other uses such as broadband services and communications for emergency workers.

[Enigma]

Far fetched. Such a nice way to put it.....The government is handing out coupons to help consumers pay for the converter boxes. Seems selling Japanese components has nothing to do with it.

The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 requires television stations to turn off their analog channels.

Also...

Analog TV signals use the 700MHz frequency band, meaning that by nature, they travel farther than those on bands used by the wireless and electronics industries today. Reusing that spectrum could mean easier and cheaper deployment of broadband networks--and translate to more affordable, widespread high-speed Internet access for consumers.
Amongst other stuff....Including freeing up valuable pieces of the wireless spectrum to be used for interoperable emergency-response networks.

[August]

We can at least give them the 3 snowy channels they watch.

Which I will guarantee will be preferable to the freezes, pixillation and sound cut outs they'll get with broadcast digital.

[AVGWarhawk]

Far fetched. Such a nice way to put it.....The government is handing out coupons to help consumers pay for the converter boxes. Seems selling Japanese components has nothing to do with it.

The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 requires television stations to turn off their analog channels.

Also...

Analog TV signals use the 700MHz frequency band, meaning that by nature, they travel farther than those on bands used by the wireless and electronics industries today. Reusing that spectrum could mean easier and cheaper deployment of broadband networks--and translate to more affordable, widespread high-speed Internet access for consumers.
Amongst other stuff....Including freeing up valuable pieces of the wireless spectrum to be used for interoperable emergency-response networks.
Ah, post 10 of mine showing a quote that is basically if not the same as you have here. What is your point?

[AVGWarhawk]

We can at least give them the 3 snowy channels they watch.
Which I will guarantee will be preferable to the freezes, pixillation and sound cut outs they'll get with broadcast digital.

Yes, I loved the old days with my rabbit ears and tin foil wrapped around them. :D

[Enigma]

Ah, post 10 of mine showing a quote that is basically if not the same as you have here. What is your point?

That it isn't about economic recovery. :-?

[clive bradbury]

We can at least give them the 3 snowy channels they watch.

Which I will guarantee will be preferable to the freezes, pixillation and sound cut outs they'll get with broadcast digital.

Is digital that poor in the US, August? We have Sky+, admittedly at some monthly expense), and have virtually no problems with it. Before that we had a 'freeview' box for several years, and although it was not quite as reliable as Sky, was worth it simply for the range of channels.

Of course, over here we were limited to 5 analog stations.

The digital switchover is well underway in the UK, and I really don't think it will affect many financially - I suspect hardly anyone. I genuinely do not know of anyone of any age group who has not already got a freeview box, but I suppose there are still a few out there.

[August]

Is digital that poor in the US, August?

Unless you have a very strong signal yeah. If you got snow before, even a little, you will have the type of problems i mentioned with digital broadcast.

What is Sky+ btw? Broadcast TV? What's it's range? Any idea how many watts they are operating at?

[clive bradbury]

Is digital that poor in the US, August?

Unless you have a very strong signal yeah. If you got snow before, even a little, you will have the type of problems i mentioned with digital broadcast.

What is Sky+ btw? Broadcast TV? What's it's range? Any idea how many watts they are operating at?

Satellite TV with a box with its own hard drive - about 100 hours capacity, giving you 'one touch' recording of an entire series, and chasing playback. Useful for idiots like me who can't remember to record things, and the best way of avoiding adverts. In fact, because of the latter advantage, we hardly watch anything truly 'live'.

Over here the free digital is generally fine, but as a big cricket and rugby fan, not to mention the NFL, and a confirmed soccer hater, I need the Sky Sports package as they have cornered the market in those first three sports (they do show the superbowl on terrestrial TV, though).

[August]

Satellite TV with a box with its own hard drive - about 100 hours capacity, giving you 'one touch' recording of an entire series, and chasing playback. Useful for idiots like me who can't remember to record things, and the best way of avoiding adverts. In fact, because of the latter advantage, we hardly watch anything truly 'live'.

Over here the free digital is generally fine, but as a big cricket and rugby fan, not to mention the NFL, and a confirmed soccer hater, I need the Sky Sports package as they have cornered the market in those first three sports (they do show the superbowl on terrestrial TV, though).

Oh satellite is a bit different than what I was talking about. Don't you Brits still have standard radio based TV broadcasting or is it all cable and sat now?

[AVGWarhawk]

Ah, post 10 of mine showing a quote that is basically if not the same as you have here. What is your point?
That it isn't about economic recovery. :-?

Ummm...I do not recall stating this was part of the master plan for economic recovery:hmm:. I quoted an article stating it would free up 700 Mhz for emergency response radio.

[SteamWake]

Oh satellite is a bit different than what I was talking about. Don't you Brits still have standard radio based TV broadcasting or is it all cable and sat now?

I believe there all digital already.

[Enigma]

That it isn't about economic recovery. :-?
Dude. Wasn't responding to you. Was responding to to Steamwake. Ya know? :hmm:

[August]

I believe there all digital already.

Well digital signals can also be broadcast. Analog and Digital only refer to the type of signal not the means of transmission.

Perhaps I need to explain further.

When I say "broadcast" I mean TV signals sent out from a radio tower. It's also called "over-the-air" TV. It predates cable and satellite by a couple of decades and is still used in the US.

Here's what the antennas look like:

"Rabbit ears" (Set top antenna)
http://insidecatholic.com/Joomla/images/75/Rabbitears.jpg



Roof top antenna
http://www.granbytv.com/3671__Antenna.jpg

[Tchocky]

Switchover is well in progress in the UK, but not finished by any means.

[AVGWarhawk]

That it isn't about economic recovery. :-?
Dude. Wasn't responding to you. Was responding to to Steamwake. Ya know? :hmm:

Clear as mud:rotfl: