I need to buy a new TV- my tech savvy friends tell me that the TV signals are going to change to just HD in a couple of years and 'regular' TV's will become obsolete.
Is this true? Do I need to go buy an HD tv or be faced having to toss out my new TV in couple years?
2006-07-26 08:04:48 · 12 answers · asked by RED 5 in Consumer Electronics ➔ TVs
In 2009, congress has mandated that analog transmission be turned off, and all stations will swich to digtal transmission (many stations already transmit digitally along with analog). This does not automatically mean the stations will broadcast HDTV, but most probably will have some HDTV programs. Digital television that is not HDTV is called SDTV (Standard Definition TV); not as sharp as HD, but pretty good. If you have a older model TV (more than a year old) it most likely will not be able to receive the digital signal, but low-cost converter boxes are supposed to be available by then. If you buy a current-model TV now, it will most likely come equipped with a digital tuner already, even if it is not an HDTV. An earlier law requires all new sets (over a certain screen size) have built-in digital tuners. Before you buy your new set, make sure it has a built-in digital tuner (even if it isn't an HDTV), and you have nothing to worry about.
2006-07-26 15:02:23 · answer #1 · answered by gp4rts 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
The station I work for is in the process of changing to digital. We already have a low power transmitter converting our old analog stuff, we are just getting some other digital equipment. Analog signals will be gone in 2009. Buy a digital TV when you are sure you can get a digital signal where you live. Larger cities and markets have full power digital signals already. Smaller ma and pa stations are sliding by with low power digital for the time being. Save that old TV for watching your old tapes.
HD is gravy and very expensive for small stations, don't look for them to change to HD soon.
2006-07-26 20:53:21 · answer #2 · answered by whatshisface 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You don't need a new tv, you will just need a new tuner in order to keep getting a signal. They are changing the way signal is broadcats to digital, rather then analog. It has nothing to do with HD. HD can be transmitted either way.
Digital tuners are available through your cable company, or you can buy one if you use an antenna for signal.
2006-07-26 08:09:01 · answer #3 · answered by bbyhtguy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. You may have to buy a set top box that will change the signal to analog and that would probably run you about $80.00. The change over is still several years away. The original date was this year for the switch but it has been delayed and may be delayed again.
2006-07-26 08:14:29 · answer #4 · answered by dgp1000 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
HD has not caught on like they first said it would. You should be fine... but HD is not super expensive.. if you're going to buy a new TV anyways, get the HD... but if you don't plan on it, you will be fine for many years.
2006-07-26 10:21:20 · answer #5 · answered by Mustafa 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No.Congress has finally mandated that broadcast TV stations convert to all digital signals by early 2009.You can keep your regular tv and by that year get a coverter so you can keep watching tv
2006-07-26 18:44:53 · answer #6 · answered by haroldoem 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They will be no less usable than a transistor radio. (Oh God, you're probably too young to know what that is). Nope, your non-HD TV will be fine.
2006-07-26 10:45:01 · answer #7 · answered by sparkletina 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I dont think so, but in the future HDTV will probably affordable.
2006-07-26 10:44:57 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
IF YOU HAVE CABLE, YOUR MORE THAN LIKELY ALREADY UP TO DATE, SINCE MOST CABLE COMPANIES ARE SLOWLY SWITCHING OVER TO DIGITAL.
DON'T WORRY!
2006-07-26 18:05:38 · answer #9 · answered by mchaz60 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i dont think thats ever gonna happen.
2006-07-26 08:09:38 · answer #10 · answered by i luv the word awsome 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋