My dad asked me a question I cant find the answer to. Someone told him that the tv's that we use now wont work in a few years because of changes to the signals coming in. He wants to buy a new one, just a small one, but is worried it wont be of much use. What is the real story as what the future of televisions is going to be in five years?
2006-11-06 09:33:16 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Consumer Electronics ➔ TVs
Your dad heard correctly. In February 2009, the analog signal that you now receive over-the-air will be switched off and all US TV stations will transmit only in digital. For the many millions of people who own analog TV sets (virtually all of us in the US), there will be government-subsidized set-top boxes to receive the digital signal and display it on an analog TV.
TV stations in the US have been phasing in digital broadcasting since 1998 and almost all are now transmitting in digital at full power. This digital signal can carry high-definition TV (HDTV), which looks MUCH better than the TV you have been watching for years. Not all digital TV is HDTV, so be careful how you use the term. Most network TV shows are now broadcast over-the-air in HDTV.
Remember... your analog TV will no longer be able to receive over-the-air signals after Feb 2009. However, it will work with a set-top box for over-the-air digital TV. Furthermore, it will continue to work fine with cable TV, if that is how you get your signals.
2006-11-06 09:46:41 · answer #1 · answered by pvreditor 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
You can find a lot about televisions on Wikipedia.org.
You can also read the video review magazines. They
usually often times talk about the future of televisions.
Basically, he should get a digital TV (i.e. one with one
of the new digital tuners) that will be compatible with
the analog to digital broadcasting scheduled in 2009.
H a p p y
V i e w i n g !
2006-11-06 13:55:30 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This effects you ONLY IF YOU DEPEND ON AN ANTENNA for your signal. This does not affect cable and satelite users.
If he does depend on an antenna, then he needs at least a 27" TV to get one with a digital tuners. All new TVs 27" and up will have this built in.
2006-11-07 00:41:51 · answer #3 · answered by debaser8170 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋