i got about 4 non digital tv's that are currently less than 2 yrs old. and i am wondering what i am going to do with them since i can not get a straight answer from my cable company about what is going to happen to my billing and what not. only reason i really have cable is for my internet i just have the limited basic right now whish is under $14 the rest of my bill is for my internet. i am not interested in leasing 3-4 set top boxs just to watch tv. not to mention to even make digital worthwhile it does mean a newer digital ready tv. then what happens to all the non-digital tvs that still work excellent? are we just supposed to send them to a landfill to create a much worse environmental problem.
2007-08-16 13:05:03 · 8 answers · asked by dj_lonewolf69 4 in Consumer Electronics ➔ TVs
oh ya 3 of the tv's we have now are all used at some point through out the day since 2 are in different bedrooms and one is in the living room. we also got another one in our spare bedroom that one of our family friends use when he is home from the marines. and i am lookin at new tvs depending on how my rates change if they do once this whole digital bs goes in to effect. just not big on if i gotta get a new tv since i just spent over $200 on my current one alittle over a yr ago. lol maybe i'll get lucky and a tv i like will be in my price range by the time this whole digital headache goes in
2007-08-16 14:41:30 · update #1
The switch to digital in Feb. 2009 does NOT affect cable or Dish. You should not notice any change to your cable. The switch to digital will only affect over-the-air signals. If you currently use an antenna to watch TV signals, you will need a digital-to-anaolg convertor box. Samsung and LG will be the first companies to sell these devices starting in January 2008 when the government coupon program is scheduled to start.
The people who answer the phones at cable company's have not been trained yet on how to answer the questions about the switch to digital. If you want more information, there is plenty available at Best Buy or Circuit City.
2007-08-16 14:31:37 · answer #1 · answered by marky 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
US answer.
I'm assuming that you now get analog cable service. Cable operators are not tied to the 2/17/09 conversion to all digital OTA TV. They can continue delivering analog signals as long as they feel like it. You will want to find out if your local cable provider is planing to discontinue this service.
Sooner or later they probably will, probably not on 2/17/09 though. If/When they do, you will need a cable box to view digital cable channels.
After 1/1/08 you should be able to pick 2 digital OTC (over the air) digital tuners for about $20 each (after a government $40 off coupon program). Assuming that you can receive OTA signals, that would allow you to two sets in service for OTA only.
If you can't use the sets this way, they might have a small value to (mostly poor) people who could use them with converter boxes as an upgrade to old/failing/junky TVs.
2007-08-17 22:35:44 · answer #2 · answered by Stephen P 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, beginning next year, the federal government is going to start distributing vouchers for converter boxes that will convert over-the-air digital TV (DTV) signals to old-style NTSC (analog). Each household will be eligible to two vouchers which will be worth $40 each toward a converter ($40 PER converter). Right now you'd be hard pressed to find one of these, but as the transition day (Feb 17, 2009) approaches, the converters should be available.
One other possibility is that the cable companies may supply set-top boxes that do the conversion for you. This is all very up in the air now.
2007-08-16 20:23:35 · answer #3 · answered by link 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well , you need the standard set top box once cable shifts all their standard channels ( 2 to 99) over to digital.
We don't know when that will happen as cable is exempt from the 2009 deadline. That's only for tv transmitters transmitting thru the air.....
And networks like Food Network, Discovery, Disney....if they don't tranmit thru the air they don't have to change to digital either.....if they only transmit via satellite they are exempt too...
But you'll want a set top box someday....to keep those TVs working.
2007-08-17 00:06:21 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
the old tv's will still work, there is no effect on the tv, you will just no longer be able to use an antenna mounted at your house, you will have to have cable or satallite, if your tv is so old it is not cable ready, they make an adapter that screws onto the UHF/VHF screws and has a coaxial adapter to go to a cable converter
2007-08-23 15:11:03 · answer #5 · answered by Ron F 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well im not much of a financial advisor, but i would suggest that you sell the older TV's (if u can) and then use that money to buy a digital TV. The cheapeast good digital TV's can cost only $299.99.
2007-08-16 20:14:27 · answer #6 · answered by Cheatsisbrownandasian 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
either they will be useless and be broken down to b use 4 something esle of they will be come antiks and be sold 4 alot of money.......on one really knows
2007-08-16 20:13:22 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
u can still use ur dvd player and vcr on it..
2007-08-16 20:11:37 · answer #8 · answered by ashrafny2004 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋