Will this changeover render my old TV's useless? What type of financial damage control should I prepare myself for?
2007-10-17 13:54:57 · 3 answers · asked by Kalifornia Citizen 2 in Consumer Electronics ➔ TVs
>Will this changeover render my old TV's useless?
No it will not.
If you get your TV through cable or satellite, those companies will supply suitable signals for your old TV.
If you get your TV over the air (OTA), you will need a converter box after 2/17/2009. These hook up between your antenna and TV similar to the way a VCR would.
In Jan 2008 the US government will start a coupon program that will let people buy a couple of these converters for about $20 each.
If you get good UHF (analog channels 14-69) reception now, you shouldn't need a new antenna. If your UHF reception is marginal, you might need a new antenna.
>What type of financial damage control should I prepare myself for?
Besides the ~$20 each for the first two converters plus ~$60 for additional ones?
The real hit is if you decide that you "have" to have a big new flat "HD" TV. The cheap ~$20 converters will receive all of the digital OTA channels including the "HD" ones, but your old TV will "only" display them with about the same image quality that you would get from a DVD player.
If you need to replace a TV, you can go to Walmart and buy a tube type TV with digital tuner for about the same price as the old TVs; about $250 for a 27" brand name. But it won't have the bragging rights that a $2000 TV would bring.
Another possible cost is buying new video recorders. You can use a converter box with an old VCR, but you have to tune in the stations manually. Figure on about $200 for a decent DVD recorder with digital (ATSC) tuner. One of these will also act like a converter box for an old TV.
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Old type OTA TV signals = NTSC = "Analog TV"
New type OTA TV signals = ATSC = "Digital TV" = DTV
Digital signals used on some cable systems = QAM
OTA = "Over the Air" = stuff you get through your TV antenna
2007-10-17 15:39:14 · answer #1 · answered by Stephen P 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The digital converter boxes are only effective for a year. I already get horrible reception with atenna. I am just going to buy new TVS. I found 20" for $149.99 at best buy and a 13" for 102.99. I also found a handheld tv that is in hd. I really think in the long run it will be better just to replace at least 2 of my tvs. I have 4 tvs.
2007-10-17 16:22:45 · answer #2 · answered by Summerlynn 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
All you need to do is a digital box, freeview box or cable connected to the TV's and they will receive the digital signal. No need to buy new TV's.
2007-10-17 23:32:49 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋