Is Feb. 2009 the cut off date, before needing a converter box, rendering regular TV reception useless without signing up for cable TV(which I plan to avoid).
What is the difference between Analog & Digital TV?
2007-10-19 21:31:01 · 6 answers · asked by bereftcat 4 in Consumer Electronics ➔ TVs
(This answer assumes that you live in the US)
>how soon will it be obsolete?
When it breaks.
>Is Feb. 2009 the cut off date, before needing a converter box, rendering regular TV reception useless without signing up for cable TV
On 2/17/2009 almost all of the old analog TV broadcasts will end. But you will still be able to use your old TV.
There are converter boxes for over-the-air TV broadcasts that convert the new digital (still free) TV broadcasts to something your old TV understands.
Starting in Jan 2008 the US government will have a coupon program so you can buy a couple of them at about $20 each.
These will include a new remote control and can receive all the old analog and new digital OTA broadcasts.
If you get good UHF (analog channel 14-69) signals now, you should be able to use your old antenna with the new digital broadcasts. If you get marginal UHF reception, you will probably need a better TV antenna.
>What is the difference between Analog & Digital TV?
Analog TV was designed based on the technology than was available in the late 1930's. Digital TV is based on the electronic technology that was available in the late 1990's.
The digital TV signals require advanced computer chips to receive them, but the new technology allows TV's to be built that have a much cleaner more detailed picture and more channels can be squeezed into the same frequencies that the analog signals take up.
Cheat Sheet
--------------------------------------...
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
"CECB" = government speak for TV converter boxes that qualify for their coupon program. Stands for "Coupon-Eligible Converter Box"
2007-10-20 03:24:39 · answer #1 · answered by Stephen P 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You wont need to sign up for cable!!!
This is just a tactic to get you to sign up and it really annoys the crap out of me. You can get a digital receiver right now and start enjoying FREE over the air digital broadcasts.
This has nothing to do with cable, you just need the right box. I have 2, one I bought off eBay that just converts digital to analog, and the other is a DVD burner as well I bought from Walmart. I usually avoid Walmart as they are killing this countries work force city by city but I cant seem to find these anywhere else at a reasonable price (especially considering that I will HAVE to go digital).
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5622736 this is the Walmart tuner/burner that I have. Its pretty cheap in the fact that you cant flip channels very fast, but it gets the job done. What you are going to want to look for in tuners is ATSC, that means a digital tuner, NOT NTSC which is what your TV has in it right now.
Get something with an ATSC tuner in it.
Hope this helps, and I plan to avoid the cable and satellite companies as well, unless I win the Lottery or something.
Heres a link to the available digital signals in your area. http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/Address.aspx just put in your zip code, uncheck those 2 spam me now buttons, and follow the instructions (you dont need to put in any personal info).
2007-10-20 04:16:50 · answer #2 · answered by cabbiinc 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
February 17, 2009 ALL over the air reception of ANALOG signals will cease....
That means on February 18, YOU NEED a Digital Reciever to get the Digital signals.....
The difference between Analog and Digital is, Digital is a Noise-Free transmission...you don't get noise in the picture.
However, you should get ready BEFORE Feb 17 because you will want to adjust your antenna for the BEST reception of your signals....Then nice thing about analog reception is that you can SEE the picture quality and adjust for the least amount of snow in the picture....When we switch to DIGITAL, it's an "all or none" sort of signal....You either get a perfect picture or you don't....
And if you don't get the picture, how will you adjust your antenna? SOME TVs do have a built in signal strength meter, but MOST don't....and your TV doesn't. Can you see yourself trying to adjust your reciever box without some form of feedback like a signal meter?
That's why I say, get the antenna installed NOW....so you can SEE the SIGNAL QUALITY....
2007-10-20 00:07:01 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
in case you have become Nick Jr, you have become cable, and you're the two procuring it (the two with a subscription or hire/condominium fees) or stealing it. Y!A rules do no longer help or condone stealing. in case you like loose television, you are able to desire to establish your guy or woman antenna, and in the adventure that your television is older, a digital converter container besides.
2016-10-13 06:35:55 · answer #4 · answered by kosmoski 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
analogue TV is now obsolete in the whitehaven area ,and other areas will follow gradually until 2012 when the whole country will be totally digital.The last area to be turned over will be the south-east of england
2007-10-20 01:16:37 · answer #5 · answered by eric r 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
it is already absolute, nothing is free anymore
2007-10-19 21:34:31 · answer #6 · answered by charlie 5 · 0⤊ 4⤋