I recently heard my analog TV won't work after February 2009 and I need to buy a new TV. Would it be cheapest to buy a converter box, a SDTV, or a HDTV? It really confuses me.
2007-10-29 06:57:28 · 4 answers · asked by hippyman 1 in Consumer Electronics ➔ TVs
I am not planning to get a PS3 or any other type of HD equipment. I'm just on a tight budget (under $100). Any advice?
2007-10-29 07:10:18 · update #1
By the way, I recieve broadcasts with an antenna (I can't afford to pay a bill for TV each month)
2007-11-01 04:10:24 · update #2
You do not have to buy a new TV, unless you want to!
Your analog TV will still work after 2/17/09.
For cable or satellite reception, you don't have to do anything.
If you receive your signal OTA via antenna, the government will be making available, in Jan. '08, two coupons per household for $40 each off the price of converter boxes which will have a cost of about $60 each. Using your present antenna connected to the converter box, you'll be able to watch the OTA TV as now.
You may have to upgrade your antenna if you're in a fringe reception area.
You can convert any time you want to, the digital OTA is available now.
2007-10-29 07:12:05 · answer #1 · answered by jjki_11738 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The cheapest way to go is to buy a converter box for your old TV. Wait until Jan 2008 and you will be able to buy one for about $20 thanks to a government coupon program.
You will only need to buy a converter if you get TV over-the-air (OTA). The cable & satellite companies will still be supplying the old style analog signals.
A somewhat more expensive route is to buy a SDTV with a digital tuner built in. For about $250 you can get a brand name 27" at Walmart.
Both the converter box and $250 TV will receive all the digital OTA channels including "HD" ones. The picture quality should be about what you get from a DVD player.
You will find a lot a people on Yahoo answers that think that DVD quality isn't good enough and that you must have an HDTV.
The most expensive option is to buy a HDTV.
2007-10-29 13:26:05 · answer #2 · answered by Stephen P 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You're analog TV will work well after 2009. What is turning off is the ability to get the analog signal via antenna. No need to turn your TV in.
If you want a cheap big screen TV go with Samsung.
2007-10-31 14:43:56 · answer #3 · answered by Old AV Dude 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it depends whether ur planning on getting any HD equipment (i.e. ps3 hd dvd player, ect) if so u shud get a hdtv some are quite cheap now especially if they are 760 rather han full 1080 hd, otherwise get an sdtv
2007-10-29 07:01:13 · answer #4 · answered by Crunkd 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋