what is HD tv and will all conventional tv's be obsolete soon?

Answer 1

Yonventional TVs will be for the most part obsolete around Feb. 2009 when this country switches from analog TV to HDTV. At this time all non-HDTV TVs will need a converter box to function. You will either need to buy one or get it from your cable TV provider. Also, in 2008 the Federal govt. will be granting up to (2) $40 vouchers per household to be used in purchasing the converter boxes.

Answer 2

(This answer assumes you are located in the US)

You can continue to use conventional TVs indefinitely. They will need a digital converter box to keep receiving broadcasts however.

For over the air (OTA) signals, you need a converter by 2/17/09. Starting in Jan 2008 the government will have coupon program that will let you buy a couple of them for about $20 each.

Satellite TV is already digital, the converter in built into the receiver.

Cable companies are required to maintain analog TV service through at least 2012.

The term "HDTV" just means that a TV has a digital tuner and can display a picture with about at least twice the resolution as a conventional set hooked to a DVD player.

Your old TV with a $20 converter or a new "SDTV" with a digital tuner can tune into all the broadcasts a "HDTV" can. When you tune into a "HD" broadcast with one of these sets, the tuner/converter just throws away the extra picture information and displays a signal that is about as good as you get from a DVD player.

The second answer you got from "Rick D" is incorrect about everything switching to "HDTV". Everything is changing to DTV (Digital TV). Only some of those channels will be in "HD" resolution. Some will be in "SD" resolution which is about the picture quality you get with a DVD player.

Answer 3

HD is high definition and the cable company has a select number of channels HD ready, so I think it will be a while before the old ones are obsolete.