2007-12-01 09:18:23 · 4 answers · asked by Dilila 2 in Consumer Electronics ➔ TiVO & DVRs
(This answer assumes that you are located in the US)
You do not need to buy a new digital TV.
Direct TV already uses digital signals; your receiver box converts these to analog signals that older TVs can understand.
Digital TV signals can be cheaply converted to the old analog ones, so very few people will need to buy new TVs.
I'm not sure where you got the 1/9/08 date. There is a date (2/17/09) when all over the air analog broadcasts will end. This only applies to free TV that you get with an antenna. People who get their TV with an antenna will need a converter box after 2/17/09 to use older TVs.
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Comments on other answers:
"scart" is a socket used in Europe, it's not used in the US
Despite what Jeffery J K thinks, not all digital broadcasts are UHF. Most are, but some stations will use VHF channels.
2007-12-01 10:31:58 · answer #1 · answered by Stephen P 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
DirectTV IS your decoder box for your television. They are providing the signal and that is not going to change, providing you keep paying them.
If you pay them extra for your local channels, that will continue
The local over the air signals will stop in 2009
You will need a new over the air decoder if you choose
not to get a hi def tv
Some DVR recorders have tuners on them that will get the new digital signals over the air.
The new signals are actually in the UHF band, in spite of what the channel label says. If your antenna gets UHF now, it will work for digital. Antenna requirements will vary depending on how far you are from the transmtter.
The website below helps discribe the general antenna needs, both now and digital
2007-12-01 18:13:27 · answer #2 · answered by Jeffery H K 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, the only people who need to worry about that is people who get free over the air broadcast. Like people who are using rabbit ears or an antenna. anyone with cable service whether it be Directv or cable will be ok.
The fcc is requireing all over the air broadcast to go digital.
2007-12-02 00:42:22 · answer #3 · answered by simply661 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you can have any TV with scart socket if you have digital set top box but i think you may have to have digital aerial
2007-12-01 17:23:04 · answer #4 · answered by mickbhall 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋