digital TV in 2009?

Question

if I am a cable subscriber will I need conversion boxes on TVs to get the digital signal or will it come in on my old TV. Hate to think of buying 5 converter boxes

Answer 1

Most of the preceding posts are incorrect. You're OK. Over The Air (OTA) analog TV will disappear in the US on February 17, 2009 at midnight. If you use OTA, you'll need converter boxes for every analog device with a tuner-TVs, VCRs Etc. In January of 2008, each household can apply for up to two $40 coupons towards the purchase of converters which are expected to cost approximately $60 before the coupon. If you use satellite TV, you're not effected. If you use cable TV, the cable companies have been ordered to continue to provide analog versions of the locally available OTA TV until 2012. What they do with regard to the remainder of their analog TV is up to them.
So, you're OK, except that, as time goes on more and more of the cable analog TV will move to digital, and you'll need cable boxes, unless you're satisfied with just the OTA TV.

Answer 2

Short answer:

Only your cable company knows for sure.

Long answer:

The 2009 date only applies to over the air broadcasts. Cable companies have a lot more flexibility in how they handle the transition to DTV.

While cable companies are required to keep supplying analog TV signals until at least 2012, many are switching to all digital signals and supplying converter boxes to customers with older TVs.

These converters are usually supplied by the cable company. They are not the same as the cheap over the air converters that will show up next year.

As for the other answers you received:
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The first three are clueless

The fourth is correct if your cable company changes it's basic cable to a non-encrypted QAM digital system. (Not a sure thing)

Everything in the fifth answer is correct, I just don't know what his point is.

Answer 3

If your current TV already has a cable box, it will continue to function as it does today. If it is receiving analog cable [no converter box] then you'll need one of the tuners [unless it has one built in]. 2 Coupons will be available per household valued at $40-$50 each. The tuners are expected to cost about $50-$70.00 each.

Answer 4

In 2009, analog tv will be no more and all analog tvs will have to have a converter box in order to get programs. and the 'rabbit ears' will no longer work and you'll have to have a built in digital tuner in the tv to get over-the-air ways signals.

Answer 5

If you have Digital Cable, you Don't need any Special Tuners. It will work no differently than it does today. Otherwise, you will need to get a QAM Tuner or New TV with a QAM Tuner Built-in.

Answer 6

WELL THERE'S A NUMBER YOU CAN CALL STARTING JAN 2008 TO REGISTER FOR THE CONVERTER BOX 1800DTV2009 THEY WILL GIVE YOU A FREE BOX. I SAW THE COMERICIAL ON THE LATE NIGHT