This is for an older TV that is at the cabin. Not worth getting satelite to it, and don't want to buy a new TV for it either.
2007-12-25 14:15:06 · 2 answers · asked by PoohknowsALL 3 in Consumer Electronics ➔ TVs
(This answer assumes you are located in the US)
It's not the antennas that are changing! Do not assume that you need a new antenna.
The US is changing to an all digital TV broadcasting system. What this means that after 2/17/09, older TVs that don't have a digital tuner will need a converter box that attaches between your TV antenna and TV to receive over the air broadcasts.
In 2/2008 the government will start giving out discount coupons that will let each household buy a couple of them for about $20 each. These will work with all over the air digital TV signals, including "HD" ones.
The new digital TV broadcasts use the same antennas that the old analog systems does. Digital TV signals are somewhat fussy about signal quality, so if you do not get good analog reception, you will probably need a better antenna. This has nothing to do with the marketing hype about "HDTV antennas".
There is one oddity about antennas used for receiving digital TV broadcasts. Many (but not all) TV stations are changing from VHF (analog channels 2-13) to UHF (analog channels 14-51), so in some areas all the local broadcasts will be UHF. UHF only antennas are typically a lot smaller than VHF/UHF antennas.
2007-12-25 15:30:55 · answer #1 · answered by Stephen P 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You will be able to use this antennae and tv now and after. However, after, you will need to buy a converter box. It does the same thing cable and satelite boxes are already doing.
I dont know if they are already available in the stores, but they will be by that time.
By the way, its not the high def they are changing. Its going from broadcast in analogue to digital. Its also not just tvs, but phones as well. Analogue only phones will no longer work. Also, all the vehicles with OnStar will have to upgrade their OnStar equip. The analogue phone service actually changes next year -2008, before the tv switch over
2007-12-25 15:01:37 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋