DTV 101: A Consumer's Guide to Digital Television

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Category:

Science & Technology

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• television
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• tv
• electronics
• converter
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• digital
• antenna
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[Crawlerz246]

i got regular (not digital) cable and a TV w/o a digital tuner. i am still confused: do i still need to buy the converter if my TV is HD capable but its w/o a digital tuner? everywhere i look (tv, etc) comcast says "u needn't worry - we'll take care of it?" what does that mean? they'll provide the box? do i need it if i am not using an antenna?

[dtvtransition]

As long as your television is connected to regular cable, you will not need a DTV converter box.

[Cricketmite]

Cable has always been a scam. You pay for a hundred channels and only watch a few. A favorite 24/7 channel might be watched for 2 shows. You pay to get commercials, so then you need a dvr to scip them, or record when you're out. If the converter box can improve the picture quality so regular TV is watchable, cable would be obsolete for me. I figure I can get most any show or picture from netflix, which is cheaper than cable.

[RickJamesThrowinDown]

The airwaves belong to the public. Why pay rent for something that you already own?

[Firebirrd85]

Dude it doesn't matter what box you buy. The signal strength sucks ass. Seriously with the old system I could get stuff from the next state now with this digital shit the picture breaks up and I can BARELY get my locals which are 29 miles out.

[georgef551]

Actually, it affects about 30 million TV's, you may have heard 20 million, but it was later found to be a bad underestimate, hence the 6/12/09 deadline.

In most cases, it affects secondary TV's (kitchen, bedroom, etc.), portables, and those like me, who don't watch enough TV to justify a pay service. Yes, the enderly, too.

Another thing you didn't think of, what if your cable/satellite goes out? DTV a good backup system.

[RockeyJesse20]

shit i rather make my own antenna and its almost out of time!!!!!!!!! X0

[TooFreshproductions]

no shit

[69franco]

anoher annoying, money wasted reminder.only 1% of the population uses antennae. with the computer age, this is useless and annoying.

[GodofBigots]

What this video won't tell is that the US Government has taken no action to ensure that the box you buy will work. AccessHDTV box cost me $60. When it failed to work I called the 800 # - it was non working number. The web page offers you no way to contact them by email other than an auto response telling you to call the same dead end #.

AccessHDTV is a scam - don't buy this companies box - they will rip you off!

(Copy and post this message daily if you can)

[thoughtchallenge]

Does the antenna hook up to the VCR then go to the converter or from the converter into the VCR?

Also, can anyone recommend a good 65-70 mile range antenna?

One more thing- I've hear about antenna stacking, can someone tell me how this is done? We receive TV signals from two different regions south and North East, can two antennas be hooked into one cable from differing direction antennas?

[Rynnyx]

Here is my biggest thing.. ANYONE know how to get a surround system to work with this?? i have been messing around with it for over 6 months and still not able to get it to work.

[Gunsnrosesistheshit]

You guys know that digital t.v. can cause brain tumors you know that. HD is nice but not good for your health and that is a fact. I get headaches watching HD.

[pmgodfrey]

2:40

Its all "magnetic waves". The electromagnetic spectrum (x-ray, radio, tv, sound, light, microwave, etc.) is all "magnetic wave".

They make it sound like magic when its not.

Don't get caught up in buying an expensive antenna. There is no such thing as an "high definition" antenna. As long as it's UHF, its fine...the one on your roof or in your attic will still work.