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Moving DTV Deadline a Bad Idea, Says FCC's Martin
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#3
MadHatter 
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Posted 11 January 2009 - 11:50 AM
Here's a thought...
Don't switch over! OMG REVOLUTIONARY IDEA THERE!
The majority of the people who use over-the-air broadcasts for TV can't afford anything better. Now they either have to buy a converter box or a new TV. How is that going to work? They can't afford Cable or Satellite. Free coupons will be gone soon and those people will still be there and more are born every day.
Don't even get me started on the quality of these Digital Broadcasts. I've seen a few in some places in the US and let me tell you.... it's nothing to look forward to.
Don't switch over! OMG REVOLUTIONARY IDEA THERE!
The majority of the people who use over-the-air broadcasts for TV can't afford anything better. Now they either have to buy a converter box or a new TV. How is that going to work? They can't afford Cable or Satellite. Free coupons will be gone soon and those people will still be there and more are born every day.
Don't even get me started on the quality of these Digital Broadcasts. I've seen a few in some places in the US and let me tell you.... it's nothing to look forward to.
#4
mpheadley
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Posted 11 January 2009 - 12:03 PM
for once I agree with the FCC chairman. This has been going on for longer than a decade. We are a nation of procrastinators!
As far as the broadcast quality, SD doesn't change resolution quality, and the main problem is the cliff effect. The coverage area is less now and repeater antennas (from the TV station) are immediately needed.
Eventually, HD will the be norm, and it's happening faster than many people realize. It is relatively affordable now and will continue to become even more affordable for stations to go HD.
It's unreasonable to believe you can fix everything in a totally new system before you implement it. If we delay delay delay we'll never get anywhere.
As far as the broadcast quality, SD doesn't change resolution quality, and the main problem is the cliff effect. The coverage area is less now and repeater antennas (from the TV station) are immediately needed.
Eventually, HD will the be norm, and it's happening faster than many people realize. It is relatively affordable now and will continue to become even more affordable for stations to go HD.
It's unreasonable to believe you can fix everything in a totally new system before you implement it. If we delay delay delay we'll never get anywhere.
#5
number6
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Posted 11 January 2009 - 12:24 PM
I don't mind delaying unnecessary change. Why does digital TV have to be implemented? Should the government force people to throw away their old TVs and buy HD TVs? Should we make people throw away their old jeans and wear suits if they're happy with jeans?
I don't want digital. As long as there are broadcasters willing to broadcast in analog should I be denied the freedom to watch it?
I don't want digital. As long as there are broadcasters willing to broadcast in analog should I be denied the freedom to watch it?
#6
rkinne01
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Posted 11 January 2009 - 12:26 PM
Yeah the Government shouldn't have sold off that bandwidth till the switch was made. By the way why should the government have the right to sell off the analog signals in the first place? Its public property, why was there no vote on this?
I work for a cable company we're all expected to work on Feb 17 to catch all the poor suckers who won't be getting a signal. The cable and satellite companies pushed for this move knowing that millions of people would be forced to sign up for thier services.
The cable and sattelite companies are keeping consumers confused about the whole thing. People who are not tech savvy are being duped into buying services like HD without being given the full facts. In other words, these companies are using the confusion to manipulate the market.
I have been advising friends and family to use Hulu, Netflix, and other services to replace the whole kit and kaboodle. Hell DVD sets of shows are coming before an entire season of a show is even finished (they've just released the first half of Nip Tuck's current season on DVD). If you wanna save money on TV start looking at alternatives to the dish or cable, trust me you have a lot of options out there these days.
I work for a cable company we're all expected to work on Feb 17 to catch all the poor suckers who won't be getting a signal. The cable and satellite companies pushed for this move knowing that millions of people would be forced to sign up for thier services.
The cable and sattelite companies are keeping consumers confused about the whole thing. People who are not tech savvy are being duped into buying services like HD without being given the full facts. In other words, these companies are using the confusion to manipulate the market.
I have been advising friends and family to use Hulu, Netflix, and other services to replace the whole kit and kaboodle. Hell DVD sets of shows are coming before an entire season of a show is even finished (they've just released the first half of Nip Tuck's current season on DVD). If you wanna save money on TV start looking at alternatives to the dish or cable, trust me you have a lot of options out there these days.
#7
mpheadley
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Posted 11 January 2009 - 01:15 PM
It has already been delayed for years! Many other countries have already changed over. The government is not forcing you to buy anything or throw anything else out. Saying that is really not fair to anyone. It's just changing something that will not be compatible with many TVs. If you applied for coupons when they first implemented them, you'd have one to two boxes by now that you could have found most of them for free - 20 bucks.
Nobody will be broadcasting in analog (except a very few low powered stations) after the cutoff date even if they wanted to. Pretty much all of them have the equipment already in place and are already broadcasting in digital. It's a done deal that they will be broadcasting in digital only. That's why I find it silly to keed delaying the inevitable and whine and complain about it. There are a whole bunch of people who will do nothing about it until they have to even though they know about it.
I do feel sorry for those who can't honestly afford the most basic 10 dollar a month cable charge and are now suddenly going to have their TVs go out because they are now slightly out of range. I grew up with rabbit ears in the 80's and early 90's. I'm glad to see analog go, even with all the growing pains that will eventually be worked out, as long as the government pays for repeater antennas.
Nobody will be broadcasting in analog (except a very few low powered stations) after the cutoff date even if they wanted to. Pretty much all of them have the equipment already in place and are already broadcasting in digital. It's a done deal that they will be broadcasting in digital only. That's why I find it silly to keed delaying the inevitable and whine and complain about it. There are a whole bunch of people who will do nothing about it until they have to even though they know about it.
I do feel sorry for those who can't honestly afford the most basic 10 dollar a month cable charge and are now suddenly going to have their TVs go out because they are now slightly out of range. I grew up with rabbit ears in the 80's and early 90's. I'm glad to see analog go, even with all the growing pains that will eventually be worked out, as long as the government pays for repeater antennas.
#9
mb56
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Posted 11 January 2009 - 01:35 PM
This program is screwed up in MANY ways and Martin's reasons opposing a SHORT delay make now sense and are just CYA thinking. If for no other reason, this switchover should be delayed until May because there will be people who will need to tweak or replace their roof top antennas... they won't know this for sure until the switch is made and broadcasters to final tweaks to their signals.
What brilliant mind ever thought FEB would be a good time for this?
What brilliant mind ever thought FEB would be a good time for this?
#10
jpwhistler
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Posted 11 January 2009 - 01:58 PM
Delaying this implementation IS a BAD idea!
Digital broadcast television represents the only hope against the monopoly posed by cable t.v. providers.
There is no rocket science involved in hooking up a converter box. I live +45 miles from the nearest transmission tower and now receive 29 clear digital stations, as opposed to 12 analog stations with less than satisfying clarity.
As a result, I enjoy keeping $50 or more of my money each month by not sending it to the cable company.
Commercial broadcasters (private sector) have worked hard and done an excellent job at ensuring this conversion goes smoothly. Government/congress has once again proved to be ineffectual. The only thing congress should do is waive the expiration dates on the coupon program and make more coupons available to those who need them.
Digital broadcast television represents the only hope against the monopoly posed by cable t.v. providers.
There is no rocket science involved in hooking up a converter box. I live +45 miles from the nearest transmission tower and now receive 29 clear digital stations, as opposed to 12 analog stations with less than satisfying clarity.
As a result, I enjoy keeping $50 or more of my money each month by not sending it to the cable company.
Commercial broadcasters (private sector) have worked hard and done an excellent job at ensuring this conversion goes smoothly. Government/congress has once again proved to be ineffectual. The only thing congress should do is waive the expiration dates on the coupon program and make more coupons available to those who need them.
#11
pertelote
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Posted 11 January 2009 - 02:25 PM
" Should the government force people to throw away their old TVs and buy HD TVs?"
Digital does not equal High-Definition.
The change over is for a digital signal, not a High-Definition signal, they just are not the same thing. Any television set will continue to work, an analog with a set-top converter of any sort, and any digital television set will work.
Digital does not equal High-Definition.
The change over is for a digital signal, not a High-Definition signal, they just are not the same thing. Any television set will continue to work, an analog with a set-top converter of any sort, and any digital television set will work.
#12
jburgess04
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Posted 11 January 2009 - 02:29 PM
New TVs will have the converters built in, so in the future there will be no need to buy a converter box. And those that need them today will be able to afford a converter box if they use the coupons being issued, which cover the full cost of an entry-level converter.
#13
jburgess04
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Posted 11 January 2009 - 02:34 PM
The drive behind the switch is not simply to switch from analog to digital. The switch will free up broadcast spectrum which will be used to improve emergency-service communications (police, fire, etc.), as well as provide (hopefully) broadcast wireless internet access, which will be much easier to deploy in areas where Cable and DSL internet access is not available.
#14
jburgess04
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Posted 11 January 2009 - 02:36 PM
There was a vote on it, among the elected officials we voted into government. This is not a direct democracy.
#15
jburgess04
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Posted 11 January 2009 - 02:38 PM
The spectrum is public property, and as such is 'owned' by the government.
#16
GetReal
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Posted 11 January 2009 - 03:11 PM
The government supplied converter support coupons are worth $40 each---two per household. I see varius dealers selling these converters, lowest price I found was $49.95, on up to low 60,s, so I think most people can actually afford the changeover. The only problem is the 90 day validity of a coupon when issued.
Regards HDTV broadcasts, my experience of on-air reception is that -- if you have a strong signal -- then the received programs are visibly better than standard analog, so don't know where you have seen the "bad" quality. Anyway. The change-over has been anticipated for MANY years and is eventually going to occur so I say, prepare for it but expect surprises!
Regards HDTV broadcasts, my experience of on-air reception is that -- if you have a strong signal -- then the received programs are visibly better than standard analog, so don't know where you have seen the "bad" quality. Anyway. The change-over has been anticipated for MANY years and is eventually going to occur so I say, prepare for it but expect surprises!
#17
rgeiken
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Posted 11 January 2009 - 03:15 PM
I have a feeling that all Republican voters have what they need to meet the DTV deadline. Only Democrats will be inconvenienced, and they will never be ready. when Obama gets in, the deadline might become February 17, 2017!!!! They have been planning this deadline for 3 to 4 years, and not sure how many years the politicians think they will need. Is it any wonder that having the Government in charge of things is such a bad idea.
#18
mpheadley
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Posted 11 January 2009 - 04:09 PM
I don't think people are not going to have any needs to tweak their rooftop antenna at all, if they've been using it all along. The signal is still largely coming from the same location. The big issue is whether your old antenna was for both VHF and UHF. Most markets are located from one city, and I'm sure most have both VHF and UHF channels, so their existing antenna is most likely fine.
And also, the indoor antennas that are both VHF and UHF are usually pretty adequate as well. Some people will have a hard time getting signals in unexpected places, such as in a city building that is right next to another building or right next to a mountain or something. But if people live well in the range of the signal before the transition and get the signal fine, then in most cases they should receive the digital signal.
And also, the indoor antennas that are both VHF and UHF are usually pretty adequate as well. Some people will have a hard time getting signals in unexpected places, such as in a city building that is right next to another building or right next to a mountain or something. But if people live well in the range of the signal before the transition and get the signal fine, then in most cases they should receive the digital signal.
#19
reubenhwk1
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Posted 11 January 2009 - 04:18 PM
That's so stupid and bleeding-heart! The poor folks can use the coupon. Jamaica is doing also doing the switch over Feb 17th. If poor Jamaica can do it, there's no reason we can't other than stupidity, laziness and stubbornness.
#20
JimH443
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Posted 11 January 2009 - 04:39 PM
jburgess04 said:
The spectrum is public property, and as such is 'owned' by the government.
Wrong. The spectrum is public property, and as such is owned by the PUBLIC. Think of it as the difference between an owner and a broker. When I sell my home, the broker takes care of all the necessary details. When it is sold, the broker takes his/her perscentage... and then >I< get the remainder. The FCC brokered the sale of public property, and the public should get all the money (since they're taking their paychecks from taxpayers' money to begin with).
