Digital Television Conversion Update
- Thread starter Terry_Lasater
- Start date
Mike Harvey
Veteran
"Will all this make Jack Benny come back?"
Awesome :beer:
Awesome :beer:
PerroneFord
Deals in Lead
I know this was a bit over the top, but having dealt with older people quite a lot, there is more truth in that than many might care to admit. Many of our older community simply don't "get" technology.
When my mom passed a few years ago, I was up in my old town. My dad has always been a TV man, and built his own back in the 60s. So I took him to an electronics store when he told me he didn't know what I was talking about when I mentioned *plasma*.
He was absolutely floored. I was able to witness someone seen HD for the very first time. He stood back about 15ft and just stared in amazement. I told him to come close and look behind. He looked at me and said, "where are the tubes?" And he was not kidding. This man who had been on the cutting edge of hi-fi in his day, who had been "hip", who danced at the cotton club, and served in WW2. This man looked at me with sincerity and asked me where the tubes were.
There are going to be some very pissed off and confused people come February.
When my mom passed a few years ago, I was up in my old town. My dad has always been a TV man, and built his own back in the 60s. So I took him to an electronics store when he told me he didn't know what I was talking about when I mentioned *plasma*.
He was absolutely floored. I was able to witness someone seen HD for the very first time. He stood back about 15ft and just stared in amazement. I told him to come close and look behind. He looked at me and said, "where are the tubes?" And he was not kidding. This man who had been on the cutting edge of hi-fi in his day, who had been "hip", who danced at the cotton club, and served in WW2. This man looked at me with sincerity and asked me where the tubes were.
There are going to be some very pissed off and confused people come February.
I agree with Perrone, there's going to be a lot of ticked off people in February. Despite all the PSA's trying to inform the public most people don't understand, they don't get it.
I've been trying to explain the switch to digital broadcast to my family for a while now. The conversation typically ends with a blank look on their faces. Every time the ads for the DTVanswers popped up on the tube I told my wife that we need to get a converter box. My wife would say, "yeah go ahead and get that stupid box thing you keep talking about even though I don't know why we need it". I got the coupon, bought the box and last month we had an extended power outage (thanks Ike). We had a generator running so I plugged in a small TV to check out the news. The analog signal was weak and the picture looked terrible. I then hooked up the converter box and all the channels came in super crisp. It was at that point that my wife connected the dots and understood the necessity of that 'stupid box'.
You could spend twenty minutes trying to explain digital television to non-tech types and they still won't understand. Or you could spend 2 minutes to hook it up to their TV and show them the difference. If they ask what will happen if they don't get the box then simply turn off the box and point to the snow on the screen.
I've been trying to explain the switch to digital broadcast to my family for a while now. The conversation typically ends with a blank look on their faces. Every time the ads for the DTVanswers popped up on the tube I told my wife that we need to get a converter box. My wife would say, "yeah go ahead and get that stupid box thing you keep talking about even though I don't know why we need it". I got the coupon, bought the box and last month we had an extended power outage (thanks Ike). We had a generator running so I plugged in a small TV to check out the news. The analog signal was weak and the picture looked terrible. I then hooked up the converter box and all the channels came in super crisp. It was at that point that my wife connected the dots and understood the necessity of that 'stupid box'.
You could spend twenty minutes trying to explain digital television to non-tech types and they still won't understand. Or you could spend 2 minutes to hook it up to their TV and show them the difference. If they ask what will happen if they don't get the box then simply turn off the box and point to the snow on the screen.
Mike Harvey
Veteran
My 50 year old mother was quite torqued about the thought of getting the box. Since they live way out in the sticks where there is no cable, they didn't have a choice. I tried to explain why the FCC thought it was necessary to reallocate those frequencies, but no go. She kinda thought she was entitled to analog broadcasts.
Of course, they're now on DirectTV and she couldn't care less... but still... Perrone is right. Lot's of not even that much older people are going to be less than thrilled come February.
Of course, they're now on DirectTV and she couldn't care less... but still... Perrone is right. Lot's of not even that much older people are going to be less than thrilled come February.
Terry_Lasater
All about the Caption
I believe the video is a direct comedic response to all the anticipated ignorance and confusion expected over the conversion to digital broadcast reception.
BobDiaz
The Professor
While the video is funny, it also points to the sad truth that there are those who will not understand or know what to do. Here are some of the wrong ideas I've been told about the DTV Conversion:
I address these problems in my next Podcast, coming out this weekend. How many of you knew that on February 18, 2009, you must re-scan your DTV Tuners, because many of the channels are going to be switched to new frequencies overnight?
Bob Diaz
* After February, you MUST subscribe to cable or you won't get any TV.
* Your must subscribe to Cable or Satellite to get HDTV.
* You must get a converter box for your HDTV set (that you just got).
* People who subscribe to cable will need to get a converter box.
* Your old TV is going to be no good, you must get a new HDTV.
* All TV broadcasting after February will be in HDTV.
The biggest problem is that many of the poor, the elderly, the minorities, and the disabled, have not done anything yet; nor do they really know what t do. In a test in Wilmington, NC, analog was shut down. As expected, many had no idea this was going to occur and didn't know what to do.* Your must subscribe to Cable or Satellite to get HDTV.
* You must get a converter box for your HDTV set (that you just got).
* People who subscribe to cable will need to get a converter box.
* Your old TV is going to be no good, you must get a new HDTV.
* All TV broadcasting after February will be in HDTV.
I address these problems in my next Podcast, coming out this weekend. How many of you knew that on February 18, 2009, you must re-scan your DTV Tuners, because many of the channels are going to be switched to new frequencies overnight?
Bob Diaz
Postmaster
Dark Side of the Camera
When they switchd over to DTV a view years ago here in Germany my Mom throw her TV set out and is reading books since then. "they show only crap and comercials anyways" she said.
She was sick of the program, sick of the ad brakes and sick of stacking an other settop box on the stack of settop boxes.
My TV went up in smoke and flames a view months ago - don´t miss it at all.
Frank
She was sick of the program, sick of the ad brakes and sick of stacking an other settop box on the stack of settop boxes.
My TV went up in smoke and flames a view months ago - don´t miss it at all.
Frank
Dick Campbell
Veteran
I did not know that.
I have a PPT show I give to local Optimist, Rotary, etc. groups about just this subject (including HDTV, HDDVDs, etc.), and the ignorance is appalling. Unfortunately, the only people left watching over-the-air broadcasts are probably the least-informed, and least able to afford equipment changes.
Mike Harvey
Veteran
I work at a TV station and didn't know that. I'm almost starting to be thankful I have Comcast.
Almost... but not quite.
Almost... but not quite.
ugafan
Looking for a woman
mikkowilson
Steadi-Guru
I just spent a hour talking with the sales person at a local Radio Shack. She's the one and only sales person in this town who seems to care and has actually taken, and takes, the time to educate consumers.
Great points from bob. The need to re-scan is critical.
Of course this is all assuming that broadcasters get it right, and even they don't.
I work at a (NBC affiliate) TV station .. and no one here seems to have a clue about it.
It didn't help when the local cable company told a bunch of people a couple of months ago that they should get the DTV converter boxes for their CableTV. Which is ludicrous as they do not work with CableTV. And this was the cable company's tech support telling their customers this.
Hopefully once the election is over, the media will have time to start giving this some proper coverage.
The DTV transition will not occur in February 2009. It's occurring RIGHT NOW.
Most DTV stations are already on the air, and have been for a long time!
February is going to be a huge mess. If you don't have a converter box yet, get one NOW.
- Mikko
Great points from bob. The need to re-scan is critical.
Of course this is all assuming that broadcasters get it right, and even they don't.
I work at a (NBC affiliate) TV station .. and no one here seems to have a clue about it.
It didn't help when the local cable company told a bunch of people a couple of months ago that they should get the DTV converter boxes for their CableTV. Which is ludicrous as they do not work with CableTV. And this was the cable company's tech support telling their customers this.
Hopefully once the election is over, the media will have time to start giving this some proper coverage.
The DTV transition will not occur in February 2009. It's occurring RIGHT NOW.
Most DTV stations are already on the air, and have been for a long time!
February is going to be a huge mess. If you don't have a converter box yet, get one NOW.
- Mikko