February 17, 2009, my TV screen will be blank

The government will send you two vouchers for $40 each off a converter box. And starting in June, Dish Network will have their over-the-air converter for digital tv available for $39.99, making it free to get two of them. It is called the TR-40 or the DTV Pal.

CLICK HERE

 

I just bought two $60 converter boxes (using two $40 coupons to subsidize the cost). The difference in clarity is tremendous. I live in a metropolitan area, but my stations were sometimes "iffy." The digital signals are very clear.

 

I'm still amazed that congress mandates (1) the type of programming offered over the air/digital, and (2) Spending taxpayer gelt to subsidize people getting tv enterainment (the coupons for the boxes). I guess healthcare is fixed, the veterans hospitals are fixed, we're set, and I just missed the memo :BangHead:

Free markets....heard of them, Washington?

 

It makes more sense to covert to digital from analog all at once than for different broadcasters to do it when ever they feel like it.

Imagine if you will a world where you never know if you can recieve the stations you received yesterday or not. There would be mass confusion. Since most people have cable or satelite than the conversion will be much soother than for people recieveing over the air channels. There will be bumps in the road, but plenty of notice was given and we just have to deal with it.

Bill

 

We have cable so, no, our TV screen will not be blank.

 

This is not true. The converter box is only necessary for over-the-air television. Cable is not affected.

"TVs connected to cable, satellite or other pay TV service will not require a TV converter box from this program."

https://www.dtv2009.gov/FAQ.aspx

 

LE, That is not correct.

If you have cable, you will continue to receive your signal as always. If your TV is not HD compatible, you won't get it in high definition, but you will continue to get your signal as always.

EDIT: Stefan, we must have been typing at the same time. You're quicker.

 

I knew as soon as we were forced from the 1½-Gallon flush commodes to the 1-Gallon flush commodes for GREEN purposes this would come. It took me one or two 1½-Gal flushes (3 Gal) to to deal with my #2 and the associated paper-work. But due to government meddling it now talkes 5 to 6 flushes on the average. That is twice as much water! How does that save water? How is that green?

So I took my personal USGovernment Economic Stimulus Package and bought a 26-inch rectangular HDTV (High Definition TeleVision).

In 1958 I took a WAIT VOW. I married in 1963, I was a virgin.
In 1960 I took a NO TV vow. I didn't own a TV until 1973 (I learned to be a TV Repairman, I made TVs work and then sold them - I still didn't watch them. I didn't start owning a TV until about 1978 or so (got a home computer in 1984). So I know what it is like to NOT have a TV and to have a TV. IMHO parents who don't show their children how to watch TV responsibility are remiss in their God-given duty to 'train them in the way that they should go'.

I still boycott the following:

Florida Oranges - the former spokesman, Oklahoma MISS AMERICA winner Anita Bryan was thier spokes-lady. The Florida Orange Growers Assoication fired her for taking a clear stand against homosexuals. I do not knowingly use Florida Oranges. Pink Grapefruit from South Texas are GREAT!

The science fiction (and religious) books & other media of L Ron Hubbard (March 13, 1911 – January 24, 1986) the founder of the Church of Scientology -- I boycott them and will not let them into my house. Just goes to show, even a third rate SF-hack can make a million starting their own religious scam -- America: you gotta love it :wavey: