That Trinitron Still Has Some Life Left In It
As you know, broadcasters are required to switch from analog to digital broadcasting in February 2009. At that point, you’ll either have to shell out for that expensive HDTV flat panel, shell out for a slighly less expensive TV, get a standard defintion TV as long as it has an ATSC tuner, or buy a converter box that will receive digital and show it on a standard def TV. Or, if you’re smart, start reading again.
The Elephant in the Scenario, though, was finally addressed today by the FCC. Some people don’t rely on broadcasters for their television. A handful of viewers get their television via cable and satellite receivers. This small group, representing about, oh, 97% of all Americans, will be required to receive analog signals up until 2012. Then the FCC will revisit the issue.
That cable box you have now IS a digital-to-analog converter, so that problem is solved already. What the decision means is that the cable people will have to continue to build analog-outs into their equipment for the forseeable future, which they would have done anyway because they don’t want to lose a chunk of their customers by forcing them to chose between half a c-note a month and a new TV.
In Los Angeles, BTW, I can report that digital signals are waaaay, way superior to analog if you insist on going the terrestrial route. You don’t get that snow. Everything is sharp and bright and beautiful. It’s a shame the content is such crap but man, it LOOKS fabulous. I’ll even watch NUMB3RS under these conditions. What’s it like out there in the flyover cities? Anyone live anywhere where they can get analog but no digital? I’m talking over-the-air only, of course.
-daniel k.