Analog to Digital Switch: Judgment Day (12 June, 2009)

[Solid Lifters]

So, how did it go for you? I had to search for all new channels on ALL the devices I own. Fun! Why couldn't they just keep all the original digital channels, I don't know.

What really is the big PIA is my mother. She's called a half a dozen times for me to help her. Anybody who knows her or of what I've said about her knows what a MISERABLE FALKING HELL I've been in the last several hours. She just doesn't want to listen.

She still doesn't have the ability to record, but at least she has her digital channels. That's enough for now. I'll help her once again, MAYBE, when I don't have thoughts of matricide.

So, how was your day?

 

[TB]

My mom and dad have cable (and an HDTV) so no issues there.

I have an antenna, but downstairs I have an HDTV (with a new one on the way) and an HD TiVo, so, again, no issues. In the bedroom, I have a 15 year old CRT with a non-HD TiVo so I have a converter box connected to it. In the kitchen we had a 10" under counter TV/DVD player so the options were to buy a converter box for that and have it sit on the counter or buy a new TV. We opted for the TV.

Three different solution for three different sets.

Besides, all the stations in the city converted months ago so I've been done for a while.

Sorry you conversion day sucked, Solid.

 

[Solid Lifters]

My mom and dad have cable (and an HDTV) so no issues there.

I have an antenna, but downstairs I have an HDTV (with a new one on the way) and an HD TiVo, so, again, no issues. In the bedroom, I have a 15 year old CRT with a non-HD TiVo so I have a converter box connected to it. In the kitchen we had a 10" under counter TV/DVD player so the options were to buy a converter box for that and have it sit on the counter or buy a new TV. We opted for the TV.

Three different solution for three different sets.

Besides, all the stations in the city converted months ago so I've been done for a while.

Sorry you conversion day sucked, Solid.

Wait a minute; you didn't have to rescan for new channels?! Dude, that sucks! Why was I so lucky? I had to rescan for every device I own! Bah!



Oh, and Paul Stanley of Kiss got to throw the Fox channel analog switch... http://www.myfoxcharlotte.com/myfox...n=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1

 

[TB]

Wait a minute; you didn't have to rescan for new channels?!

I did, but it was just after Christmas and all the channels were running both analog and digital so there was no rush. The TiVo downstairs updated itself automatically, which was sweet. The one upstairs technically doesn't actually receive a signal - it's coming from the converter box, but both of them had to be scanned. Guess that made up for the downstairs. Kitchen TV was obviously scanned right after I bought it. After the scan was finished I then removed the analog stations from the lineup.

 

[YSSMAN]

...You spelled KISS wrong...

(I kid!)

No stress here, everything was working fine when I woke up this morning. I'm sure I'll have to help my Grandparents change all their stuff around, because as far as I know, they've yet to replace the televisions in their home. I know they're mad though, they've got some awesome old-school portable TVs that they've used for decades that are useless.

 

[Tornado]

I'm personally amazed that the government didn't decide to delay it again, considering the idiocy shown when they did it the first time.

 

[Joey D]

I'm personally amazed that the government didn't decide to delay it again, considering the idiocy shown when they did it the first time.

Me too, although I'm a bit annoyed it took them this long and that that they subsidized it. No one needs TV, why should government money subsidize it?

Now all we need is to make it so all channels broadcast in HD and I think television is at least OK for a while.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

I'm expecting that a lot of people will be at Best Buy, etc. saying their TV is broken.

 

[Tornado]

Me too, although I'm a bit annoyed it took them this long and that that they subsidized it. No one needs TV, why should government money subsidize it?

Oh, don't get me started on that crap. I cannot believe the absurdity of some of the arguments I heard as to why the voucher crap was a good idea.

 

[Joey D]

Oh, don't get me started on that crap. I cannot believe the absurdity of some of the arguments I heard as to why the voucher crap was a good idea.

I've heard it all too. Seriously if the box is only $40, anyone with a TV should be able to afford that. I could sort of understand subsidizing it if it cost $400 dollars, but not $40.

 

[wfooshee]

It has to do with "My $300 TV ain't gonna work causa sumthin' the gummint did, then the gummint can damn well pay fer the fix!"

We are a nation of crybabies, and the easiest way to shut a crybaby up is to give them what they're crying for. (I originally type the "best" way, but giving in is not the best way, is it?)

Personally on cable, never noticed a thing, although my lineup changes majorly on the 23rd.

 

[Solid Lifters]

It has to do with "My $300 TV ain't gonna work causa sumthin' the gummint did, then the gummint can damn well pay fer the fix!"

We are a nation of crybabies, and the easiest way to shut a crybaby up is to give them what they're crying for. (I originally type the "best" way, but giving in is not the best way, is it?)

Personally on cable, never noticed a thing, although my lineup changes majorly on the 23rd.

Lucky me again...

My cable wouldn't broadcast my local OTA signals, so I had to rescan for them with my DirecTV receiver. It crashed my regular DirecTV channels, and I had to do a hard reboot.

Lucky me...

And the coupon vouchers once were for 2 free STB (set top boxes) per home but later went to 2 $40 off coupons. STB cost around $65-$90 each, depending on model and manufacture. I wasn't happy to hear about the coupon vouchers but my mom was. I helped her get two free STB over six months ago.

If there are any people complaining about not getting a STB or a coupon, screw them. They waited too long. It's not like they didn't know this was coming. They've been showing commercials for it since December.

 

[Tornado]

If there are any people complaining about not getting a STB or a coupon, screw them. They waited too long. It's not like they didn't know this was coming. They've been showing commercials for it since December.

Say now, good sir, this is America. The country where the government absolutely has to pander to the lowest possible common denominator when deciding rules and regulations, against all common sense and personal responsibility.

 

[Northstar]

It killed my TV.

I have been ready for awhile, however after I rescanned on Saturday morning I get 3 crappy channels(PBS, ion and some religious channel) and 2 that barely come in(CBS & ABC).👎

Does anyone know if the amplified antennas work?

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

Does anyone know if the amplified antennas work?

To an extent, yes

 

[daan]

Your thread title is misleading. I still have an analogue signal just fine.


Not that I'm using it. I have cable and a digital TV, but it's still there for me until Apr 2011.

 

[TB]

Does anyone know if the amplified antennas work?

To an extent, yes

I have an amp on my antenna that works great, but before I bought that I tried numerous amplified antennas that all found their way back to the store. My suggestion, if it's an option for you, is to buy an antenna similar to this one and a separate, highest-dB-for-the-money pre-amp that you can find.

Note: I do not necessarily endorse the two items I linked to as I don't personally own them. They are show as reference items only.

Also, give antennaweb a look and make sure you have it pointed in the right direction. All you need to enter is your zip code and it'll tell you which direction the broadcasts are coming from. There is a ton of other info on their site that will help you out, as well.

 

[bergauk]

I have an amp on my antenna that works great, but before I bought that I tried numerous amplified antennas that all found their way back to the store. My suggestion, if it's an option for you, is to buy an antenna similar to this one and a separate, highest-dB-for-the-money pre-amp that you can find.

Note: I do not necessarily endorse the two items I linked to as I don't personally own them. They are show as reference items only.

Also, give antennaweb a look and make sure you have it pointed in the right direction. All you need to enter is your zip code and it'll tell you which direction the broadcasts are coming from. There is a ton of other info on their site that will help you out, as well.

No wonder I've had such bad luck with mine. THE ANTENNA IS FACING THE WRONG DIRECTION. I bought a converter box months ago for my bedroom and plugged it in anxious for digital channels. I ended up with PBS Kids, Religious tv and a random Asian tv channel. I dismissed it to the antenna sucking, But after checking out that site, its probably attributed to the antenna pointing the wrong direction. Now to decide which way I want it to point.

 

[Sureboss]

Didn't realise America was doing what we are. We're doing it in phases, I believe the South-East is one of the last regions to change.

 

[Tnerb]

We still have years to go in Australia...

Governments subsidising TVs is absurd. Why not hand out some money for backyard water slides, or copies of GT5 even!

 

[Sureboss]

You need to move away from using kangaroo's to distribute bytes across the desert before you go in to nationwide digital TV!

 

[mafia_boy]

You need to move away from using kangaroo's to distribute bytes across the desert before you go in to nationwide digital TV!

Ours is switching to Digital in 2010, I think they worked out how to make the kangaroos move faster.

*added bit* To be more accurate, it's STARTING in 2010, but continuing till 2013.