The Analog/Digital TV converter boxes: What you need to know

Submitted by Dale on Thu, 01/10/2008 - 8:21am.

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Last week, the FCC opened the website and began offering coupons for digital to analog converter boxes. The coupon will save you $40 on a converter box that will run you around $60-150 before the coupon, so the question is, "Do I need one?"

The answer: Maybe, if one of the following describes you:

You get your TV signal via "rabbit ears"
You get your TV signal via a housetop antenna (not a satellite dish)

Everyone else has no need of such a device, no matter how old your TV happens to be.

If you get your TV via cable or satellite, you're already getting a digital signal. Satellite TV has always been digital, and most cable companies have already switched over to cable to make room in their lines for broadband internet. Regardless, what' changing isn't how your cable provider supplies a signal to you, but how the signal might be received by them.

If you happen to fall into that "maybe" group, then here's the next step:

If you have an HDTV and getting an HD signal with it, you're all set. All HD signals are sent digitally, and all HDTV's are digital out of the box. Even if you have a standard definition TV, if you bought it within the past few years, it's probably digital, as analog TV's have been out of production for some time now.

If you have an older TV and think you might need a converter box, wait to buy it for several reasons:

The boxes just came on the market. Technology prices always drop, and you have a year before you actually would need it, so don't bother rushing.
A lot can happen in a year. If your picture suddenly dies--it's an old TV after all--you'll have to spring for a new digital TV anyway, unless you're planning to watch the garage sales for old analog TV's.
If your TV is that old, consider the fact that small standard definition TV's can be bought for under $100. Do you want to invest more in your old one, or can you afford a new one, albeit not HD?

And finally, let's clear up a misunderstanding:

This change has very little to do with High Definition Television. You don't need to buy an HDTV. Your digital standard definition (regular) TV will still receive signals just fine for years to come, possibly forever, or at least until it burns out.

If you have any questions, post them in the comments below, and we'll do our best to answer them.

Digital Eyes

Submitted by John (not verified) on Thu, 01/10/2008 - 9:35am.

I'm waiting for the government to tell us we need to buy digital eyes to watch HDTV.

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Net Â¢o$t: $10

Submitted by Dale on Fri, 02/15/2008 - 10:55pm.

Wal-mart is now advertising $50 boxes. That's $10 after the coupon. My prediction: they'll be $40 on Black Friday, 2008.
Wait to buy.
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Dale
Tech Talk for Families Cohost

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Permission to Share

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 02/27/2008 - 5:43pm.

I'm in charge of an Expo for senior citizens to help them understand some of the new - and not-so-new- technology that may confuse them, but could enhance their lives. In addition to demonstrations and product displays, we will have some handouts, and would like permission to include your advice, which is the best explanation I've seen so far. If that is okay, I would, of course, attribute as requested.

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Absolutely

Submitted by Dale on Wed, 02/27/2008 - 10:21pm.

All content on this site, except where copyrighted by another source (Press Releases, graphics, etc.), are under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 license. That means that, as long as you credit the source, you can do whatever you want with it, and we chose this license specifically because we want to help others better understand and benefit from technology. So yes, you have permission to use it. Thanks for the compliment.
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Dale
Tech Talk for Families Cohost

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Connecting GameCube system plus Analog Converter

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 03/17/2008 - 5:08pm.

I'm wondering how to have both a GameCube and an Analog Converter connected to my TV at the same time. Is there a junction device I need to purchase?

Thanks.

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Shouldn't be a problem

Submitted by Dale on Mon, 03/17/2008 - 8:07pm.

You should be able to "daisy chain" them together, connecting your antenna to the Converter box to the GameCube RF adapter, then the GameCube RF Adapter to your TV. I assume you have the GameCube connected with a coaxial cable? If you're using the RCA plugs (Red, white & yellow), then you should be able to use your current setup.
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Dale
Tech Talk for Families Cohost

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The Transition to Digital Television Intiative

Submitted by Denice Rhodes (not verified) on Wed, 09/03/2008 - 7:21pm.

Many people are still confused about the transition to digital television so thanks for trying to get the word out.

Our non-profit, the Urban Progressive Foundation has has been actively working with seniors and other groups to provide straight, clear and understandable information to help them through the transition.

Later this week, I will be traveling to Wilmington, North Carolina, where the first full blown transition test-run will commence. If you can't make the trip, allow me to be your eyes and ears. Visit my blog http://digitaldynamo.blogspot.com/ and website www.transition2DTV.com to for more information.