Switch to digital TV may benefit a few

**MIG-31** · Feb 16, 2008, 01:24 PM

Source: Yahoo
____________
NEW YORK - TV's big switch from analog to digital broadcasts will be complete in just one year, on Feb. 17, 2009, and many consumers are puzzling over how the shift will affect them: Do they need a new converter box, a new TV, a better antenna? But it's pretty clear which business interests stand to gain.

**Mousey** · Feb 16, 2008, 06:33 PM

This massive digital switchover would be pretty cool, i can see the benefits like better image quality and possibly more reliablity but there just isn't enough information being given out or easily available.
I'm not sure if i need anything for the switchover, would be pretty cool if i didn't need anything :/

mike2h · Feb 16, 2008, 07:00 PM

the only peeps that will need anything are the ones with analog sets receiving their tv over-the-air. any sort of setop box will take care of the conversion.
there is a government site(dont have link) were you can put yourself on a waiting list for free converter if u need one. there is a limited #, so if anybody actually needs it better get busy as it is 1st come 1st serve.

calidan · Feb 16, 2008, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike2h

the only peeps that will need anything are the ones with analog sets receiving their tv over-the-air. any sort of setop box will take care of the conversion.
there is a government site(dont have link) were you can put yourself on a waiting list for free converter if u need one. there is a limited #, so if anybody actually needs it better get busy as it is 1st come 1st serve.

DTVTransition.org - A New Era in Television Broadcasting

https://www.dtv2009.gov/

I don't think this applies to people over in Europe. The transition date applies only to people in States.

mike2h · Feb 16, 2008, 07:10 PM

obviously, you are correct as the article is full of us only groups. this has been in the works for the us for some time.
the us moves pretty slow when it comes to tech changes involving the government. this should have happened 3 years ago.

**MIG-31** · Feb 16, 2008, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mousey

This massive digital switchover would be pretty cool, i can see the benefits like better image quality and possibly more reliablity but there just isn't enough information being given out or easily available.
I'm not sure if i need anything for the switchover, would be pretty cool if i didn't need anything :/

Mousey.... the uk will have a total switch over in due course,in regards to the article i posted and you responded to is for the USA digital switch over.... it's different over here in the uk.

It's currently going a Region at a time.And spread over a number of years.

The UK switchover should be complete by 2012.

The UK will require a Minimum of a Freeview Box Set (Or integrated in a modern tv).. Or Sky TV/Virgin Cable setup.

Matth · Feb 19, 2008, 05:04 PM

Phased analog switchoff has also begun in the UK, with one single area already in switchover, and one region set for 2008-2009, though it actually began with a limited trial switchover in 2005 at Ferryside - Ferryside - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

When is the Digital TV Switchover? The different regions and dates

Large or highly populated regions seem to have been left until later, with London being in the final group.

While a lot of attention has been given to televisions, it is possible that people may forget that recording equpment also needs a digital solution.

The UK options are:
1. DVB-T (aka. "Freeview", terrestrial digital, or the former "onDigital" system) - the logical successor to analog terrestrial broadcasting.
2. Sky digital, as either:
2a. Sky subscription
2b. Freesat from Sky (one-off payment for equipment or freesat card)
2c. Sky FTA - Free to air, but not "Free to view" channels can be received by a box with no card - compared to 2b, this currently means the loss of Channel 4, five, five US, five Life and Sky Three, though it is likely that changes in carriage agreements will be mandatory after digital switchover, if not agreed before, in order to open up carriage of channel 4 and 5.
3. Cable, where available.
4. IPTV - some providers.
5. Forthcoming option - BBC/ITV Freesat, possibly bringing HD to freeview.

Another point to note, is that the DVB mux channel numbers change with the switchover, and may result in a change of channel group in some areas, a repeat of the channel 5 problem where the allocation of channel 5 was outside the original channel group.

Good grief, I still remember the channel 5 launch, with the re-tuners, though we'd already tuned up on the test broadcasts.

Judas · Feb 19, 2008, 05:22 PM

it also effects us in canada to an extent as well..

however while the benifits of digital tv will allow for everyone to basically drop the older standards that haven't been update for the newer more recent ones.. and push HDTV even further.... (can't wait till they completely eliminate standard tv for HDTV)...

but i think analog will be more reliable.... just in the way it does it will be different

Feb 16, 2008, 01:24 PM	#1
MIG-31 HardwareHeaven News Mod Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Nottingham,UK Posts: 56,821 Rep Power: 471 System Specs	Switch to digital TV may benefit a few Source: Yahoo ____________ NEW YORK - TV's big switch from analog to digital broadcasts will be complete in just one year, on Feb. 17, 2009, and many consumers are puzzling over how the shift will affect them: Do they need a new converter box, a new TV, a better antenna? But it's pretty clear which business interests stand to gain. __________________ Please Post Your News Submissions Here

Feb 16, 2008, 06:33 PM	#2
Mousey Synth's Long Lost Bro Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Web Design Hell Posts: 7,189 Rep Power: 245 System Specs	This massive digital switchover would be pretty cool, i can see the benefits like better image quality and possibly more reliablity but there just isn't enough information being given out or easily available. I'm not sure if i need anything for the switchover, would be pretty cool if i didn't need anything :/ __________________

Feb 16, 2008, 07:00 PM	#3
mike2h DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: norcal Posts: 6,483 Rep Power: 91 System Specs	the only peeps that will need anything are the ones with analog sets receiving their tv over-the-air. any sort of setop box will take care of the conversion. there is a government site(dont have link) were you can put yourself on a waiting list for free converter if u need one. there is a limited #, so if anybody actually needs it better get busy as it is 1st come 1st serve. __________________

Feb 16, 2008, 07:10 PM	#5
mike2h DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: norcal Posts: 6,483 Rep Power: 91 System Specs	obviously, you are correct as the article is full of us only groups. this has been in the works for the us for some time. the us moves pretty slow when it comes to tech changes involving the government. this should have happened 3 years ago. __________________

Feb 19, 2008, 05:04 PM	#7
Matth Flash Banner Hater Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: UK Posts: 3,426 Rep Power: 93 System Specs	Phased analog switchoff has also begun in the UK, with one single area already in switchover, and one region set for 2008-2009, though it actually began with a limited trial switchover in 2005 at Ferryside - Ferryside - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia When is the Digital TV Switchover? The different regions and dates Large or highly populated regions seem to have been left until later, with London being in the final group. While a lot of attention has been given to televisions, it is possible that people may forget that recording equpment also needs a digital solution. The UK options are: 1. DVB-T (aka. "Freeview", terrestrial digital, or the former "onDigital" system) - the logical successor to analog terrestrial broadcasting. 2. Sky digital, as either: 2a. Sky subscription 2b. Freesat from Sky (one-off payment for equipment or freesat card) 2c. Sky FTA - Free to air, but not "Free to view" channels can be received by a box with no card - compared to 2b, this currently means the loss of Channel 4, five, five US, five Life and Sky Three, though it is likely that changes in carriage agreements will be mandatory after digital switchover, if not agreed before, in order to open up carriage of channel 4 and 5. 3. Cable, where available. 4. IPTV - some providers. 5. Forthcoming option - BBC/ITV Freesat, possibly bringing HD to freeview. Another point to note, is that the DVB mux channel numbers change with the switchover, and may result in a change of channel group in some areas, a repeat of the channel 5 problem where the allocation of channel 5 was outside the original channel group. Good grief, I still remember the channel 5 launch, with the re-tuners, though we'd already tuned up on the test broadcasts. __________________ Mary had a little lamb, Her father shot it dead Now Mary takes her lamb to school, Between two crusts of bread