Should I wait to buy HDTV?

[Mudcat]

Somewhere in these threads I posted several years ago I posted my system (nice rack or something like that). Anyway, I still have the 37" Zenith. We do not watch a lot of TV (Superbowl, Indy 500, Daytona 500, the occasional news blast when something big and disasterous happens the same way people flock to a house fire or car crash). We don't even have cable. In fact, 99% of the time, if the TV is on, we are watching a DVD. The picture quality is great (for what we're use too). Come February, when HDTV is supposed to take over, I understand all we;ll see is white noise. So the questions are:

Will all we'll be able to see is white noise or will we actually still get a picture.

Do I need to get an HDTV, or will one of those TERK antennas work?

If all I will need is the antenna, will I need anything else (converter box, etc..)to watch TV programming?

Thanks in advance for you help/opinions/snide comments about my 20 year old Zenith.

For those who actually remember me and my cable activities, don't worry, I working on glow in the dark speaker cables based on CAT5 (batteries required).

 

[markw]

Several misconceptions to clear up here.

All spiders are bugs, but not all bugs are spiders.

Yes, HDTV does exist only in the digital TV domain, but not all digital TV is Hi Def. If that's what you're expecting, you're gonna be mighty disappointed. Most of it will still be 4:3 SD programming, but it will be very clear.

If your TV doesn't currently have an ATSC tuner you will need a converter box. Otherwise, if things go as promised, you'll only get snow.

Most digital TV is broadcast on the UHF band, If your antenna currently receives UHF you'll be fine. I'm using a 35 year old rooftop TV antenna and it delivers absolutely wunnerful digital pictures, even Hi Def ones.

 

[Pyrrho]

As Markw says, you need an appropriate tuner to receiver digital broadcasts, and without such a tuner, you will only get noise, and no stations at all.

You don't need an antenna labeled "HD", as the frequencies used are, and will be for the foreseeable future, VHF and UHF (mostly UHF, but some will switch to VHF next year). VHF and UHF are the same sets of frequencies that have been used for TV for many years, so there is no need for a new antenna if your old one is good enough. It may not be good enough, depending upon the particular frequencies used, your exact location, etc., but a good old antenna in good condition will work as well as a good new one. See:

http://www.dtv.gov/

http://www.dtvanswers.com/

 

[Midcow2]

Wow you must really like music! $40 coupon location

No DVDs , no satellite TV! WOW! A true audiophile

Here is where to get $40 coupon:

Only those who only get TV programming using a roof-top antenna or rabbit-ears antenna risk losing their TV signal entirely.

Cable customers may need a set-top box to receive DTV signals and convert them, even after the DTV transition is complete. Satellite customers may need a different set-top box in order to receive high-definition programming. Check with your provider to determine if you will need a new box.

If you need it, you can purchase a digital converter box -- one for each analog TV, VCR or DVD player.

The government is also offering up to two coupons, each worth $40, to people who want to buy converter boxes. You can get them at DTV2009.gov or 888-DTV-2009.

When you apply for coupons, the government will help you determine if you really need them.

They come as plastic cards and are good at major retailers for 90 days after they are mailed.

The government suggests that you call before heading to a store to make sure converter boxes are in stock. Most of the models suggested by the government sell for between $50 and $60 before the coupons are applied.

 

[Hi Ho]

Cable customers may need a set-top box to receive DTV signals and convert them, even after the DTV transition is complete. Satellite customers may need a different set-top box in order to receive high-definition programming. Check with your provider to determine if you will need a new box.

The switch does not affect cable or satellite customers in any way shape or form. Some cable companies may switch off some or all analog signals and require those without digital tuners to get a cable box but it is not a mandate.

No one on satellite will need to get a new box because of the DTV switch. It has absolutely nothing to do with satellite TV. Satellite TV has been digital since 1994 when DirectTV was introduced. The mandate to change terrestrial OTA broadcasts to digital has no affect on satellite TV customers. It has always been the case that if one wants HD programming from satellite he must have an HD box.

FCC DTV Switch FAQ

Does the DTV Transition affect TV sets connected to satellite TV service?

The DTV transition will not affect satellite TV subscribers who receive their local TV stations through their satellite dishes. Satellite TV service is a digital service and all satellite subscribers must have a set-top box connected to their TVs to receive the satellite-delivered programming. As a result, there should be no change in service for satellite subscribers unless the local TV stations are not provided by the satellite carrier. If you subscribe to a satellite TV service, you should check with your provider to find out if you receive a local TV station package through your satellite dish.

Will cable customers with analog TVs have to buy or rent a set-top box from their cable company? If so, how much will it cost?

First, it's important to know that the February 17, 2009 deadline for the digital television transition only applies to full-power broadcast stations. Cable companies are not required by the government to transition their systems to digital, and can continue to deliver channels to their customers in analog. Cable companies are actually required by FCC rules to continue offering local broadcast stations to their customers in analog as long as they offer any analog service. This requirement will continue for at least three years after February 17, 2009. The Commission will decide in 2011 whether the requirement should be continued beyond February 17, 2012. This means that customers who receive analog cable service (without a cable set-top box) will be able to continue to do so.

However, for business reasons (among other things, digital is much more efficient than analog), cable companies may be interested in transitioning their systems from analog delivery to digital delivery. If a cable company makes the business decision to go all-digital (meaning it will stop offering any channels to its customers in analog), it must ensure that its analog customers can continue to watch their local broadcast stations. This may require customers with analog televisions to get a set-top box. If the cable company provides the customer with a set-top box, any costs related to it will be determined by the cable company. Therefore, it is recommended that analog cable customers contact their cable company to ask if a set-top box will be needed, when it will be needed, and if there will be a cost.

It is also important to note that a cable set-top box is different from a digital-to-analog converter box. A digital-to-analog converter box is necessary only for analog televisions that receive their programming over-the-air using a rooftop antenna or "rabbit ears" connected to the set. A digital-to-analog converter box is not necessary for a TV connected to a paid television service such as a cable or satellite TV provider. Information on any set-top boxes needed for a paid service such as cable or satellite should be obtained from the service provider.