So what happens in 2009 when we switch to digital TV?

Post by **lordofduct** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 4:03 am

Mozgus wrote:So what happens in 2008 when we switch to digital TV?
So what happens in 2007 when we switch to digital TV?
So what happens in 2006 when we switch to digital TV?
So what happens in 2005 when we switch to digital TV?
So what happens in 2004 when we switch to digital TV?
So what happens in 2003 when we switch to digital TV?

What will happen? They'll delay it yet another year when they realize that people won't put up with that.

Exactly... the same thing will happen as when colour TV came out... they can't just up and switch out, the FCC regulates that there has to be a free broadcasting capability that remains accessible to viewers. They will come up with some method that still carries both signals at the same time.

Your cable may go all digital, but there will always be basic analog video over the airwaves. Also even when digital, this doesn't mean there won't be any analog contraption to convert with... wait, there already IS, nearly all video is sent from boxes to your TV analog. Even your digital freakin' TV.

Tell me, how many people do you know that actually use DVI-D or HDMI outside of their PC to LCD panel? Not many! Not many at all... component is analog butt monkeys. Digital displays usually almost always have analog->Digital converters in them. Get over it, don't worry, it's a bunch of hub bub to sell HDTVs... but they won't be removing FOX and CBS from the analog airwaves for a very long time.

2003 wasn't even the earliest... I remember first talk of this back in 1993 saying by the year 1999 it was going to be all digital. What happend? my home town got their first digital box in 1999, 5 digital channels!

Post by **mason** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 4:08 am

but your all forgetting something, it is going to happen. The gov't doesn't delay forever. and for one, they have spent shitloads on those rebates and two they are auctioning off the old airways!! for cell-phones strangely enough that google will buy and then ultimately fail.

Post by **lordofduct** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 6:15 am

mason wrote:but your all forgetting something, it is going to happen. The gov't doesn't delay forever. and for one, they have spent shitloads on those rebates and two they are auctioning off the old airways!! for cell-phones strangely enough that google will buy and then ultimately fail.

I want to see proof of these auctions, and which frequencies are included in the auction.

Post by **Droid party** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 7:23 am

Scooter wrote:
Metalcrack wrote:I'm sure there will be a DAC (digital to analog converter) available for us people hanging on to our old SDTV for retro gaming goodness.
Well sure, but my question is completely the other way around. In the not too distant future, how will we get our old analog signals into a TV that no longer receives anything but digital? What we'll need is an analog to digital converter, will something like THAT ever be made? The market for it will likely be pretty small.

Are you wanting to hook up the old consoles via RF cables? If so, one way (albeit a bit ugly) to do it is to simply plug an old vcr ( or dvd recorder, anything with an analogue tuner and composite video out) and tune the old console via that devices tuner.

As I said, ugly as hell. But if that is what you mean, it will work.

Post by **lordofduct** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 7:49 am

Scooter wrote:
Metalcrack wrote:I'm sure there will be a DAC (digital to analog converter) available for us people hanging on to our old SDTV for retro gaming goodness.
Well sure, but my question is completely the other way around. In the not too distant future, how will we get our old analog signals into a TV that no longer receives anything but digital? What we'll need is an analog to digital converter, will something like THAT ever be made? The market for it will likely be pretty small.

They are already made, the market is a pretty good size, you can get them at Best Buy, and they usually are built into any A/V receiver with HDMI built in.

If HDTV is pushing this component video so much like it is (i.e. the XBOX 360 didn't come with HDMI until the Elite version and Wii doesn't even offer HDMI or any other variant) then analog ain't going no where. I highly doubt these market leaders to be releasing analog only devices only a couple of years away from NO tv's being able to purchase that are compatible with it.

I wouldn't worry really, analog is going to be around awhile TV wise. Maybe not "Cable" wise, but even then the cable boxes will have analog outputs on them to go into analog displays. I'm sorry to say it, but CRT ain't going anywhere and will remain the "blue collar" alternative to television.

Post by **ubelaffe** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 8:35 am

Scooter wrote:
Metalcrack wrote:I'm sure there will be a DAC (digital to analog converter) available for us people hanging on to our old SDTV for retro gaming goodness.
Well sure, but my question is completely the other way around. In the not too distant future, how will we get our old analog signals into a TV that no longer receives anything but digital? What we'll need is an analog to digital converter, will something like THAT ever be made? The market for it will likely be pretty small.

That reception is just for what it picks up from air. If you're worried about whether or not you'll be able to plug in an rf cable to the coax on the back of your tv, I don't think you should really worry. First off, if your tv doesn't have that, with the exception of a few consoles, most use the composite cables and will still be okay. I think the tv's will still have coax for a good while. It's just cheaper.

Post by **racketboy** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 9:39 am

lordofduct wrote:
mason wrote:but your all forgetting something, it is going to happen. The gov't doesn't delay forever. and for one, they have spent shitloads on those rebates and two they are auctioning off the old airways!! for cell-phones strangely enough that google will buy and then ultimately fail.
I want to see proof of these auctions, and which frequencies are included in the auction.

Like these?:
http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/25/700m ... -3-36-bil/

Post by **opethfan** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 5:36 pm

Stray away from North America for a few minutes and you'll see that Europe (and from my experience, the UK) has been switching over for the last 5 years or so. You buy a box for around $60 in todays money, plug your antenna in and you get 30+ channels of free TV, and interactive features such as games, radio, multiple angles for concerts and sports and a program guide.
Check out the site at http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/en.html
So its not really this huge hurdle. You buy a box, plug it in and there you go. My grandparents were early adopters to the technology.

Post by **Funk, E** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 5:51 pm

Digital TV doesn't have a whole lot to do with HD, anyway. It's just a new broadcast standard.

Post by **lordofduct** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 8:10 pm

racketboy wrote:
lordofduct wrote:
mason wrote:but your all forgetting something, it is going to happen. The gov't doesn't delay forever. and for one, they have spent shitloads on those rebates and two they are auctioning off the old airways!! for cell-phones strangely enough that google will buy and then ultimately fail.
I want to see proof of these auctions, and which frequencies are included in the auction.
Like these?:
http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/25/700m ... -3-36-bil/

I still stand by the fact that the article brings nothing up about the ATSC blocks being sold off. Just because the lower level frequencies for regular television are being sold, and the ATSC signals are still there, which contain in it the old NTSC standards. The airwaves may be changing around, but doesn't mean the old school analog NTSC is going bye bye.