Daddy Forever - Now Broadcasting in Digital
I got my free digital TV converter box coupons in the mail earlier this month. For those of you who don’t live in the states, our country is going digital. On February 17, 2009, all full-power television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting in analog and switch to 100% digital broadcasting. To help with the DTV Transition, Congress created the TV Converter Box Coupon Program for households wishing to keep using their analog TV sets after February 17, 2009. The Program allows U.S. households to obtain up to two coupons, each worth $40, that can be applied toward the cost of eligible converter boxes.
Sweet deal, right? Well sorta. Even with the coupon, it’ll cost you at least $10 for each box (Walmart has them for $50, Best Buy and Circuit City has them for $60). I know, it’s only ten bucks, but I think the government should cover the full cost because they are the ones mandating the change to DTV. This isn’t a safety issue and there’s nothing wrong with my analog TV. I shouldn’t be forced to spend money to continue watching it. I think the transition to DTV should be led by consumers — like the transition from VCR to DVD. The government doesn’t need to intervene and set a cutoff date.
Not everyone will need a converter box. If you have a relatively new TV, it might have a digital tuner built-in (check your manual). My newest TV is over eight years old so it doesn’t have a digital tuner). If you have cable, dish, or FIOS, you might not need a converter box either. It’ll depend on how your service provider handles the DTV signal. Some will convert the digital signal back to analog so you don’t need to do anything different. Other companies will require you to rent a box for a small monthly fee. Nice.
A couple more annoying things about the DTV transition is that you can only get two coupons and they expire 90 days from the date they were mailed. So if you have more than two TV’s, too bad for you. And what’s the deal with the 90-day expiration? Shouldn’t they expire after the cutoff date? Some people won’t even know if they need a box until they hear from their service provider.
I almost forgot to mention that I have not figured out how to use my VCR to record the new DTV stations. My 15-year old VCR recognizes channels like 2, 3, 4, etc. The new digital channels are 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 4.1, etc (or 2-1, 2-2, 3-1, 4-1). I can’t set my VCR to record a channel like 2-1. I read somewhere on the web that you can still use your old VCR to record what you are watching via the converter box. But if I am already watching it, why would I need to record it? I don’t want to watch a show I have already watched, I want to watch the show I didn’t watch. According to some people, I’ll need to purchase a VCR or DVR with a built-in digital tuner in order to record the new digital stations. Great. I’ll have to spend more money to get the same functionality I have now.
OK, I’m done ranting. I should mention that from what I’ve seen, digital TV is clearer than analog TV and I do get more channels than before. If you need a digital converter box, click on the link to get two free digital TV converter box coupons.
I forgot to mention the new poll. I’m trying to figure out why I have more women commentors. Is it because I have more women readers or is it because my men readers prefer to lurk.
Are you a man or woman?
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More women read/comment cos we got more time to fluff around reading blogs! so why do you have so much time to fluff around I wanna know? LOL
I have all the time in the world. It’s not like I have three young kids to help take care of. Ha-ha.
I think you have more women reading your blog because we like to see what you guys are really thinking! so thanks for sharing!
we have a vcr that we got in 1995….it’s funny that i have a techno-geek hubby but he hates spending money on techno stuff….we do have a new tv (well three years old) but that’s just because our other one went out…
but most importantly we have a wii….
Hopefully your techno-geek hubby figures out how to record the digital channels with the old vcr. If I was a billionaire, I wouldn’t mind spending money on the latest and greatest gadgets.
Oh fantastic. Huge sigh of frustration.
I think a lot of people will be frustrated after the switch over. Too bad the switchover didn’t start today. Then we wouldn’t have to see all those political ads.
technology always catches up. my in laws recently asked me why i don’t video tape my children… because it’s only a matter of time before the VCR isn’t even worth keeping anymore. (Pretty much now.) I can use my digital camera for small, short videos if I want and burn it to a DVD. Why use my video camera?
I do agree, though. The government should pay the full price of the box, or at least distribute them on their own via mail instead of with coupons.
My wife still uses the old camcorder. At some point, I’ll have to figure out how to transfer from tape to DVD.
We have new televisions complete with satellite TV and DVRs because hubby is a gadget geek who loves the new stuff. Not to mention, football looks incredibly AWESOME when watched in high definition. *grin*
OK, I’m jealous. We don’t even have cable to watch Oregon State football.
Don’t need no stinking coupons…I had the hubby by two new flat screen TVs. :)
That’ll work. Too bad the coupons can’t be used for a new TV.
Oh…You need my plamsa that I am trying to sell on e-bay…LOL..
It has one built in….
When the boxes came out over here they were over $700 dollars..what is with the price difference?….
We all ran out and brought one and then 12 months later all the TV’s have them in it….Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr…LOL
Sure, I’ll buy your plasma for the buy-it-now price. Includes shipping to the states, right? Ha-ha.
Oh And I vote Queen…but you knew that already didn’t you LMAO
We’ve never met, so I can’t be certain. As far as I know, you could be a man pretending to be a woman.
Hmmmm conspiracy theory time?
Hugs,
Holly
I get it. The digital boxes are really some sorta of brain washing device.
Speaking of TV, do you get Steelers games out there? You know they drafted Dennis Dixon, right?
They show the Steelers game from time to time over here. Dixon played for the other Oregon school. The enemy. The one that gets trillions of dollars from Nike. Dixon had a good season before his injury, but his other two years were not so good.
The government will always find ways to make us do the things they want us to do.
And I voted for the Queen button. You didn’t have a Princess button, so that was closest. Ha!
Like paying taxes every year!
ROTFPMSL…I might be..Ya never know…LOL
Our televisions are digital…I think. I hope!
OK the whole thing sounds waaaaaaay too complicated to mess with. I’m glad we already have a satellite dish.