The Cellar - Analog broadcast TV signals will stop in February 1999

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- - Analog broadcast TV signals will stop in February 1999 (http://cellar.org/showthread.php?t=15413)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey (Post 386893)

But now that you ask, I can certainly see emergency and medical services making use of future devices that will use the newly opened spectrum.

Yeah, that does make sense.

I just want to know how it's going to work with mind control projects.
New horizons there too?

Don't start asking questions about our mind control projects or we will have to terminate you. Pot stirrer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey (Post 386893)

I didn't say it would; just that it does more than improve the picture.

But now that you ask, I can certainly see emergency and medical services making use of future devices that will use the newly opened spectrum.

Is that definite, or just a possibility... if the big guns can't figure out a way to make a buck off that additional bandwidth?

It's just a possibility, AFAIK, but if the way they make a buck is improved communication devices, emergency and medical services would probably be able to use them.

The available frequencies are a finite resource, so no matter how you slice it, freeing up a chunk of bandwidth is a positive.

At worse, the newly liberated bandwidth could be used for something crappy, but it would just be replacing the other crap.

Quote:

Originally Posted by glatt (Post 386859)

But haven't the feds said they would give out $100 vouchers to everyone who needs one so they can get a box?

I had not heard about that! I won't be counting on it.

I know that your cable company should be giving you the converter box for free because they don't want to lose your business? That's what I heard.

So even satellite users will need a converter or just a compatible tv?

No, cable and satellite people are fine. The only ones that have to buy new equipment are the over-the-air viewers.

Those seeking TV's at amazing prices should look no further than craigslist. SD big screens, even amazing quality ones, are going for peanuts there. With the savings, you buy a converter box. I have in particular seen 32 and 36 inch Sony Wegas for $350 on more than one occasion, and that is one damn fine CRT based SD TV.

I will say this, though. HiDef is *awesome*. If you are into sports, its beyond awesome. We picked up a 42" plasma at WalMart's Black Friday sale last year, at a sale price which I have yet to see matched for its size. It is a NoNameo box, but since the displays themselves are only manufactured by like two companies, it matters relatively little in terms of pic quality. And keep in mind that this is only a 720p display - 42" plasmas can't do 1080 due to the inherent pixel structure, but if your viewing distance is within certain parameters, your eye can't really tell the difference between the two anyway.

It really is a stupendous step up in terms of resolution, picture stability and viewing pleasure.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undertoad (Post 387237)

No, cable and satellite people are fine. The only ones that have to buy new equipment are the over-the-air viewers.

So does that mean that after the big change, my satellite company will still be charging more for High Definition?

No, because everything will be hidef. The cheaper tier will cease to exist, and they'll have to raise the price of the whole service to make up for lost revenue.