DTV Changeover Date Maybe Missed

[bigcam406]

i live in Ontario,Canada,just east of Toronto,along the shores of Lake Ontario,and i receive analog signals from stations from western New York.ive known about this switch for awhile now(they advertise it relentlessly)and have just purchased my convertor box and another indoor antenna.i was on a waiting list to get a box as the Canadian warehouse couldnt keep them in stock.People up here are buying them up as soon as they are available.The CRTC will be switching all Canadian stations over August 31 2011.So far,im picking up quite a few digital broadcasts,even some Toronto broadcasts in digital.Western New York broadcasters have been advertising lately that they will be testing the digital broadcast signals this Thursday Jan 15 at 758 pm.My questions are if there is going to be a delay,why are they advertising the changeover at the original date ,and how many stations are broadcasting at full power even though they are still broadcasting analog as well?Just wondering.....

 

[MadSpleen85]

My questions are if there is going to be a delay,why are they advertising the changeover at the original date ,and how many stations are broadcasting at full power even though they are still broadcasting analog as well?Just wondering.....

I believe the advertising is continuing because the delay is still only speculation. There is not currently any delay that I have heard of, it is all still up in the air. As it is now, those stations required to will make the switch no later then the earlier decided date of February 17th.

I am also curious about if stations are broadcasting at full digital power or not while they are also broadcasting in analog.

Here in the Kansas City area, we have one station that has already gone full digital and shut off the analog signal. All of the other ones mention the transition at least 3 times each news broadcast and then scroll messages along the bottom of the screen reminding everyone watching of the February 17th date.

The date of February 17th has been the date for what, 3 maybe 5 years? I don't understand why the date should be postponed simply because people procrastinate. Even more why should the government have to pay for you to keep up with the advances in technology? Is the government going to chip in any money to upgrade our scanners to digital, or for me to buy a blue ray player? I think not.

 

[gmclam]

Digital TV in the USA

... i receive analog signals from stations from western New York.... Western New York broadcasters have been advertising lately that they will be testing the digital broadcast signals this Thursday Jan 15 at 758 pm. My questions are if there is going to be a delay,why are they advertising the changeover at the original date ,and how many stations are broadcasting at full power even though they are still broadcasting analog as well?Just wondering.....

Generally speaking, stations are already on the air digitally. So what is happening on 2/17 is NOT a "switchover", it is an analog CUT-OFF.

New York City is a special situation because the original location for digital transmissions was on top of a World Trade Center tower. I know they have a new location, but it does not have the same coverage and is most likely not at its final power & pattern.

The delay is something the president elect has requested. This issue is very complicated and I don't think any one can completely think out the results from any given scenario. On one hand we need the analog signals off of the air so that the analog antennas can be removed, the digital signals can be moved (to new channels where scheduled), the digital broadcasting antennas moved/raised and get us closer to the final signal coverage.

On the other hand they want to delay the shut off because people are not ready. But there are going to be cracks - people who will not have acceptable digital signals until changes are made on the broadcast side, and people who may still not after the changes. One more reason for the requested delay is to determine if the government should help people put up (outside) antennas, now that they've learned converter boxes alone are not always enough.

Some analog stations have already been taken down permanently. I think any broadcaster who wants to move forward with this should be allowed to do so NOW (and not even wait until 2/17). Then I think it COULD be acceptable for SOME stations to continue their analog broadcast for a short time longer IF it in NO WAY affects another station's digital signal and/or is part of the 700 MHz band (channels 52-69).

 

[ibagli]

Is the government going to chip in any money to upgrade our scanners to digital, or for me to buy a blue ray player? I think not.

Scanners and blue ray players are not the default medium for news and emergency communication. Nor are they being rendered unusable by order of the government. Disagree if you wish, but there is far more at work here than pure luxury items being left behind by time.

 

[rcvmo]

My Thought altogether.............

Not my problem that all the stations are switching to digital to begin with.

THAT CONVERTER BOX SHOULD BE "FREE" !!

rcvmo

 

[MadSpleen85]

Scanners and blue ray players are not the default medium for news and emergency communication. Nor are they being rendered unusable by order of the government. Disagree if you wish, but there is far more at work here than pure luxury items being left behind by time.

What ever happend to the radio? Be it AM/FM or a simple weather/alert radio what happend to that? I still get the majority of my news from AM radio. I wasn't around when TV's first came out but I do not recall hearing about the government phasing out radio news broadcasts in favor of Television News. Television IS A LUXURY. Anyone that wanted to hear news before the television found a radio to listen to, some still prefer radio news over television. There are still two news radio stations broadcasting in the Kansas City area.

I am only 23 years old, and I can remember from my childhood when there was severe weather we had a designated weather/alert radio next to the television. That radio would almost always alert us of an approaching weather hazard before the television weather man could break in to programming. For me radio is still my default medium for news and especially emergency communications. My scanners weather/alert radio and AM/FM radios will all still alert me when the power goes out...

If Television is a "default medium for emergency communication" that default fails the second you lose power. Why did my new TV not come with any kind of battery backup? Machines are only as good as their weakest link, when it comes to modern televisions the weakest link is the power source. Lose power and you are left with nothing but a black screen that has been rendered completely useless until the power comes back on.

 

[newsphotog]

Scanners and blue ray players are not the default medium for news and emergency communication. Nor are they being rendered unusable by order of the government. Disagree if you wish, but there is far more at work here than pure luxury items being left behind by time.

TV's are definitely not the default medium for emergency communications. If it was a real emergency, like a tornado, ice storm, nuclear attack, dinosaur attack, whatever... the power could be out. The average person's TV wouldn't work worth crap without electricity.

A battery-powered AM/FM radio is truly the only medium for emergency broadcasts to the public.

 

[N_Jay]

My Thought altogether.............

Not my problem that all the stations are switching to digital to begin with.

THAT CONVERTER BOX SHOULD BE "FREE" !!

rcvmo

There is nothing as expensive as "free"!

 

[DaveNF2G]

I believe that the reason that the government is providing coupons for converter boxes is because the government has mandated that as of a certain date all stations will cease broadcasting unisng analog signals. I think it would be different if the stations switched over to digital on there own as there own timetable. But, since it is mandated the government has to assist the public with the changeover.

Then why is the federal government not also obligated to buy new radios for every police, fire, and ambulance corps in the country so they can change over to FCC-mandated narrowband?

 

[N_Jay]

Then why is the federal government not also obligated to buy new radios for every police, fire, and ambulance corps in the country so they can change over to FCC-mandated narrowband?

Everyone is thinking too hard.

The converters coupons are being given out BECAUSE it was part of the deal negotiated.
Just like the date.

Yes, there are lots of reasons to have them and lots of reasons not to;
And lots of reasons to change teh date, and lots to stick to the date;
but the deal is the deal (Except when a "Change" agent gets involved)

 

[RedPenguin]

Yes.....

TV's are definitely not the default medium for emergency communications. If it was a real emergency, like a tornado, ice storm, nuclear attack, dinosaur attack, whatever... the power could be out. The average person's TV wouldn't work worth crap without electricity.

A battery-powered AM/FM radio is truly the only medium for emergency broadcasts to the public.

I have always wondered that.

Most people that I know, don't have battery powered TVs at least none have digital ones.

So I don't see clearly how TVs will be properly used in an emergency.

Though what sucks is, most people I know don't have an AM/FM radio hardly anymore and if they do, they most likely would never think to use it in an emergency.

My emergency radio is basically my BR330T. I hear more on the scanner than I ever seem to on the radio or TV. I never seem to get the full story on radio or TV, as well.

For example, a little bit ago, we had some pretty bad flooding in my area, mainly basements in the area. Yet, the news just said it like that. Listening to the scanner, I heard how hard it seemed for the fire departments to find pumps and was going to other stations for help. Which none of this was ever mentioned.

 

[ibagli]

If Television is a "default medium for emergency communication" that default fails the second you lose power.

I did not say it was good, or the most reliable.

 

[Skud]

Senate passes bill to delay digital TV switch

Senate passes bill to delay digital TV switch
Transition date moved back four months from Feb. 17 to June 12

Senate passes bill to delay digital TV switch - Tech and gadgets- msnbc.com

 

[Skud]

Analog TV shutdown delay poses problems

By Joelle Tessler

updated 6:14 p.m. ET, Fri., Jan. 23, 2009

In the suburbs of Washington, D.C., for instance, Prince George's County, Md., has spent $76 million over the past three years on a new radio system for the police and fire departments, paramedics and municipal public safety agencies. The county plans to begin six months of testing the system — on frequencies being freed up by the analog shutdown — on Feb. 18.

And in another:

According to Randy Smith, president of WSET, the ABC affiliate in Lynchburg, Va., the electricity bill alone to operate some transmitters can run $20,000 a month.


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If I am correct, can't a station choose to not broadcast analog or are they required to?

 

[Pete43]

The new date will be june 12.

 

[newsphotog]

Four more months of intensive DTV public service announcement commercials!!! YIPPPEEEEE!!!!

 

[bballjh]

GREAT! I just rushed a converter box here and now it's not happening for months

 

[gmclam]

Analog shutdown delay

The new date will be june 12.

If this is the bill I think it is, stations will be allowed to turn off their analog signal anytime after 2/17/2009 and must turn it off after 6/12/2009. The whole analog shutdown is just too complex to merely pick a date out of the sky at this point (which is what was done).

The first bill to delay the shutdown did not pass. Some changes were made to it so that the senate & house could agree. One was the provision to allow stations that wanted/needed to shut down to continue as planned.

 

[bigcam406]

never heard this on the news yesterday,any links to any info?

 

[N_Jay]

Its only 1/2 way there.

The Morons in the Senate passed it, now it is up to the Idiots in the House.

Then it goes to the POTUS (Presiding Obama The Ultimate Soul)