Make the switch to DTV now
April 4th, 2008 at 4:46 pm by Dave DeJonge under Inside WOOD TV8
Shortly after the new year, I applied to the federal government for my DTV coupons. This week, I got them in the mail. They look just like the plastic gift cards you normally get at Best Buy, right down to the magnetic strip on the back.
I’ll certainly buy one converter box because I have a TV in my house that’s not hooked up to cable and it would be a big pain to run cable to it. Not sure if I’d buy two. As I checked out the various converter boxes, I see that some have some cool features like a program guide. If you know any other ways to comparison shop for the boxes, leave them in the comments section.
WOOD TV8 and all the other broadcast stations across the country are beginning to run commercials talking about the transition to DTV. What bothers me the most is that they are focused on the February 17, 2009 change. If you wait until then, you’ll be in trouble.
I think it’s really important for anyone affected by the change to convert to DTV while the weather is nice this summer. If you currently use rabbit ears in West Michigan to get TV, you might need an outdoor antenna on your roof. Do you want to try putting up an outdoor antenna in January? Didn’t think so.
Take my advice, try making the switch now! You’ll get more channels and you’ll know if you need help with your antenna.
We’ve got all kinds of info online about making the switch. If you have a specific problem with your reception, let us know about it.
Internet Director for WOODTV.com
Just one question. Where does one obtain one of those Boxes and what is the cost?
The entry-level boxes cost about $50 and are found at all the major electronics retailers. Check out the DTV site for more info: https://www.dtv2009.gov/VendorSearch.aspx
Thanks for posting that picture, I was curious as to how that was going to work, looks like they’re basically gift cards.
How many converter boxes have you been able to check out? The only ones I’ve been able to find at the local stores I’ve been to so far are a Zenith model at a few places I’ve been to and an identical Insignia (store-brand) model at Best Buy. They look like decent enough units, and I like the feature set, and at $60 ($20 after the government coupon), I can’t complain about the price. But that sure isn’t much selection. That website you link lists dozens of models, I’d like to know where they are!
You raise a good point about putting up an antenna when the weather’s nice, but if you’ve already got an antenna on the roof, or you’re in an apartment and you’re just going to have to live with a good indoor antenna, I’d advise waiting, I think the widest selection and lowest prices are yet to come.
Good advice Dave.
There is a rumor being spread that you need a ’special’ antenna to receive DTV. It’s NOT TRUE! A roof top that’s still in good shape should work fine. I’ve found that until next Feb most all stations are broadcasting DTV in the UHF band. After Feb some will revert/change to VHF. So the old pideon roost on the roof may be of some good after all (If you’re lucky to still have one).
GOT two boxes this week with the coupons at WALMART. they sold MAGNAVOX kinds there and they DO have a tv guide feature. I saw the easy set up on the box and thought..OH BOY.. NOT SO.. the manual was (GULP).. 25 pages long.. I predict there are gonna be a lot LOT of confused elders and challenged learning people that are going to be in a bad way trying to figure them out. The total I paid out for each box was 12.47 (I think) and no guarantee that they will work. The manual says to keep all the receipts because they might be needed. Oh that made me feel really good.. : ( I think all the local libraries should team up and give freeee lessons on how to run the dang things. My mother is scared to death (82) that she will not get to see Days of Our Lives.. because she cannot run
it with the remote and so many buttons to push. The underlying thought from her is that the GOVT is controlling what we see and what we don’t and can turn us off anytime it wants now. We have a tower antenna and no cable so we see now only what the antenna gives us. I keep trying to convince her and others that it will be better because we will now get MORE channels. The whole thing will get to be a big nightmare. LOCAL store owners tell me that there will be no waiting lists. first come. first serve. some models are made much better than others and any convertor works for any set regardless of age and make. If your cable goes out you will not see anything without the box convertor anyway.. so eventually EVERYONE WILL have one!! : )
Got a converter box, installed it ,now channel 8 keeps cutting out with low signal stength, impossible to watch. Channel 13 and 17 and 35 are marginal, will this improve in February? Extra channels are great but signal strength is a problem, YES we have a booster on the antenna.
I have a concern about receiving uninterrupted critical TV
weather coverage here during severe storms and tornado
warnings once analog transmissions are discontinued.
My husband is trying out a digital converter, and we can
consistently receive only one station! We are able to receive
8-10 analog stations using the same antenna!
When dangerous weather approaches, following the path of
severe storms or the path of tornados is very reliable on
analog stations, but as soon as the weather surrounds us,
the digital station is effectively blacked-out! This is similar
to the way that satellite TV transmissions are blocked.
It is assumed that even if we are forced to buy a decibel
power-gain appliance and power-up our antenna reception,
we will still be without critical weather warning broadcasts
when they are needed the most as digital signals are
unreliable at best when blanketed by heavy weather…
Can you help me understand how rural America will be
notified of severe weather and kept safe (as possible) when
analog weather newscasts are no longer available?
I believe this is a very valid concern that should be
addressed immediately with everyone who is vulnerable to
such severe weather threats.
Thank you.
Sharon Jones
RURAL USA
Here’s what I don’t get. When broadcast stations nation wide are loosing viewers in record numbers, why bother? The survey was out last week. Broadcasters are loosing viewers to cable channels and internet use. So what is my motivation to spend $10 for a converter box? Wouldn’t I be farther ahead to save my money and just watch my digital satelite channels exclusively or get my local news and weather from the internet?
On analog WOOD TV is my strongest channel…now I switched to DTV and get all of the OTHER channels that were weaker but not WOOD TV, my strongest … very frustrating… I am in Holland
ANALOG TV WHEN YOU GET A TORNADO WARNING YOU HEAR ABOUT IT AS IT IS HAPPENING.
DIGITAL TV DELAYS EVERYTHING APPROXAMATELY 15 SECONDS AND WHEN THERE IS A STORM IT USUALLY KNOCKS OUT THE SIGNAL 15 TO 20 MINUTES BEFORE THE WARNINGS ARE EVEN ISSUED. SO WE GET OUT OUR 13 INCH TV PULL UP THE RABBIT EARS AND WATCH ANALOG BECAUSE OUR DIGITAL TV LOST SIGNAL AND EVERYTHING THEY SAY ON ANALOG YOU HEAR IT 15 SECONDS SOONER THAN DIGITAL. and it plays throughout the storm. what will we do without analog tv i think this is a big problem WHAT DO YOU THINK?