Have you been hearing all about the coming switch to high-definition TV? There's some misinformation floating around that Clark wants to clear up. If you still get your reception via rabbit ears or a roof-based antenna, your old TV will not be obsolete when the switch is made from analog to digital signals in early 2009. That's because you'll be able to get a converter box for around $50 -- and the feds will even subsidize around $40 of it. So there's no need to buy a new HDTV -- unless you really want one! Meanwhile, how you watch TV is going to be changing. Hulu.com is a new website that will make network TV shows available via your high-speed internet connection. But the really big news that Clark's excited about is that 32-inch LCDs are being designed to hook up to your computer. You can even split the signal so that you don't have to check your e-mail on the boob tube. Clark loves all the changes and choices that are coming -- even though he doesn't really watch TV! We're moving into era where you'll be able to be anywhere in the world and watch the shows you love if you have a high-speed Internet connection. (thanks to clarkhoward.com) while this is all i could find on the website, this is what he said in the radio this morning, if you are already getting cable or satelite through a provider you dont need to do anything! The provider will just feed you the digital signal through their boxes, there is no reason ot go buy a new TV! You will only need it if you do not have cable or satellite, since you wont have the conversion box already.
My dad freaked out and went and bought a new tv around Black Friday. I tried to convince him that he had nothing to worry about since he has Comcast Digital Cable, but he wouldn't listen to me. Oh well. My new TV has a dedicated spot for a connection to the PC. Now I just need a serial or S-Video Cable long enough to reach the TV and I will never have to burn to disc again.
Already requested my coupon for my old tv...cable/satellite go out far more frequently than the actual station broadcasting the signals...
you can actually get a video card for you computer that allows you connect a cable line directly to it and watch Tv, its kinda cool, i almost got one. and we have only had out cable go out once that was when the landscapers cut the line
It is pretty good. I got an ATI Radon TV Wonder Pro (I think). The software that came with the card didn't work. I couldn't turn in any channels clearly. I downloaded SnapStream Beyond TV and everything was fantastic from there on. It functioned pretty much like a real Tivo and the quality was excellent. My real issue was that I did not want to watch stuff sitting at my PC, and my TV was old and didn't have any place for me to connect my computer to it, so I switched to the DVR and haven't used the TV Tuner card since. If you are interested, I would be willing to sell it, cheap.
pci or pci express? my mother board only takes the express cards. my orgional card actually came with a S-video out to hook into the TV, but i could only use the tv as a secondary monitor or watch movies on it, which i did when my dvd player broke. still got that card and the cable somewhere.
converted to hd when i moved into my place almost a year ago... I love every bit of it...but I had no TV at the time so I'm not sure if I would have gotten rid of a TV to get it, but now that I have HD i'd really like to stay that way....makes watching channels like discovery totally worth it!
Clark Howard is an idiot....that being said. It's going to DIGITAL, not HD only. the majority (if not ALL) of the newer tv's are both analog and digital. you don't have to buy an HDTV, or really an SDTV (standard digital tv) you just have to have a box or something that will convert it for you. Personally, I'll be getting and HDTV soon, but because I WANT one...I could be perfectly happy with an SDTV, or paying comcast for a digital box that will convert it over for me... now, for my explanation on why I think clark is an idiot. Half the stuff you hear from him you have to take with a grain of salt. speaking in terms of cell phones and whatnot, he says the LDI (liquid damage indicators) on devices are misleading and can/will turn to show damage at any time. he's telling his listeners not to believe the manufacturer or carrier that the phone has liquid damage, even if there is corrosion showing in the device. He also states that if you go from being outside to inside (where there is air conditioning, not something like a walk in refrigerator), that will trip the little sticker. That's ABSOLUTELY false. I tested batteries with this sticker and putting a drop on the sticker did nothing, but I had to run it under water for 2 minutes before that sticker changed color to show it was damaged, or at least has come into contact with moisture. Now, sometimes he has some good advice, but the majority that I've heard is pure crap. I wish he would retire already since he apparently has millions of dollars. /rant
Question about this whole Digital TV thing. When this happens, will you need to have a box on each TV you want to use. My understanding was that this was only going to affect the Over the Air signals. The signal you get when you have to put aluminum foil on the wire antenna coming out of the back of the TV I don't have that you constantly have to fidget with to get a clear picture, and the second you step away, you effect the signal and have to reposition the antenna. So if you are getting basic cable, thru the coax in the wall, will you need a box? If I have 2 TVs in my house, one already on Comcast Digital Cable, will I need to get another box for the other TV?
Jason, You're correct. This only applies to over the air transmissions. Basically its a digital to analog converter, which is what your set top box does for you with cable and satellite...
What about the other TV though that is not going thru a Cable Box, just straight from the Wall Coax to the TV?
If that tv has a ATSC (digital) tuner then you should be fine. If it doesn't, than eventually, you will need a converter box of some kind. I believe even the cable companies are getting rid of their analog transmissions in the future...
I don't always listen to clark about everything but this is something effecting everyone and is causing a big ado. But anyways I just thought this was important.
ive been rockin the hdtv to computer setup for a while now. vga component to my 32 1080i lcd. i even have media center with that i can stream full hd movies for 4 bucks for the day. no $600 dvd player for me thank you.
If your TV has an HDMI port and no VGA, get a DVI->HDMI converter, because they are the same signal. If you have both, you'll get better picture quality over the HDMI converter rather than analog 15-ping VGA
You will have to add a converter to these. The cable companies pass through the analog signals that they receive. When they no longer receive them, they will no longer carry them. Your government at work, planning to resell the frequencies used since the '50s for plain old TV. DD
You will have to add a converter to these. The cable companies pass through the analog signals that they receive. When they no longer receive them, they will no longer carry them. Your government at work, planning to resell the frequencies used since the '50s for plain old TV. DD Err.... i can only guess there are two of these because something got gummed up and i pressed "do it" again. I can't figure out how to delete the extra, tho.
Look, just buy an STi and be done with it. ...............*looks around*............ woops. Wrong thread! Seriously, whats TV?
Off the air reception While I'm posting extra, I might as well add that digital off the air doesn't cover the same area as good ol' TV off the air. In my case, reception stinks. You might buy the converter and then discover that there's nothing to convert. I know of one web site that can help you understand your antenna needs. It's at http://www.antennaweb.org/. Based on this site's info, I need a large directional antenna with amplifier to get any of the four "major" networks. Luckily, I only need a medium directional antenna with pre-amp to get PBS. I need a small basic antenna and a new course in Spanish to get Univision. Thank you, FCC. Of course, this was all called for by the market. And nobody start blaming any Democrats for this. The Republicans have had eight years to change their minds. The cash for old frequencies is just too enticing. The cable and satellite companies are probably pretty happy about this, too. DD
my tv died so i got the samsung dlp. If it had not died i would likely still have it since i have comcast and like 420 said it doesn't really change much for me. After the fact though, i love my HD set. Discovery channel in HD rocks and that's only 720P!