Yeah.. U.S. Senate has voted to push that back to June 12. Confused yet? The United States Senate has passed a bill that would delay the U.S. Although the Senate's passage of the bill doesn't mean the DTV deadline has been changed, the U.S. House of Representatives is expected to support the move, and the new Obama administration has already come out in favor of delaying the transition.

The idea behind putting off the digital TV transition is to give the estimated 20 million Americans who rely solely on over-the-air television broadcasts time to obtain converter boxes to receive digital television signals. The U.S.

Although many urban television viewers and folks who've purchased new TVs in the last few years are ready for the transition, many poor and rural viewers rely on over-the-air broadcasts and have not been preparing for the transition.

Some viewers will also need to set up new or enhanced antennas to pull in DTV signals, since old-style analog antennas don't do a particularly good job. Others have decried mismanagement of the converter voucher program, and claim a significant portion of the U.S.

Analog television "going dark" would mean those viewers can't receive news, emergency alerts, or other important information…plus, Oprah might take a hit in the ratings. Shutting down analog television broadcasts will also free spectrum in the 700 MHz band, which has already been auctioned off by the FCC-and largely snapped up by communications providers-to develop so-called 4G mobile broadband services. Delaying the digital TV transition will extend licensed to the 700 MHz space bought up by companies like Verizon and AT&T.

Print Page Post Your Comment.. Comments Kit on Jan 27th, 2009 at 10:09 AM: Some viewers will also need to set up new or enhanced antennas to pull in DTV signals, since old-style analog antennas don't do a particularly good job. To me this is the most important reason that putting off the transition is a good idea.

I got a converter box last summer, as soon as I could find one in a local store - one of my coupons expired before any boxes were available locally, but fortunately I didn't ask for both at the same time. Since then I have been trying to get a reliable signal.

I have researched the signal directions and strength and antennas, but I can use the extra four months to try to get something better, and I am at least somewhat knowledgeable and motivated and aware. Many neighbors are less prepared, because they don't understand, not because they aren't trying. Jan 27th, 2009 at 11:14 AM: "since old-style analog antennas don't do a particularly good job."

Wow, your creditability has just dropped 100%. There is no such thing as a digital antenna. There are UHF and VHF antennas. Digital 8-VSB covers both regions. Most of the digital stations are in UHF band because the VHF band was fairly full in most regions. Man the media is so-confused and fact less. RX8 on Jan 27th, 2009 at 8:51 PM: James, gimme a break. He was referring to an antenna that picked up analog stations, not digital. Any person with common sense would get that..

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Source: http://news.digitaltrends.com/news-article/19067/senate-pass~

Keywords:
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How do you think R&D spending will fare in 2009? The problem is not necessarily the set itself, but the limitations of the delivery pipeline that brings the signal to the set," said Bocko. The challenge for the HDTV industry is to sync up the fast-improving TV capability with the content delivery infrastructure, which is developing at a slower pace. While consumers are adopting HDTV in greater numbers, anecdotal evidence indicates that product return rates to retailers remain high.

Bocko sees an opportunity to apply Corning's research in glass substrates and fiber optics to pinpoint possible solutions. Corning's targeted research into display network requirements could help benchmark the requirements needed for optimal HDTV performance. By sharing our proprietary research findings, we hope to benefit the entire HDTV market," said Bocko.

He added in an interview that the disconnect between HDTV receiver capability and network delivery performance is partially due to the speed at which HDTV technology has arrived. What's more, sets that formerly broadcast only television programming and movies are now sophisticated multimedia portals. Thus, content providers are increasingly churning out higher-quality digital offerings, further increasing the need for a robust content delivery pipeline.

Even high-end HDTVs may come up short due to network quality issues, including content delivery bandwidth, bit rate and video compression constraints. Corning researchers are developing the infrastructure needed to support future display technologies.

For instance, using an optical testbed to emulate fiber-to-the-home, cable television and digital subscriber loop networks combined with new display technologies, Corning engineers have been able to analyze how content delivery and network capabilities affect HDTV viewing. Among the metrics are variations in bit and compression rates, display size and type and network characteristics.

Our initial research indicates that for each display type viewing quality improves with bit rate. And the rate of improvement grows for more advanced displays and larger screens," Bocko said. Corning will release its HDTV research results later this year. We believe the data will lead to technical modifications of displays and networks which ultimately will lead to improved image quality for consumers," Bocko said.

Source: http://eetimes.eu/uk/212701639

Keywords:
hdtv, hdtv receiver, hdtv research, hdtv viewing, hdtv market, hdtv greater, hdtv industry, hdtv performance, hdtv technology, challenge hdtv

Barring any changes in the coming weeks, television will go digital on Feb. 17. Are you ready for DTV? That means if your set's on an antenna, or if you have an older analog TV, the free over-the-air analog signal you receive will disappear. Unless, of course, you take the necessary steps to make the conversion to digital. It was slow up until about a week ago," said Ed Normandy of Vacs Etc. Now we're selling four or five a day."

I'm selling them right and left because they're going to have to have them," said Karen Fouts, who with husband Steve owns Steve's Satellite Service. We can't keep them," said Hannah Ray of the local Sears store. In 2005, Congress mandated all full-power broadcasters convert from analog to all-digital television broadcasting, which is more efficient. It also frees up frequencies to make room for public safety communications and commercial wireless services.

Digital television - DTV - allows broadcast stations to offer improved picture and sound quality along with more programming options for viewers through multicasting. Making the change For more than a year, broadcasters across the country have been promoting the transition. As Fouts said, people who plan to continue using an antenna for their TV signals are going to have to have a converter box.

According to the Federal Communications Commission, if you receive only free over-the-air television programming, you need the converter. That includes "rabbit ear" antennae. According to the FCC, a converter box is needed for each TV set or device, such as a video recorder, that has only an analog tuner. Cable and satellite TV customers with set-top boxes don't need the converter.

Another alternative is to replace your analog TV set with a TV that has a digital tuner. If you have an older analog TV, you will need the converter box. If you get over-the-air signals and have a set with a built-in digital tuner or a digital-ready monitor with a separate tuner set-up box, you don't need the converter. Sets built after March 1, 2007 are required to have a built-in digital tuner.

If you're not sure if you have a digital TV, look for labels or markings on the set that will tell you if it contains a digital tuner. You also can check the manual or other paperwork that came with the set. Another factor to consider, according to the FCC, is your antenna. You don't need a special antenna to receive digital signals.

Fouts said they've had some of their antenna customers who couldn't get UHF signals with their antennae decide to switch to satellite service. The Fouts firm offers Dish TV satellite service. There have been more than he expected, but Elbraeder said most who have come in "are going to satellite." His business offers Dish and DirecTV.

According to Elbraeder, when people have seen the quality and programming choices available via satellite, they've chosen to go with it instead of their antenna. Normandy, who offers DirecTV and Dish, said he's also had customers who changed their minds about continuing with an antenna after seeing the choices and quality of satellite TV. Fouts said their firm installs antennae and, generally, their antenna customers have wanted to stay with what they're using, although some have gone to satellite TV.

Sears, plus they can be bought at Wal-Mart. Coleman's TV and Computer Service doesn't carry the converter boxes, but they can install them. Because Congress mandated the digital conversion, it also approved a coupon program. USA Today reported this week that 7.2 million coupons were requested during December.

In all about 45 million coupons had been requested as of Dec. 31, and about 18 million had been redeemed. According to the NTIA, it will send out coupons as ones already in circulation expire and free up money. Associated Press reported there are requests for 103,000 coupons on the waiting list.

Meredith Attwell Baker, head of the NTIA, recommended people who are asking for coupons go ahead and get a converter box so they can have at least one TV set ready for the transition next month rather than waiting on the coupons. People do not need a coupon to buy a converter box. U.S. Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass.,

AP he's working on legislation to waive accounting rules that require NTIA to wait for unredeemed coupons before issuing more. The waiver would free up money for the coupon program. Locally, most dealers selling the converter boxes accept the coupons. However, Elbraeder said he doesn't. The government still owes me 400 bucks," he said, so he stopped taking the coupons. He said he'd accepted them initially, but it became too much of a hassle for him to be reimbursed.

Elbraeder said some people are confused about what the converter will do, thinking it will give them HDTV. It won't. He said the converter will make their analog TV sets capable of receiving the digital signal, but it will not be HDTV. HDTV and digital television are not the same thing. A high-definition set is required to watch television in high definition.

According to the FCC, the transition to digital broadcasting will provide better picture quality and more channels, but it will not give viewers HDTV. Viewers can watch high-definition programming on a standard-definition TV or an analog TV with the converter box, but it will not have full high-definition quality. What's available now Locally, the Springfield, Mo., KYTV, KOLR, KSPR, KSFX and KOZK -already are transmitting digital broadcasts.

In addition, he said there are a couple more PBS channels via Springfield and there are three additional Arkansas Educational Television Network channels. Even with the transition deadline 38 days away, and while television stations already have begun digital broadcasting, many people still aren't prepared. Nielsen Co. December, 6.8 percent of 114 million households with televisions remained completely unready for DTV, and another 10 percent still had at least one TV set that wasn't ready.

You must fill out the comment body in order to submit a comment. Comment too long. The comment you have entered is too long. Please limit your post to maxchars characters or less. For anyone who isn't ready for the conversion to digital broadcasting by Feb. 17, this could be the only picture they see on their television sets. People who use antennae or have analog TV sets will need to get a converter box or find another source for their television signal.

Source: http://baxterbulletin.com/article/20090110/news01/901100301/~

Keywords:
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