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Will the new channels retain the same (low) numbers?
Will a separate box be required for every DVD recorder and VCR?
Even more to the point, will the channel selector in each of those still work?
Will rabbit ears still work? (Prolly not...) So what will?
clark, thinking ahead
Follow Ups:
When they talk about DTV converters or set top boxes, these are also called DTV/HDTV tuners. I have an older Samsung DTV/HDTV tuner that will not only output to a "HD capable" TV but will also output 480i / 480p / and even composite or s-video.
So, in order to receive DTV/HDTV, you will need a converter/tuner and in some cases the device will also output the signal to an older TV via the composite or s-video ports. Of course, you won't get DTV or HDTV picture quality but you will still be able to watch TV on your old set.
The TV antenna in most cases will simply be a UHF antenna. I have $20 RadioShack UHF yagi that works great. You can also get smaller "patch" antennas thay aren't as ugly and they work fine too. If you're within a reasonable distance to the broadcast towers, an indoor antenna may also work.
If you're on Cable TV or Satellite, you don't need to worry about any of this. Your service will continue.
z
> > > Will the new channels retain the same (low) numbers? < < <
That will depend on your area and its channels. In DC., the 3 networks are on 4, 7, and 9. They will then(and already are) on 4.1, 7.1, and 9.1. They will also have other sub channels like a weather channel on 7.2 and 9.2.
> > > Will a separate box be required for every DVD recorder and VCR? < < <
Possibly, but you may be able to split the signal, if its strong enough.
> > > Even more to the point, will the channel selector in each of those still work? < < <
Not unless they have a digital tuner, or allow for decimal points in tuning.
> > > Will rabbit ears still work? (Prolly not...) So what will? < < <
If they work well for you now, then they will work after the switch.
Digital signal is more of an all or nothing situation. If its too weak, you'll get nothing, if its right on the edge, you'll get break-up, but mostly nothing. Other than that, it will come in.
Jack
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Will the new channels retain the same (low) numbers?
It may be that if an old channel is, say 27, the new digital channel might be called 27-1 or if there are two a 27-2 as well. At least that is how some of my local stations right now are doing it and my set with a digital tuner calls them.
Will a separate box be required for every DVD recorder and VCR?
The cheap coupon boxes have a standard RF output going out to channels 3 or 4 as an analog signal, just like an old VCR does, plus a yellow composite out and red and white left and right audio signals. If your TV has composite video and audio in, you can go in through those, otherwise you connect via the RF out to your old RF in antenna terminal and set the TV to either 3 or 4 depending on how your tuner box is set up.IF your VCR takes an RF signal on channel 3 or 4, set it to the same channel as the tuner and connect through the RF input. Otherwise go through the composite video in on the VCR.
Even more to the point, will the channel selector in each of those still work?
The TV set will be permanently placed on channel 3 or 4, and you will use the remote and channel selector on the digital tuner instead to change channels just like you change channels and run an old VCR. THe tuners can be connected to an old VCR with an RF input and analog tuner tho the tuning will be done by the new digital tuner. You lose your ability to automatically record different off-air shows on different channels in sequence.
Will rabbit ears still work? (Prolly not...) So what will?
Possibly, tho Wal Mart and Best Buy are filled with amplified rabbit ears for $25-$50 designed to boosth the signal if the unamplified rabbit ears don't work. Either your antenna will pull in a good digital signal or generally none at all. You will need to try in each location and situation, tho I suspect that the amplified rabbit ears work pretty well in many urban locations. It is the locations far away from the digital transmitter that will be especially tricky, as a slightly snowy analog picture may not work at all as a digital signal.
z
> Will the new channels retain the same (low) numbers? <
Don't know. That one will depend on your licencing authorities.
> Will a separate box be required for every DVD recorder and VCR? <
The box is a tuner and you can feed the signal to whatever you like. You can still feed the output of your TV to whatever you like. Standard definition recorders however won't capture a high definition signal so that leaves DVD recorders out of the picture for high definition tuners.
You will be able to buy DSTs with hard drive recorders built in, for a higher price of course. I would expect them to start popping up immediately or very soon since the various manufacturers already have models with hard drive recorders available here. There's even a box which contains a digital TV tuner, hard drive recorder, and DVD player on sale here as the one box solution.
> Even more to the point, will the channel selector in each of those still work? <
Of course, while there are still analog channels for the analog tuners in older devices to work. Newer devices which incorporate digital tuners won't have any problems. It's just that analog tuners won't work with digital signals and vice versa.
> Will rabbit ears still work? (Prolly not...) So what will? <
Depends entirely on signal strength. I've seen an indoor antenna work in one location, though not brilliantly, and not work in another. I suspect there will be indoor antennas suitable for digital reception marketed but I've always used an external antenna with my digital set-top box.
Final comment: your question refers to "digital-conversion settop boxes". I assume you're talking about add-on digital tuners, not boxes for converting analog signals to digital signals. I haven't seen a box which did that anywhere.
David Aiken
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