"In spiritual matters there really is no 'Third World.' It's all Third World."
- Dallas Willard
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
I heard my local sports talk guys say today that only 15 percent of the population isn't on some sort of cable or satellite TV plan, so all of the digital switch brouhaha is to be blamed on a minority of people.
I fall into the 15 percent, so I guess I'm to blame. Too bad I was an idiot and let a couple of my government coupons expire before cashing them in on free digital converters. I did get one in on time, so the main TV in our living room is a sleek, svelte piece of digital equipment. (Actually, it's a 27-inch off-brand that would have looked impressive in anyone's living room 15 years ago, but looks downright homely by today's standards.)
The cool thing is with digital I get like three times as many stations as I did with analog. I feel like I upgraded to some sort of basic cable service -- it's awesome! The picture is crystal clear (for not being HD), and the reception is perfect.
I do feel sorry for the small population of elderly people who are getting snow on their screens today. I'm no technology slouch, and it took me a few minutes to figure out how to hook the thing up so it would work in conjunction with my VCR. It wasn't quite as simple as screwing in a light bulb.
I better cruise. Digital Lost is on in 30 minutes ...
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Comments on "Fifteen Percent":
2. Wickle
- 02/19/2009 7:08 am CST
Well, I suppose that I'm part of that 15%, too.
But since we don't care to hook up any such thing, maybe we're the problem. My wife and I don't watch any live TV, and we don't care to. If we're holding up the whole federal government, all I can say is ... whoop-sees. Sorry 'bout that.
4. Milly
- 02/19/2009 10:39 am CST
We have a group around here that are trying to help those in need to get them hooked up.
5. Shrode
- 02/19/2009 10:50 am CST
The stations in my area haven't all discontinued their analog yet.
I'm in the 15 percent too. No cable or satellite.
I have a digital tuner in one TV and I bought a converter for the other months ago...
BUT....
I HATE IT!!!!! We live in the country. So the signal is weak. With Digital it's all or nothing, so I don't get CBS in my bedroom TV but I get it in the living room...barely. The other stations come and go depending on whether or not it's cloudy. The signal is so weak that the extra length of cable it takes to get to my bedroom loses the signal. That's how lousy it is. I spent an extra 50 bucks on a "pre-amplifier" for my antenna in order for any channels to work. Without it I got NO digital channels. I also spent another 40 bucks on an amplified splitter for inside the house. Doesn't help.
Me HATES IT FOREVAH!
Analog, while not as "sharp" is better and stronger. Because digital is all or nothing, the stations don't spend as much power broadcasting. So those of us in the sticks are getting the short end. If it's cloudy or rainy, I don't get a signal, or it does that digital scramble/stuck thing like a DVD with smudges. My kids get really frustrated when they are watching PBS kids and it does that or it suddenly says "no signal".
Oh, and one of my VCR's won't be able to record anymore. The one with the converter box will because the signal gets converted BEFORE it hits the VCR. But my advanced TV with internal digital tuner can't record shows because the VCR receives the analog signal first. So now I can only record with one VCR. I hate this whole thing.
Oh, and another thing, Bird you refer to hooking up a VCR... NONE of the instructions for those stupid converter boxes explain how to do it with a VCR leaving me to figure it out for myself which is fine, but I can't tell you how many "seasoned citizens" have told me that their converter box didn't work, and I helped them by telling them to run the cable through their converter box, and THEN the VCR and THEN the TV. Those poor people didn't know that.
And does anyone know why we are switching? BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT WANTS THE ANALOG FREQUENCIES FOR THEMSELVES!!!! Seriously.
6. Paul Wilkinson
- 02/19/2009 11:05 am CST
With the economy the way it is right now, this would be a bad time to impose this expense on those not on cable or satellite; many of which are in the lower middle class or below the poverty line.
But it might be more accurate to suggest with the economy the way it is AND the election of a new President with a new economic stimulus plan, the government doesn't want to see its poorer citizens cut off from the nightly dose of propaganda---oops!-- I mean the evening news.
7. Raindream
- 02/19/2009 11:56 am CST
As I understand it, the Feds have spent over $1,000,000,000 (that's Billion) on this already. Why is this so dang expensive?
8. nhe
- 02/19/2009 12:53 pm CST
I'm curious to know how much are (or were) you guys saving by not having basic cable? Seems you can get it here (Atlanta) for under $30 a month? (Maybe I'm wrong - I have expanded basic, but I haven't priced the basic).
That's less per month than fast food at a restaurant for my family. I suppose if I wasn't a sports fan, I'd understand not having basic cable. However, the few shows I watch plus a little baseball, college basketball and football would be worth $25-30/month for me I guess....but is it more than that?
9. Shrode
- 02/19/2009 1:30 pm CST
I just checked at www.buytimewarnercable.com - and the cheapest package was $49.95 a month.
Just speaking for my family, we don't have an extra $50 a month. Seriously. We've trimmed everything "optional" so that we could send our kids to a christian school. And I'm a pastor. :)
We don't buy fast food, don't eat out, don't buy clothes. Our belt just doesn't get any tighter. :)
I get what you're saying nhe, for many families an extra 30 a month wouldn't be a big deal if they cut something else, like eating out at lunch. So please don't be offended by my response.
We had directTV years ago, basic package only and I think it was $35 a month. But we got rid of it when we sent our oldest to kindergarten. (But not before I videotaped 24 hours of boomerang cartoons. We use those tapes when the kids are sick. Just push play and voila, 8 hours of cartoon bliss. :)
10. MzEllen
- 02/19/2009 2:20 pm CST
nhe, there are parts of the country where cable is not available. My mom and dad live in a rural area where they are so far out in the sticks they can't even get a local AOL number!
12. nhe
- 02/19/2009 2:35 pm CST
I hear ya, the only reason I'm able to justify "expanded" basic is that my company pays for my home office - wi-fi and office phone - so we don't have need for internet (or a home phone) in the family budget.......that allows me a little more for cable.......I'll admit (in addition to sports) to being addicted to 24, Survivor, Big Love, and Battlestar Galactica.......not to mention Seinfeld re-runs..........all good - but I could probably live without all but the sports.....and 24.
and MzEllen - AT&T is now offering (I think) a basic satellite package around $35 - and you can get that anywhere.
Leave a Comment:
Not to worry! The feds delayed the absolute cut off u8ntil June and left it up to individual stations whether or not they want to make the switch in February.
Plus...there's something like $650,000,000.00 in the "porkulus plan" for digital television conversion boxes.