Is this the real reason for the switch from analog to digital?

Run time: 01:37 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQ4iIM8Eljc   Posted on YouTube: February 16, 2009 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: February 23, 2009 By DU Member: Holly_Hobby Views on DU: 1470

 
Did he plant it or is the camera and mic standard equipment? :tinfoilhat:

but he might wanna put some tinfoil around the digital receiver just to be safe.

That is pretty scary shit. I don't know anyone who has a converter box, but we need to find out if it is real. :hide: I think I'm beginning to feel a tad bit paranoid at the thought of being watched in my own home.

First, these boxes are designed as receivers/converters to receive and convert digital signals from transmitters into analog signals that can be used by older television sets. Judging from what I can see of components in the box, I don't think this box can transmit video.

Second, who would monitor the video? That would require a receiver capable of picking up the very small signals a box this size could produce. Further, those signals would have to be different for each box in order for those monitoring the video to discriminate between boxes.

Now, if such a thing were connected to coaxial cable, then a digital transmission would be decodable, much as the signal from your cable modem, using distinct IP addresses. I suppose the same could be said for over the air transmissions, but I don't see enough circuitry to do this with enough power to be receivable more than maybe 100' from the unit.

Finally, who would want to monitor the activities of folks who can't even afford to have a cable connection? What would they discover, other than a bunch of overweight non-workers watching television.

I believe the maker of the video has installed the camera and mic in the box for the purpose of creating a hoax.

If I had one of these boxes, I'd open it up and know for sure, but I don't. Who knows, maybe there's a camera in the DVR I rent from Comcast. Maybe I'll wave my willy at it this afternoon or something.

there is not anything to worry about in having our telephone/internet/cell phone use being tracked, either.

I feel so much better now.
( I am not saying the converter video can't be a hoax, but to use the idea of "illegality" stopping the government from spying is a bit ...stupid)

Your phone calls and internet transmissions go out over a public network (not that I'm advocating a position that surveillance is 'ok' mind you), but this sort of surveillance would be actively intruding into the privacy of your home and castle, and viewing and recording you within those walls. It's invasion of privacy on steroids.

the camera and microphone allows Agent Mike to check on the progress - turning each and every one of us into a Rushicon Zombie.

http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2009/02/dtv-converters.html

The author of the video describes his hoax, made by glue-gunning a camera and mic from a cell phone onto a transformer in the converter box.

Case solved.

for the link. I would still like to take one apart, just out of curiosity.

:rofl:

wacko nutcase conspiracy sites. See my links above for thorough debunking. Still, the story will persist on the innertubes, spread by freepers everywhere.

Huzzah! for the pranksters, eh?

I am always astounded at how ... silly people can get!!

:evilgrin:

:rofl:

You gotta love this guy. His video will be circulating on the innertubes for years. I expect that my moronic freeper brother-in-law will tell me about it in about a year, when he stumbles on it. He doesn't have cable in his house, so he'll probably throw away his converter box and do without TV.

of digital converter box camera on youtube. This story is almost a year old, already. Sometimes, checking things out is an amazingly good idea. You can see my links below.

Sometimes ours talks to our cats.

It's Japanese, so that probably explains that.

Too much anime.

I'd say I'm pretty skeptical to this.

It's nice to know that at least my converter box serves some purpose since it totally fails at picking up Digital signals.:sarcasm:

Maybe if I wear this :tinfoilhat: I can get better reception...(nope)