Analog shutdown in 2 days. Are you ready?

we have one TV that is cable and another that is just for games and dvds...we are set...

it isn't like this has been coming for YEARS...if people aren't ready they have no one to blame but themselves...

sP

but it's not entirely true. I choose not to upgrade. I hardly watch tv so why spend money on something I don't want or need?

I can pull in the major networks, but that's it. A stiff breeze interferes with the signals. I wasn't watching much before the hook-up & even less now. It's pretty much DVD's for me. I don't think I'm missing much anyway.

religious channels. :eyes:

I'm like you, don't watch that much anyway.

They've been changing frequencies here and there lately.

towers, analog broadcast was never that strong to begin with.

After 1pm Friday it'll be interesting. :-)

When I pull the telly out of the corner to set it up for my Saturday night DVD, I usually click over to on-air broadcast for the weather report, which is on at that time. But I can get a 2-minute weather broadcast out of the Internet tubes. Of course, I can always trek a few steps to look out the window, too.

and have been at that level for nearly two years.

When PBS is having pledge drives, I rarely watch network TV at all. Instead, I'm having a great time going through my Netflix cue of over 400 disks (maybe 200 titles in all.)

If I hear good word of mouth about a series, I put it into the Netflix queue and watch it at leisure without commercials. :-)

Reception does suck, maybe I need a better antenna.

BTW, after the last analog signals are shut off, IIRC, the digital stations are going to trade frequencies and such. Most digital converter boxes and digital-ready/HDTV televisions have a feature that lets you autoscan the entire frequency spectrum and find all your stations. You may need to do that in the near future...

Likely good to autoscan a couple times over this weekend.

Some stations are moving to their old analog frequency and some are keeping their new digital frequency.

Those that it will effect have already changed over, those it will not effect don't care.

what? sharper? deeper? what will the change look like.

the picture will be essentially perfect.

For a non-HDTV it is going to look like the best digital cable channel all the time.
For an HDTV it is better than DVD.

The trick is getting a solid signal.
Digital is a little more picky about signal quality.
I had to put an antenna in the attic but IMHO it is well worth it.

Free TV that looks better than the best HD Cable!

nt

Reading text, for instance, ought to be easier with a digital signal.

It took a weekend and was a pain in the ass but I put an antenna in the attic.

I used http://www.tvfool.com to find stations near me and the magnetic bearing to the towers.
Luckily for me all the towers are grouped together.

Bought a $2 compass from amazon (couldn't find one locally).

Mast, mounting bracket, high quality antenna, and 50ft of RG-6 cable cost me about $100.

Picture Quality is rock solid and better than cable even on an HDTV.
We canceled cable and save $700 per year. $100 investment saves $700 per year. I like that ROI! :)

Before digital I never would consider dropping cable but the picture is flawless.
Watching golf my father in law couldn't believe it wasn't cable.

The antennas sold by most big box stores are mostly gimmicky junk.
A specialty store is better but most places don't have one.
I bought from http://www.solidsignal.com small company, good customer service and good name brand antennas.

28%ish of DU is not using cable/sat and getting free TV OTA!

I think national average is more like 5%-10%.

The one good thing about DTV is that the PQ is good enough that even those that can afford cable's high prices can drop it without losing quality.

But I do have a converter on it. Instead of only getting 5 static filled stations I now get 19 in perfect clarity. I love it. Now I am thinking about dropping my satellite service.

for the hurricane season. The rest of my sets are all set.