Comments on: Warning labels proposed for analog TV sets

By: havencircle

havencircle — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 01:00:48 +0000

I live in a hurricane zone. We have lots of weird weather conditions and power, cable, and especially satellite all go out on a regular basis. If you don’t have ota tv, you could have a tornado or a severe thunderstorm cell on your butt and not be able to prepare for it. During hurricane season, if a major storm farts in this direction, your service will more than likely go out and you need to be able to keep up with the weather here. It sucks, but yeah - I’m gonna hafta buy a digital tuner of some sort as a backup.

By: dmkdtx

dmkdtx — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 05:24:17 +0000

I’m doing fine without a tv. I learned to read instead.

By: thewashingtonchannel

thewashingtonchannel — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 03:18:09 +0000

ok, so the over-the-air comment was a little over-the-top. but you get the idea; whether digital or analog, anything that simply covers a 60 mile radius is over… it’s no longer cost effective when you can broadcast to “the world”.

echy, very funny too.

By: Echy

Echy — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 00:55:41 +0000

Todd, for that use a radio. It’s tough to get a TV working in a car while driving to safety.

By: Todd Thorpe

Todd Thorpe — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 23:54:12 +0000

Yeah, OTA is a scam until there’s a civil emergency and the cable goes out…

By: thewashingtonchannel

thewashingtonchannel — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 19:00:52 +0000

the even bigger scam is making everyone think they need ota tv.

it’s over, folks.

By: Echy

Echy — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 18:55:07 +0000

Rob states Why even care about over-the-air reception if, like most, you get your TV programming via cable, satellite or another paid service? Aside from its utility as a backup in case a cable outage or “rain fade” blanks out your regular signal, digital TV makes over-the-air broadcasting relevant again.

The big scam is making everyone think they need a new TV set. If you have cable or satellite or some other service providing you with a set-top box you will not need a new TV

By: Bill

Bill — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 18:52:31 +0000

All the new TV’s I just bought already have a similar warning sticker on them…

By: David Johnson

David Johnson — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 18:42:27 +0000

Rob Pegoraro’s Fast Forward column at the Washington Post this weekend (Countdown to the Digtial Deadline) discusses how most tvs with standard tuners have only two years left to live.

By: Echy

Echy — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 18:27:38 +0000

Vinny, The scenario you describe will not be a problem after the changeover. It will only be a problem for people with an antenna who require a tuner on their sets. If you have a cable box, satellite box, or some external video receiver all you need is a display. Pump the sound into your stereo or home theater and your good to go. The display can be a projector, computer monitor, or a TV if you want to pay for the built-in but unnecessary tuner and speakers.

By: thewashingtonchannel

thewashingtonchannel — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 17:17:41 +0000

no more so than we have today with hd.

tv and radio people think this is really something while the general population just yawns.

By: Vinny

Vinny — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 16:36:20 +0000

I’m actually quite libertarian, but I do think this is a good idea. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve talked to people who said something akin to, “Well, my TV is Digital” and I’m like, “Do you even understand the difference?”

Of course, they reply with, “I have digital cable!” And I just groan and realize that in 2 years, we’re going to have a MAJOR problem on our hands.