DIGITAL TV AGAIN.

[powderman]

Mystery solved, I think. Our reception has been awful, went from 12 strong channels to 4 after the digital kicked in. A station in LOU, channel 15, sent a technician out today, free of charge. He spent about 2 1/2 hours checking everything out. The common denomoninator seems to be the MAGNAVOX digital converter box from walmart. We have 2 boxes, tried the new one and got 10 channels strong, then the box shut itself off and locked up. The tech called magnavox and they will do nothing since they were bought last summer, but just now using. I'm going to inform my Dept mgr in electronics of this in the morning. He's getting lots of complaints. The tv station has been very helpful. I'll find out more later, the other box now dropped more channels. He checked the signal at the antenna and said it was strong. Well, I'll see what they do next. POWDERMAN. 

[powderman]

I wonder how much money they have cheated the govt out of at $40 a pop for an inferior product? POWDERMAN. 

[torpedoman]

the switch to digital is making billions for the government, do you really think they care about the quality of your t.v. picture? The reason is real simple the analog signal takes up so much bandwidth that they can put 5-10 digital signals in the same amount of bandwidth and the government sells the bandwidth to the broadcasters so it is simply a way to allow the government to make more money while using the same amount of space.Don't worry about the 40 bucks they have already made a profit.

[powderman]

I don't understand how, or why, the govt controls the airwaves let alone makes $ from it??POWDERMAN. 

[LONGTOM]

Ever think that the government made the switch mandatory so maybe someday it will be like SAT TV and the government will start charging for it.

They couldn't do that with the old free airwave system.

If they do decide to go down this path now they can jam the box if you don't pay!

Maybe just another way of pushing their control over us!



LONGTOM

[Rustyinfla]

  Do like I did and just start using the TV for viewing DVD's. The heck with their left leaning broadcasts.

  Most shows can be seen on the computer anyway.

[Questor]

Rustyinfla:

Yep. That's our 95% application for a television. And even at that we don't use it much. I did order one of those coupons for a discount on digital converter boxes because my wife likes to watch some mindless drivel sometimes.

[powderman]

Sorry to bring this back up but somebody posted a link to a site where digital boxes were for sale and I can't find it. Can somebody repost it please??? Our store has stopped carrying ANY digital conversion boxes, can't even order them. I was told today that SONY makes a very good one. I'll be gone a few days but will check ehen I get back on. Thanks, POWDERMAN. 

[LONGTOM]

RADIO SHACK still carries them, at least around here in VA.


LONGTOM

[powderman]

LONGTOM. A coworker bought one from radio shack and it too was bad. From what I hear SONY makes a good one, if I can find one. POWDERMAN. 

[Brett]

www.Solidsignal.com is where I got mine from.   I got two of the Channel Master 7000 units.  Rated best picture.  Better than Sony.    It even has a S-video output for a super sharp picture.  I've had mine for about 3 months and am very happy with them.   

[powderman]

BRETT. Thanks, thats the one I was looking for. POWDERMAN. 

[powderman]

HEH. Nothing there available anymore. My walmart is not carrying ANY of them, can't even order any. Corporate dropped the converter boxes from the mods. Reckon I'll keep looking. The only boxes left available on that site were well over $200. POWDERMAN. 

[Questor]

powderman:

If you have the government coupon, which you can google and order from their web site, you'll get $40. Best Buy have the converter boxes for $50. The coupon comes with the names of stores in your area that sell the boxes. You will need an antenna for it. I got an indoor amplified digital antenna at best buy for about $50. Total cost to get things working at my house was $72, after redeeming the coupon.