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by Christine_Devine from Work computer

Last Post 22 days, 15 hours Ago


DIGITAL CONVERSION
Jul 5, 2008 | 2:06 AM
Category: News
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WHAT THE HECK IS DIGITAL CONVERSION?????

That was my question when the issue first popped up.  And, why do I care?

I've since  learned because I have cable... my college television would indeed still work.  Yes!  I still have my television from college!!!!   It fits perfectly in the kitchen.  And why throw away a perfectly good TV!(Yes, I'm accused of being a pack-rat!)

So, I started thinking... who would this affect?  hhmmm.   Ah!  Grandma.  My grandmother still had a TV with an antenna.  Grandma would need to know about digital conversion.   As will the 20% of American households still using rabbit ears.  In LA alone, that's one million people.  A million Angelenos use the standard old fashion style of TV... no satellite, fiber or cable.  INCLUDING one of our Fox 11 news writers, Richard!

So.... know anyone like grandma or Richard?  If so, tell them they need a DTV converter box... or a new TV.   By February, 2009.   The federal government is offering a discount... a 40-dollar coupon.  Log onto D-T-V-2009-DOT-GOV to get it or call 888-DTV-2009.

Are you really bored... or curious... you can check out our website and read all about the digital switchover. 

Analog TV goes BLACK  in February 2009.  No DTV converter box, no cable/fiber/satellite... NO TV PERIOD.  (Come to think of it... some may say that's not a bad thing.   I can't tell you how many times, as we kids sat glued to the tube, my mom screamed "I'm gonna throw that @#&* thing out!!!! )
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Member Comments Total Comments: 10
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Media read my blog view my photos
Jul 5, 2008 | 8:13 PM

Well now tecnology,tecnology either we keep up or get lelf behind. Things keep on evolving.
Hardly anything stays the same. Doesn't mean all this stuff is better but someone is thinking about the next move beyond now.

Christine I hope you had a wonderful holiday!!
sebar read my blog view my photos
Jul 5, 2008 | 11:14 PM

Okay my take on all of this. Yes I watched the 30 minute show, but....you knew Misses Devine there was a butt coming in there somewhere knowing my style by now. It really needed a full two hour show to really get into the details. This is honestly going to be a somewhat historic change and people need a lot of questions answered that were not answered in the 30 minute special, which was honestly TOO SHORT!

I do not subscribe to cable or satellite because they are both corrupted industry monopolies with the worst service, in fact Time Warner cable is being sued if memory serves me correctly by angry customers all over the worst service ever. Yes you should do a two hour FOX special on this show as I mentioned also to Bob Tarlau on this subject. It is also my believe that there are many more people then your stats show who do not use cable or satellite so it does in my humbled opinion warrant a much longer in-depth show...

American Author, Poet, Songwriter and Filmwriter
"Mark Paul" Sebar
The Power To Write The Best!
TRUTHGUYSinLA read my blog view my photos
Jul 6, 2008 | 1:50 AM

Welcome back from Mars. Its been in the news for a couple years. But I am getting the Cable converter box here in Florida and my LA home. When we had hurricanes we lost cable and electric so I had to view the news over rabbit ears that wont work past Feb 2009. So in case of an emergency, all people should have the capability.
Klooka read my blog view my photos
Jul 6, 2008 | 11:07 AM

My older relatives always refused to get cable TV. They stayed with their tall outdoor antennas. Why? Simple -- it was cheaper.

Only one of them is still with us. Now in his early 80's, he lives in Ojai, where he has enjoyed cable TV since moving there from Santa Barbara in the early 1990's.

I've had cable since I moved to California from Chicago in 1986. It makes all the difference to me. I liked seeing every channel clearly -- especially when I'm watching good-looking newscasters like Christine!
samo714 read my blog view my photos
Jul 7, 2008 | 11:32 AM

i had cable before, and we got rid of it because it wasn't all that great. i mean i had over a 100 channels and still i'm left watching fox 11 most of the time because you guys have the best programs on in my opinion. so i don't have the items needed for this hd change. but my sister wants a faster internet connection, so she's thinking of ordering that one deal for cable that comes with a faster connection for the computer too. so i'm not worried about this whole hd change. i guess if anyone should worry, it's everyone on tv. well now with this whole hd, we will be able to notice every freckle, and every loose strand of frizzy hair, and make up covered zits. wow, we are gonna notice all the flaws now. does that worry you christine? personally if i were you , i wouldnt worry much. you always seem pretty flawless.
BritneyS read my blog view my photos
Jul 7, 2008 | 4:37 PM

Hi Christine, I read recently that the Emergency Response System (ERS) will have the capability to switch the analog TV back on in the case of an emergency, so everyone will be able to see it. Do you know if this is true?
mystere read my blog view my photos
Jul 14, 2008 | 3:50 PM

I have done the conversion to the box, and one thing I have learned: If you have an old VCR, the only way to record a show is to do it while the box is on...old VCRs will be affected if you are using an antenna. Once you do the conversion, you will only be able to record the signal coming from the converter box, and many new VCRs do not have a tuner, but require some kind of converter such as a TIVO box. You can buy a VCR with the digital channels, but it costs around $300.00 from what I've seen at a Circuit City store in Buena Park. That is another thing that needs to be addressed, regarding the digital conversion.
BritneyS read my blog view my photos
Jul 14, 2008 | 4:09 PM

Mystere, what do you mean to say? Will an old VCR still work as long as you have the converter box attached to it and be on? Why would you need a new VCR with digital channel then? I don't get the point of your comment or what you are trying to say.
mystere read my blog view my photos
Jul 14, 2008 | 4:52 PM

An old vcr without a built in digital tuner will only record what is going through the converter box when you attempt to record a show. You will not be able to record one show while watching another with the old VCRs, once you hook up the converter box. You can play an old tape, but if you try to record some TV show, the old VCR will only be able to record what is going through the converter box. To record shows that you are not watching at the moment, you will need a new VCR with a tuner built into it, or some type of tuner such as TIVO hooked up to the VCR.
BritneyS read my blog view my photos
Jul 14, 2008 | 7:40 PM

Hi Mystere, I understand, thanks. But I understand the converter boxes are going to be dirt cheap and that even low income people will get one free. So if you want to watch one channel and record another, couldn't you just have another cheap converter box to attach to the TV you're watching? This would allow you to record one and watch another. I don't see what the big issue is.
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Christine_Devine

It has been my honor to work(anchor 10pm news) at Fox 11 news since 1990(yes, I started when I was 2!) Jokes aside, Fox 11 has allowed me to continue my passion for knowledge and education. My parents were both educators and stressed "knowing about our world." They were aid workers in Brazil(my heritage) and Africa and emphasized a caring for community. I love coming to work each day and being a part of "what's new." Fox 11 has allowed me to serve through our Wednesday's Child program. Our goal, to help children in foster care... who will end up on the streets at 18... find permanent safe homes. Through WC we are using the power and outreach of TV to find adoptive homes for children in GREAT need. My parents were foster parents and adopted one boy. I was adopted by my step-dad, which gave me the name "Devine." At home, I enjoying cooking and fitness. I have a new puppy for the first time since high school and am completely in love. (and with my fiance too!)

Member Since: 7/4/2006


 

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