Digital Tv Broadcasting Coming Soon Options

[John Blue]

We all need to think about this change that will take place on February 17, 2009. All TV stations will stop broadcast in analog and only use digital system. You think no big deal, 85% of all TV sets in USA are analog only. Most all RV equipment have analog sets. TV sets we have were build into nice oak cabinets and to change it could be a problem. Try to find one that would fit into your cabinets.

You can add a digital to analog converter box to keep the old TV set. You will need room or space to add this equipment plus AC power. Next problem is your bat-wing style antenna on roof. If you have the silver wings you will need to change that also. If you have the painted wings you are OK. Winegard has the new wings and you only need to change that part, rest of Winegard gear is OK.

Our Congress mandated this change in 2006. Now I understand tons of people do not have the dollars to buy new TV's or buy converter box. Government is now talked they may pay cost on digital to analog equipment so people can see TV again. Our government at work!

We in RV life have around 14 months to think about the best way to get ready to fix this problem.
What will we do next?

[Texasrvers]

I can see how "24" would be affected because of its format. I've also heard that the strike will start to affect the movie industry if it goes on much longer. Because movies are filmed quite some time before they are released, new ones are still coming out right now. I read that most of the summer 2008 blockbusters got filmed, but are experiencing a little trouble if some scenes needed to be rewritten, and if the director or actors are members of the writers guild(which some of them are) even they can't do the rewrite. Well, that's ok. There are a LOT of movies out on DVD that we haven't seen.

[DXSMac]

I've also heard that the strike will start to affect the movie industry if it goes on much longer. Because movies are filmed quite some time before they are released, new ones are still coming out right now. I read that most of the summer 2008 blockbusters got filmed, but are experiencing a little trouble if some scenes needed to be rewritten, and if the director or actors are members of the writers guild(which some of them are) even they can't do the rewrite. Well, that's ok. There are a LOT of movies out on DVD that we haven't seen.

Well, my understanding is that directors prefer movies to be released at Christmastime anyway, because those have a better chance of getting nominated for Oscars. So we don't have any summer blockbusters........

JJ