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?

[BJMA]

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?

IF you have direct broadcast satellite service (DirecTV, Dish Network) you will NOT need to change anything. If the campground offers CATV - cable service, you do not need to change anything. The only users that must "upgrade" to a newer DTV tuner TV or to add a DTV tuner to the existing TV are those that get you TV broadcasts off the air. MATV may need a new TV or converter because you are only sharing the big TV antenna. I have never seen MATV used in a park - yet.

Also, a TV antenna is a TV antenna. The old batwing has ALWAYS been a marginal antenna and with many of the new digital broadcasters way up the band, then you may need to upgrade, but many are also on the low end of the UHF band too. Here in Cincinnati, they are around CH31. The "upgrade" maybe as simple is a wider bandwidth pre-amp since newer solid state devices are getting lower noise figures and higher gain than the old (pre-historic) FETS used in the older pre-amps.