Why they should postpone the move to High Def (and how it could go smoother IMHO):

[The Straight Story]

Several folks I know have recently lost jobs (including my dad) and people are starting to cut back in places they never did before - like with cable.

As more and more people drop such items they will now have to go out and buy converter boxes, which is not easy to afford when you have no income.

I would recommend a simple test. Change it for one day and see what happens - in fact I think that is something they should have been planning all along. Tell people that for one (or two) days in Feb. that there will be a cut over and if you have issues to call XXX.

Resolve issues, then set the date for a month in the future or so.

In the data centers I used to run I started a policy for server decomms. We would unplug the network cables only and leave that way for a week, then decom the server (junk it, ship it elsewhere, etc) - no matter how much advanced notices we gave lines of business there was often someone in that department who didn't know and it would affect their ability to work. We could simply plug in the cable, let them get their data moved (or apps) and still meet the deadline (usually).


Just my humble thoughts on it all. It ain't the end of the damn world either way, but delaying it a bit more isn't really going to screw things up in my life as far as I can tell, and it might help those having issues.

Do a test, see how it goes, then go from there.

[whistle]

1. Fuck'em, let cable companies ruin their industry by evaporating market share

...I have not subscribed to cable, satellite or even watched broadcast TV in over six years

[TwixVoy]

2. Oh for the love of god

Short of being around someone elses TV I have not watched TV in YEARS. Not one iota. And I am just fine.

So some people may have to live with out the TV for a little while. Big freaking deal. What are people going to kill themselves because the TV is off? If it really causes this much mental harm to be with out TV for a little while then it only supports my opinion TV is bad for ones mental health. I think it may do some people some good and fully support anything that takes TV out of peoples heads.

[SidDithers]

3. They're converting to digital, not HD...

kinda muddies your worthwile message when you get that basic fact wrong.

Sid

[chucktaylor]

6. Shhhh, let's not muddle this with facts.

[elocs]

4. There will always be those not ready however long it is postponed and it's been postponed before.

I guarantee that if it is postponed until June that there still will be those who are not ready then either. I wish I had a dime for each time I have seen an announcement of the switch while watching tv. Where I live they have already conducted 2 tests so people can determine if they are ready. Check antennaweb.org if you want to see the stations that are available to you, their distance, direction, and what kind of antenna is needed to receive them.

As for me, I ordered my coupons in October and they would have expired on this Tuesday. I spent a whole $10 on my converter and using the exact same antennas I used to get analog I get twice the channels and a beautiful picture on my old 19" tv so I think it was well worth the cost. So in the 3 years I have gotten my tv channels free and over the air I have had to spend a whole $10 for what I consider to be a great improvement. Even if I had to pay the full price for the converter it would be worth it for what I get.

The government giving people a $40 coupon for the converter, promoting the change and announcing it over and over as well as almost holding people's hands through it--I don't know what more they could do other than to have the coupon program more fully funded.

[Skink]

5. Testing means they'd have to all be up to full stream which they aren't.

I know my antenna doesn't work with the converter as it is now. The best advice I guess is to stock up on anntenas now and make sure to save the receipts.

[doc03]

9. I was only able to get one analog TV station but since stations

have gone digital I am able to receive 16 channels with rabbit ears. I don't need a box either since my TVs have digital tuners in them.

[doc03]

7. It's DTV not HDTV, you get a forty dollar coupon

and I have seen converters for less than fifty. One local station has run tests a couple times they just simply shut off their analog channel and say if you can't see the broadcast you need a box. The problem with the box with the elderly people is they are confusing the DTV box with a cable digital box. My mother lives in a senior apartment building and many of the residents have signed up for digital cable thinking they had to or they would lose their TVs.

[Lex]

8. High Def?

[B o d i]

11. Maybe just 'high' ?

[Lex]

13. That kitteh

is going to need a bag of Fritos soon.

[AlCzervik]

10. it's analog to digital, not high def.

you get high def if you have a hdtv.

[Blue Dog Dominion]

12. Fuck em. TV is not a right

And don't give me any whiny bullshit that they won't be able to see the school lunch menu.