For lack of a better term. Why are they limited to only 480?

Why no digital outputs, etc?

As if I had to ask, if the Gov is involved, expect possibly the worst case scenario.

For lack of a better term. Why are they limited to only 480?

Why no digital outputs, etc?

As if I had to ask, if the Gov is involved, expect possibly the worst case scenario.


Because their purpose is to provide DTV to NTSC sets which only have that resolution. It keeps perfectly good tv sets out of the landfill before their useful lifetime is up, that is the purpose of the CECB program. There are higher quality boxes with digital output in the marketplace, major stores and vendors have them.

There is nothing to prevent you from buying a better box. All you have to do is pay for it with your own coin.

For lack of a better term. Why are they limited to only 480?

Why no digital outputs, etc?

As if I had to ask, if the Gov is involved, expect possibly the worst case scenario.

That answer has been given ad-nauseum here in many, many threads.:rolleyes:

That answer has been given ad-nauseum here in many, many threads.:rolleyes:

Do everyone a favor...go roll your cartoon eyes somewhere else.

Do everyone a favor...go roll your cartoon eyes somewhere else.


Well, on a more positive note, you could take on the task of answering these same questions over and over again for those who can't (or more aptly won't) read, so those who actually use the forum for business, professional and helping people don't have to wade throught the same posts over and over again?

I can only imagine the time the mods are having to take to manage this, as well as the additional forum/server load by these repeat posts and questions. I for one appreciate the time they have taken
to attempt to seperate the CECB posts from the HDTv Hardware threads.

wh5916 - senior member ,241 posts, joined Mar 2008
bdfox18doe - ? category, 3776 posts, , joined Oct 2000 -

WH5916 - when you get this level of posts here, come talk to us about the newbie creed of "Post first, read second, think third".... and HOW wasting of time it is to read the same question for the 20th or 200th time.....

There are higher quality boxes with digital output in the marketplace, major stores and vendors have them.

Hello johnpost. There isn't such a box in any store, major or minor, within a 50 mile radius of where I sit. I know, I called every one of them :D

Hello johnpost. There isn't such a box in any store, major or minor, within a 50 mile radius of where I sit. I know, I called every one of them :D

probably true...you can, however, order the Samsung digital tuner online for about $170...

You would think there would at least be a Samsung in a store but no. The only thing anyone has is those silly coupon boxes. I ordered a Tivax STB-T1 with component video and digital audio for $85. I'll use my coupon card to break into my house if I ever lose my keys.

For lack of a better term. Why are they limited to only 480? Because they are only to be used with old analog sets. They are part of a government assistance program.

People with high-definition sets are "rich enough" to go buy better 720p or 1080i boxes, and therefore don't need government assistance.

Ask yourself who benefits from the dumbing? Is it the TV manufacturers, the cable, satelite, etc. providers?

Some of these boxes use a silicone chip(Microtune’s MT2131 tuner and possibly others), which are QAM capable. However, box manufacturers are apparently prevented by govt. rules from programming/wiring/activating/advertising the QAM feature.

What this means to me is that I need to purchase (or rent from the cable company) a second cable TV Set Top Box when the analog(NTSC) tuner in my VCR is degraded to a channel 3/4 tuner to receive output from the cable box if I opt to use it for that, which I probably won't, since Composite provides better results, unless I can find a CHEAP VCR or DVD Recorder with a QAM tuner or a CHEAP stand-alone QAM tuner.

Ask yourself who benefits from the dumbing? Is it the TV manufacturers, the cable, satelite, etc. providers?


The people who don't have to throw out working tv sets and buy new ones.

All of us indirectly by not having a huge burden on landfills full of tv sets.

If anything the tv manufacturers would just as soon we all bought new sets so they would oppose the boxes. Cable and satellite would also oppose the CECB because then each house would be faced with the choice of buying new tv sets or becoming one of their customers.


Some of these boxes use a silicone chip(Microtune’s MT2131 tuner and possibly others), which are QAM capable. However, box manufacturers are apparently prevented by govt. rules from programming/wiring/activating/advertising the QAM feature.

What this means to me is that I need to purchase (or rent from the cable company) a second cable TV Set Top Box when the analog(NTSC) tuner in my VCR is degraded to a channel 3/4 tuner to receive output from the cable box if I opt to use it for that, which I probably won't, since Composite provides better results, unless I can find a CHEAP VCR or DVD Recorder with a QAM tuner or a CHEAP stand-alone QAM tuner.

These CECB boxes have nothing to do with cable. If you want cable to more tv sets in your house that is between you and your cable company. The price of DVD recorders is only the price of two months of cable, that would be very affordable if you can afford cable service.

The whole purpose of the CECB program is to aid the people who are being forced to do something to have free OTA tv because of the transition. Cable and satellite customers are not being forced to do anything and they still will continue to get their tv at the same cost they have now.

Because a large percentage of the people in this country are "dumbed down". All they know is who won American Idol.

The people who don't have to throw out working tv sets and buy new ones.

All of us indirectly by not having a huge burden on landfills full of tv sets.

If anything the tv manufacturers would just as soon we all bought new sets so they would oppose the boxes. Cable and satellite would also oppose the CECB because then each house would be faced with the choice of buying new tv sets or becoming one of their customers.



These CECB boxes have nothing to do with cable. If you want cable to more tv sets in your house that is between you and your cable company. The price of DVD recorders is only the price of two months of cable, that would be very affordable if you can afford cable service.

The whole purpose of the CECB program is to aid the people who are being forced to do something to have free OTA tv because of the transition. Cable and satellite customers are not being forced to do anything and they still will continue to get their tv at the same cost they have now.

Maybe, but im thinking the cable outfits will go all digital then charge their analog customers for set top box to get just the clear qam with their old
sets.

John

Maybe, but im thinking the cable outfits will go all digital then charge their analog customers for set top box to get just the clear qam with their old
sets.

John

Sure they might but cable customers are getting paid tv by choice. People now getting free OTA tv are being forced into something.

I wouldn't worry about cable anyway. Many cable companies will do analog for years. If they go digital they will provide dumbed down boxes for their basic tier customers for free (of course they will try to sell you a package beyond basic). If they don't give you a free digital box for basic service they risk loosing you to satellite service.