After the shutoff there will be no SD stations. If you want HDTV locals then you will have to upgrade to the HD-20. If you don't need HDTV then you might need a new STB (set top box). that will be available then. BTY it's the FCC that is making you upgrade NOT D* and E*.
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After the analog shutoff...
After the analog shutoff, how will D* and E* deliver SD locals to its customers? They transmit the -DTs in MPEG-4, while the overwhelming majority of its customers are MPEG-2, in which they carry the -TV feeds of the stations. After the analog shutoff, however, what are they going to do? Do they plan to just carry duplicates of the same channel, wasting TONS of satellite space, or force their subscribers to upgrade to an MPEG-4 box?
(This is what happens when you have a boring math class, you post threads like this)
(This is what happens when you have a boring math class, you post threads like this)
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I'm not sure you know what the analog shutoff means. It means that your local stations can no longer broadcast analog stations OTA. It will also mean the abandonment of VHF for broadcasting TV. It will not mandate that stuff has to be broadcasted in HDTV, although that will probably be the norm for primetime. All the other times they could broadcast multiple SD channels, probably in MPEG-2 like HDTV is currently (and you can see some of this now actually, I know some PBS stations broadcast some SD stuff). Whether or not E* and D* recompress (or even carry the SD stations), that will be up to them. They do seem to want to move to MPEG-4 compression though, but as the stations broadcast, I think MPEG-2 will be the standard for a long time.
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I'm not sure YOU know what the analog shutoff means. VHF is not being abandoned. As of now, 2-51 is part of the digital core. There's some discussion of removing low VHF (2-6), but high VHF (7-13) isn't going anywhere--in fact if you check the latest FCC digital channel elections many stations currently on UHF plan to move there after the analog shutoff.
| Originally Posted by kmj0577 I'm not sure you know what the analog shutoff means. It means that your local stations can no longer broadcast analog stations OTA. It will also mean the abandonment of VHF for broadcasting TV. It will not mandate that stuff has to be broadcasted in HDTV, although that will probably be the norm for primetime. All the other times they could broadcast multiple SD channels, probably in MPEG-2 like HDTV is currently (and you can see some of this now actually, I know some PBS stations broadcast some SD stuff). Whether or not E* and D* recompress (or even carry the SD stations), that will be up to them. They do seem to want to move to MPEG-4 compression though, but as the stations broadcast, I think MPEG-2 will be the standard for a long time. |
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Well, I didn't mean total abandonment (should have clarified that more). The government does seem to want to auction some of the VHF wavelength. But I hope they don't move the channels to VHF, even the high VHF. I have one HDTV station on VHF and it's the most terrible of them in terms of getting good reception for a long stretch since I'll have the signal glitch up at least twice during one hour.
| Originally Posted by GeorgeLV I'm not sure YOU know what the analog shutoff means. VHF is not being abandoned. As of now, 2-51 is part of the digital core. There's some discussion of removing low VHF (2-6), but high VHF (7-13) isn't going anywhere--in fact if you check the latest FCC digital channel elections many stations currently on UHF plan to move there after the analog shutoff. |
Will this forum shut down in January 2009?
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I wouldn't see why. This is particular section is about Cable and Digital Cable (Non-HDTV). Cable itself is under no requirement to be 100% digital anyways, so don't be surprised if in 2009 all your cable channels aren't digital. Your locals will be though. But channels like SciFi can stay analog as long as they want (although hopefully they don't).
| Originally Posted by Artwood Will this forum shut down in January 2009? |
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D* and E* wont have to change anything beyond how they get some of the local stations. MY understanding, currently D* and E* do get some of their local markets via an OTA antenna setup, that is then digitized and sent to teh sats so it can be beamed down to us....the OTA part will need to go away is all. D* and E* have to make no changes beyond that, since they are transmitting everything to the customer 100% digitally....
This analog cutoff date is for the FCC to get the frequency band back for other uses....
| Originally Posted by SJKurtzke After the analog shutoff, how will D* and E* deliver SD locals to its customers? They transmit the -DTs in MPEG-4, while the overwhelming majority of its customers are MPEG-2, in which they carry the -TV feeds of the stations. After the analog shutoff, however, what are they going to do? Do they plan to just carry duplicates of the same channel, wasting TONS of satellite space, or force their subscribers to upgrade to an MPEG-4 box? (This is what happens when you have a boring math class, you post threads like this) |
This analog cutoff date is for the FCC to get the frequency band back for other uses....
Wrong answer -
All D* and E* need to do is replace the NTSC tuners with ATSC tuners, then output in 480i to the POP's mux, where it gets sent to the uplink centers.
All D* and E* need to do is replace the NTSC tuners with ATSC tuners, then output in 480i to the POP's mux, where it gets sent to the uplink centers.
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Even if all channels go Digital soon after Feb '09, they won't all be HD for a long time after, if ever, so this section for non-HDTV cable will continue to exist for a long time.
| Originally Posted by kmj0577 I wouldn't see why. This is particular section is about Cable and Digital Cable (Non-HDTV). Cable itself is under no requirement to be 100% digital anyways, so don't be surprised if in 2009 all your cable channels aren't digital. Your locals will be though. But channels like SciFi can stay analog as long as they want (although hopefully they don't). |
As soon as everyone comprehends the difference between digital, analog, HD, ATSC yada, yada....
Bottom line, if you "only" use an antenna for reception, you will need to get a $50 converter ($40 will be subsidized) by Feb. 17, 2009.
Bottom line, if you "only" use an antenna for reception, you will need to get a $50 converter ($40 will be subsidized) by Feb. 17, 2009.
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Two vouchers each household, I believe. Right?
| Originally Posted by Ratman As soon as everyone comprehends the difference between digital, analog, HD, ATSC yada, yada.... Bottom line, if you "only" use an antenna for reception, you will need to get a $50 converter ($40 will be subsidized) by Feb. 17, 2009. |
Two $40.00 vouchers per household, I believe. Right?
Back OT: D* and E* customers will not have to change a thing, it will all be done on D* and E*'s end.....
Two vouchers, each worth $40.00 toward the most basic SDTV converter. According to what I have read, the STBs will not output any HDTV, will not do Surround, and will not have EPG. Might not even have video and audio outputs,,,,just an NTSC analog channel 3/4 output to feed the old TV set.
I wish they would make the coupons valid for $40/$80 toward the purchase and installation of an OTA antenna. That would push the transition more than anything, since you could buy yourself whatever box you wanted, but have some financial incentive to get the OTA signals.
I wish they would make the coupons valid for $40/$80 toward the purchase and installation of an OTA antenna. That would push the transition more than anything, since you could buy yourself whatever box you wanted, but have some financial incentive to get the OTA signals.
All correct...
But what do you want? If there are individuals today (and in 2009) that only have an antenna and an analog TV, do they really need video/audio outputs, surround. EPG, etc.?
This is targeted for "non-videophiles", which probably NONE of them know or care about the analog cutoff in 2009.
They don't need a coupon for an OTA antenna... they already have one.
There is no "pushing" the transition, 2/17/09 seems like a pretty firm date.
The 'target' audience for the vouchers are NOT people like us, but the family with the 25" RCA console from 1980 living in Podunk and can't afford cable, satellite or a 6 pack of beer.
But what do you want? If there are individuals today (and in 2009) that only have an antenna and an analog TV, do they really need video/audio outputs, surround. EPG, etc.?
This is targeted for "non-videophiles", which probably NONE of them know or care about the analog cutoff in 2009.
They don't need a coupon for an OTA antenna... they already have one.
There is no "pushing" the transition, 2/17/09 seems like a pretty firm date.
The 'target' audience for the vouchers are NOT people like us, but the family with the 25" RCA console from 1980 living in Podunk and can't afford cable, satellite or a 6 pack of beer.
I'll still consider copping two if I can turn around and sell them for a little profit (if I have no use for them myself). 'Course there'll be so many of them out there they probably won't command much. But hey, even for five bucks apiece, I'll do it. Why not?
Why not get your two vouchers and donate them to an organization or church that could put them to good use? And you can use it as tax deduction...
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Sounds like fraud to me.
| Originally Posted by Rammitinski I'll still consider copping two if I can turn around and sell them for a little profit (if I have no use for them myself). 'Course there'll be so many of them out there they probably won't command much. But hey, even for five bucks apiece, I'll do it. Why not? |
Sounds like fraud to me.
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Sorry. I'm just a little confused from all the replies.
Let me rephrase:
Currently Joe Smith has DirecTV. He has a H20 in one room and 3 SD Tivos in others. On the H20, he has DC HD Locals, being uplinked from WRC-DT, WTTG-DT, WJLA-DT, and WUSA-DT. His Tivos receive the uplink of the analog versions of those channels.
When those analog channels become unavailable, will his provider switch the uplink from the analog channels to the digital channels (which would be downconverted to 480i, but transmitted digitally), and put them in MPEG-2 so that he could still receive those channels with his old equipment? If this is done, then, my question is: Wouldn't both DirecTV and Echostar be wasting several (multi-million dollar) satellites by transmitting 2 copies of the same channel?
| Originally Posted by richall01 After the shutoff there will be no SD stations. If you want HDTV locals then you will have to upgrade to the HD-20. If you don't need HDTV then you might need a new STB (set top box). that will be available then. BTY it's the FCC that is making you upgrade NOT D* and E*. |
Let me rephrase:
Currently Joe Smith has DirecTV. He has a H20 in one room and 3 SD Tivos in others. On the H20, he has DC HD Locals, being uplinked from WRC-DT, WTTG-DT, WJLA-DT, and WUSA-DT. His Tivos receive the uplink of the analog versions of those channels.
When those analog channels become unavailable, will his provider switch the uplink from the analog channels to the digital channels (which would be downconverted to 480i, but transmitted digitally), and put them in MPEG-2 so that he could still receive those channels with his old equipment? If this is done, then, my question is: Wouldn't both DirecTV and Echostar be wasting several (multi-million dollar) satellites by transmitting 2 copies of the same channel?
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