DevotedPuppy said:

Did you try doing an auto scan on your converter box yet? The TV stations around here said that all people who were receiving digital broadcasts prior to the switch needed to re-scan all channels after the switch just in case. That doesn't guarantee that you will get any signal however. Chances are that you will need to fork out some cash for an indoor TV antenna.

BTW, one of the things that the media failed top explain in some depth about the digital broadcasts is that when receiving the broadcast signal, you will either get a good picture or no picture at all. This will be a huge issue for people living in rural areas with spaced out transmission towers, people living in mountain ranges, or people living in areas with dense interference (i.e., lots of tall buildings).

BTW, you said that you live in a huge apartment building. Does your apartment have a cable jack? If so, then why not use the converter box cable and attach one side to the cable jack and the other side directly into your TV. You'll at least get basic cable. Granted, you're not paying the cable company for this service, but if it's already in your apartment, you're probably subsidizing cable TV for your landlord through your rent anyway.

728huey said:

Ahhh... So analog stations will still exist, but their range will be extremely limited.

I bet a lot of existing low-watt stations just retire. But the ones that remain are gonna be c.r.a.z.y! Technically, the FCC will still have oversight of them, but I did work with a low-watt radio station years ago, and the FCC paid us next to no attention. We got away with murder!!

728huey said:

No, I can't figure out how to get it to start its auto scan. The instruction booklet made it seem like the scan would start automatically the first time I plugged in/connected the convertor box but nothing happened. I turned my TV on/off, tried using the convertor remote, reconnected all the cables...NOTHING.



No, I said I live in an apartment building. It's quite small--5 stories, 10 apartments. I am on the 4th floor in the front, facing the street. All of the buildings on my street are about the same height as mine except one high rise at the end of the block. (I'm in the middle of the block.)




I am using the cable jack, I connected that to the RF IN on the convertor box, I connected a coaxial cable from the RF OUT on the convertor to my VCR in jack. I left the other coaxial cable connecting the TV to the VCR (as before). I plugged in the convertor box. Nothing. (Before I had the cable cord connected directly to my TV and I didn't get cable; just very good reception on the basic channels.)

I refuse to buy an indoor TV antenna. I may as well just buy a new TV. Like I said, the one I have is really old (a friend gave it to me); but it works fine - at least it did until tonight - so I hate to throw it out. And I really don't have tons of extra cash to use for buying a new TV. Not to mention I'm sure the enterprising New York stores will have raised the cost of TVs because of this.

I'm going to ask my guy friend to look at it tomorrow; maybe he can figure it out.

.
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[Edited 6/12/09 19:40pm]

DevotedPuppy said:

You do still need "rabbit ears" for it to work, though, I think. I got my free converter box (OK, it was $5-ish after the coupon) but the rabbit ears plug into the box which then plugs into my tv.

On the box I have, I have a menu to select to get it to do the scan. Does your remote control for it have a menu button?

PaisleyPark5083 said:

Phuck! What do you have live tv shows and movies performed in your home.
I have those bundled services including security and mine is 162 a month
which i consider to be high.

CarrieMpls said:

My convertor box didn't come with rabbit ears, and there is nowhere to plug them into the box. I do have a pair somewhere that fit in with the TV, but where will I plug them in? There is no "menu" button on the remote. I shouldn't even be messing with it right now; I have to give a tour tomorrow morning and I am not done with my notecards!

I'm also hesitant to buy a new TV b/c what if it still doesn't get any stations? Even with the digital TV, do you still need the convertor box?

DevotedPuppy said:

My box didn't come with the rabbit ears either, those I had. If you have old rabbit ears, the converter box and a TV you should be able to get them all to work together.

When you have time, just go through the instruction manual carefully. Or have your friend do it.

Shorty said:

So they could auction of the analog bandwidth. They can also spread it around a lot further. So rather than wait years while analog dies a slow death over the next 50 years .. . . Put it out of its misery.

How long do the converter boxes last, is there a guarantee or warranty date on them? All stations have not converted, I got channel 7 about 2:00am. It's an old blk/wht movie from the sixties but hey, I'm liking it! I could get this crap but I'm stubborn as hell!
[Edited 6/14/09 0:57am]

Wow, 2 days later, I can still watch Fox2 on my regular tv


Maybe they forgot about me or something


Smooches;)

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

oh man I hate that. But I have seen that on analog too, it's like a satellite thing I think.

Shorty said:

Cell phones are trying to switch to digital as well, partly due to certain analog parts not being made anymore because we've been in a digital age for so long. Have to switch everyone over before the analog towers are unable to be maintained and cause a disruption in service.

NDRU said:

I know guys, I think I am being taken.
I'll have to see what the heck I am being charged so much for. I will say though, we do have HBO and Showtime, they suck, but I like variety.

phunkdaddy said:

I think I am going to walk my butt into the local cable company and find out exactly why the heck I pay so much!

Shorty said:

I heard it would "free up analog for other uses" but not what those uses are for. I assume it is to wage war/spy on us.

Now that the switch has happened I have 3 stations.

ION, which is infomercials for 80% of the day, yay!

NDRU said:

Have you picked up the Slap Chop yet?

NDRU said:

I'm very skeptical about this, what if Osama Bin Laden sends us a message thru there or something.

Dayclear said:

More likely OBAMA, given the CIA has been studying mind control for decades.

Yeah I said it

Cinnie said:

well then you'd think the companies themselves would just have to make the conversion as things evolve...but NO...suddenly this was manditory by the Govt.
it's fishy...to say the least.

Dayclear said:

well, I'm not so scared about that but something is up for this to be such a high priority on the govt's lists of things to do.

MsMisha319 said:

I can't get FOX-5 or MY-9.

Analog wasn't so bad. In bad weather the channels on my dish keep freezing up or cutting in and out making me miss about a quarter of whatever I'm watching. Analog had it's advantages. I'm going to miss it. (sniff, sniff)

Three days later, I still have a black screen. It worked on Friday evening (around 7pm) and then late Saturday night (around 1am) - both times without the converter, but every other time nothing. I don't know if it's my television reception, or that the digital signals now suck. I don't want to buy a new television if it's not going to work. How annoying.

This morning I felt so thrown off my morning routine; I like to have NY 1 on while I'm getting ready so I can hear the weather, traffic, etc.

DevotedPuppy said:

Isn't there a phone number you can call?

DevotedPuppy said:

How did you watch NY1 without cable in the first place?

uPtoWnNY said:

Maybe I can try to call 311. A friend is going to bring over his TV (which is digital compliant) and see if it works in my apartment. If so, then I guess the problem is with my old TV. If not, I guess maybe the digital signal in my area is messed up. But I googled this morning and found a map where you could enter your address and see how strong the digital signals are. According to it, I should be getting strong digital signals for all of the same channels I had before.

sextonseven said:

Magic! j/k. I don't know. I've never had cable in NYC. My apt. building I think is set up for Time Warner. There is a coaxial cable running from outside into my bedroom and living room. I just attached that to my TV and got crystal clear reception: ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox 5, WB (or whatever it changed to), etc. even the Food Network. NY1 was actually channel 10... But I wasn't getting free cable, just great reception.

clarification edit
[Edited 6/15/09 9:56am]

It sounds like you were(are?) getting basic cable for free... like you're not paying for it, but it's being sent to your apartment. Otherwise hooking a cable up to the hook-up in your apartment wouldn't give you reception. You should need rabbit ears for that.

OK, now I'm annoyed into infinity I totally misunderstood this whole thing I thought that this would eliminate the need for antennas. All TVs in the house get different stations and we already have a rooftop antenna. Is there something stronger out there or are we forced to get cable? I agree this is a money making scheme.