Digital TVs transition...

[lkermel]

I don't know if many of you know about this, but beginning of 2009, broadcast television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting on analog airwaves and begin broadcasting only in digital... this may mean that new TV sets won't be able to read the analog output from old consoles such as the Atari 2600 and so on... I'm been concerned about this and our hobby, what do the rest of you think ?...

[InsaneDavid]

Um, it's nothing to worry about. :-/ The broadcast flag is nothing new but it actually seems to be set in stone this time - the endless TV ad campaigns are showing that. That's the thing though, it effects broadcast over the airwaves and your TV being able to pick up digital over-the-air broadcast with an antenna. Plenty of cable suppliers are going to continue to pipe analog signal through the wire (which is why the broadcast flag is cable's ace in the hole in my opinion) so I don't see analog receivers being removed from TV's any time soon.

CRT's going away and every previous generation of lightgun compatibility going with them is a much bigger concern.

[udisi]

Well in the farther future, maybe TV's will stop taking analog, but the 2009 change over is over blown. The Tv you have now will work just fine if you have cable. It's just people with rabbit ears that are screwed as those signals will stop. Cable now is mostly analog, and your tv will contine to read that signal just fine after the transition.

In the far future, maybe Satellite and Cable will become fully digital and TV producers may change the actual hardware of sets, but hell the newest 1080p HDTV's can still handle atari, NES , etc. I think it'll be a long time till we have problems with them.

[Cornelius]

I hadn't really thought about how they'd be removing the analog tuners, but I guess they will eventually. Lots of ways around it, though. I've got three options that I could use right now...

1. Computer w/ a tuner in it - may introduce too much lag, never tried it.
2. DVR w/ rf input and composite outs
3. HD tuner that can also tune analog

and I've always got the old VCR in the basement I could use in the same way. The thing is, TVs are really quite durable, and old ones will be plentiful and cheap for a very long time. Same is true of VCRs. I'm not too worried.

The best option would just be to get your system modified so it outputs composite or s-vid.

[MarkM2112]

Actually, this may actually be a boon to our hobby...

Consider this: Between now and 2009, people will be upgrading their televisions to accept the new digital signals, which means most of them will be getting rid of their otherwise functional non upgradable analog TV's for very little or nothing! A good deal for an old school room of doom! Just keep your eyes peeled for such deals via the thrifts, Craigslist, classified ads, or your local Freecycle... www.freecycle.org

[InsaneDavid]

Actually, this may actually be a boon to our hobby...

Consider this: Between now and 2009, people will be upgrading their televisions to accept the new digital signals, which means most of them will be getting rid of their otherwise functional non upgradable analog TV's for very little or nothing! A good deal for an old school room of doom! Just keep your eyes peeled for such deals via the thrifts, Craigslist, classified ads, or your local Freecycle... www.freecycle.org

Problem with that ideology is a small converter box fixes the problem of a TV not accepting digital over-the-air signal. People would much rather drop less than $100.00 on a converter box than replace an entire set that is working fine honestly. Then again, it still amazes me that people use antennas for television and can get any decent reception - unless you're out in the middle of nowhere. Most will probably switch to the most basic cable services. If anything you'll see older pocket TV prices drop through the floor, which will be good for the custom built portables hobby.

[jb143]

Actually, this may actually be a boon to our hobby...

Consider this: Between now and 2009, people will be upgrading their televisions to accept the new digital signals, which means most of them will be getting rid of their otherwise functional non upgradable analog TV's for very little or nothing! A good deal for an old school room of doom! Just keep your eyes peeled for such deals via the thrifts, Craigslist, classified ads, or your local Freecycle... www.freecycle.org

I agree with this. I recently upgraded my little 21" TV to a 32"(I think). It barely fit in my entertainment center. What did it cost me? Nothing other than hauling it away from someones house that upgraded to a digital set. We already have basic cable so that doesn't matter much to us.

[Neil Koch]

Problem with that ideology is a small converter box fixes the problem of a TV not accepting digital over-the-air signal. People would much rather drop less than $100.00 on a converter box than replace an entire set that is working fine honestly.

I think you're discounting the stupidity of a lot of Americans. I'm sure there are tons of people out there seeing the commericals about the conversion and thinking "OMG! Now I need a HDTV!" and will be just getting rid of their existing TV.

[Pantechnicon]

If anything you'll see older pocket TV prices drop through the floor, which will be good for the custom built portables hobby.

I had this exact same thought last week. Come January 2009 I hope to go strutting out of Radio Shack with a crate full of $5 apiece Casio portable TV's under each arm. Spare parts for life!

Just for grins, I'm kicking around hosting a "Goodbye, Analog" party on Feb. 16, 2009. Everybody would bring over an old analog set and we'd turn them all on for the last time. It'd be a lot like a New Year's party except instead of watching Dick Clark's ball drop at midnight we'd watch all the signals turn to snow.

Invitation open to all DP'ers :drinking:

[Soviet Conscript]

I hadn't really thought about how they'd be removing the analog tuners, but I guess they will eventually. Lots of ways around it, though. I've got three options that I could use right now...

1. Computer w/ a tuner in it - may introduce too much lag, never tried it.
2. DVR w/ rf input and composite outs
3. HD tuner that can also tune analog

and I've always got the old VCR in the basement I could use in the same way. The thing is, TVs are really quite durable, and old ones will be plentiful and cheap for a very long time. Same is true of VCRs. I'm not too worried.

The best option would just be to get your system modified so it outputs composite or s-vid.


would that work? i though composite and s-video were analog signals. so if you had a TV with no analog tuner i'm assumeing it wouldn't have composite or s-video connections either..

[Iron Draggon]

it's not that both old and new TV's alike can't decode analog signals anymore after the switch, it's that nothing but static will appear on all the old analog channels if you try to tune into them, cause everything will be broadcast in digital... what you'll need a converter box for is if you want to receive digital signals through an external antenna... the box will convert the digital signals to analog signals that your old analog TV will be able to decode... but if you have cable, any necessary signal conversion will be done by your provider, thus eliminating the need for a converter box... so the only thing you need a new TV for is if you want to enjoy the higher resolution of the new digital signals... cause your old TV still won't be able to display a higher resolution...

now as for all your old games, here's where you need to be concerned... some new TV's don't support the lower resolutions of older game systems... they can still display them, but not in their native resolutions... so what happens is the display gets stretched out of proportion to fit the higher resolution screen, and the result will depend on the native resolution of your digital TV, as well as its aspect ratio... so if it's a widescreen TV, and you're playing a game that doesn't support widescreen aspect ratios on it, your game display is gonna look like an image captured in silly putty that's been stretched... and it's prolly gonna be either very blurry or very pixelated or both, even if it's not a widescreen TV, because of the lower resolution game display being adjusted to fill the screen of the higher resolution digital TV...

light gun games are also a concern, as they won't work with LCD or plasma displays... so if you have some light gun games that you want to continue to enjoy, you'll need to make sure that you get a digital TV with a CRT display... and the good news about that is, digital TV's with CRT displays are among the cheapest of all digital TV's... so you won't have to spend alot to get one... the bad news is, you'll need alot of space for it, cause you won't be able to get one of those really slim models that hangs on a wall real nice... those models use LCD or plasma displays, which don't support old light guns...

so what's the best thing that you can do to make sure that you can still enjoy all your old games for decades to come, while still enjoying the best display possible? well you should prolly stock up on any RGB monitor that you happen to find, and learn how to play all your old games in RGB... this is prolly gonna become the surest sign of a true hardcore retro gamer... and some may argue that it already is... if you've ever seen a game displayed in RGB, you'll understand why... this is the same display used in most arcade games... which is both good news and bad news... good news because old RGB monitors will be very plentiful to find, but bad news because most of them will have some burn-in from their days of service in arcade cabinets...

how to play games in RGB:

http://nfggames.com/atarilabs/meat/2000/1201_rgbprimer.shtml

[Pantechnicon]

would that work? i though composite and s-video were analog signals. so if you had a TV with no analog tuner i'm assumeing it wouldn't have composite or s-video connections either..

Yes it would work. As InsaneDavid pointed out, what's affected here by the new legislation are over-the-air analog broadcasts of television stations. Game consoles use the same signals but they do it 1) At a considerably lower signal strength and 2) through various cable connections, s-vid, composite, RF or whatever have you.

Even if the stations stop broadcasting analog, it's probably going to be a long time before we see the demise of s-video or even composite input jacks installed in modern and future televisions for the sake of backward compatibility with the millions of DVD players, DVR's etc. out there where these connectors are standard and none of this has anything to do with "broadcasting", per se.

As a classic gamer, the easiest thing you can do in preparation of the switch is to simply hold on to one or two old analog sets. Rest assured, barring extraneous mechanical problems, they will continue to work. I, for one, look forward to the idea of my Colecovision theoretically being the only thing broadcasting on channel 2 within a 10-mile radius or whatever come March 2009. The notion has a sort of "Omega Man" vibe to it.

[thetoxicone]

Just for grins, I'm kicking around hosting a "Goodbye, Analog" party on Feb. 16, 2009. Everybody would bring over an old analog set and we'd turn them all on for the last time. It'd be a lot like a New Year's party except instead of watching Dick Clark's ball drop at midnight we'd watch all the signals turn to snow.

Invitation open to all DP'ers :drinking:

I like that idea

[jb143]

Something that a lot of people don't realize, and those commercials don't advertise, is that many stations are exempt from this. It only applies to full power stations, not low power stations and translators. And there are a lot of them. Many high power network stations going to digital may still continue to use their analog translator stations(repeaters)

So analog won't be completely dead. There's several in the St. Louis area. You can check your area here...
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/dtvcoupon/LPTVmap.html

[TheDomesticInstitution]

I don't know if many of you know about this, but beginning of 2009, broadcast television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting on analog airwaves and begin broadcasting only in digital... this may mean that new TV sets won't be able to read the analog output from old consoles such as the Atari 2600 and so on... I'm been concerned about this and our hobby, what do the rest of you think ?...

Wait, what's "digital"?

After reading this thread, there is absolutely nothing my tech-y head can think of that hasn't been said so eloquently in the above posts. And I don't think any TV's in the foreseeable future will get rid of these connections... There are a dozen reasons why- and again, they've already been stated above.

[davidbrit2]

So, my wife and I picked up a DTV (ATSC) tuner last night. It's the Insignia NS-DXA1 from Best Buy. And I've got to say, if you're sticking to broadcast TV, don't wait until 2009 to pick one of these up! We're now getting better reception and more channels than before, using the same indoor antenna we've had all along. Unless you're in a very fringe area, or subject to ghosting/multipathing reception problems, you'll likely get a significant upgrade.

That being said, I really doubt analog inputs on TV sets will be going away any time soon. You'll still have composite and s-video jacks for years to come. And frankly I wouldn't be surprised to see sets equipped with both digital ATSC and analog NTSC tuners specifically for the purpose of supporting legacy equipment.

[Battlehork]

I think you're discounting the stupidity of a lot of Americans. I'm sure there are tons of people out there seeing the commericals about the conversion and thinking "OMG! Now I need a HDTV!" and will be just getting rid of their existing TV.

What would be great is if people who had GOOD CRT sets like 30"+ Sony Wegas use it as an excuse to get an HDTV.

What will probably actually happen is people will be asking for way too much money for 15 year old Magnavoxes that don't even have composite in.

[Greg2600]

My snafu with this is I have an old portable 5" screen television, which I use outside in the yard sometimes. In order to use it now, I'll have to plug in this dumb converter box!

[Trevelyan]

it's happening here in the UK too, I think its started/ended in some places already. I think big TV manufacturers will always include an analog input/output (whatever it is!) tbh, probably

[jb143]

My snafu with this is I have an old portable 5" screen television, which I use outside in the yard sometimes. In order to use it now, I'll have to plug in this dumb converter box!

You can see my responce up just a few posts...but there's a good chance your portable will still pick up some stations.

I'm wondering though, what the prices for Game Gear TV tuners will do...or have done already.

[davidbrit2]

Another possibility to ponder: will we start seeing 5" or handheld TVs with ATSC tuners built in? You could have an HDTV the size of an average vehicle GPS unit.

[MarioMania]

I'm just wondering can you hook up a Atari 2600 to a Digital Converter

[Greg2600]

I'm just wondering can you hook up a Atari 2600 to a Digital Converter
Good question. Actually, I can't imagine they will ditch the Analog part of the Coaxial receiver for quite a while.


You can see my responce up just a few posts...but there's a good chance your portable will still pick up some stations.

I'm wondering though, what the prices for Game Gear TV tuners will do...or have done already.
I'm in NJ, and the NY Broadcast stations are the biggest in the country. I doubt they are exempt.

[jb143]

I'm in NJ, and the NY Broadcast stations are the biggest in the country. I doubt they are exempt.

Search NJ and NY in the site above. I wouldn't doubt it if NY has the most low power stations in the nation. Low power stations are exempt. Like if ABC is on channel 3 but you pick it up on 30, chances are that 30 is a low power repeater transmitter that will more than likely work just fine after the conversion.

That's how I came across this. An artice on how a lot of people in New York City still use a simple antenna on their set picking up the low power broadcasts from the antennas that TV stations put on apartment buildings and the like.

[MarioMania]

On that site I don't see any main TV stations like ABC 7..so channel 7 in off feb 17

[jb143]

On that site I don't see any main TV stations like ABC 7..so channel 7 in off feb 17

But it wouldn't say ABC. it would say something like KLUK or whatever that towers call sign is. Of course, just because a station is exempt doesn't mean that they won't transition anyways. The point is, is that there will still be a lot of analog stations after the transition.

[MarioMania]

it's KGO-TV 7 in San Francisco...

What do you mean by alot of Analog Stations after the transition..I thought the goverment want no analog at all, I'm I missing something

[jb143]

I couldn't find the original article I read but here's a few sites I just ran across explaning it better than I've been doing...
http://www.ezdigitaltv.com/Low_Power_TV_Exemption.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23239547/
many-tv-stations-wont-make-the-digital-switch (http://www.usnews.com/blogs/daves-download/2007/12/24/many-tv-stations-wont-make-the-digital-switch.html)

It also looks like those stations filed a lawsuit because the digital convertor boxes filter out the analog signals.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24544756/

[MarioMania]

Analog going to still be here for 4 years until 2012 cutoff....


Like if ABC is on channel 3 but you pick it up on 30, chances are that 30 is a low power repeater transmitter that will more than likely work just fine after the conversion.

How can I get info about stations still broadcasting in analog in San Francisco...like KTVU 2, KPIX 5, KGO 7, KBCW 44, KQED 9..

[kedawa]

There's really no reason to ever play through RF anyway.
Any system that is outputting an RF signal is producing a composite video signal first.

[MarioMania]

very true

[MarioMania]

Analog going to still be here for 4 years until 2012 cutoff....



How can I get info about stations still broadcasting in analog in San Francisco...like KTVU 2, KPIX 5, KGO 7, KBCW 44, KQED 9..

What I mean is what channal would KGO be on if it's not in analog anymore, if it's not on Analog Ch. 7

[Greg2600]

What I mean is what channal would KGO be on if it's not in analog anymore, if it's not on Analog Ch. 7That depends. Obviously it would still be 7 on cable, or whatever the cable company wants it to be. Over the air, the digital signal is likely 7-1, with additional channels on their signal 7-2, 7-3, etc. Since you are still using an Analog television, with channels 2 through 125 usually, the converter box will have to make it 7. Not sure what the additional content channels would become though? Interesting question. Cable companies usually put them in the mid 200's. The content is useless though, at least in the NYC market. Just news and weather.

[dgdgagdae]

light gun games are also a concern, as they won't work with LCD or plasma displays... so if you have some light gun games that you want to continue to enjoy, you'll need to make sure that you get a digital TV with a CRT display... and the good news about that is, digital TV's with CRT displays are among the cheapest of all digital TV's... so you won't have to spend alot to get one... the bad news is, you'll need alot of space for it, cause you won't be able to get one of those really slim models that hangs on a wall real nice... those models use LCD or plasma displays, which don't support old light guns...

No!

I have an HD CRT (which are getting harder and harder to find), and it does not recognize light guns. You'd actually have to buy an SD CRT.

[j_factor]

No!

I have an HD CRT (which are getting harder and harder to find), and it does not recognize light guns. You'd actually have to buy an SD CRT.

Do SD CRT's still exist? I was looking for one a while back, and couldn't find anything.

[squirrelnut]

Do SD CRT's still exist? I was looking for one a while back, and couldn't find anything.

go to a thrift store, i found a trinitron with 2 coaxial imputs for like 30 bucks. a bit steep but hey trinitron and 2 coaxials

[Leo_A]

They're readily available in department stores and elsewhere that sell tvs.

[koster]

How can I get info about stations still broadcasting in analog in San Francisco...like KTVU 2, KPIX 5, KGO 7, KBCW 44, KQED 9..
FYI, AntennaWeb has an online application (http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.aspx) that provides television reception information based on location (U.S. addresses only).

[XYXZYZ]

I only have rabbit ears for a TV signal. I've watched TV maybe two or three times so far this year, so I won't be missing much. Actually the only time I ever turn on the TV is when the weather is acting fierce and I need to find out if I'm about to get killed by a tornado.

[Mimi Nakamura]

Wow! 2009 in America for the complete switch-over to digital. That's very soon!

Here in Tokyo the switch-over is proposed for 2012 (I think??). I already have the problem of not being able to play my famicom on my new TV. :-(
I think you can find a way around the problem by connecting old systems to a video recorder, and then using a SCART connection to the TV. At least I hope so!!
I hope I can find a cheap video recorder this weekend to try it out!

[j_factor]

They're readily available in department stores and elsewhere that sell tvs.

Every store that I've looked at only has HDTV's now.

[Greg2600]

Every store that I've looked at only has HDTV's now.

The government set a limit, where they could not manufacture or sell TV's larger than I think 19 or 21 inches (maybe 27) that did not have a digital receiver. I don't believe anybody makes a CRT with a digital receiver, so yes, the only ones you'll see in a store are at the least HD Ready. That means LCD, Plasma, and DLP. Isn't DLP supposed to work on old light guns, or no?

[Leo_A]

All crt's being sold the last few years have been digital ready. DLP's don't work with lightguns. Any crt your likely to find these days isn't going to be hd, the size advantages of other hd technology has mostly killed off hd crt's. Only sd crt's still have a market, since they're so cheap.

[MarioMania]

Every store now has HDTV's..but I saw a small SDTV at wal-mart

[Leo_A]

Of course, but most all places still have 13" models, often with built in DVD or VHS players, and 19-20" models, often Phillip's flatscreen CRT model. HD LCD's are starting to get near this price range, but these are the budget models most stores sell, and plenty of less tech savvy consumers still want their 4:3 crt's.

[TheDomesticInstitution]

That means LCD, Plasma, and DLP. Isn't DLP supposed to work on old light guns, or no?

No HDTV or HD Ready sets using any technology will work with a light gun- unless specified by the light gun manufacturer. That means: DLP, CRT(HD), LCD, LCOS, Plasma, LCD Projection, OLED, or any other new HDTV technology on the near horizon.

[retro junkie]

I just recently got my two goverment coupons for the $40.00 discount on the converter boxes. So the boxes only cost me $10 a piece. My local cable company has informed me that they will be supplying a digital signal into the homes on the changeover date instead of the analog signal. They will supply a box for rental to those who will need it. Sooner or later all of the cable companies will switch.

I have been experimenting with a small antenna to see what is on the air waves already. I was shocked to discover that I am getting a better signal over the small antenna than what my cable company is sending me. With over 15 channels in my local area, I am very tempted to drop my cable. The converter boxes are selling out fast in my area and are very hard to get a hold of. Any digital signal that you can pick up is perfect. No snow or fuzziness like analog. I think the local cable company is about to get some competition that they did not count on.

[Greg2600]

I just recently got my two goverment coupons for the $40.00 discount on the converter boxes. So the boxes only cost me $10 a piece. My local cable company has informed me that they will be supplying a digital signal into the homes on the changeover date instead of the analog signal. They will supply a box for rental to those who will need it. Sooner or later all of the cable companies will switch.

I have been experimenting with a small antenna to see what is on the air waves already. I was shocked to discover that I am getting a better signal over the small antenna than what my cable company is sending me. With over 15 channels in my local area, I am very tempted to drop my cable. The converter boxes are selling out fast in my area and are very hard to get a hold of. Any digital signal that you can pick up is perfect. No snow or fuzziness like analog. I think the local cable company is about to get some competition that they did not count on.

Who is your local cable company? If it's Comcast, they compress the signals in some areas, especially the HD over the air channels. You're also dealing with a direct digital signal from the antenna to the box, instead of the cable, which is coax through your house, and much of outside. This increases the interference in the analog or digital signal.

[retro junkie]

Who is your local cable company? If it's Comcast, they compress the signals in some areas, especially the HD over the air channels. You're also dealing with a direct digital signal from the antenna to the box, instead of the cable, which is coax through your house, and much of outside. This increases the interference in the analog or digital signal.

My cable provider is New Wave.

[otoko]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v17/otknot/shift_CRT_eulogy.jpg

[Sergeant Sega]

They cut the analog tv-feed in Norway too, in my region it was cut in may. But my cableprovider is still sending their feed both analog and digital, because they used a lot of money to build it up and refuses to shut it down. They've got a court date in 2009 where they will fight for the right to continue using their own system.

It's quite a nightmarish picture this, I had not thought about TV-sets loosing their analog input at all... I have a 32" Toshiba 1080P and a 26" Elfunk HD-Ready set, they are both new and should last me a while, but in the future if they remove the analog input it would be disasterous. Hopefully they won't do this since it can't cost that much to include.

[otoko]

Hopefully they won't do this since it can't cost that much to include.

Why would they include something that people don't need? If most people don't need it, then they can cut it out and take that to profit.

[Sergeant Sega]

Why would they include something that people don't need? If most people don't need it, then they can cut it out and take that to profit.

Sure, that is a possibility of course, also you always have TV-sets that have lots more inputs than others, and I think it will always be a selling point to have as much inputs as possible. I guess the future will tell us.

[MarioMania]

I have Direct TV...

Is the Local channels on Direct TV digital already...

[MarioMania]

When the U.S switch in Feb. 2009, Would the TV Tuner for the GG & the TV Tuner for the Turbo Express drop in price or would still be in demand (even know it's uesless for TV viewing)

[theChad]

When the U.S switch in Feb. 2009, Would the TV Tuner for the GG & the TV Tuner for the Turbo Express drop in price or would still be in demand (even know it's uesless for TV viewing)

I hadn't even thought about that, but now I want to get my GG Tuner ASAP. I don't think it would change the demand too much as there are definitely better ways of watching television and it's still the same item to collectors, but maybe more would appear in the market.

[MarioMania]

I'm getting the $40 coupon in the mail in a month...

I didn't know I would be approved..I should of got 2...

[MarioMania]

Is anyone going to Recored & put on youtube the final mins of analog TV

[otoko]

Probably.. Although I don't see that being anything special..

I'll admit though I'm going to watch it. Maybe.

[Pantechnicon]

Probably.. Although I don't see that being anything special..

I'll admit though I'm going to watch it. Maybe.

I'm tentatively planning a party, actually. Kind of like a New Year's Eve party with some Y2K dread mixed in (except I guess there's not anything to worry about). Everybody will bring one old analog set with them. We'll hook them all up, tune them all across the VHF and UHF bands, and watch `em turn to snow at midnight.

Only problems are that 1) I don't know enough people in real life nerdy enough to care about this. 2) February 17, 2009 is a Tuesday, meaning everybody will have to get up early and go to work the next day. So this "party" will probably be just me, a couple of beers, a box of Chicken In A Basket crackers and six to eight TV's, depending how many I feel like dragging out. :bday:

[jb143]

I'm tentatively planning a party, actually. Kind of like a New Year's Eve party with some Y2K dread mixed in (except I guess there's not anything to worry about). Everybody will bring one old analog set with them. We'll hook them all up, tune them all across the VHF and UHF bands, and watch `em turn to snow at midnight.

Only problems are that 1) I don't know enough people in real life nerdy enough to care about this. 2) February 17, 2009 is a Tuesday, meaning everybody will have to get up early and go to work the next day. So this "party" will probably be just me, a couple of beers, a box of Chicken In A Basket crackers and six to eight TV's, depending how many I feel like dragging out. :bday:

I pointed this out in another thread (It might have this one actually)...but if you tune all across the VHF and UHF bands then all the channels won't go out. Only the high power ones. Chances are, a lot of the religious, home shopping, and other local low power/all day Bonanza broadcasting channels may still be working(though they may be static on midnights anyways) You might even get a repeater tower or 2 transmitting a Network station.

But anyways, any chance to have a party is as good as the next and most channels will go out so have a blast.

[SegaAges]

I'm tentatively planning a party, actually. Kind of like a New Year's Eve party with some Y2K dread mixed in (except I guess there's not anything to worry about). Everybody will bring one old analog set with them. We'll hook them all up, tune them all across the VHF and UHF bands, and watch `em turn to snow at midnight.

Only problems are that 1) I don't know enough people in real life nerdy enough to care about this. 2) February 17, 2009 is a Tuesday, meaning everybody will have to get up early and go to work the next day. So this "party" will probably be just me, a couple of beers, a box of Chicken In A Basket crackers and six to eight TV's, depending how many I feel like dragging out. :bday:


Well, where do you live?

I can come party with you if you are close enough.

[Pantechnicon]

Well, where do you live?

I can come party with you if you are close enough.

Albuquerque, New Mexico is a little out of your way, I think. Last time I drove from here to Omaha it was about a 15-hour haul. I assume you know what I-80 is like in February so unless you want to fly out of Eppley I don't see it happening.

Hey, on a slight tangent: Do you ever buy anything at Dragon's Lair Comics on Blondo Street? Please PM me if you do. Thanks.

[otoko]

Hmm, yea.. I hope I'm home for the event. I'll drag out as many televisions as I can hook up (four) two UHF and two VHF..

Bah Humbug I rather dislike the annoying box that I must connect to my television.

[MarioMania]

How would Stations like ABC 7 sign off..would they tell us or just shut off at 12 am

[theChad]

Is that a station that only broadcasts over the air? If not, they probably won't say much of anything about it.

[MarioMania]

It's broadcasting in both analog & digital..it might just shut off on Analog 7

[MarioMania]

I live in a part of Vallejo that is not good with Good Over the Air TV Signals

I tryed this http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/Stations.aspx

it has KGO-DT 7.1 Frequency Assignment 24

[MachineGex]

I have a question. Does anyone know of a good HD antenna? I have tried a few cheaper ones and they dont seem to help. I get all the local HD channels except CBS. It rarely comes in. The best luck I had is when I was testing out a 7800 system, I finally got a nice reception. Once I moved the 7800 around, the picture dropped and I had a hard time getting it back. It came in only about 50% of the time with the 7800 hooked up, but it kept dropping the picture every 10 seconds. It was unwatchable. Without the 7800, I hardly ever get reception. I bought a cheap antenna at walmart, but it barely helped. I still dont get CBS.

I guess I need an outside HD antenna. Anyone have any luck with antennas. I tried an outside RCA brand(about $50) from Lowes, but it was terrible. The cheaper indoor antenna was actually better.

Any good outside(or really good inside) HD antennas? The ones at Walmart and Lowes suck. My TV gets about the same picture without any of them.
Thanks and sorry about Hijacking the topic.

[otoko]

I dunno. My family never got channel 2 (I think that's CBS where I live...) I think we only got it once so that's why I'm not really sure what it is... BUT ANYWAY as soon as I hooked up that stupid box I got it extremely clear... err heh... *ramble ramble ramble*

[Cornelius]

I guess I need an outside HD antenna. Anyone have any luck with antennas. I tried an outside RCA brand(about $50) from Lowes, but it was terrible. The cheaper indoor antenna was actually better.

Any good outside(or really good inside) HD antennas? The ones at Walmart and Lowes suck. My TV gets about the same picture without any of them.
Thanks and sorry about Hijacking the topic.

First off, there really isn't any such thing as an "HD" antenna for anything other than marketing purposes. They are just UHF, like back in the 'olden days'. Here is the antenna you want: channel master 4221 (http://www.amazon.com/Channel-Master-Mid-range-outdoor-rooftop/dp/B000FVTPX2). I read on a bunch of HD forums as well as a couple of those sites that tell you where to point your antenna, and this or its big brother were kind of the "gold standard". I'd used indoor ones with decent success, but had to adjust it manually sometimes. I put the 4221 up in the attic and bam, everything comes in great. If you want to try an indoor one, I had the best luck with this Terk (http://www.amazon.com/Terk-Technology-HDTVi-Indoor-Antenna/dp/B0001FV36E/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1222380109&sr=1-2), though they have an amped one that might work better in some situations.

[MarioMania]

I guess I need a better one...I bought mine at Wal-mart for like $9, I guess it won't work

[otoko]

I guess I need a better one...I bought mine at Wal-mart for like $9, I guess it won't work

unfortunately they never do... at that price at least :|

[TheDomesticInstitution]

I guess I need a better one...I bought mine at Wal-mart for like $9, I guess it won't work

It's not that it won't work, it just won't work well. I've twisted the end of speaker wire before and inserted it into the coaxial connection on an HDTV, and it picked up an HD channel. But again, it all depends on where you live.

Wait... why is this in classic gaming anyway?

[otoko]

Wait... why is this in classic gaming anyway?

It's just THAT special.