Chris Pirillo » dtv

DTV Transition Postponed Again!

Chris — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 03:52:36 +0000

DTV Transition Postponed Again! is a post from Chris Pirillo

As I mentioned on Twitter a few hours ago: Congress Changes DTV ‘Hard’ Date to June 12. Is pushing this back AGAIN right or wrong? The transition is seemingly long overdue. Upgrade, people!

I ordered my DTV converter box coupons as soon as I heard the government was handing them out (and yes, I still own a couple of analog sets). How you could miss the announcements for vouchers last year is beyond me – just about every local station had a scrolling ticker WARNING people that they wouldn’t be able to view anything unless they had a converter box come January.

Some of you responded to this question on Twitter:

creamers: agreed

about 4 minutes ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 03:19:22 +0000 2009

katarina1505: From what I’ve read it’s passed through Congress, and Obama is expected to sign it.

about 6 minutes ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 03:17:29 +0000 2009

KKPsi1919: Wrong because people had a year to get ready.

about 16 minutes ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 03:07:49 +0000 2009

marsacademy: I really don’t see the point of the delay. People either get it, or they won’t until the change is made

about 16 minutes ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 03:07:46 +0000 2009

therealdede: I know right? I grew up on bunny ears. Ughhh so annoying

about 17 minutes ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 03:06:29 +0000 2009

therealdede: wrong. Your state has that too niiice

about 45 minutes ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:38:39 +0000 2009

CourVO: no matter WHEN they do it….some people won’t be prepared

about 48 minutes ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:35:34 +0000 2009

Wallace_Reid: obviously, you don’t live in the sticks.

about 51 minutes ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:32:39 +0000 2009

muckdog: The quickest way to get those who haven’t coverted to convert is to pull the plug.

about an hour ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:18:25 +0000 2009

wolrah: agreed. delaying doesn’t help anything, same number of idiots will complain then as now.

about an hour ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:17:58 +0000 2009

thesolutions: it’s true that many need to upgrade but so many haven’t

about an hour ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:17:58 +0000 2009

PhilMan9045: I agree with you. If they’re not ready than making the switch will tell them they need to upgrade.

about an hour ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:16:04 +0000 2009

powerbook_pete: If people aren’t ready now, they won’t be ready in four months.

about an hour ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:15:43 +0000 2009

dailyclerk: the issue is that not everyone can afford the boxes and there are foreign channels that won’t deliver digital. Oye

about an hour ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:14:51 +0000 2009

Condawg: Did that pass? I heard that it got rejected.

about an hour ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:11:30 +0000 2009

Kathy_L: I think this DTV BS is just so people have to start paying for TV. The ones who will lose out are the working poor.

about an hour ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:11:25 +0000 2009

mattsnod: Please just rip that DTV transition Band-Aid off already, government. That’s why it’s called a deadline.

about an hour ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:11:20 +0000 2009

lisalee: I’ve long since been digital but, for some folks, upgrading is costly or complicated. Heck, I’m still rocking the VHS!! ;-D

about an hour ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:11:06 +0000 2009

GroudyRadio: No matter how long they delay, there will always be people who are not ready. just make the switch already!

about an hour ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:10:55 +0000 2009

Twirrim: instead of a cut off date you’ll get a staggered mess

about an hour ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:09:47 +0000 2009

kevin_weiner: It was a stupid move to delay the DTV deadline! They should just give it over with already!

about an hour ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:09:37 +0000 2009

Twirrim: wrong, implemented in such a way that some stations can / will change early to reduce cost.

about an hour ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:09:36 +0000 2009

brandon_wirtz: But what if there was an alien invasion and the ladies in the Nursing home couldn’t get the news on their B&W Set?

about an hour ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:09:25 +0000 2009

docrock: They have been moving the date for like five plus years… people just need to get with the picture… no pun intended.

about an hour ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:09:06 +0000 2009

LostInInaka: well we have until 2011 I think in Northern Japan…but its been rolling out from the south since 2008….I think (don’t q …

about an hour ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:09:03 +0000 2009

jimlavin: Should have done it two years ago with the networks. But NO! We have to hold everyone’s hand and make sure they get converted.

about an hour ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:09:01 +0000 2009

jelloboi: Wrong! Folks have had 4 yrs since announced, 2 years since commercials, 1yr since coupons. Lazy folks won’t be ready in 4mos

about an hour ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:08:32 +0000 2009

tvamy: yes but stations get to make their own call so it will be a huge confusing mess

about an hour ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:08:17 +0000 2009

jthermane24: wrong the gov’t is just creating more confusion. U or me understand it but what about the Mexican who cant speak english

about an hour ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:07:59 +0000 2009

KellyShibari: Obama’s thinking about the little people and I don’t mean midgets. Some ppl don’t have $40-wait, there’s a coupon. Never mind.

about an hour ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:07:37 +0000 2009

kriskarkoski: I was hoping the government would have the balls to stick with the date and force people to move. Just delaying the inevitable

about an hour ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:07:06 +0000 2009

geekgiant: Local station KOMO is petitioning to keep with the original date. I agree. Upgrade people!

about an hour ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:06:59 +0000 2009

gurubrandon: Wooo.. that’s my birthday!

about an hour ago

Twitter

Thu Feb 05 02:06:47 +0000 2009

Just tell me that you’ve already secured your converter box (if you still need one)?

Do You Have Your Free DTV Converter?

Chris — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 08:17:28 +0000

Do You Have Your Free DTV Converter? is a post from Chris Pirillo

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As of February 17th, 2009, you will have to have a DTV Converter if you have a television that has rabbit ears on it. However, if you head over to DTV Transition, you’ll be able to get a lot more information.

the era of analog broadcast television in the United States will end as the nation’s full power* television stations complete their transition to an all-digital system. While this change will mark the end of the traditional analog method of broadcasting over-the-air television, it won’t signal the end of free broadcast television, and your favorite broadcast programs and local television stations will still be available.
If you currently receive analog television over the air or via an antenna, you’ll need to take action to continue watching your favorite stations. TVs accessing “pay” television service such as cable or satellite aren’t likely to be affected by the switch.

The good news is that if you head over to the DTV Transition website and fill out a form, you’ll receive a coupon for a DTV Converter absolutely free. You may as well not spend your money if you don’t have to, right? I personally ordered two of them, and ended up paying about $20 each. I then used the coupon to send to my parents, so they’ll be able to get one, as well. Details for the program:

A digital-to-analog converter box receives digital over-the-air signals from your antenna, converts them to analog and sends the signal to your existing analog television set. These boxes, which are expected to cost between $50 – 70 will be available for purchase in 2008. Beginning on January 1, 2008, U.S. households can request up to two coupons valued at $40 each. Each coupon can go toward the purchase of a single set-top converter box that will allow you to continue watching FREE over-the-air television on an analog set.

If you have an older television that still works, you should definitely get yourself equipped with the Converter before you need it. Thanks to this coupon program, you won’t have to spend much money… if any at all.

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26, 32, 37, 40, 42, 50… HDTV hike!

Chris — Fri, 18 May 2007 10:15:53 +0000

26, 32, 37, 40, 42, 50… HDTV hike! is a post from Chris Pirillo

Christie West sent me an email earlier, with really smart links pertaining to HDTV, and how the world is preparing itself for the eventual demise of standard televisions.

From the National Telecommunications and Information Administration:

Households using analog televisions will not be able to receive digital broadcasts after February 17, 2009, unless the analog television is connected to a box that converts the digital signal to an analog format, or the analog television is connected to cable or satellite service. While converters may be important to connect some TVs, other viewers may not need or want converters, such as those who have digital televisions or pay TV service.

From DTV Answers :

DTV is a more flexible and efficient technology than the current analog system. The switch to digital broadcasting will enable television stations to offer dramatically clearer pictures, better sound quality and more programming choices. Under legislation passed by Congress – the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 – over-the-air broadcast television stations are required to turn off their analog channels on February 17, 2009, and continue broadcasting exclusively in the digital format.

From DTVTransition.org:

On February 28th 2007 the Digital Television Transition Coalition began fulfilling its mission to inform consumers of the February 17, 2009 switch from analog to digital television broadcasting. The coalition is comprised of business, trade and industry groups as well as grass roots and membership organizations that share an interest in a smooth transition. The core mission of the Digital Television Transition Coalition is to ensure no consumer is left without broadcast television due to a lack of information about the transition.

Guess I’m glad I’ve already made the HDTV leap. The only tube we have in this place is the one sitting in our exercise room, and the only reason it’s there is because it has a built-in VHS player (VCR, for those of you who can’t remember what VHS tapes needed for playback). I can’t even remember the last time I… hey, do y’all remember tape rewinders?

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chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 06:30:00 GMT

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VMware and Parallels for Virtual Machines

chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:30:00 GMT

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chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 07:56:13 GMT

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