Nope, if you have digital cable, you should have two versions of your broadcast/local stations (NBC, CBS, etc) an older looking channel and a fancy HD version of the channel. When the they stop broadcasting in analog, you won't be able to receive a signal over the older versions of the channel, just the HD ones, which are being broadcast in digital.

 

THANK YOU.   I work for a cable company and we have been trying to explain this to people for years, but I guess most just don't know the difference between digital and High- Def.

 

Funny, All the old people I know understand perfectly what is happening and what to do.

 

Yes, and it only affects people using rabbit ears or similar over-the-air antennae.

 

NOT. TRUE. People who receive analog signals from cable providers will not be affected. It only affects over the air signals.

Sheesh. And people wonder how misinformation gets spread...

 

Well, the funds for the converter boxes are coming from the receipts collected (or to be collected) during the 700MHz auction. I seem to recall companies (particularly Verizon and AT&T) paying close to $20 billion for use of that part of the spectrum.

The most irritating part in my mind is that with the introduction of the $40 government coupons, the price of these converter boxes conveniently went up to coincide with the subsidy. I picked one up for free by using the coupon, but I highly doubt that the box is worth anywhere near the $40 coupon it required to purchase.

 

I'll find out what the converter boxes are REALLY worth when I put them on eBay after the switch.

 

I just found out at work that the motion was denied, so I guess we'll see what happens.

 

ok. for some reason i know not what of i am confuse.

i have cox digital cable. am i good to go?

i simple yes or no and punch in the face will suffice.

 

The digital here sucks, where is my reimbersement card for the fact i now need a high powered antenna? Alot of ppl around this area near me have lost channels, its annoying to be watching Family Guy and just as they get to a joke or flashback i get pixels or nothing and the audio is like "eh... uh .......mar ...su ....bah" followed by "giggity goo" or "hahahaha" but it is Family Guy so maybe that was the joke and i just didnt get it.....

 

Yes. Good to go.  

 

Simply put, House defeated it, digital conversion still set for 2/17/09. Mass panic, confusion, rioting in the streets, and complete and utter anarchy begins Feb. 17th and it will not be because of SFIV's release either.

 

It's been answered earlier in the thread, but you really only need a converter box if you have an analog television set and only use an antenna for over-the-air reception of broadcast stations. If you pay for cable or satellite, you don't need a converter. Also, if your television has a built-in digital tuner, you don't need a converter.

EDIT: Beaten by fosterlager's succinctness.

 

okay, my mistake for the HD/Digital confusion. I think that my local cable provider or a tv station made the same mistake. it seems an assumption that if you go digital, why not upgrade to HD in the process.

About the Digital OTA signals, i had seen news reports here that they are worse than the old Analog in that it is Line of Sight; either you get the signal or you don't.
guess that is good knowing you won't get Andy Griffith in Fuzzy Picture Mode anymore (ah, the old days are soon forgotten.)

My cable service sucks bad, too. I get pixelated images, or stuttering images (stop, fast forward, the sound catches up) and tons of bad color or picture.
i thought Dr. Cox was bleeding to death one night with the sudden appearance of red.

i want the transition to be finished so i know what to complain about. lol.

 

You really need a powered antenna. My sister lost a lot of channels when they did the digital test. I looked around online and saw that a powered antenna helped a lot, got her one and she had all teh channles when they did another test.

 

Well, pardon me for trying to be helpful and explain it how it was explained to me.

May I have your name and address so I can send you a check? I'd like to take your seminar on "How to be Perfect."  

 

I'm not perfect. I just don't explain things in detail to people that I know nothing about. I'm sure there's a seminar out there for that if you look hard enough.

 

It's always more helpful to know what the hell you're talking about before you relay it on to someone else.

 

It's nice how in Canada that the cable companies took care of this from THEIR end without having to bother any consumer. Thanks Canadian Cable Companies!

 

No. The cable companies in the U.S. have "taken care" of this as well. If you pay for cable or satellite, then you don't need a converter box. The absolutely only reason you would need a converter (as repeated several times inside this very thread) is if you have an analog set and use an antenna to receive broadcast stations.