Have these people been under a rock?

by Coryphaeus Jun 23, 2009 10:25PM PDT

I work at Home Depot. Yesterday this couple came up to me and asked if we sold digital antennas. My ears perked up (as a note, here in Irving, TX we are about 12 miles from all TV transmitter towers). I told them that they did not need a "digital" antenna. Trust me I said. I then asked them if they had their converter boxes. They both looked at me and said no. I asked them if they had their 40 dollar coupon from the government to go toward the cost of the converter. They said no. I'm thinking geez!! The guy asked me of we sold the boxes. I said no but Wal-Mart has one for 49 bucks.

I asked them if they could get on line. They said yes and I told them to go to the .gov site and get their coupon or just go to Wal-Mart for their box.

Major procrastinators!!

Discussion is locked

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Under a rock, YES! Must be nationwide.

by NM_Bill Jun 24, 2009 12:47AM PDT

Local newspapers wrote that government phone inquiries were huge in quantity indicating that after all the ruckus - 15% of folks were unprepared.

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On a rock!

by r. proffitt Former Forum moderator Jun 24, 2009 12:52AM PDT

A friend of mine spent his weekend visiting his family members to press the SCAN buttons on remote controls, TVs and more.

My dad bought a new HDTV and a local station had a 50 buck coupon that helped. Guess what station doesn't come in? (yup.)

Seems they had the engineers "working on it."
Bob

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They

by samkh Jun 24, 2009 12:53AM PDT

planned on buying the 63" plasma HDTV and wants the best PQ without wasting money on cable or satellite

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ROTFL

by Pepe7 Jun 24, 2009 1:56AM PDT

If you think about it though, this just means society is somewhat balanced. Think about it- if everyone you met in life was some sort of technology/gizmo enthusiast, wouldn't life be a bit boring? I mean, who could we show off to at that point? (You single guys would never have the cute girl at the pool invite you in to fix her HDTV/PC.)

-Pedro

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(NT) You got that right...I certainly wouldn't, hehe.

by ahtoi Jun 24, 2009 4:19AM PDT

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Have you heard this one?

by r. proffitt Former Forum moderator Jun 24, 2009 5:31AM PDT

"I have dialup, so that means I have HDTV?"

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HDDT

by Coryphaeus Jun 24, 2009 8:23AM PDT

High Def Dial Tone

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What about the broadcasters

by gabereyes Jun 24, 2009 1:57PM PDT

I heard on the news that around 10% of the broadcast stations didnt, or forgot to turn on the digital broadcast.

wow some one there needs to find a new job.

And on the consumer side, I work for a company that does HT installs and the FCC is paying us to hookup converter boxes free for people that need it, and every house I go to is the same story, they have already hooked up the box, but they cant get channel 1, 3, etc. with their indoor antenna, so I tell them that they need a better antenna outside the home to pick it up, and I get the same response ( I got that channel before why can't I get it now.) I think the media needs to talk about common Q and A with the new broadcast system, so everyone can get up to speed.

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Painful transition period

by samkh Jun 25, 2009 12:57AM PDT

"I heard on the news that around 10% of the broadcast stations didnt, or forgot to turn on the digital broadcast" gives practical meaning to the term 'asleep at the switch'. They didn't want it to become obsolete.

For the next 6 months, as broadcasters adjust their DTV antenna placements and power output, consumers who are unwilling to shell out for an outdoor antenna or won't tolerate one can temporarily subscribe to cable (not easy for everyone to stomach) or watch their games at bars or their soaps at community activity centers. Anyhow, all amounts to more economic stimulus.

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Those may have been...

by Pepe7 Jun 25, 2009 1:06AM PDT

...exemptions to the rule, or, in certain markets where there wasn't as much incentive to make the jump that day for whatever reason. Also, the FCC may only be able to levy steep fines under certain circumstances based on the whole general fiasco of the DTV transition. You are correct that the real bread and butter issues have not been handled very well- esp. about the importance of antennas/placement to receive channels properly in many cases. DTV certainly does not necessarily mean 'better' TV for many folks .

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Major broadcasters changing transmitter sites

by mjd420nova Jun 27, 2009 2:25AM PDT

Many of the major broadcasters in the large metro areas are taking this opportunity to upgrade their primary transmitters to new digital equipment to handle the multiple channels they can now broadcast. As a result, many people don't have their antennas pointed in the right direction to pick up the signals from their secondary locations. Eventually they will switch back to the original sites but it leaves some users wondering what happened to their favorite stations. Those with rabbit ears are finding problems getting a signal of decent quality as these alternate transmitters are farther away and at a reduced power. Never fear, things will return to normal by the end of July for most broadcasters.

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New box

by mwooge Jun 27, 2009 11:30AM PDT

I had to get a converter box at the last minute. Cox said all the channels we were getting would still come down the cable as analog, same as always. They forgot to mention there was -one- exception: Iowa Public TV, which has five of my favorite shows.

Spent hours figuring out the problem and fixing it.

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cox cable?

by Pepe7 Jun 28, 2009 6:30AM PDT

Why would you need a converter box if you have a cable subscription? Or do you mean new set top cable box?

-Pedro

Have these people been under a rock?

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