[Electronics-talk] Digital TV Transition

David Andrews dandrews at visi.com
Sun Feb 1 05:17:18 UTC 2009


Actually, one of the dirty little digital TV secrets, that 
broadcasters have known for years, is that reception in highly urban 
areas isn't that great.  There can be dead areas, buildings can block 
the signal etc.  As you say, if the signal strength is to low, you 
get nothing.  On the good side, if you have enough of a signal you 
have a perfect picture etc., anyone who gets a strong enough signal 
for the equipment to lock on to, has the same high quality signal.

Dave

At 12:59 PM 1/31/2009, you wrote:

>Based on the experience I just had attempting to install  a digital 
>TV converter box, don't expect to see radios with built-in DTV 
>tuners any time soon.  I purchased a Digital Stream DTX9950 box at 
>my local Radio Shack to use with my small portable kitchen TV, and 
>needed lots of sighted assistance to set it up.  The online version 
>of the instruction manual was in PDF format that Adobe Reader was 
>unable to translate because of a plethora of graphics,  and 
>therefore was totally inaccessible.  However, once connected to the 
>TV, the box  was unable to provide consistent reception on any of my 
>local VHF channels using a hefty indoor antenna.  I live in 
>Manhattan, not in the boondocks, so proximity to the transmitters 
>atop the Empire State Building is not an issue.  Unlike analog TV 
>channels, which still remain audible even when weak, digital 
>channels drop out completely if the signal is too weak.  So you get 
>no picture or sound at all.  At least with analog TV's, you can 
>still hear the channel even with a weak signal.  Because of this 
>"all or nothing" phenomenon, it will be impossible to produce a 
>usable portable radio with a built-in DTV tuner until the technology 
>drastically improves.  For those of you who do not yet have cable or 
>satellite TV, be forewarned that even if you purchase a DTV 
>converter box or full-fledged digital TV, there is no guarantee that 
>it will work with an indoor antenna. If you live in an apartment 
>building, your landlord may not permit the installation of a rooftop 
>antenna.  Cable and satellite TV is not cheap. Here in New York 
>City, basic cable rates start at about $60 per month.  If you sign 
>up for one of the teaser double- or triple-play packages, you will 
>be hit with a huge rate increase after the first year.  You could 
>wind up spending over $150 per month when the introductory offer 
>period expires.  So as I said previously, the digital TV transition 
>will likely have a very disruptive impact on many disabled and blind consumers.
>
>Gerald
>----- Original Message ----- From: "Steve Jacobson" <steve.jacobson at visi.com>
>To: "Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances" 
><electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
>Sent: Saturday, January 31, 2009 11:22 AM
>Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] Digital TV Transition
>
>
>>And how will this change by June?  I wish it would, though.  I 
>>wonder if anyone will have a portable digital TV Radio at
>>some point, or if any of these converters are small, can be 
>>operated from batteries, with audio outputs?  ?
>>
>>On Sat, 31 Jan 2009 07:00:31 -0500, Gerald Levy wrote:
>>
>>
>>>And the 70% of blind people who are unemployed is no big deal either. After
>>>all, most of them already have cable TV, talking computers, GPS navigation
>>>gizmos and all manner of assistive technology, so they really don't need
>>>jobs to support this comfortable life style anyway.
>>
>>>Gerald
>>>----- Original Message ----- From: "David Andrews" <dandrews at visi.com>
>>>To: "Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances"
>>><electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>>Sent: Friday, January 30, 2009 11:51 PM
>>>Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] Digital TV Transition
>>
>>
>>>>Actually, it has been announced for years and I also have no sympathy.
>>>>Broadcasters have big money involved, tower climbers set up months ago,
>>>>antenna switches etc.  It can also cost $20,000 in electricity each month
>>>>to run an analog TV transmitter.  It is also my understanding that one of
>>>>the phone companies has a multimillion dollar advertising campaign set to
>>>>launch the day after cutoff to advertise its new services in vacated TV
>>>>space.  Phone companies and others have paid billions for the spectrum and
>>>>they should be able to use it when they were told they could.
>>>>
>>>>Dave
>>>>
>>>>p.s.  eighty-five percent of the country's population gets its TV via
>>>>cable or satellite.  The 15 percent is not huge, and also second or third
>>>>TV's in a household.
>>>>
>>>>DA
>>>>
>>>>At 03:57 AM 1/30/2009, you wrote:
>>>>>The senate passed the delay; but, the house did not. I wish y'all would
>>>>>get y'all's facts straight.  As for the proposed delay, I have no sympathy
>>>>>for those who want it.  It's been announced for months, and, people have
>>>>>had more than ample time to prepair.  IF anyone is not ready now, well,
>>>>>too bad.  That's what they get for waiting till the last minute.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Sincerely,
>>>>>
>>>>>The Constantly BAREFOOTED Ray
>>>>>
>>>>>"Old friend, what are you looking for?  After those many years abroad you
>>>>>come With images you tended Under foreign skies Far away from your own
>>>>>land"
>>>>>
>>>>>George Seferis
>>>>>
>>>>>Phone or Fax::
>>>>>
>>>>>+1 (985) 360-3375
>>>>>
>>>>>e-mail:
>>>>>
>>>>>rforetjratcomcastdotnet
>>>>>
>>>>>Skype Name:
>>>>>
>>>>>barefootedray
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Tom Lange wrote:
>>>>>>Hi,
>>>>>>Charlie writes:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Well, good news, they delayed the mandate by four months.
>>>>>>Really?  I thought I'd heard on the radio the other night that the
>>>>>>proposed four-month delay wasn't going to happen. I hope the transition
>>>>>>is delayed so that accessibility issues can be addressed and resolved.
>>>>>>Tom
>>>>>>
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