[Electronics-talk] Digital TV Transition

Sat Jan 31 18:59:05 UTC 2009

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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>>>>
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>>>
>>>
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