The DTV transition has finally passed, and whaddaya know, the world’s still standing. The FCC did receive a record 317,450 calls on June 12, 2009 when 971 TV stations (195 markets) went all-digital. According to the FCC (pdf), there were 700,000 calls handled between June 8-12. Nearly 30 percent dealt with operation of digital converter boxes, while more than 20 percent dealt with reception issues. The National Association of Broadcasters… View this story
Displays • Digital TV Transition • Info and Answers

When analog goes dark on June 12, 2009, will it be as anticlimactic as Y2k or will weird stuff happen? Will antenna sales and installations surge, as Zip Express expects? Will people cancel cable and satellite subscriptions en masse? About 58% of consumers say they would likely drop their service if they could get free over-the-air HDTV. Will some 2.8 million unprepared consumers flock to A/V retailers to buy new… View this story
Displays • Digital TV Transition • Info and Answers

Is your TV ready for the digital transition tomorrow? You can do the generic DTV transition research, but several manufacturers make it a lot easier to determine if your TV is good to go—just enter the model number. Here is the quick reference guide. Read below for additional information and a ranking for user-friendliness. JVC Mitsubishi RCA Sony Toshiba 1. Mitsubishi Mitsubishi makes it as painless as possible to determine… View this story
Displays • Digital TV Transition

Tomorrow, June 12 is essentially the second analog to DTV transition deadline because President Obama signed a bill to delay the original Feb. 17 deadline. With a four-month extension, let’s see what formulas electronics outlets came up with to capitalize on the built-in consumer demand for TV upgrades and knowledge. After all, there are still 2.8 million homes unprepared for the switch. Following are tactics that some electronics outlets are… View this story
Displays • Set Top Boxes • Digital TV Transition • Info and Answers

So you’re up to speed on the Digital TV transition set to take place at midnight on June 12, 2009, right? (If not, read “Everything You Need to Know About the Digital TV Transition.”) If so, you know that the only people that are going to have to take action before the transition are those who are currently watching free, over-the-air broadcasts of TV on an analog TV. Those folks… View this story
Displays • Set Top Boxes • Digital TV Transition • How To • Home Theater • Info and Answers • Research

One day soon, TV as we know it will enter a new era: the digital era. While many stations have been broadcasting in digital for the last few years, at midnight on June 12, 2009, analog signals will be turned off completely, and only digital broadcasts will be delivered to your TV set. Say goodbye to the analog era of snow and static. You will have no other option as… View this story
Displays • Set Top Boxes • Digital TV Transition • Home Theater • Info and Answers

What is analog television? Analog television is the traditional method of transmitting TV signals. Since the inception of television, analog transmission has been the standard broadcast technology. Radio Frequency (RF) waves are used to transmit and display pictures and sound, however, this traditional method of broadcasting is less efficient because analog signals are susceptible to interference and “snow,” degrading picture and sound quality. Once the DTV transition is completed, those… View this story
Displays • Set Top Boxes • Digital TV Transition • Home Theater • Info and Answers

Which local TV stations have the best HD signals? Which ones can you receive at your home? From which direction do the individual stations’ HD signals come? Where should I set up my HD antenna? All these questions can be answered by going to the FCC’s comprehensive DTV Mapping Tool on its Web site. It’s there to assist you in properly finding your HD signal strength and it’s an amazing… View this story
Antenna • Digital TV Transition • How To • Info and Answers

Want to toss out that old CRT TV—or any other old electronics—but you don’t know how? Yep, in some states it’s illegal to toss those old TVs in the landfill. They contain lead and other toxins that can leach into groundwater. Some states have laws that mandate that manufacturers take responsibility for recycling (or e-cycling) old TVs and other electronics. Massachusetts is considering one this week. Eighteen states and New… View this story
Displays • CRT • Flat Panel • Digital TV Transition • Green Technology • Info and Answers

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) says 82 percent of American households relying on antennas to watch TV are fully prepared for the DTV transition. Apparently delaying the transition four months from Feb. 17 to June 12 has helped consumers. Only 2.1 million (11 percent) OTA (over-the-air) households haven’t taken action to prepare, according to the survey. The delay has also helped integrators. The FCC decided to pay integrators to… View this story
Displays • Miscellaneous • Digital TV Transition