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We thought that our readers would be interested to know the 'what the's', the 'how's the's',  'when's the's' and 'where's the's' of the 'DIGITAL TRANSITION'. 

 

Well, once again 'CONGRESS' along with the 'FCC', came up with another great idea for the American consumer by passing another law that requires 'ALL BROADCAST TELEVISION STATIONS' (with the exception of a few: i.e. 'low power stations that no one watches anyway'),  to convert from analog to all 'DIGITAL' by February 17th, 2009 in order to free up 'ANALOG' broadcasts for emergency personnel. We are all for freeing up all the analog stations for emergencies...we have a lot of emergencies around here at our office.

 

There are just a few things that 'CONGRESS and the 'FCC' neglected to tell us would happen when the wonderful world of 'DIGITAL TV BROADCASTING' begins. As you know, or should know, you are required to have a 'DIGITAL CONVERTER BOX' unless you have a newer television, subscribe to a cable company or subscribe to a satellite company, otherwise your 'OLD ANALOG TV' won't work. The few million or so in this country that don't have at least a 'CONVERTER BOX' and who are just plain poor, elderly or on a fixed income, SHAME ON YOU! "CONGRESS' and the 'FCC' knows that you can afford it! You just don't want to subscribe to a long term commitment for years at a time for tons of money, and that's your problem! However, 'CONGRESS and the 'FCC' will give you a $40.00 coupon for a 'DIGITAL CONVERTER BOX' if you apply for one (two are allowed per household), and the coupon takes around 6 weeks to even get one and also expire within 90 days.

 

We suggest that you immediately check the website sponsored by the 'FCC' AND THE 'US DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE' to find out how many, if any coupons are still available as the demand has been so high. Here is the web site link http://www.dtv2009.gov which states you MUST ORDER YOUR COUPONS BY DECEMBER 31ST, 2008. You may wish to visit this web site link here http://www.dtvanswers.com  as there seems to be a conflict in information regarding the last day to request a coupon, this site claims that you have until MARCH 31ST, 2009 to apply for coupons. However, this web site will take you back to the same web site at http://www.dtv2009.gov ,('YOU WILL SEE THAT IT SAYS DECEMBER 31ST, 2008'), GO AHEAD AND TRY TO APPLY ANYWAY, incidently, your coupons are issued by  'The U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)'. We thought (NTIA), stood for 'NOTHING TOO INSANE AGAIN'. Now that just figures, that someone like the FCC doesn't have a clue. This keeps getting better all the time. Isn't that nice to know, just goes to show how efficient your 'SMOOTH DIGITAL TRANSITION WILL GO'. 

 

We got ourselves a DIGITAL CONVERTER BOX', of course it cost us about $20.00 more to buy one (most of them run around $60.00, isn't that nice and 'MADE IN CHINA' to boot, yup, we always enjoy 'CHINA' products, they usually fall apart after the first year, or in our case sooner). It's also interesting to note that most of the 'DIGITAL CONVERTER BOXES' have a limited warranty, like one year for parts and 90 days on labor. Looks as if a lot of people who purchased a 'DIGITAL CONVERTER BOX' have had theirs poop out after 90 days. We suppose that this will certainly be cost effective in the long run.....NOT FOR YOU but for the 'MANUFACTURER' of these fantastic 'DIGITAL CONVERTER BOXES'.  Anyway, to make a long story even longer. If you think that your 'RABBIT EAR ANTENNA' is going to work, good luck with that! The thing that wasn't mentioned by 'CONGRESS' or the 'FCC'. You will need to upgrade to a 'NEW OUTDOOR ANTENNA', of course, that will 'NOT GUARANTEE' that you will receive any better reception, if any reception at all, say, this is getting better all the time isn't it?! The cost of a 'NEW OUTDOOR ANTENNA' runs in the neighborhood of $200.00 plus, (check out this website to find out what kind of antenna you need at http://www.antennaweb.org ), and who cares if you're in your 90's, have a disability or some other lame excuse, just get yerself a nice tall ladder and hook that puppy up all by yourself, or you could always hire someone to do it for you, for another $150.00 OR more.

 

Now we are going to tell you what happened when we did ours, as most stations couldn't wait till the deadline in February. We hooked the converter box using our 'RABBIT EAR ANTENNA', and scanned for all 'DIGITAL CHANNELS', by golly we actually got 3 stations. Here's when the fun begins. The TV screen kept freezing up (PIXELATED), and we were getting what sounded like something out of a  'POLTERGEIST' movie from the characters from the TV set off and on for the last several weeks. Hmmm, we thought to ourselves, we weren't sure if it was from the 'DIGITAL TV STATIONS BROADCASTING,' or from our TV being 'POSSESSED'. Not wanting to see our TV suddenly start spinning uncontrollably or throwing up violently at us, we emailed the 'DIGITAL BROADCASTING STATIONS' to ask whether it was their station or our TV, We asked if it turned out to be our TV SET, could they recommend a good 'EXORCIST' or at the very least, put us in touch with the POPE for some 'HOLY WATER'. We'll let you know about the results from them. If you never hear from us again , you'll know why." EITHER 'CONGRESS', the 'FCC' or our 'TV' FINALLY GOT US BACK THIS TIME.

 

Several 'DIGITAL BROADCASTING STATIONS' responded to our email. One executive asked us if the TV was levitating also. We emailed back and said that we wouldn't be suprised if it did, although we weren't comfortable leaving it on long enough to find out. He emailed back that unless we left the TV set on to see if it was levitating, then it would not be considered 'POSSESSED' by the 'VATICAN'. He urged us to give it a try and email him back as the 'POPE' was busy working on other TV sets at the moment. So we'll leave it on for awhile and find out for sure. If we survive through this ordeal, we shall let you know the outcome. If you are having similar problems, be sure to email us on our contact us page! Or just click right here