As I See It

Don’t go to your favorite store that carries new televisions and ask if you need a new TV for the digital conversion.   Of course you do!  NOT!

I keep testing salespeople in stores to see what their answers are.  They get mad when I suggest that their answers are just plain crap!  You don’t need a new TV,  in fact, if you have cable or satellite service, you don’t need to do anything.  But please don’t ask.

Factually, you will find you can use your existing television with no problems.  If you have cable or satellite, you will be able to use your older analog set without doing a thing.  If you use rabbit ears or a roof antenna, you will need to get a converter for $40 to $60 dollars. And, the government will give you up to 2 coupons that will give you a $40 discount when your purchase the device.  I have 3 of various manufacturers.

How do you get the coupons? 

• Click here and Apply online
• Call the Coupon Program toll-free 24-hour automated system 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009).
• Mail a coupon application to: PO BOX 2000, Portland, OR 97208-2000. Download a Coupon Application here.
• Fax a coupon application to 1-877-DTV-4ME2 (1-877-388-4632)
• Deaf or hard of hearing callers may dial 1-877-530-2634 (English/TTY) or 1-866-495-1161 (Spanish/TTY). TTY Service is available from 9 AM - 9 PM Eastern Time Monday through Friday.

If you do ask, what will some of the salespeople tell you?  Here are some of the misstatements I have been told.  These are WRONG:  If you don’t get a new TV, you won’t get any television.  If you don’t get a new TV you won’t receive any of the shows broadcast in HD.  All shows broadcast on digital television will be HDTV and you need a new set to be able to watch them.  Your TV will go black on February 17th.  The old TV will be useless.

First of all, that is all bull dung.  Second, most people who use satellite and cable won’t see any change.  Only those that use an antenna will need the converter if they have an older TV.

Third, High Definition and digital television are not the same thing.  Digital television is how the signal gets to you TV if you use an indoor or rooftop antenna.  High Definition is one of the signals you can receive on digital, not all.  As I said in an earlier blog as an example, Vermont public television broadcasts one HD (high definition 16:9 widescreen) and three SD (standatd definition 4:3) signals.  All work on an older analog standard definition set with either an antenna converter, new built-in tuner, cable or satellite.  And the reverse is also true. A new wide-screen HD set will receive all signals and formats.

My sister lives 30 miles from me and uses a roof antenna to get a few Boston stations.  There is no way she will get those stations on free over-the-air digital television.  She and her husband were prepared to give up TV they claimed.  After much conversation over a couple of months with several people, they asked me to order DirecTV for their home.  I ordered the service, and requested three HD receivers for the three rooms they have TV’s in.  All their sets are analog and old, but each receiver puts out very good SD 4:3 signals or HD 16:9 for any set they migh use now or in the future.  And who knows, Santa may bring them an HD set for Christmas.  So the day after Thanksgiving. the big white van drives to their home to begin the install.

Do you need to buy a new widescreen HD television?  Only if you want one.  And prices have never been better, and should get even lower as we get nearer to Christmas.  So, ny advice? If you want one, go for it!

—-David S. Calef

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