The great, digital TV boondoggle
DTV CHANGEOVER BASICS
- What is the "digital TV changeover"?
- When will conversion take place?
- How will conversion affect me?
- I watch shows over the air. What are the steps to get DTV shows on my set?
COUPONS & CONVERTER BOXES
- Where can I get my converter box coupons?
- Where can I get my converter?
- What if I'm not satisfied with my converter? Can I return it?
- How much does a converter cost?
- Why don't all converter boxes cost $40?
- Will the converter box upgrade my TV to an HDTV set?
- What are the benefits of a converter box?
- That doesn't seem like much of a benefit to me. Isn't there an advantage here for someone?
- How do I get my converter working? Just the basics, please.
- Help! I lost my coupons! (Or: My coupons expired! Or: I don't qualify for coupons, but I need one. Or: Someone stole my coupons.)
- How many converters has the government sold so far?
DTV POLITICS
- Why do we need to convert?
- When did the changeover decision occur?
- Isn't ATSC, digital television superior to NTSC, analog television?
- Is there any precedent for the DTV changeover?
- What if I don't want to convert?
- Aren't the coupons great? Uncle Sam should give us coupons for everything!
- The NTIA says that DTV coupons don't come out of taxes. Are we paying, or not?
DTV TECHNOLOGY: BASIC
- Do I need to buy a "digital antenna"?
- I really need a new antenna. What type works best with a DTV box?
- Where do I install the converter?
- My TV set doesn't have a 75-ohm jack. Instead, my TV has two screw-like connectors for an antenna. How do I connect the converter?
- Can I watch DTV before the changeover?
- Will I be able to get all the same stations that I get now?
- I want to upgrade to a DTV set. What should I do with my old TV, VCR, TiVo, DVD player, etc.?
- My converter worked when I installed it. Now all I get is snow. What should I do?
After the analog stations shut off, my converter stopped receiving a few digital channels. How can I get these stations back?
- My converter only displays a still picture. The TV screen is full of numbers. Did I break this thing?
DTV TECHNOLOGY: INTERMEDIATE
- Is digital TV really better?
- What about HDTV? Is that really better?
- Does my VCR need a converter, too?
- What are the digital channel assignments for my area?
- How well do these DTV converters perform?
- What are some drawbacks to DTV?
- I watch sporting events, and I'm concerned about digital artifacts. What does an artifact look like?
- My converter has two (or three) types of outputs. Which connectors do I use?
- Do DTV decoder boxes contain cameras and microphones?
- Could my TV watch me, as in Orwell's 1984?
DTV TECHNOLOGY: ADVANCED
