OTA Digital

[atmuscarella]

Notice the first very low cost TV in Walmart with a OTA digital tuner. It was a 13' TV and cost $50. Guess that pretty much makes it clear that there will be very low cost SD OTA digital tuners in 2 years when OTA analog goes down.

It also makes me wonder how much it really would cost TiVo to add an OTA digital tuner to a Series 2 TiVo. Maybe that's what their lower cost Series 3 is going to end up being, a SD replacement for the Series 2 with digital tuners.

Thanks,

[maharg18]

I saw that same TV yesterday, and another that was a 20" model. While the shelf tags said "digital tv", nothing on the boxes said anything about an ATSC tuner. In fact, the 20" boxes had a disclaimer printed right on then saying they would require an external tuner in 2009.

[TydalForce]

Things are gonna get messy
"Digital TV" does not always mean "Digital Tuner"

Gotta read the fine print carefully. I suspect we'll have a lot of unhappy TV owners before long. Could you imagine spending $1000+ on a shiny new TV only to find out it doesn't have a digital tuner?

[Bierboy]

Crap...they've been marketing digital tuners for a loooong time. That only means it doesn't use the "rotary clicker dial" style of channel changer! (now I'm REALLY dating myself)

[rdrrepair]

Crap...they've been marketing digital tuners for a loooong time. That only means it doesn't use the "rotary clicker dial" style of channel changer! (now I'm REALLY dating myself)Remember, ohh, way back when... The earliest form of remote control for the TV set.

Your Dad would say "change the channel to 4" and you would go up to the channel and twist it. Click, click, click, click... the knob would fall off in your hand. Then after getting it to the correct channel the additional "dialing in" of the knob behind the knob.

There was only 5-6 channels, your 3 networks a PBS station and some independent stations. That was in the major markets.

[ZeoTiVo]

Crap...they've been marketing digital tuners for a loooong time. That only means it doesn't use the "rotary clicker dial" style of channel changer! (now I'm REALLY dating myself)
and lets not forget the two sets - one for UHF and one for VHF </old codger>

[Bierboy]

Wow, guys....in my market (Chicago) in the 1950s to early 60s it was channels 2 (CBS), 5 (NBC), 7 (ABC), 9 (WGN-Ind) and 11 (WTTW-PBS). That was it!! What did we do?!and lets not forget the two sets - one for UHF and one for VHF </old codger>...and the UHF dial didn't click because there were "so many" channels (14-83)...it simply spun!

[ZeoTiVo]

Wow, guys....in my market (Chicago) in the 1950s to early 60s it was channels 2 (CBS), 5 (NBC), 7 (ABC), 9 (WGN-Ind) and 11 (WTTW-PBS). That was it!! What did we do?!...and the UHF dial didn't click because there were "so many" channels (14-83)...it simply spun!
hey I live in PA and we got UPN (I think it was our 5) out of DC that had the Ultraman and Godzilla moviees on it, along with cartoons most mornings. I was living large with the early "Sci-Fi" channel. I remember when we got a TV that could tune channel 20 :up:

[atmuscarella]

I actually wonder myself if the tag was correct but it clearly said receives analog and digital channels. Did not see the box - will look the next time I am there.

Thanks,

[rainwater]

This is why many of the companies have adopted the SDTV standard that you will see on the front of these sets to show it has digital tuners.

[smithken31100]

Remember, ohh, way back when... The earliest form of remote control for the TV set.

Your Dad would say "change the channel to 4" and you would go up to the channel and twist it. Click, click, click, click... the knob would fall off in your hand. Then after getting it to the correct channel the additional "dialing in" of the knob behind the knob.

There was only 5-6 channels, your 3 networks a PBS station and some independent stations. That was in the major markets.

We only had 4 channels; ABC, NBC, CBS and CBC (Canadian); our TV didn't have a UHF tuner.

[steve614]

Remember, ohh, way back when... The earliest form of remote control for the TV set.

Your Dad would say "change the channel to 4" and you would go up to the channel and twist it. Click, click, click, click... the knob would fall off in your hand. Then after getting it to the correct channel the additional "dialing in" of the knob behind the knob.

There was only 5-6 channels, your 3 networks a PBS station and some independent stations. That was in the major markets.


Yeah, I remember those days (barely). My dad got so tired of the knob falling off, he just put a pair of mini vise grips on the stem. :D

[JimSpence]

We only had Ch 12 way back when. The TV didn't have a UHF tuner. When other stations started broadcasting here, they were all UHF. First Ch 40, then 34 and 46. We had to get a converter box. Because of the hills around here, reception wasn't too good. So they installed a few translators on the hills. We received Ch 40 programming on Ch 81. Now that brings back memories. :)

Now people will need ATSC STBs to keep their NTSC TVs running. What goes around comes around. :D

[Whittaker]

Wow, guys....in my market (Chicago) in the 1950s to early 60s it was channels 2 (CBS), 5 (NBC), 7 (ABC), 9 (WGN-Ind) and 11 (WTTW-PBS). That was it!! What did we do?!...
We went outside.

[Bierboy]

We went outside.Boy, that's the truth. I spent a LOT more of my childhood playing outside (warm AND cold weather), than any kids I see today.

[CraigHB]

Hehe, I remember the remote on my grandma's TV when I was a kid, big buttons that went clank when you pushed them and then the rotary dial would spin with a distinct gear noise. Pretty archaic compared to electronics nowadays, but we thought that clunky remote control was really neato then.

I think kids today have way too many indoor distractions, TV, video games, computers, etc. With 4 or 5 channels and only a few shows a week for kids, I didn't watch much TV back then. Saturday morning cartoons would have been the big TV event every week. Then there was Jerry and Knucklehead, the Mouseketeers, and Captain Kangaroo. I remember that one snowy UHF channel for Speed Racer. Those are the ones I remember at least. Pretty simple stuff compared to what kids watch now.

[gastrof]

I saw that same TV yesterday, and another that was a 20" model. While the shelf tags said "digital tv", nothing on the boxes said anything about an ATSC tuner. In fact, the 20" boxes had a disclaimer printed right on then saying they would require an external tuner in 2009.


Is it even LEGAL for them to sell TVs now that lack an ATSC tuner?

Or is it that it's illegal to MAKE such sets?

[TydalForce]

They can sell a TV without an ATSC tuner
What they can't do is sell a TV with a NTSC tuner for VHF/UHF that does not have an ATSC tuner. AKA, they can't say "works with antenna" if it can't do digital

[Adam1115]

They can sell a TV without an ATSC tuner
What they can't do is sell a TV with a NTSC tuner for VHF/UHF that does not have an ATSC tuner. AKA, they can't say "works with antenna" if it can't do digital

No, your statement is incorrect. As of March 2007, all newly produced televisions of all sizes and all newly produced recording devices sold in the US are required to have digital reception capability if marketed as "televisions." Tunerless sets are marketed as "monitors."

Keyword is PRODUCED, not sold. They can continue to sell current stock, but they can no longer be made...

[restart88]

I'm wondering here if the answer to the S2 lack of OTA could be via a digital SD OTA tuner box? Hook it up like you do a DBS box, ya know?

I'm not saying any exist, only that it would seem that may at least be somewhat possible. OTOH I think I'd rather just save up my pennys and get a S3. ;)

[gastrof]

I'm wondering here if the answer to the S2 lack of OTA could be via a digital SD OTA tuner box? Hook it up like you do a DBS box, ya know?

I'm not saying any exist, only that it would seem that may at least be somewhat possible. OTOH I think I'd rather just save up my pennys and get a S3. ;)

A lot of people have been hoping the S2s will be upgraded to know the remote codes for OTA digital boxes, and end up able to operate them like they now operate satellite and cable boxes.

If TiVo can do that, it'll make even the DT machines able to deal with OTA.

[vman41]

No, your statement is incorrect. As of March 2007, all newly produced televisions of all sizes and all newly produced recording devices sold in the US are required to have digital reception capability if marketed as "televisions." Tunerless sets are marketed as "monitors."

Keyword is PRODUCED, not sold. They can continue to sell current stock, but they can no longer be made...

I think you can make them, but not for interstate commerce.

[tibruk]

hey I live in PA and we got UPN (I think it was our 5) out of DC that had the Ultraman and Godzilla moviees on it, along with cartoons most mornings. I was living large with the early "Sci-Fi" channel. I remember when we got a TV that could tune channel 20 :up:

Wow that brings back the 70's for me. I used to love coming home after school and tuning to channel 45 (DC) and watching Captain Chesapeake with Andy the sea monster. Weekends would be channel 20 with the Count and all of the sci-fi and monster movies.

Tibruk

[Adam1115]

I think you can make them, but not for interstate commerce.

:eek: I don't think there are any TV manufacturers in this COUNTRY let alone my home state!!

[ZeoTiVo]

Wow that brings back the 70's for me.
Weekends would be channel 20 with the Count and all of the sci-fi and monster movies.

Tibruk
ah the count. I had forgotten about him, thanks for the jog down memory lane. And on Ch20 Speed racer came in clear, you could see every detail of ther mouth not moving correctly as they talked ;)

I for one am hoping TiVio will support OTA boxes as it will give my S2s something to do when I switch to HD and the required digital cable or Sat for that.

[classicsat]

Wow, guys....in my market (Chicago) in the 1950s to early 60s it was channels 2 (CBS), 5 (NBC), 7 (ABC), 9 (WGN-Ind) and 11 (WTTW-PBS). That was it!! What did we do?!.


Run down to the video store and rent a VCR and a few tapes.

Here, Channel 8 was our local channel, which was an independant CBC affiliate. We also got TVO on 12, CTV on 2, and Global on 4. In '87 or so Channel 8 went completely independant, and CBC set up a transmitter on 45 (which the UHF dial was left on). I had lots of fun DXing. Can't do that easily with small-dish satelltie (had fun with C-band too, in the late 90s, early 00s).

..and the UHF dial didn't click because there were "so many" channels (14-83)...it simply spun!

It depends. Some of the UHF tuners on later TVs I have had do have detents and a fine-tuning knob.

[Bierboy]

Run down to the video store and rent a VCR and a few tapes......no VCRs in the 50s and 60s...

...Some of the UHF tuners on later TVs I have had do have detents and a fine-tuning knob.....YES...that's what I was remembering...the fine-tuning knob...how could I forget....oh...yeah...I'm older than dirt!

[ewilts]

There was only 5-6 channels, your 3 networks a PBS station and some independent stations. That was in the major markets.
I lived up in the northern Yukon in the early '70s and we were somewhat happy when the Anik 1 satellite went up and we had 1 channel - CBC North. It sucked then - I mean it really, really sucked... And when it's 60 below on a warm day, going outside wasn't much of an option. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anik_(satellite)

.../Ed