HD vs. Digital TV • Salt Run Productions

We all know the federal mandate that requires all US broadcasters to cease analog
broadcasting in favor of digital broadcasting (DTV) starting in February 2009. This has
been a source of confusion for both the consumer and the retailer. Actually, retailers
might not be so confused as they are driven to sell more HD TVs. It’s left consumers
thinking that they MUST have HD by February 2009 or they won’t be able to watch TV.

Wrong!

You have to have DTV in order to get HD pictures but not the other way around. If you
currently have a TV that’s hooked up to either a satellite or a cable provider, you don’t
have to do a thing. Broadcasters will continue to simulcast both standard definition (SD)
and HD programming, so you’re golden.

Now if you are one of the 13% of US households who still use an antenna for your TV
reception,
(http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2008/07/17/mixed_reception/), you
will have to get a conversion box to get the digital broadcast over your old analog TV set.
Those boxes cost from $60-$100 and are in short supply because of the high demand.

The US government is offering $40 vouchers for those boxes
(http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2008/01/dtv_vouchers.html) but the vouchers
are slow in coming and the demand for boxes is so high, they’re hard to get.

As far as I’m concerned, you’re better off just buying a new digital TV which can be had
for under $200, and call it a day. Then you will still be able to use your old antenna.
Now if you spend say $400, you can get an HD set and receive stunning HD imagery
from your local TV stations and again, your old antenna will work just fine. Don’t fall
for the “You need a special HD antenna” line because it just ain’t true.

And a side benefit is you will be getting the best possible HD picture available. Better
than cable OR satellite because there is much less compression over the airwaves than
through cables and dishes.

Another added benefit to using an antenna is you will be able to get digital signals not
available on cable or satellite.

Most TV stations are broadcasting as many as two and three other signals in addition to
their normal line up. So you may pickup a station’s all local weather channel or maybe
an all financial info channel… or even programming like movies, sports and old TV
shows.

There was a case in Chicago where a huge fire forced broadcasters to cover the story live,
thus causing one station having to interrupt a Chicago Cubs baseball game. Well, in the
interest of news, they did the prudent thing and broke way from the game to cover the
story but kept the live game on their digital carrier for those more interested in the
Cubbies.

So don’t panic with the February 2009 digital deadline. Embrace it and take advantage of
what the DTV age has to offer.

Next installment will be on the Digital Dark Ages!