Monday, June 30, 2008

Leave Some Technology At Home This Summer

It’s that time of year again. Fireworks are sounding, the sun is shinning and vacations are on our mind. Even with $4 plus fuel, many of us will take some time off and go away on vacation. Technology is a blessing and a curse for those who want to get away from it all.

For sure the convenience of booking travel and accommodations on the Internet can take some of the hassle out of vacations. Web services like travelocity.com® and priceline.com® can provide some deep discounts. Most airlines offer online boarding passes cutting the time you need to spend in lines at CVG. You can even prepare your baggage tags on line.

If you are driving, MapQuest.com® can provide very good directions as well as travel time. You can plan a trip based on a variety of preferences. For example, if you don’t want to travel on Interstate highways, MapQuest will take that into consideration. If you don’t care about tolls or Interstates, but only want the quickest way to your destination, you can ask MapQuest to plan accordingly.

The proliferation of GPS devices is almost unbelievable. Some of the hand-held models have more navigation power than the first Space Shuttle. While I have found some strange routing for certain trips, for the most part they are very accurate. I am not a fan of that ever-patient little women inside the GPS that absolutely can’t get upset no matter what knucklehead mistake I make when driving. Wouldn’t it be neat if she muttered few expletives after you passed the exit for the fifth time. No one is that patient!

I am going to recommend that you not use some technologies on that next get away. I saw a new term recently in a blog authored by Robert Roy Britt that I though was very indicative of the downside of all this technology. His term is “technotether.” He defines technotether as our inability to ignore that ringing cell phone. Our addiction to the BlackBerry® and other electronic personal assistants is another example of this affliction. Perhaps the most egregious is our need to check our email. These technologies have expanded the work day and the work place. The addition of wifi service on some commercial flights has penetrated the one place that you could not get email. Britt contends that we are “tethered” to these technologies and in many ways it is not healthy.

Let me make a suggestion. Don’t check email while on vacation. Bring your cell phone but don’t call back home or to the office. Don’t check office voice mail. Leave a message telling callers that you will not be checking it. I figure if the President of the United States is looking for me he won’t leave a voice message anyway. His minions will find me. For heavens sake leave the blackberry in its charging cradle for a week.

For the first day or so you will experience withdrawal. After that you will be amazed how much more restful vacation turns out to be.

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Leave Some Technology At Home This Summer

It’s that time of year again. Fireworks are sounding, the sun is shinning and vacations are on our mind. Even with $4 plus fuel, many of us will take some time off and go away on vacation. Technology is a blessing and a curse for those who want to get away from it all.

For sure the convenience of booking travel and accommodations on the Internet can take some of the hassle out of vacations. Web services like travelocity.com® and priceline.com® can provide some deep discounts. Most airlines offer online boarding passes cutting the time you need to spend in lines at CVG. You can even prepare your baggage tags on line.

If you are driving, MapQuest.com® can provide very good directions as well as travel time. You can plan a trip based on a variety of preferences. For example, if you don’t want to travel on Interstate highways, MapQuest will take that into consideration. If you don’t care about tolls or Interstates, but only want the quickest way to your destination, you can ask MapQuest to plan accordingly.

The proliferation of GPS devices is almost unbelievable. Some of the hand-held models have more navigation power than the first Space Shuttle. While I have found some strange routing for certain trips, for the most part they are very accurate. I am not a fan of that ever-patient little women inside the GPS that absolutely can’t get upset no matter what knucklehead mistake I make when driving. Wouldn’t it be neat if she muttered few expletives after you passed the exit for the fifth time. No one is that patient!

I am going to recommend that you not use some technologies on that next get away. I saw a new term recently in a blog authored by Robert Roy Britt that I though was very indicative of the downside of all this technology. His term is “technotether.” He defines technotether as our inability to ignore that ringing cell phone. Our addiction to the BlackBerry® and other electronic personal assistants is another example of this affliction. Perhaps the most egregious is our need to check our email. These technologies have expanded the work day and the work place. The addition of wifi service on some commercial flights has penetrated the one place that you could not get email. Britt contends that we are “tethered” to these technologies and in many ways it is not healthy.

Let me make a suggestion. Don’t check email while on vacation. Bring your cell phone but don’t call back home or to the office. Don’t check office voice mail. Leave a message telling callers that you will not be checking it. I figure if the President of the United States is looking for me he won’t leave a voice message anyway. His minions will find me. For heavens sake leave the blackberry in its charging cradle for a week.

For the first day or so you will experience withdrawal. After that you will be amazed how much more restful vacation turns out to be.

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Wednesday, June 25, 2008

A Place To Recycle CLF's

A while back I discussed the need to be careful when disposing of electonic "trash." The Hamilton County Solid Waste Management District emailed today to let me know that ALL Home Depot stores now accept used Compact Fluorescent Lights (CLF’s) for recycling!

Here are the details excerpted from a press release.

The Home Depot®, launched a national in-store, consumer compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb recycling program at all 1,973 The Home Depot locations. This free offers customers additional options for making environmentally conscious decisions from purchase to disposal. The Home Depot Canada launched a CFL recycling program in November, 2007.
At each The Home Depot store, customers can simply bring in any expired, unbroken CFL bulbs, and give them to the store associate behind the returns desk. The bulbs will then be managed responsibly by an environmental management company who will coordinate CFL packaging, transportation and recycling to maximize safety and ensure environmental compliance.

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A Place To Recycle CLF's

A while back I discussed the need to be careful when disposing of electonic "trash." The Hamilton County Solid Waste Management District emailed today to let me know that ALL Home Depot stores now accept used Compact Fluorescent Lights (CLF’s) for recycling!

Here are the details excerpted from a press release.

The Home Depot®, launched a national in-store, consumer compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb recycling program at all 1,973 The Home Depot locations. This free offers customers additional options for making environmentally conscious decisions from purchase to disposal. The Home Depot Canada launched a CFL recycling program in November, 2007.
At each The Home Depot store, customers can simply bring in any expired, unbroken CFL bulbs, and give them to the store associate behind the returns desk. The bulbs will then be managed responsibly by an environmental management company who will coordinate CFL packaging, transportation and recycling to maximize safety and ensure environmental compliance.

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Monday, June 23, 2008

The Problem Is Not In Your Set!

I have been getting calls and emails recently from several people all with the same question. It seems that they have either purchased a new DTV set or have connected a DTV converter to their old analog set and have experienced a strange phenomenon. They are getting great digital reception from all the local stations except Channel 9, WCPO DT.

Now let’s be clear. These are people who do not subscribe to cable or a satellite service. Instead, they rely on over-the-air reception to watch TV.

There is a very simple answer to this conundrum. The problem is not in their TV set. The problem is on top of the TV set or on the roof. It is very likely the antenna.

Back in the 1990s the FCC assigned new channels for DTV to all existing full-power broadcasters. In most cases these new channels were in the UHF band, i.e. Channel 14 – 68. For example CET received DTV Channel 34, WLW got Channel 35. Both are in the UHF band. WCPO got VHF Channel 10. Therein is the problem.

While you may not know it, there are significant differences in the design of antennas used for picking up UHF channels from those designed to pick up VHF channels. I won’t go into the physics. Take my word for it. So if you have a UHF antenna, either set top or roof top, and it is a “UHF only” model, it will not pick up the VHF signal from Channel 10, WCPO.

By the way, don’t let these numbers confuse you. In order to keep it simple, all digital TVs and converter boxes display the old channel analog numbers so the consumers don’t have to get used to a new numbering system. When you watch CET’s digital channel, which as I said above is really channel 34, the TV channel indicator will display good old Channel 48.

OK back to the problem at hand. I did an experiment. I live on a very high ridge just north of Harrison. On a clear day I can see some of the TV towers in downtown Cincinnati from my front window. I connected a UHF/VHF antenna to a DTV receiver and got a good picture from Channel 9 DT. I switched to a “UHF only” antenna. I got nothing.

You might ask why now? You may be using the same antenna that you used for getting analog Channel 9. The UHF antenna worked OK.

Digital signals are different in that they are either perfect or non existent. It is called the “cliff effect.” With analog signals we all have experienced a TV signal that is snowy. We put up with it until it is no longer viewable. A digital signal will never be snowy. If the TV set’s circuitry determines that it can not provide a perfect picture, it will just go to black. I think that is what is happening with our callers’ sets.

The solution is to get an antenna that is designed for both UHF and VHF. That should fix the problem. Some set top antennas have amplifiers. This can help as well. Be sure that the amplifier can be switched off. There are some instances when too much signal can cause problems as well. That’s another column.

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The Problem Is Not In Your Set!

I have been getting calls and emails recently from several people all with the same question. It seems that they have either purchased a new DTV set or have connected a DTV converter to their old analog set and have experienced a strange phenomenon. They are getting great digital reception from all the local stations except Channel 9, WCPO DT.

Now let’s be clear. These are people who do not subscribe to cable or a satellite service. Instead, they rely on over-the-air reception to watch TV.

There is a very simple answer to this conundrum. The problem is not in their TV set. The problem is on top of the TV set or on the roof. It is very likely the antenna.

Back in the 1990s the FCC assigned new channels for DTV to all existing full-power broadcasters. In most cases these new channels were in the UHF band, i.e. Channel 14 – 68. For example CET received DTV Channel 34, WLW got Channel 35. Both are in the UHF band. WCPO got VHF Channel 10. Therein is the problem.

While you may not know it, there are significant differences in the design of antennas used for picking up UHF channels from those designed to pick up VHF channels. I won’t go into the physics. Take my word for it. So if you have a UHF antenna, either set top or roof top, and it is a “UHF only” model, it will not pick up the VHF signal from Channel 10, WCPO.

By the way, don’t let these numbers confuse you. In order to keep it simple, all digital TVs and converter boxes display the old channel analog numbers so the consumers don’t have to get used to a new numbering system. When you watch CET’s digital channel, which as I said above is really channel 34, the TV channel indicator will display good old Channel 48.

OK back to the problem at hand. I did an experiment. I live on a very high ridge just north of Harrison. On a clear day I can see some of the TV towers in downtown Cincinnati from my front window. I connected a UHF/VHF antenna to a DTV receiver and got a good picture from Channel 9 DT. I switched to a “UHF only” antenna. I got nothing.

You might ask why now? You may be using the same antenna that you used for getting analog Channel 9. The UHF antenna worked OK.

Digital signals are different in that they are either perfect or non existent. It is called the “cliff effect.” With analog signals we all have experienced a TV signal that is snowy. We put up with it until it is no longer viewable. A digital signal will never be snowy. If the TV set’s circuitry determines that it can not provide a perfect picture, it will just go to black. I think that is what is happening with our callers’ sets.

The solution is to get an antenna that is designed for both UHF and VHF. That should fix the problem. Some set top antennas have amplifiers. This can help as well. Be sure that the amplifier can be switched off. There are some instances when too much signal can cause problems as well. That’s another column.

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Friday, June 20, 2008

Watch DTV Programs On Line

Wednesday evening at 8 PM I was involved in the broadcast our first live DTV call in show on CET. We got more than 160 questions and they are still coming in this morning. The program was ½ hour but could have gone for an hour or more and still not addressed all the concerns and questions.

To watch the program on CETconnect.org just point your browser to http://www.cetconnect.org/cetconnect_video.asp?ID=2997 It is about 30 minutes in length.

We plan to take the most “asked” questions and produce 30 sec. spots that will run on CET TV. Keep your questions coming. Send them to techinfo@cetconnect.org or just place a comment here on the blog.

We are considering of two or three more before Feb 2009. CET wants to make sure that the only “snow” you see on February 18, 2009 is on the ground, not on your TV.

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Watch DTV Programs On Line

Wednesday evening at 8 PM I was involved in the broadcast our first live DTV call in show on CET. We got more than 160 questions and they are still coming in this morning. The program was ½ hour but could have gone for an hour or more and still not addressed all the concerns and questions.

To watch the program on CETconnect.org just point your browser to http://www.cetconnect.org/cetconnect_video.asp?ID=2997 It is about 30 minutes in length.

We plan to take the most “asked” questions and produce 30 sec. spots that will run on CET TV. Keep your questions coming. Send them to techinfo@cetconnect.org or just place a comment here on the blog.

We are considering of two or three more before Feb 2009. CET wants to make sure that the only “snow” you see on February 18, 2009 is on the ground, not on your TV.

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Tuesday, June 17, 2008

CAll IN YOUR DTV QUESTIONS

If you live in the Cincinnati, Ohio area you can tune in tomorrow, Wednesday evening for a special program on CET TV called “DTV, Ask US.” It is your chance to ask questions and get some good unbiased information about the digital transition.

So if you are wondering about getting a new set or what type of DTV converter works best, tune in.

We will have a phone bank of experts and I will be joined live in the studio by Neal Schmidt. Neal heads up CET’s Engineering Department. He and his colleagues have a wealth of good information.

I promise that we will give good advice and information you can use and we will do it in simple non-technical language.

That is Wednesday, June 18 from 8:00 - 8:30 PM on CET. If you miss it, you can watch it on demand at www.cetconnect.com beginning Thursday morning. Tell a neighbor.

Phones will be open beginning at 6:00 PM for your calls to 800-808-0445. Note this number is only good from 6 to 9 PM. You can use 513-345-6512 any other time for your technical questions.

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CAll IN YOUR DTV QUESTIONS

If you live in the Cincinnati, Ohio area you can tune in tomorrow, Wednesday evening for a special program on CET TV called “DTV, Ask US.” It is your chance to ask questions and get some good unbiased information about the digital transition.

So if you are wondering about getting a new set or what type of DTV converter works best, tune in.

We will have a phone bank of experts and I will be joined live in the studio by Neal Schmidt. Neal heads up CET’s Engineering Department. He and his colleagues have a wealth of good information.

I promise that we will give good advice and information you can use and we will do it in simple non-technical language.

That is Wednesday, June 18 from 8:00 - 8:30 PM on CET. If you miss it, you can watch it on demand at www.cetconnect.com beginning Thursday morning. Tell a neighbor.

Phones will be open beginning at 6:00 PM for your calls to 800-808-0445. Note this number is only good from 6 to 9 PM. You can use 513-345-6512 any other time for your technical questions.

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Answers To Some Common DTV Questions

I am going to answer a few questions which have been submitted by readers. They cover several different subjects.

The first question deals with finding a DTV converter that allows you to continue to watch local “low power” stations like Channels 25 and 38 after February 2009. The “low power” stations transmit programs using a fraction of the power required by the major stations like Channel 9 or CET. As a result, many households in our area are unable to receive them. So, you may not even know they exist. These two stations and other “low power” stations in the US will not be changing to digital next year. So, if you receive them now and you want to continue to watch them on your old analog TV set after February 2009, you will need a special DTV converter. Up until now these converters have been very hard to find, but you can now order them through many Radio Shack® stores for $59.99 retail. You can use the DTV coupons so the price is about 20 bucks. Ask for Zenith™ Model DTT901 Catalog # 15-193. If you don’t watch the low power channels, just go with a standard DTV converter.

I was sent me an email asking if even a very old TV, i.e. vintage 1960’s, will work with a DTV converter. (I told you, people never throw away TVs.) The answer is Yes! Of course the picture will not be very sharp and it will be in black and white, but it will display the digital channels. For older TVs you may need to purchase an adapter to connect the converter to the TV, since older TVs have two small screws on the back to which you connect the antenna or rabbit ears. The DTV converter uses what is called an “F” connector. You will need to get a “75 ohm to 300 ohm matching transformer” to adapt the “F” connector. They can be purchased at most electronic stores for about 5 bucks.

Another question came in regarding the need to get a new antenna and lead in wire if you were buying a new HDTV set and would not be using a cable or satellite service. My recommendation would be to wait until you get the new set and see how your current antenna works. In many situations the simple indoor set-top antenna may be all you need. In other cases the outdoor antenna that you already have installed and connected to your analog TV may work just fine with your new HDTV set. Don’t fix it if it isn’t broken!

I wrote about this a few months ago but it bears repeating. There is NO SUCH THING AS A DIGITAL or HDTV ANTENNA. There are antennas that are more efficient than others. Some have amplifiers. Some do not. The antenna itself and the lead in wire are exactly the same for analog reception and digital reception.

It is both amusing and irritating to walk through stores and see antennas for sale with the boxes labeled “HDTV Antenna” or “Specially designed for DTV use.” Many of these antennas will come with an inflated price tag because of the HDTV moniker.

Keep you questions coming. If I don’t know the answer, I have many colleagues much smarter than I am (thank heavens) who, for the price of a beer, will help me out.

Labels: , , ,

Answers To Some Common DTV Questions

I am going to answer a few questions which have been submitted by readers. They cover several different subjects.

The first question deals with finding a DTV converter that allows you to continue to watch local “low power” stations like Channels 25 and 38 after February 2009. The “low power” stations transmit programs using a fraction of the power required by the major stations like Channel 9 or CET. As a result, many households in our area are unable to receive them. So, you may not even know they exist. These two stations and other “low power” stations in the US will not be changing to digital next year. So, if you receive them now and you want to continue to watch them on your old analog TV set after February 2009, you will need a special DTV converter. Up until now these converters have been very hard to find, but you can now order them through many Radio Shack® stores for $59.99 retail. You can use the DTV coupons so the price is about 20 bucks. Ask for Zenith™ Model DTT901 Catalog # 15-193. If you don’t watch the low power channels, just go with a standard DTV converter.

I was sent me an email asking if even a very old TV, i.e. vintage 1960’s, will work with a DTV converter. (I told you, people never throw away TVs.) The answer is Yes! Of course the picture will not be very sharp and it will be in black and white, but it will display the digital channels. For older TVs you may need to purchase an adapter to connect the converter to the TV, since older TVs have two small screws on the back to which you connect the antenna or rabbit ears. The DTV converter uses what is called an “F” connector. You will need to get a “75 ohm to 300 ohm matching transformer” to adapt the “F” connector. They can be purchased at most electronic stores for about 5 bucks.

Another question came in regarding the need to get a new antenna and lead in wire if you were buying a new HDTV set and would not be using a cable or satellite service. My recommendation would be to wait until you get the new set and see how your current antenna works. In many situations the simple indoor set-top antenna may be all you need. In other cases the outdoor antenna that you already have installed and connected to your analog TV may work just fine with your new HDTV set. Don’t fix it if it isn’t broken!

I wrote about this a few months ago but it bears repeating. There is NO SUCH THING AS A DIGITAL or HDTV ANTENNA. There are antennas that are more efficient than others. Some have amplifiers. Some do not. The antenna itself and the lead in wire are exactly the same for analog reception and digital reception.

It is both amusing and irritating to walk through stores and see antennas for sale with the boxes labeled “HDTV Antenna” or “Specially designed for DTV use.” Many of these antennas will come with an inflated price tag because of the HDTV moniker.

Keep you questions coming. If I don’t know the answer, I have many colleagues much smarter than I am (thank heavens) who, for the price of a beer, will help me out.

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Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Pass Through DTV Converter Impressive

I had a chance to test the Digital Stream (Model DTX9950) DTV converter available from Radio Shack® stores. John Kiesewetter, Radio and TV Writer at the Enquirer brought one by the station yesterday morning. This is one of the first converters I have seen available locally that has the “pass through” feature. Many of the standard DTV converters, once connected to your analog TV set, will effectively block out any analog reception. If you want to continue to watch the area’s low power stations like Channel 25 and 38, (neither will be converting to digital in February 2009) you will need a “pass through” DTV converter.

I have to say that I was impressed with the unit. We were able to pull in all the major analog stations with the unit attached and set in the “pass through” mode, i.e. effectively “turned off.” In this mode you use the tuner in your TV to tune in the analog stations. On the digital side we received perfect pictures from all the local DTV stations plus three stations from Dayton. Since we were using a small inexpensive set top antenna and the TV was located in CET’s Central Parkway lobby -not an ideal TV reception location - one could presume that the unit will function well in a more ideal setting.

One warning however…the digital signals can be somewhat erratic so there is no assurance that your reception will be perfect. Sometimes a difference in the location of your TV of only a few feet can make the difference between a perfect picture and no picture at all.

I can say that is one of the most sensitive DTV receivers I have tested and well worth the $60 price tag. Use one of the DTV coupons and the price drops to $20.

I am always interested in your experiences. Let me know about your DTV reception using your DTV converters and TV sets. I will share them here on the blog.

Labels: , ,

Pass Through DTV Converter Impressive

I had a chance to test the Digital Stream (Model DTX9950) DTV converter available from Radio Shack® stores. John Kiesewetter, Radio and TV Writer at the Enquirer brought one by the station yesterday morning. This is one of the first converters I have seen available locally that has the “pass through” feature. Many of the standard DTV converters, once connected to your analog TV set, will effectively block out any analog reception. If you want to continue to watch the area’s low power stations like Channel 25 and 38, (neither will be converting to digital in February 2009) you will need a “pass through” DTV converter.

I have to say that I was impressed with the unit. We were able to pull in all the major analog stations with the unit attached and set in the “pass through” mode, i.e. effectively “turned off.” In this mode you use the tuner in your TV to tune in the analog stations. On the digital side we received perfect pictures from all the local DTV stations plus three stations from Dayton. Since we were using a small inexpensive set top antenna and the TV was located in CET’s Central Parkway lobby -not an ideal TV reception location - one could presume that the unit will function well in a more ideal setting.

One warning however…the digital signals can be somewhat erratic so there is no assurance that your reception will be perfect. Sometimes a difference in the location of your TV of only a few feet can make the difference between a perfect picture and no picture at all.

I can say that is one of the most sensitive DTV receivers I have tested and well worth the $60 price tag. Use one of the DTV coupons and the price drops to $20.

I am always interested in your experiences. Let me know about your DTV reception using your DTV converters and TV sets. I will share them here on the blog.

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Monday, June 09, 2008

TV Anytime & Anywhere

Over the past nine months or so I have been involved on a national committee looking at systems for providing video programming to mobile and hand held devices. Representatives from the major broadcast groups and other industry leaders have been examining how the new digital broadcast system can be used for more applications than only that new HD TV set in the family room.

You would have to be living on a deserted island not to be aware that the world of communications has gone mobile. More and more young people don’t even have a hard- wired phone line, choosing instead the flexibility and convenience of the cell phone. The Black Berry®, or one of the myriad of similar portable communication/assistant devices, has replaced the red “power tie” in corporate conference rooms large and small. So it is only logical that TV programming too will migrate to an untethered universe.

There are already some nascent video services being provided for viewing on cell phones. Verizon® and others offer expanded video services. So far these have only been offered in selected markets and are somewhat pricey. The main issue is that video programming is a ravenous consumer of bandwidth. As an example, if we take the bandwidth currently being used to provide only one channel of public television using UHF Channel 48 and use it for voice or data transmission, we could provide thousands of individual phone conversations and computer connections with the web. One TV program or thousands of other services. So when you send video over a cell phone network, it really can clog up the works. This means it is not very robust and it is expensive to provide.

As I have written repeatedly in this column, TV in the US has already converted to digital technology with the end of the analog TV age coming in about seven months. The group that I have been serving with is engaged in developing a system that uses part of the broadcaster’s digital signal to send video programming to mobile devices. The conversion to digital allows a more efficient use of the bandwidth.

Some examples. That back seat video screen in the mini van that now displays programs from the same old DVDs will be able to receive new live special programming aimed akids. No more “if I have to come back there” pronouncements. While our area does not have as many mass transit commuters as some of the major US cities, even here, some bus riders might enjoy watching the morning news programs while riding the Metro down I-74.

It may come as a surprise to some that the US is far behind many other countries in deploying this technology. Japan, Korea and some of the Scandinavian countries have very robust mobile networks and mobile video services. In these countries, a combination of government subsidy and consumer demand has spawned higher speed networks and lower prices.

In the US some of the mobile video services will be riding on the broadcast digital TV system and it is anticipated that much of the cost will be absorbed by advertisers. Time will tell.

The first of the mobile services are projected to launch in 2009.

Labels: ,

TV Anytime & Anywhere

Over the past nine months or so I have been involved on a national committee looking at systems for providing video programming to mobile and hand held devices. Representatives from the major broadcast groups and other industry leaders have been examining how the new digital broadcast system can be used for more applications than only that new HD TV set in the family room.

You would have to be living on a deserted island not to be aware that the world of communications has gone mobile. More and more young people don’t even have a hard- wired phone line, choosing instead the flexibility and convenience of the cell phone. The Black Berry®, or one of the myriad of similar portable communication/assistant devices, has replaced the red “power tie” in corporate conference rooms large and small. So it is only logical that TV programming too will migrate to an untethered universe.

There are already some nascent video services being provided for viewing on cell phones. Verizon® and others offer expanded video services. So far these have only been offered in selected markets and are somewhat pricey. The main issue is that video programming is a ravenous consumer of bandwidth. As an example, if we take the bandwidth currently being used to provide only one channel of public television using UHF Channel 48 and use it for voice or data transmission, we could provide thousands of individual phone conversations and computer connections with the web. One TV program or thousands of other services. So when you send video over a cell phone network, it really can clog up the works. This means it is not very robust and it is expensive to provide.

As I have written repeatedly in this column, TV in the US has already converted to digital technology with the end of the analog TV age coming in about seven months. The group that I have been serving with is engaged in developing a system that uses part of the broadcaster’s digital signal to send video programming to mobile devices. The conversion to digital allows a more efficient use of the bandwidth.

Some examples. That back seat video screen in the mini van that now displays programs from the same old DVDs will be able to receive new live special programming aimed akids. No more “if I have to come back there” pronouncements. While our area does not have as many mass transit commuters as some of the major US cities, even here, some bus riders might enjoy watching the morning news programs while riding the Metro down I-74.

It may come as a surprise to some that the US is far behind many other countries in deploying this technology. Japan, Korea and some of the Scandinavian countries have very robust mobile networks and mobile video services. In these countries, a combination of government subsidy and consumer demand has spawned higher speed networks and lower prices.

In the US some of the mobile video services will be riding on the broadcast digital TV system and it is anticipated that much of the cost will be absorbed by advertisers. Time will tell.

The first of the mobile services are projected to launch in 2009.

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Monday, June 02, 2008

Why Not Try Setting Up A Family Blog?

Among the many new ways to communicate spawned by the digital age and the Internet are the millions or blogs that have arrived on the scene over the past decade or so. (You are reading one right now!) For those who may not know, a blog or a web log is a web site that allows someone to post information, ideas, news, views, rants and / or raves for others to read. In most cases the readers are encouraged to contribute reposnes or ideas.

There are literally thousdands of topics ranging from the pure junk to some outstanding insightful and articulate dicussions. And of course eveything in between. There are some that are hosted by the very tops in their field and by others who just like to read what they write. Finding the good ones is sometimes a challenge.

One of the blog applications some might consider is a Family Blog. With families dispersing around the country and around the world it is becoming harder and harder to keep everyone abreast of the latest birth or Uncle Pete’s “Hole in One.” Even with cell phones, time zone disparity can make it hard to stay in touch. If you have a large exrtended family you can get very tired of repeating the same news over and over again.

Setting up a family blog is easy and in most cases free. You must have access to a computer and Internet connection. The blogging software and hosting is free. Many people, me included, opt to use Blogspot. This is a free service of our increasingly ubiquitous friends at Google™.

In order to set up your blog on Google just go to https://www.blogger.com/start?hl=en and follow the directions. Google™ does a good job of walking you though the various tasks and getting you going. If you want, you can have an “Open” or a “Closed” blog. An open blog will allow anyone to read and see what you have posted. A closed blog is restricted to those people you have identified as having permission to read and post. For a family blog, you may wish to keep it closed. Remember, if it is “open”, anyone anywhere can read your stuff. So you may not want everyone to learn about that hurried trip uncle Fred had to take to Mexico when those guys in the black suits showed up asking questions at the corner bar. Keeping it closed will restrict access to that and other stories and information to the family.

If you do set up a family blog you need to make sure that all or most of the family members can and will use it. If your family is very computer literate and use email and the web regularly, it will be a great idea. If many in your family are not comfortable with using a computer or check their email once a month whether they need to or not, it might be better to stay away from using a blog.

Another way to use blogs is to find information and like-minded people. Let’s say that your passion is building model airplanes. A search of the blogs dedicated hobby will surface several interesting blogs from people from all over the world. Search for almost any topic. You will be amazed at the diversity of blog subjects.

To search for blogs you can use Google™. Just go to the Google™ home page and click on the “more” button at the top. It will bring up the blog search option.

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Why Not Try Setting Up A Family Blog?

Among the many new ways to communicate spawned by the digital age and the Internet are the millions or blogs that have arrived on the scene over the past decade or so. (You are reading one right now!) For those who may not know, a blog or a web log is a web site that allows someone to post information, ideas, news, views, rants and / or raves for others to read. In most cases the readers are encouraged to contribute reposnes or ideas.

There are literally thousdands of topics ranging from the pure junk to some outstanding insightful and articulate dicussions. And of course eveything in between. There are some that are hosted by the very tops in their field and by others who just like to read what they write. Finding the good ones is sometimes a challenge.

One of the blog applications some might consider is a Family Blog. With families dispersing around the country and around the world it is becoming harder and harder to keep everyone abreast of the latest birth or Uncle Pete’s “Hole in One.” Even with cell phones, time zone disparity can make it hard to stay in touch. If you have a large exrtended family you can get very tired of repeating the same news over and over again.

Setting up a family blog is easy and in most cases free. You must have access to a computer and Internet connection. The blogging software and hosting is free. Many people, me included, opt to use Blogspot. This is a free service of our increasingly ubiquitous friends at Google™.

In order to set up your blog on Google just go to https://www.blogger.com/start?hl=en and follow the directions. Google™ does a good job of walking you though the various tasks and getting you going. If you want, you can have an “Open” or a “Closed” blog. An open blog will allow anyone to read and see what you have posted. A closed blog is restricted to those people you have identified as having permission to read and post. For a family blog, you may wish to keep it closed. Remember, if it is “open”, anyone anywhere can read your stuff. So you may not want everyone to learn about that hurried trip uncle Fred had to take to Mexico when those guys in the black suits showed up asking questions at the corner bar. Keeping it closed will restrict access to that and other stories and information to the family.

If you do set up a family blog you need to make sure that all or most of the family members can and will use it. If your family is very computer literate and use email and the web regularly, it will be a great idea. If many in your family are not comfortable with using a computer or check their email once a month whether they need to or not, it might be better to stay away from using a blog.

Another way to use blogs is to find information and like-minded people. Let’s say that your passion is building model airplanes. A search of the blogs dedicated hobby will surface several interesting blogs from people from all over the world. Search for almost any topic. You will be amazed at the diversity of blog subjects.

To search for blogs you can use Google™. Just go to the Google™ home page and click on the “more” button at the top. It will bring up the blog search option.

Labels: ,