Some Audio Problems Can Be Fixed

One of the questions I often get now that we are finally and totally converted to digital broadcasting has to do with the increased frequency of audio problems on TV programs? The most prevalent and irritating problems are the increased instances of lip sync errors. We have all experienced it. The person speaking and the audio track are not in sync. Sometimes it is so pronounced and distracting that it makes the program unwatchable. Watching a drummer hit the drum or guitarist strum a chord only to hear the lick 2 seconds later is not pretty.

In the old days, before digital broadcasting, most often lip sync problems were caused by the circuitous path the video program traveled from its source to your living room. For example, news reports coming from Europe or Asia, because they were being transmitted using two or more satellite hops, had many incidents of audio delay and audio / video separation.

Today’s problems seem to be more pronounced and harder to fix. In the analog days the audio and video for a TV program were transmitter separately to your TV. They were joined inside the TV set. With digital, from the very beginning, the audio and video are all part of one stream of “1”s and “0”s and once joined they can’t easily be pulled apart. So if the audio is out of sync at the source there is virtually nothing you can do to fix it.

There are some instances where the problem is in your TV set or cable set top box. I have noticed that with some Time Warner set top cable boxes when a program has a lip sync problem you can fix it by powering down the cable box for a few seconds and then turning it back on. I am betting that this is a bug in the box where by its buffer gets filled. Turning it off clears the buffer. I am not sure, but my fix does work. I have tried this on some digital TVs as well with mixed success.

Another audio issue is the varying audio level or loudness. This is often experienced when a station switches from the network to a local source. The most pronounced is on Channel 12’s second channel The CW. When they go to the 10 PM news the audio level jumps almost 50%. Why? Because someone is not paying attention at the station.

Here is hoping that stations and networks will begin to pay as much attention to what we hear as they do to what we see.

Some Audio Problems Can Be Fixed

One of the questions I often get now that we are finally and totally converted to digital broadcasting has to do with the increased frequency of audio problems on TV programs? The most prevalent and irritating problems are the increased instances of lip sync errors. We have all experienced it. The person speaking and the audio track are not in sync. Sometimes it is so pronounced and distracting that it makes the program unwatchable. Watching a drummer hit the drum or guitarist strum a chord only to hear the lick 2 seconds later is not pretty.

In the old days, before digital broadcasting, most often lip sync problems were caused by the circuitous path the video program traveled from its source to your living room. For example, news reports coming from Europe or Asia, because they were being transmitted using two or more satellite hops, had many incidents of audio delay and audio / video separation.

Today’s problems seem to be more pronounced and harder to fix. In the analog days the audio and video for a TV program were transmitter separately to your TV. They were joined inside the TV set. With digital, from the very beginning, the audio and video are all part of one stream of “1”s and “0”s and once joined they can’t easily be pulled apart. So if the audio is out of sync at the source there is virtually nothing you can do to fix it.

There are some instances where the problem is in your TV set or cable set top box. I have noticed that with some Time Warner set top cable boxes when a program has a lip sync problem you can fix it by powering down the cable box for a few seconds and then turning it back on. I am betting that this is a bug in the box where by its buffer gets filled. Turning it off clears the buffer. I am not sure, but my fix does work. I have tried this on some digital TVs as well with mixed success.

Another audio issue is the varying audio level or loudness. This is often experienced when a station switches from the network to a local source. The most pronounced is on Channel 12’s second channel The CW. When they go to the 10 PM news the audio level jumps almost 50%. Why? Because someone is not paying attention at the station.

Here is hoping that stations and networks will begin to pay as much attention to what we hear as they do to what we see.

DTV Reception Help.

Now that the digital dust has settled a bit and all local TV stations have abandoned their analog channels for the new fangled digital replacement channels, there are still many people who are having problems receiving the transmissions over-the-air using an antenna. After reading and listening to all the expert opinions and recommendations, it is no wonder that many people are confused and, in some cases, frustrated. I thought I would add to the dialog and provide some information that may help you if you are having problems getting all the local channels using an antenna. Cable and satellite subscribers can stop reading right now.

While digital and analog over-the-air TV transmissions use essentially the same technology, digital signals are more prone to problems than the analog. Problems with analog TV reception appeared on your TV as “snow” or “ghosting.” Problems with digital signals are much more evident. They result in no picture or sound at all.

No matter if you have a new digital TV or are using a set top converter box, the key to good reception is the antenna. Depending on where you live, you may either be able to use a standard “rabbit ears” antenna or you will need something more sensitive. If you get good reception on all the channels, great. If you don’t, here are some tips.

Make sure that your antenna is designed to receive both UHF and VHF signals. While most digital broadcasting is done in the UHF band, in Cincinnati channels 9 and 12 use VHF. If your antenna has both a round loop and two telescoping rods, it is a UHF/VHF model for sure. But there are many new designs so read the box if you are buying a new one.

Try an amplified set top antenna. This often will do the trick for people living in our area, i.e., about 25 miles from most of the TV transmitters. Keep in mind, though, that amplified antennas and digital signals are strange bedfellows. This might seem counterintuitive, but if you are having problems and already are using an amplified antenna, turn it off. Strange as it is, too much signal is as bad as too little signal. The amplifier almost always helped analog signals but not so digital signals. Always start with no amplifier and then add it if you are not getting the channels.

A better antenna can also help. While there is no such thing as an HDTV antenna, there are many new designs for antennas that make them more sensitive and therefore better for digital broadcast applications. Some of them look nothing like the ones we used in our youth….you know, we attached aluminum foil to them in order to get “Bonanza” to come in clearly. Manufactures like Terk have a wide selection of both indoor and outdoor models.

Speaking of outdoor models... For sure, a good outdoor antenna pointed toward downtown Cincinnati will be your best option. You can get unbiased suggestions for the right antenna for your location at www.antennweb.org. Just type in your zip code and it will give you good advice.

Finally, there are some locations that no amount of amplification or antenna design or height will overcome. I hope you are not in one of these areas but, if you are, cable or satellite are your only options.

DTV Reception Help.

Now that the digital dust has settled a bit and all local TV stations have abandoned their analog channels for the new fangled digital replacement channels, there are still many people who are having problems receiving the transmissions over-the-air using an antenna. After reading and listening to all the expert opinions and recommendations, it is no wonder that many people are confused and, in some cases, frustrated. I thought I would add to the dialog and provide some information that may help you if you are having problems getting all the local channels using an antenna. Cable and satellite subscribers can stop reading right now.

While digital and analog over-the-air TV transmissions use essentially the same technology, digital signals are more prone to problems than the analog. Problems with analog TV reception appeared on your TV as “snow” or “ghosting.” Problems with digital signals are much more evident. They result in no picture or sound at all.

No matter if you have a new digital TV or are using a set top converter box, the key to good reception is the antenna. Depending on where you live, you may either be able to use a standard “rabbit ears” antenna or you will need something more sensitive. If you get good reception on all the channels, great. If you don’t, here are some tips.

Make sure that your antenna is designed to receive both UHF and VHF signals. While most digital broadcasting is done in the UHF band, in Cincinnati channels 9 and 12 use VHF. If your antenna has both a round loop and two telescoping rods, it is a UHF/VHF model for sure. But there are many new designs so read the box if you are buying a new one.

Try an amplified set top antenna. This often will do the trick for people living in our area, i.e., about 25 miles from most of the TV transmitters. Keep in mind, though, that amplified antennas and digital signals are strange bedfellows. This might seem counterintuitive, but if you are having problems and already are using an amplified antenna, turn it off. Strange as it is, too much signal is as bad as too little signal. The amplifier almost always helped analog signals but not so digital signals. Always start with no amplifier and then add it if you are not getting the channels.

A better antenna can also help. While there is no such thing as an HDTV antenna, there are many new designs for antennas that make them more sensitive and therefore better for digital broadcast applications. Some of them look nothing like the ones we used in our youth….you know, we attached aluminum foil to them in order to get “Bonanza” to come in clearly. Manufactures like Terk have a wide selection of both indoor and outdoor models.

Speaking of outdoor models... For sure, a good outdoor antenna pointed toward downtown Cincinnati will be your best option. You can get unbiased suggestions for the right antenna for your location at www.antennweb.org. Just type in your zip code and it will give you good advice.

Finally, there are some locations that no amount of amplification or antenna design or height will overcome. I hope you are not in one of these areas but, if you are, cable or satellite are your only options.

When All Else Fails, READ the Directions

I have written often about the increased complexity of new consumer electronic devices. From cell phones to televisions, manufactures continue to incorporate more and more features into the devices. As a result they can be vexing for those of us without advanced degrees in electrical engineering. While some are better than others, the printed manuals are often not clear. Don’t get me started on the customer support hot lines.

Over the past few weeks my colleagues at CET and I have been taking more and more calls and emails asking for help with digital television questions. It is surprising to me how many individuals seem to have the same issues. I thought I would share some of them with you since it may help you or someone you know.

For fifty years or more, we American consumers were accustomed to selecting a TV. We brought it home and plugged it in and sat down and enjoyed our program. In the early days we may have had to adjust a few dials to keep the picture from rolling or move the rabbit ears a few inches to the right to clear up the picture. All in all it was painless.

Today’s digital TVs, while they may look on the outside like their ancient cousins, are not as easy to set up. I have talked to more than 20 people over the last month about problems they were having with their new digital TV set only to discover that they had never set it up correctly when they took it out of the box.

Most new sets can’t just be plugged in and turned on. There is an initial set up that allows the set to scan for available channels, set up proper screen size and shape, display captioning and program information, and even the amount of time it will stay turned on before it decides to turn itself off.

All of these features, if not set up correctly at first, will cause frustration. For example many I have talked to paid a high price for a large plasma high definition TV but, since they did not set it up correctly, have never actually been watching digital high definition programming. When we “talk” them through the set up and the picture switches to HD, they react like little kids at Christmas.

Then there are the people who call to ask why the TV works only for three hours and then goes dark? There is nothing wrong with the TV. The energy saving function is set for a certain time after which, if a channel has not been changed or some other action performed, it turns off. This is an “Energy Star” feature. Again, you need to set up the time the set stays on when you first set up the TV.

My advice, as bad as the manuals may be and as eager as you might be to enjoy your new TV, take the time to sit down and read through the manual … or get that electrical engineering degree.

When All Else Fails, READ the Directions

I have written often about the increased complexity of new consumer electronic devices. From cell phones to televisions, manufactures continue to incorporate more and more features into the devices. As a result they can be vexing for those of us without advanced degrees in electrical engineering. While some are better than others, the printed manuals are often not clear. Don’t get me started on the customer support hot lines.

Over the past few weeks my colleagues at CET and I have been taking more and more calls and emails asking for help with digital television questions. It is surprising to me how many individuals seem to have the same issues. I thought I would share some of them with you since it may help you or someone you know.

For fifty years or more, we American consumers were accustomed to selecting a TV. We brought it home and plugged it in and sat down and enjoyed our program. In the early days we may have had to adjust a few dials to keep the picture from rolling or move the rabbit ears a few inches to the right to clear up the picture. All in all it was painless.

Today’s digital TVs, while they may look on the outside like their ancient cousins, are not as easy to set up. I have talked to more than 20 people over the last month about problems they were having with their new digital TV set only to discover that they had never set it up correctly when they took it out of the box.

Most new sets can’t just be plugged in and turned on. There is an initial set up that allows the set to scan for available channels, set up proper screen size and shape, display captioning and program information, and even the amount of time it will stay turned on before it decides to turn itself off.

All of these features, if not set up correctly at first, will cause frustration. For example many I have talked to paid a high price for a large plasma high definition TV but, since they did not set it up correctly, have never actually been watching digital high definition programming. When we “talk” them through the set up and the picture switches to HD, they react like little kids at Christmas.

Then there are the people who call to ask why the TV works only for three hours and then goes dark? There is nothing wrong with the TV. The energy saving function is set for a certain time after which, if a channel has not been changed or some other action performed, it turns off. This is an “Energy Star” feature. Again, you need to set up the time the set stays on when you first set up the TV.

My advice, as bad as the manuals may be and as eager as you might be to enjoy your new TV, take the time to sit down and read through the manual … or get that electrical engineering degree.

CET Pulls Analog Plug May 1st

I have been writing about the end of analog broadcasting for more then three years. The first deadline for conversion to 100% digital broadcasting came and went last February because Congress felt the country was not ready for the change. They set the final deadline for June, but allowed stations to terminate analog service earlier. On April 15th the KET network, covering all public TV stations in Kentucky, went all digital and on this coming Friday, May 1 at 12:01 AM, all local Public Stations - CET 48, ThinkTV 14 in Cincinnati and ThinkTV16 in Dayton - will go all digital.

So are you ready? As I have written so many times, if you are a cable subscriber or get your TV from a satellite provider, this is a non issue for you. If you have a new digital set and use an antenna (set-top rabbit ears or outdoor roof-top) you already are getting the digital signals. For those who want to keep using their trusty old 1985 Sony, you can use a DTV converter.

Here are a few updates to help you get ready:

You can still obtain up to 2 coupons per household from the Federal Government. Each coupon is worth $40 toward the purchase of a DTV converter. The converters are available in most electronics stores and cost about $60. So with the coupon you can buy one for about $20. To get a coupon call 808-388-2009 or go online to www.dtv2009.gov.

Locally Channel 64 is already broadcasting only in digital and the other commercial stations will cease analog broadcasting in mid June.

Most people will get good over-the-air reception with a set top UHF/VHF antenna. Some who live in valleys might need an outdoor antenna. Don’t automatically go for an amplified antenna since with digital broadcasting, too much signal can be as bad as too little.

All the local TV stations are already broadcasting at full power so what you get now is what you will get after all the analog stations go away. There is no reason to wait.

Don’t forget, when you wake up Friday morning public TV in the Cincinnati / Dayton area will be digital only.

CET Pulls Analog Plug May 1st

I have been writing about the end of analog broadcasting for more then three years. The first deadline for conversion to 100% digital broadcasting came and went last February because Congress felt the country was not ready for the change. They set the final deadline for June, but allowed stations to terminate analog service earlier. On April 15th the KET network, covering all public TV stations in Kentucky, went all digital and on this coming Friday, May 1 at 12:01 AM, all local Public Stations - CET 48, ThinkTV 14 in Cincinnati and ThinkTV16 in Dayton - will go all digital.

So are you ready? As I have written so many times, if you are a cable subscriber or get your TV from a satellite provider, this is a non issue for you. If you have a new digital set and use an antenna (set-top rabbit ears or outdoor roof-top) you already are getting the digital signals. For those who want to keep using their trusty old 1985 Sony, you can use a DTV converter.

Here are a few updates to help you get ready:

You can still obtain up to 2 coupons per household from the Federal Government. Each coupon is worth $40 toward the purchase of a DTV converter. The converters are available in most electronics stores and cost about $60. So with the coupon you can buy one for about $20. To get a coupon call 808-388-2009 or go online to www.dtv2009.gov.

Locally Channel 64 is already broadcasting only in digital and the other commercial stations will cease analog broadcasting in mid June.

Most people will get good over-the-air reception with a set top UHF/VHF antenna. Some who live in valleys might need an outdoor antenna. Don’t automatically go for an amplified antenna since with digital broadcasting, too much signal can be as bad as too little.

All the local TV stations are already broadcasting at full power so what you get now is what you will get after all the analog stations go away. There is no reason to wait.

Don’t forget, when you wake up Friday morning public TV in the Cincinnati / Dayton area will be digital only.

Hurry Up and Wait for DTV

Well, by now I had hoped that I wouldn’t be writing any more about Digital Television and I would not be at all surprised if you were wishing the same thing. For more than two years I have been periodically discussing the end of analog broadcasting which was to have happened at the stroke of midnight, February 17th. In the Late 90’s our leaders in Washington had decided that all full power TV stations in the US would broadcast exclusively in digital format. As you know by know, a week or so before that cut off date, Congress and our new President decided that the US TV viewers were still not ready for the switch. They drew a new line in the sand for midnight June 12th. So what happened?

First of all, unless you live in a cave with no TV at all, you could not have missed the saturation of TV spots, on-screen text messages and almost weekly newspaper columns warning you that if you receive TV using an antenna and analog TV you needed to make some changes. Well, according to surveys, some 10% of us did not pay attention and were not equipped to continue to watch TV after the switch.

Adding to the ill-prepared populace’s frustration, the Federal program that was to provide coupons toward the purchase of set top DTV converters ran out of money leaving millions waiting to buy the required devices. And the icing on the cake was that many who had purchased a new TV or set top converter were having problems getting them to work properly.

So where do we stand in Cincinnati? All full power TV stations, except Channel 64, are continuing to broadcast in both analog and digital formats so your old unmodified TV will still work. All local stations plan to cease analog operation no latter that June 12th. Some may decide to go off earlier in April or May.

What should you do? If you are a cable or satellite service subscriber you need do nothing. Those services will do all the conversion for you. If you have a new digital TV with an antenna and it is currently receiving the digital channels, you too are in good shape. You need to do nothing.

If you are still receiving TV using your old set and an antenna (indoor rabbit ears or outdoor roof top) you need to act. Of course you can subscribe to cable or satellite, or buy a new TV. The least expensive way to assure that it does not snow on your TV screen on June 13th is to get a DTV converter. When you get it, connect it right away. All your favorite programs and many more are being broadcast locally in digital. There is no reason to wait. By connecting it now you will see right away if you need to adjust your antenna or get a new one.

If you have not requested coupons or (AND THIS IS NEW) if your coupons expired before you used them, you can request them now. The new stimulus bill added funds to the Coupon Program. You can request two $40 coupons per household on line at www.dtv2009.gov or by phone at 888-388-2009.

It is unlikely that the deadline will be extended again, I think, perhaps, maybe, who knows?

Hurry Up and Wait for DTV

Well, by now I had hoped that I wouldn’t be writing any more about Digital Television and I would not be at all surprised if you were wishing the same thing. For more than two years I have been periodically discussing the end of analog broadcasting which was to have happened at the stroke of midnight, February 17th. In the Late 90’s our leaders in Washington had decided that all full power TV stations in the US would broadcast exclusively in digital format. As you know by know, a week or so before that cut off date, Congress and our new President decided that the US TV viewers were still not ready for the switch. They drew a new line in the sand for midnight June 12th. So what happened?

First of all, unless you live in a cave with no TV at all, you could not have missed the saturation of TV spots, on-screen text messages and almost weekly newspaper columns warning you that if you receive TV using an antenna and analog TV you needed to make some changes. Well, according to surveys, some 10% of us did not pay attention and were not equipped to continue to watch TV after the switch.

Adding to the ill-prepared populace’s frustration, the Federal program that was to provide coupons toward the purchase of set top DTV converters ran out of money leaving millions waiting to buy the required devices. And the icing on the cake was that many who had purchased a new TV or set top converter were having problems getting them to work properly.

So where do we stand in Cincinnati? All full power TV stations, except Channel 64, are continuing to broadcast in both analog and digital formats so your old unmodified TV will still work. All local stations plan to cease analog operation no latter that June 12th. Some may decide to go off earlier in April or May.

What should you do? If you are a cable or satellite service subscriber you need do nothing. Those services will do all the conversion for you. If you have a new digital TV with an antenna and it is currently receiving the digital channels, you too are in good shape. You need to do nothing.

If you are still receiving TV using your old set and an antenna (indoor rabbit ears or outdoor roof top) you need to act. Of course you can subscribe to cable or satellite, or buy a new TV. The least expensive way to assure that it does not snow on your TV screen on June 13th is to get a DTV converter. When you get it, connect it right away. All your favorite programs and many more are being broadcast locally in digital. There is no reason to wait. By connecting it now you will see right away if you need to adjust your antenna or get a new one.

If you have not requested coupons or (AND THIS IS NEW) if your coupons expired before you used them, you can request them now. The new stimulus bill added funds to the Coupon Program. You can request two $40 coupons per household on line at www.dtv2009.gov or by phone at 888-388-2009.

It is unlikely that the deadline will be extended again, I think, perhaps, maybe, who knows?

Looking to 2009

Last time I reported on the predictions I made about a year ago concerning electronic products and services that would be developed during 2008. As we begin another year I am going to go out on a limb again and put in writing my 2009 predictions. Perhaps with some fresh batteries installed in my LED powered crystal ball, I’ll get more right than wrong.

Much to my consternation as a manager of a broadcast TV station, I don’t see the upcoming analog TV broadcasting shut down as going smoothly. For sure, the majority who are using cable or satellite services on February 17th will find that the event will be a non-event. Nevertheless, there are still many people who receive TV over-the-air using an antenna who are looking at this change as a sort of Y2K non-event. In other words they don’t need to worry about it. When they wake up on Wednesday morning, February 18th, and “Today Show” is not there they may feel differently. Look for the days and weeks following the cut off to be a great time to be in the antenna and digital set top TV converter business. Seriously, if you know someone who may be unaware of what they need to do - perhaps the elderly lady at church or the nice old man down the street - ask if they need help getting a converter.

Big is not always better. Look for electronic products to continue to shrink in size. Nanotechnology will be a hot area during 2009. The ability of engineers and designers to pack into very small packages a host of applications and machines is nothing short of awesome. Especially in medicine, there will be introduced a whole generation of small machines designed to be implanted in the body to perform some task of diagnosis. This miniaturization will also allow mobile phones and mp3 audio devices to get smaller with storage capacities ballooning.

Speaking of storage. Look for the cost of all digital storage to continue to go down. Once only the province of data centers at P&G or GE, disk drives measured in terabytes will be available in stores in the $100 price range.

GPS technology will continue to be integrated into all sorts of mobile devices. Keeping taps on the toddler in the park, the teen at the mall or Fido in the back yard will continue to be easier with small homing devices. Look for more mobile phone networks to adopt a clone of the iPhone tracking software that allows iPhone users to see where friends and colleagues are located at any given time. Yes, you can turn it off.

Mobile video will also get a push this year. As broadcasters finish the conversion to all digital transmission, some will begin to use a portion of the signal to send video programming to mobile and hand held devices. The technology has been in test mode for about a year and will be rolled out in some 20 markets nationwide during 2009. The adoption by consumers of this technology will be based on how well broadcasters can fashion programming that is appropriate for the small hand held screen. Also, I see the adoption of this technology as geographically dependant. For example, in New York or other cities that have the majority of commuters using public transportation, the ability to watch a news program while sitting on a bus or train en route to or from work would most likely be a viable service. I think the jury is still out for other applications and the willingness of consumers to pay or advertisers to embrace.

One of the outside influences that may slow down the distribution of these and other products and services during the coming year is the flagging world economy. Already we have the major manufacturers like Sony, Samsung and LG announcing cuts in exports to the US and other major markets. The “gee whiz” products will most likely not get the attention of a consumer base concerned about mortgage and car payments.

In 12 months we’ll see how I did. Happy New Year!

Looking to 2009

Last time I reported on the predictions I made about a year ago concerning electronic products and services that would be developed during 2008. As we begin another year I am going to go out on a limb again and put in writing my 2009 predictions. Perhaps with some fresh batteries installed in my LED powered crystal ball, I’ll get more right than wrong.

Much to my consternation as a manager of a broadcast TV station, I don’t see the upcoming analog TV broadcasting shut down as going smoothly. For sure, the majority who are using cable or satellite services on February 17th will find that the event will be a non-event. Nevertheless, there are still many people who receive TV over-the-air using an antenna who are looking at this change as a sort of Y2K non-event. In other words they don’t need to worry about it. When they wake up on Wednesday morning, February 18th, and “Today Show” is not there they may feel differently. Look for the days and weeks following the cut off to be a great time to be in the antenna and digital set top TV converter business. Seriously, if you know someone who may be unaware of what they need to do - perhaps the elderly lady at church or the nice old man down the street - ask if they need help getting a converter.

Big is not always better. Look for electronic products to continue to shrink in size. Nanotechnology will be a hot area during 2009. The ability of engineers and designers to pack into very small packages a host of applications and machines is nothing short of awesome. Especially in medicine, there will be introduced a whole generation of small machines designed to be implanted in the body to perform some task of diagnosis. This miniaturization will also allow mobile phones and mp3 audio devices to get smaller with storage capacities ballooning.

Speaking of storage. Look for the cost of all digital storage to continue to go down. Once only the province of data centers at P&G or GE, disk drives measured in terabytes will be available in stores in the $100 price range.

GPS technology will continue to be integrated into all sorts of mobile devices. Keeping taps on the toddler in the park, the teen at the mall or Fido in the back yard will continue to be easier with small homing devices. Look for more mobile phone networks to adopt a clone of the iPhone tracking software that allows iPhone users to see where friends and colleagues are located at any given time. Yes, you can turn it off.

Mobile video will also get a push this year. As broadcasters finish the conversion to all digital transmission, some will begin to use a portion of the signal to send video programming to mobile and hand held devices. The technology has been in test mode for about a year and will be rolled out in some 20 markets nationwide during 2009. The adoption by consumers of this technology will be based on how well broadcasters can fashion programming that is appropriate for the small hand held screen. Also, I see the adoption of this technology as geographically dependant. For example, in New York or other cities that have the majority of commuters using public transportation, the ability to watch a news program while sitting on a bus or train en route to or from work would most likely be a viable service. I think the jury is still out for other applications and the willingness of consumers to pay or advertisers to embrace.

One of the outside influences that may slow down the distribution of these and other products and services during the coming year is the flagging world economy. Already we have the major manufacturers like Sony, Samsung and LG announcing cuts in exports to the US and other major markets. The “gee whiz” products will most likely not get the attention of a consumer base concerned about mortgage and car payments.

In 12 months we’ll see how I did. Happy New Year!

Less than 90 Days To Get Ready For Digital Broadcasting

There are less than 90 days until the US ceases analog TV broadcasting. I have written often about this subject over the last year but the questions that I continue to get reinforce the fact that many are still somewhat confused about what this change will mean to them.

To summarize … at midnight February 17, 2009, all full power TV stations in the US will turn off all analog TV transmitters and continue broadcasting using only digital signals. For most TV viewers this will be a non-event since most receive TV using cable or satellite services. These services will do all the necessary conversion allowing you to continue to use your old analog TV set. You need do nothing!

For those who receive TV using an antenna, there are three options available. You can subscribe to cable or satellite. You can purchase a new TV set with a digital tuner built in. You can purchase a DTV converter for your analog set.

As we get closer to the deadline I have noticed more and more disinformation and half truths coming from some unscrupulous retailers. Several people have related to me that a salesperson has insisted that they must purchase an expensive high definition TV or they will lose all TV this February. I have also seen some direct mail pieces from cable and satellite companies that lead the reader to believe that only cable and satellite provide digital programming and you must upgrade to the digital or HD service before February 17th.

Both the statements are wrong. You don’t have to spend a lot of money for a digital TV set. There are sets available for less the $200. While these inexpensive sets will not have giant screens and they will not be high definition, they will receive all the digital broadcasts and in most cases be superior to any analog set.

If you subscribe to a cable or satellite service today, you do not need to upgrade to a more expensive tier of service unless you want to have an HD service. If you are using your existing analog set, there is no reason to upgrade. You analog TV can’t display HD.

For those who do get a DTV converter and continue to use an antenna, you will have access to many more local channels and the picture on your analog set will never look better. The converters were hard to find last summer but my recent visit to several big box retailers found many selections available for about $59.00 or less. It is not too late to get two $40 coupons from the Federal Government. Just call 888-388-2009 or go to the web www.dtv2009.gov.

A little preparation now will assure a smooth transition next February.

Less than 90 Days To Get Ready For Digital Broadcasting

There are less than 90 days until the US ceases analog TV broadcasting. I have written often about this subject over the last year but the questions that I continue to get reinforce the fact that many are still somewhat confused about what this change will mean to them.

To summarize … at midnight February 17, 2009, all full power TV stations in the US will turn off all analog TV transmitters and continue broadcasting using only digital signals. For most TV viewers this will be a non-event since most receive TV using cable or satellite services. These services will do all the necessary conversion allowing you to continue to use your old analog TV set. You need do nothing!

For those who receive TV using an antenna, there are three options available. You can subscribe to cable or satellite. You can purchase a new TV set with a digital tuner built in. You can purchase a DTV converter for your analog set.

As we get closer to the deadline I have noticed more and more disinformation and half truths coming from some unscrupulous retailers. Several people have related to me that a salesperson has insisted that they must purchase an expensive high definition TV or they will lose all TV this February. I have also seen some direct mail pieces from cable and satellite companies that lead the reader to believe that only cable and satellite provide digital programming and you must upgrade to the digital or HD service before February 17th.

Both the statements are wrong. You don’t have to spend a lot of money for a digital TV set. There are sets available for less the $200. While these inexpensive sets will not have giant screens and they will not be high definition, they will receive all the digital broadcasts and in most cases be superior to any analog set.

If you subscribe to a cable or satellite service today, you do not need to upgrade to a more expensive tier of service unless you want to have an HD service. If you are using your existing analog set, there is no reason to upgrade. You analog TV can’t display HD.

For those who do get a DTV converter and continue to use an antenna, you will have access to many more local channels and the picture on your analog set will never look better. The converters were hard to find last summer but my recent visit to several big box retailers found many selections available for about $59.00 or less. It is not too late to get two $40 coupons from the Federal Government. Just call 888-388-2009 or go to the web www.dtv2009.gov.

A little preparation now will assure a smooth transition next February.

What We Can Learn From Wilmington, NC

At the stroke on noon, Monday, September 8th, the residents on Wilmington, NC, became the first in the nation to see what it is like without TV. Well, not exactly, they were the first city in the nation to officially turn off the over-the-air analog TV broadcasting transmitters. This was part of a test conducted by the FCC to ascertain what might happen when the rest of the nation wakes up on Wednesday, February 18, 2009 to find that their analog over-the-air TV is no more.

The major TV stations in Wilmington ceased broadcasting analog signals after an extensive educational campaign. The campaign, which lasted months, urged over-the-air viewers to get ready for the switch by purchasing DTV converters, replacing old sets with new digital TVs or subscribing to a cable or satellite service. The campaign used TV and radio spots, newspaper articles, in–person presentations at churches, PTAs and other civic gatherings and even paid advertising in newspapers and magazines.

So what happened? The good news is that for most people it was a non event. Of course for those with cable or satellite services (the vast majority of TV viewers) there was no difference. For most of the over-the-air viewers, since they had heeded the warnings and prepared, it was also a non event. Nevertheless some 1500 called the hot line in the hours following the shut off. Many were confused. Others were angry that their inalienable right to watch “Wheel of Fortune” was compromised.

It is this last group that the federal government and the TV broadcasters are concerned about. This group is made up of procrastinators, those who may have trouble understanding what they need to do and a few who think that if they ignore a problem it will go away.

The phone bank reported that the two major issues among those who had purchased a DTV converter was that they waited till the last minute to connect it and for those who did connect it, the antenna that they were using was not appropriate for their location. So, they got none or only a few of the digital channels.

I know I sound like a broken record (for those who don’t know a “broken record “ refers to an old recording device using a plastic platter, that once damaged, would repeat the same section of the song over and over again) but NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE YOUR SWITCH TO DIGITAL. If you are going to use DVT converters, get your coupons ( www.dtv2009.gov ) and purchase them now. Connect them now. You will not miss any of the programs you now enjoy since they are all being simulcast on the digital channels now. In fact you will have access to several new channels with a digital converter or new digital TV set..

By changing NOW to digital you will have the chance to identify any problems. For example, you may need a different antenna or need to move your existing antenna. Around these parts it is much easier to do that up on the roof in September or October than it is in January of February. Also trying to get professional help or DTV converters on February 18th will be a hassle at best.

What We Can Learn From Wilmington, NC

At the stroke on noon, Monday, September 8th, the residents on Wilmington, NC, became the first in the nation to see what it is like without TV. Well, not exactly, they were the first city in the nation to officially turn off the over-the-air analog TV broadcasting transmitters. This was part of a test conducted by the FCC to ascertain what might happen when the rest of the nation wakes up on Wednesday, February 18, 2009 to find that their analog over-the-air TV is no more.

The major TV stations in Wilmington ceased broadcasting analog signals after an extensive educational campaign. The campaign, which lasted months, urged over-the-air viewers to get ready for the switch by purchasing DTV converters, replacing old sets with new digital TVs or subscribing to a cable or satellite service. The campaign used TV and radio spots, newspaper articles, in–person presentations at churches, PTAs and other civic gatherings and even paid advertising in newspapers and magazines.

So what happened? The good news is that for most people it was a non event. Of course for those with cable or satellite services (the vast majority of TV viewers) there was no difference. For most of the over-the-air viewers, since they had heeded the warnings and prepared, it was also a non event. Nevertheless some 1500 called the hot line in the hours following the shut off. Many were confused. Others were angry that their inalienable right to watch “Wheel of Fortune” was compromised.

It is this last group that the federal government and the TV broadcasters are concerned about. This group is made up of procrastinators, those who may have trouble understanding what they need to do and a few who think that if they ignore a problem it will go away.

The phone bank reported that the two major issues among those who had purchased a DTV converter was that they waited till the last minute to connect it and for those who did connect it, the antenna that they were using was not appropriate for their location. So, they got none or only a few of the digital channels.

I know I sound like a broken record (for those who don’t know a “broken record “ refers to an old recording device using a plastic platter, that once damaged, would repeat the same section of the song over and over again) but NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE YOUR SWITCH TO DIGITAL. If you are going to use DVT converters, get your coupons ( www.dtv2009.gov ) and purchase them now. Connect them now. You will not miss any of the programs you now enjoy since they are all being simulcast on the digital channels now. In fact you will have access to several new channels with a digital converter or new digital TV set..

By changing NOW to digital you will have the chance to identify any problems. For example, you may need a different antenna or need to move your existing antenna. Around these parts it is much easier to do that up on the roof in September or October than it is in January of February. Also trying to get professional help or DTV converters on February 18th will be a hassle at best.

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.

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.

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.

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.