Don't Throw Away that Old TV...Yet

Here's the easy part:

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has mandated an end to analog broadcasting on February 17, 2009.

Now the confusing part:

This mandate is for all the full powered broadcast stations.  In other words, if you have an indoor (rabbit ears) or outdoor antenna that receives an over-the-air (OTA) signal...not cable...not satellite...but an actual antenna, then you will not get any picture on your analog television set after February 17, 2009.  If you are hooked up to a cable or satellite service or other system (your own satellite dish) you will not be affected by the analog shutoff.

If you aren't confused now...read on:

Although full power analog stations will be mandated to shut down on February 17, 2009, the FCC has not made any rulings regarding TV Translator stations, which PBS Hawaii operates on Kauai and the Big Island and other commercial broadcasters operate in various areas throughout the Hawaiian Islands.  Those transmission systems are on a voluntary changeover mandate until the FCC makes a ruling for a cutoff date.  Unfortunately, operating a dual system (analog and digital) becomes cost prohibitive for us and thus PBS Hawaii will begin digital translator service on or shortly after the February 17, 2009 analog shutoff date and shutoff its analog service.  You will need to call the other commercial stations to find out what there plans are.

Finally to make things crazier:

The federal government is proposing to subsidize the American public who uses an OTA signal in the purchase of a converter box.  This box will use the digital signal of a station (if you can still receive it - this topic to be explained on a later posting) and convert it to an analog signal so that you may still use your old analog television set to view an OTA signal.  It will be a very basic converter box and will cost around $60 - $100.  The proposed subsidy will be about $40 and each household will be allowed two coupons, which cannot be combined to buy a better converter box.

I hope this helps somewhat, and as more information becomes available, I'll pass them along in this blog.

Comments

[Bob Gonsalves]

Appreciate this blog. Its a great step to communicate about the often chaotic programming on PBS-HD. I'm one of those who periodically record (on a computer) blocks of after-midnight programming so I can watch the beautiful stuff later. All that works well. However, there seems to be a complete disconnect from the posted schedule; I do know there are problems with your retrieving the programs (most likely from Oregon OPB --- they post wonderful schedules). Now, is there any way, in an overture to PBS Hawaii users, that we could see any schedule changes posted? Right now, since I can't trust the HD.pdf post, I just record a 3-4hr block, hoping I can get the desired program. It's a hit or miss proposition, but I bet others with DVRs do likewise!
Thanks for your wonderful info.