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Re: [OM] OT Transition to digital TV (in the US)

Subject: Re: [OM] OT Transition to digital TV (in the US)
From: Mike Lazzari <watershed@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2009 13:21:28 -0800
Thanks for the response.
> If you have the certificate, the box will not cost much, so it's probably 
> worth a try. 
That's what I am thinking. However the research I have done doesn't give 
me much hope. A lot of info at Consumer Reports but it is "urban 
centric" as is most everything else I've found.
<http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/electronics-computers/tvs-services/digital-tv-converter/recommendations-and-notes/digital-tv-converter-boxes-recommendations-and-notes.htm#2>
A decent box recommended by Consumer Reports will cost about $20 above 
the coupon credit.
<http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_e?url=search-alias%3Delectronics&field-keywords=zinwell+zat970a&x=10&y=17>
Whether or not it is true HD doesn't really matter. I'll get HD content 
from other sources.
>  ...has enough error correction to cover up a multitude of interference 
> evils--especially multi-path 
Good to know as that is the main problem as we are sited with low hills 
and trees blocking line of sight to transmission source. Even a very 
high antenna doesn't help much.
> Dish Network has all your local channels...
No it doesn't. Only if you live in an urban area. I'd get Seattle 
channels, over 70mi away. I pay extra if I want all the local 
channels.We're not TV watchers and have no interest in most of the 
product out there. Basically I watch the news, election coverage, 
Olympics, etc. e.g. the Canadian channels were an excellent source of 
info when the US invaded Iraq with "embedded" reporters. So if a dish is 
the only answer I'd be looking at absolute minimal service at the 
cheapest price.  I'd rather spend the $600/yr on a vacation. So far the 
cheapest looks like the basic Spanish language package. You get the news 
and at least the Telenovelas will help with spanish practice as they 
generally speak standard spanish clearly and distinctly and have limited 
vocabulary :-) 
> DSL is a distance limited technology. ADSL (and variants of II, II+) top out
> at around 18,000 feet from the DSL Access Muliplexor 
Yep, We're at the effective limit of  the subscribed service. I could 
pay more for a bigger pipe but the water still drips out. Sounds like 
internet TV is out for a while.
> You've just made the same mistake I did. DVD is 480i/p, not 720. HD is 
> significantly better on HD originated source material.
I bought this box with no expectation of HD TV. A HD tuner isn't even 
included. Anyway HD fuzz looks just like regular old fuzz. But it does 
make full use (up to 1080i) of the HD source material I feed it and CRT 
is a bonus since the main viewing angle is quite wide.
> An important thing to remember is that antenna performance deteriorates with 
> age.
This is why I'm hoping a new antenna might save our bacon. I couldn't 
find any info about expected reception outside urban areas but it may be 
worth a try. It's no fun to lower a 20' mast from the peak of the roof 
though. Especially with a heavy rotor motor on top. That Channelmaster 
4228 8-bay might be the ticket.
> You have neighbors, don't you? Have you tried polling their experience? 
> They may well have collectively tried all the options.
I have one other neighbor with a similar dilemma. The rest take their TV 
via direct injection (satellite) or non at all or don't care. He and his 
family also have no interest in a bazillion channels. He just got his 
set top box but hasn't hooked it up yet. They are on the other side of 
the hill and so in a more favorable situation. I'm awaiting the results.

Thanks,
Mike



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