Analog TV shut off in the United States

[Savonarola]

Great. So it's official, my options are a dish that'll get glitchy whenever there's a thunderstorm (which is pretty common, since I live right on the riverfront) or to pay Comcast the prices those thugs demand, which is pretty ridiculous, considering most of what they do is a soft service.

I'm going to watch UHF in memory of broadcast television later.

If you're in a poor reception area you can get an antenna that's specifically designed for the new frequencies.  The IEEE Spectrum had an article that explains what to look for (warning extreme nerdiness):

http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/consumer-electronics/gadgets/antennas-for-the-new-airwaves

The dead trees version of the Spectrum had a chart with recommended antennae and their ranges.  If you live near a university you should check it out at their engineering library; it's in the February 2009 issue.

[DisturbedPervert]

Old people don't listen.  All they want to do is talk about the Depression and World War II.

At least they have something interesting to talk about.  Watching 9/11 on tv stories are gonna get tired quickly.

[DontSayBanana]

If you're in a poor reception area you can get an antenna that's specifically designed for the new frequencies.  The IEEE Spectrum had an article that explains what to look for (warning extreme nerdiness):

http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/consumer-electronics/gadgets/antennas-for-the-new-airwaves

The dead trees version of the Spectrum had a chart with recommended antennae and their ranges.  If you live near a university you should check it out at their engineering library; it's in the February 2009 issue.

Not too for me. At one point in time, I had the "pringles cantenna" instructions bookmarked, but just never got around to building it.

[saskganesh]

rabbit ears populism forever. I still get six snowy channels.

Atleast until august 31st 2011.

that's cool. I figure by then I should be able to get a lot of programming by free wireless anyway.

[jimmy olsen]

Old people don't listen.  All they want to do is talk about the Depression and World War II.

I wish they wanted to talk about those things, most refuse to.

[Ed Anger]

I'll tell you about the time I faced Charlie down at Da Nang.

[The Brain]

I remember analog TV. It was in the Beforetime, in the Long Long Ago.

[Barrister]

You're all behind the times.

We skipped broadcast tv altogether.  Everyone has cable or satellite.

[DontSayBanana]

You're all behind the times.

We skipped broadcast tv altogether.  Everyone has cable or satellite.

Yeah, well, some of us don't have a prosecutor's salary to throw away on entertainment.

[garbon]

Of course some of us aren't poor, we just have different priorities.

[Caliga]

I'll tell you about the time I faced Charlie down at Da Nang.

When I was in high school I had a friend who had a giant puffy scar on his elbow from this time he wiped out real bad on his bike.  He used to tell people he got the injury during the Tet Offensive.  You're probably that kid.

[Barrister]

You're all behind the times.

We skipped broadcast tv altogether.  Everyone has cable or satellite.

Yeah, well, some of us don't have a prosecutor's salary to throw away on entertainment.

No, I'm serious.  There is no broadcast tv in town.  At.  All.  Never had it.  Cable was more cost-effective than a transmitter by the time they got around to it in the 60s.

But everyone has cable or satellite.  Even the poor people.

[Grinning_Colossus]

Meanwhile,  I feel a great disturbance in the Force. As if millions of old ladies suddenly cried out in terror, and were suddenly grumpy. I fear something terrible has happened. 

Surely Oprah, Jerry, Geraldo et. al. have already told them what to do? 

To say nothing of the aliens, who many not understand Geraldo and Oprah. They're going to think we all died.

[lustindarkness]

Analog? Digital? What change are you talking about? Why was this change not announced before? They had to give us time to get ready. 

[derspiess]

Since the prices finally went down to the value of the coupon, I finally used my 2 coupons to buy the converter boxes at Target a couple weeks ago. 

I have digital cable, so I don't *need* them, but they may come in handy if I ever need to fire up my old analog TVs for whatever reason (e.g., watching 3 different football games in the garage ).