Alert reader Jeff (not me, a different Jeff -- it’s too early for me to be alert) asks:
“I have heard that if you have cable or satellite service, the converter won’t be necessary. Is this true?”
That is true... for now. It isn’t clear to me how much longer cable and satellite providers will be required to support existing analog sets, but the last indication I saw was that it will be at least several years before it becomes an issue to them.
If you’re reaching for the phone to subscribe to a service, hold on... there are some tradeoffs you should consider. First, a disclaimer: I have my own preferences (who doesn’t?), but will make an effort to be objective.
Cable TV:
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Pro: Lots of channels
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Pro: Delivers a good signal to areas that get poor over-the-air reception
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Pro: Local stations are available, some in high definition
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Pro: No antenna, and in many areas no visible wires outside the house
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Pro: Service and repair are generally prompt and easy to arrange
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Con: Substantial monthly fee
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Con: Not available everywhere
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Con: Analog cable quality can be fair-to-poor in some areas
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Con: Power outages or downed wires sometimes disable service
Satellite TV:
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Pro: Lots of channels
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Pro: Delivers a very good signal to areas where over-the-air reception and cable are not available
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Pro: All channels are digitally transmitted, so quality can be quite good
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Pro: Power outages and downed wires aren’t an issue (assuming your own power is on)
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Con: Substantial monthly fee
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Con: The dish antenna is not the most attractive thing to bolt to the side of your house
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Con: Availability of local channels is spotty, and sometimes of inferior technical quality
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Con: Signal can be blocked by heavy rain or snow
Over-the-air digital TV:
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Pro: More program channels than analog
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Pro: No monthly fee
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Pro: Better technical quality than cable or satellite
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Pro: No outdoor wires or dishes in many areas
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Pro: You own and control your own equipment
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Pro: Works with portable receivers
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Con: No “premium” channels
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Con: You are responsible for maintenance and repair
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Con: Some areas make for difficult reception and might need a special antenna
There’s no “right” answer... it comes down to what you expect and what you’re willing to pay for it. In my home we watch over-the-air with an antenna in the attic; the analog signal isn’t terribly good, but I figure we have saved roughly $5,000 since disconnecting the cable about ten years ago. It was a bit tough at first: my wife loves sports and really missed ESPN (she cheers on her team... I count the cameras!). But it’s no big deal now... and there are plenty of other things to do with the time and money. And don’t get me started about the companies that want to sell you “free HD”... in my book, if they decorate my mailbox with a bill once a month, it ain’t free. But that’s my own personal take on it.
The DTV converter box is the best thing to hit our TV since the set came out of its packing box. Before, we got seven full-power analog stations poorly (we’re in the Valley, where it’s Ghost City)... now I get twelve digital sub-channels with no ghosts and no noise. I want to improve our antenna, but already the difference is absolutely amazing... and it cost me less than a single month of subscription TV. I’m thinking that even if I had cable or satellite, I would probably still spring for at least one of these boxes: they’re cheap, and if we have another emergency like the Labor Day storm, the box will keep working even when the cables are down in the road and the dish has been blown two counties away.
Alert reader Jeff also earns double bonus points for catching the typo on Magnavox’s packaging: it does indeed say “PRGRAMS”. It just goes to show how rushed this whole converter box program has been... and also illustrates a fairly common problem with products made in non-English speaking countries. Or perhaps they just didn’t want to buy a vowel. We drp unnecessary lettrs and pass the savngs on to yu! Time for a vowel movement, anyone?
-- Jeff
