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Say "adios" to your rabbit-ears TV

Most of you already know that if you have an analog television, (roof-top antenna or "rabbit ears" on the TV) you will soon have to get rid of it. As of February 17, 2009 these type of TV's will be of no use, everyone has to convert to digital TV. This was a mandate by Congress, that all television programming must be digital after Feb. 17. However, if you have an analog television, you will need a digital-to-analog converter box to continue to watch broadcast television on that set. This converter box will also enable you to see any additional multicast programming that your local stations may be offering.

The federal government has come up with a coupon program called "Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon" to help consumers with this transition. Everyone is eligible to receive up to 2 coupons, worth $40 each toward the purchase of eligible digital converter boxes. Coupons are not available just, from what I've been reading, they'll become available sometime in March (2009).

So, if you've always wanted that flat-screen TV, add it to your Christmas wish list, the timing is perfect!

Chris & Maria Jeantet

Posted by Chris and Maria Jeantet on 09/13/2008 11:12 AM

Comments (6)

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6 Comments on Say "adios" to your rabbit-ears TV

SEP

2008

It's been a long time since I've used them, but just knowing they're going away is sad! :)

Thanks for the help on Localism! I got it!

Hi Laura; I know what you mean, it's sad because if you think of it, this dates back to so many decades. It's a reminder of our grandparents and great-grand parents ;)

SEP

2008

For those viewers who have not yet purchased a converter box, Consumer Reports has just upgraded their ratings on some of the available converter boxes at: http://blogs.consumerreports.org/electronics/2008/08/ratings-of-dtv.html

While cable and satellite program providers will continue to serve the great majority of homes as the primary signal source, missing HD local reception, compression issues, higher costs, billing add-ons, service outages, contact difficulties, in-home service waits and no shows have left many of these subscribers looking to OTA antennas as a good, alternative and Off-Air viewers happy with their free programming.

But TV reception starts with the right antenna and Off-Air TV is FREE.

Viewers should certainly try their old antenna first. It's true that any of these older antennas will pick up some signals, maybe all the broadcast signals a viewer wants to receive, depending on their location. If they're getting all the OTA channels they want, than they're good to go.

While Antennas can't tell the difference between analog and digital signals, there are definitely certain models which have higher DTV batting averages than others. Not all antennas are equally suited for DTV. A percentage of viewers will require something a little more tailored for DTV reception.

With one of the newer and smaller OTA antennas, with greatly improved performance, power and aesthetics, viewers may also be able to receive out-of-town channels, carrying blacked out sports programs not available locally, several additional sub-channels or network broadcasts. And for those with an HDTV, almost completely uncompressed HD broadcasts (unlike cable or satellite).

OTA viewers can go to antennapoint.com to see quickly what stations are available to them, the distance, and compass heading to help in choosing and aiming their antenna. And if they decide to buy a newer antenna, they should buy it from a source that will completely refund their purchase price, no questions asked, if it doesn't do the job.

Sometimes I liked it better w just 2, 4 ,10, 13 and 53 (Pittsburgh channels) when I grew up....now I spin the guide with 200 channels and nothing to watch...LOL