TV viewers keep an eye on converter-box news
By BILL HUSTED
Cox News Service
August 31, 2008
Q: According to your column of several weeks ago, it sounds like that even though I have Charter cable, we will require a converter box for each of our TV/VCR units when the broadcasters switch to all digital.
— Tom Lee
A: Nope, you won't need to change a thing for a while. The cable companies are required by the Federal Communications Commission to give analog customers a signal for three years after the switch. You'll be fine. However, TVs that get signals from over-the-air broadcasts will need converters.
Q: I am trying to find a reliable digital-to-analog converter and have not been able to find a Consumer Report-style site to compare before I buy. Have you found any such sites or have you gotten any reader input that can give me some guidance?
— Joe Pruszynski
A: I haven't seen any reviews that I feel comfortable with. Maybe a reader can help me. Here's a link to a blog that reviews units, but I don't know enough about the blog to comment on the reviews: http://dtvconverterboxes.blogspot.com/2008/07/digital-stream-dsp7500t-converter-box.html
Q: Please address in your column:
1. Whether the FCC has established a compelling need for citizens to incur the costs related to having to give up use of analog TVs or whether its edict is excessively arbitrary in nature.
2. When people have multiple, but inexpensive televisions or VCRs, replacement of which would cost a lot, should they just be expected to shrug their shoulders about the replacement cost in situations where converters are ludicrous?
3. Can the edict be challenged with good reason, one being that many people would prefer for the market, not the government, to determine when costs have to be borne?
— Paul Hippmann
A: Wow, Paul, I can tell you are upset. I can't give you all the answers, but here's a start.
My understanding is that the prime reasons in the decision were: (1) to make more efficient use of bandwidth — digital uses less and (2) a belief the move to digital is inevitable. The FCC attempted to create a way to do it in an orderly fashion.
To offset the inconvenience and expense, citizens can get coupons for the digital converters they need. You also asked whether the change could be challenged. Almost anything can be challenged in court. In my opinion, the chance of success here would be exceedingly low.
Please send your questions to Bill Husted at tecbud@ajc.com. While he reads every e-mail, not all are answered. E-mails are selected for publication based on the likelihood that the answers will be of general interest.
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