2009 digital television?

Question

isnt it irresponsible to make all tvs digital?

i mean what if the satellites are destroyed some how..

can someone explain the reasoning behind this to me.. i dont get it...

Answer 1

It's actually quite responsible if you think about it. The reason the analog streaming is being dropped, is to free up those frequencies for things such as emergency services, and communications. Switching to digital DOESNT mean that satellites are always involved. They're still going to be broadcasted from Towers and such as well. (obviously if you subscribe to satellite television, there will be satellites involved)

Answer 2

Someone is feeding you a lot of misinformation.

It's not the the TVs that are becoming digital on 2/17/09. What is happening is that most analog over the air broadcasts will be shut down.

But they are being replaced by digital over the air broadcasts that are just as free and are of better quality.

And digital signals can be cheaply converted to the old analog type. If you get TV with an antenna, a converter will cost you $10 -$20 (after using a government coupon).

Whenever cable systems decide to go all digital, they supply cable boxes that convert the digital signals to analog ones for

customers with analog only TVs.

Dish & Direct TV signals have always been digital; there is a converter built into the old satellite receivers.

Satellites are used to distribute signals that end up as both analog and digital broadcasts. If something destroyed all the satellites, the old analog system would be in just as much trouble.

There are a lot of reasons for changing to an all digital TV system. They all stem from the fact that the old analog system is based on 1930's technology. By replacing it with one based on 1990's digital technology, TVs can be made that produce a much better picture quality while at the same time freeing up some resources that will allow for more wireless services.

Answer 3

The analog TV we have now was invented in the 1930s.  What do we have from the 1930s that we still use?  Digital TV offers better quality, has more features and can be integrated with computers and other media.  

There comes a time when you just need to start over from scratch.  

BTW, the satellites don't really have anything to do with the transition.  In 2009, we are changing over the air TV.  By 2012, cable and satellite will follow.  My the middle of the next decade, we should be completely 100% digital.