A question about those digital boxes we have to hook up to our TVs?

Question

I have a TV I bought in 2003 I think. I do not have cable, satelite, or any television service whatsoever. I have used bunny-ears to get the random local station (but that only works sometimes). What is this digital box going to do for me? Anything? Will I be able to get local stations using just the box and nothing else, or will I need cable or satelite service? Can anyone help?

Answer 1

The digital box serves to convert digital over-the-air signals into a signal that your analog tv can broadcast.  You shouldn't need any other new equipment if you plan to continue getting channels with the bunny ears.

If you do plan to get cable or satellite, you shouldn't need the digital box at all.  Most major television companies either made the switch to digital a long time ago or were always digital.  

Answer 2

In February of next year, your rabbit ears will become useless.  The local stations will stop broadcasting in analog mode (which your TV can understand) and start broadcasting in digital mode.

Your TV will not be able to decode the signal, thus you'll have NO TV at all.

Of course, given the content on the tube these days, that's probably better for most of America!

The digital converter box will decode the digital broadcast and convert it to an analog signal, which it will feed to your TV.   Thus, you'll be once again able to have intellectual rot and moral sewage pumped into your home.

This has nothing to do with satellite or cable TV.

If you live in a fringe area, expect poor quality.  The new digital standard was developed in a political fashion, not by engineering considerations.  The reasons were political, not economic, so there was no economic incentive to do it well.  The result is predictable.  It will be great for people who have a strong signal, but people who have been on the fringe will have trouble.

All this was done so we could auction off more spectrum for the sake of short-sighted political grandstanding.

Answer 3

The box becomes a digital tuner for your TV set and allows your set to receive the new digital signals.  Since you use an antenna, you will need to deal with this.

On February 17, 2009 all Full Power Over The Air TV signals will be Digital only.  So, if you use an antenna, you must have either a Digital TV set or a converter box for your old style analog TV.  With a good antenna, you can still watch free Over The Air TV.  If you have your TV owner's manual or Google your TV's model number, check if the TV has an ATSC Tuner.  If so, you just need an antenna, if not, you also need a converter box.

Since you said you get the "random" local station and "it only works sometimes", you will definitely need a better antenna.  Digital signals are a bit different than analog.  If the TV or converter box does not get enough signal to decode, it will look like you are getting nothing.

Visit http://www.antennaweb.org and put in your ZIP code.  You will get a list of stations you could expect to receive and suggestions for antennas for your unique situation and where to aim them.

EDIT: You will definitely need a better antenna.  You should get more channels with the proper antenna.

I hope this helps.  Please return and select a best Answer from all of those submitted.

Answer 4

It basically a replacement for your bunny ears, or antenna.  You won't need cable or satellite, just the new digital converter box you are speaking of.  They are basically just going to stop sending out the analog signal, -- the box converts the signal from digital to analog so your tv understands it -- so if you don't have the digital converter, you won't get anything.  Hope that helps!