All this DTV converter stuff just made my head spin. I do like books like Kleej stated, but I can't force everyone at home to read them; SWMBO for one. ;) She did find a website for us that helped a lot though. It had <a href="http://www.digital-tv-converter.info/category/digital-tv-converter">TV converter box reviews</a> (I think that's how to post a link), information so we could apply for our coupons, and a list of retailers so we could buy online since all the stupid local stores were out.

I hate to just buy into this TV scare, but since we don't have cable or satellite I really had no choice. I'd be OK without the TV, but I think the wife & kids would lynch me.

Key point for everyone to ponder....What's the #1 component for "corporate capital" to exist today?
Answer: the Community (people) ~We the consumers, have something they want...our money. Thus the need for advertisements. What happens if the consumer is educated to not be influenced by those ads, but, infact, just the opposite....what if the consumer and the manufacturers of these goods and services are partnered up and all of that advertising money and all of that middle man money is shared amongst the manufacturers and the loyal consumer? You think that could work?

~gazettefan...............BINGO!

Thanks, kleej. You and lovetoscrap have a good thread going here.

Along with the bombardment of CONSUME, CONSUME, CONSUME, with its attendent lack of satisfaction or fullment is that by the time a child begins school, he or she has watched thousands of hours of television:

Almost everthing on TV is kinetic, lots of motion and excitment. This exposure to hypereality while young brains are still growing and forming is what conditions children to regard the classroom as a dull and lifeless place. The need for "action" shows itself in ADD and ADHD.

The mistake made with these disorders is that they are regarded as just products of bad luck like polio or muscular distrophy, when, in fact, they are products of parental neglect and are therefore preventable.

gazettefan~
Great points you made. The average person is bombarded with 3000 sources of media everyday of their life! This media is educating the average person to think they need to part with their own consumer capital in exchange for a good or service that the company is advertising. Problem is, most people don't realize it's happening to them. If an adult can't identify that, how the heck can a young child?? Young children are the major target source for the media because they can convince their parents to purchase as well. This is why consumer debt is at an epidemic and all time high. There are more bankruptcy's than college degrees annually now!
Why don't they teach that in our schools and universities?? Because it's not profitable for them. Our culture's conscience has been replace by false reality placed in mainstream America's heads subconsciously. It's called a hidden form of taxation without representation. TV isn't free! It used to be we pay when we "wash" and not when we "watch"...now we have to pay to "watch" and pay when we "wash". Double taxation without the mainstream public noticing it! Feels good doesn't it??

TV watching is so addictive that it is impossbile for most people to understand that the advent of TV in this country (around 1950) is concommitant with the mass onset of ADD and ADHD in children and adults.

The lag time before the American Psychiatric Association fomulated its official diagnoses for these disroders also makes it difficult for most people to understand the cause and effect relationship between TV watching and ADD and ADHD.

Reading is not passive. Reading requires the reader to bring something to the act of reading. Reading is a cure and preventive for ADD and ADHD.

lovetoscrap~
I'm assuming when you say we you're referring to you and your family..possibly children too? I think that's terrific!
I was a TV addict at one time. It's all I knew. I got some different thinking in my head and things changed. Some great difference makers that I'm following once told me, "who would you rather be following and be your example.... leaders who sit in front of the TV for 4 hours a day or leaders who read and educate their minds on a consistent basis that can actually help achieve what you want to achieve?" Easy answer. Great analogy. If you were having open heart surgery, who would you want performing the surgery? Someone who claims to be good with a scalpal because they watch ER and Grey's Anatomy or someone who actually went to school and has experience in that field of medicine?? Same applies to the people we take advice from everyday when it comes to our finanacial future! Think about that.

We haven't had television channels coming into our house for over three years now. Whew am I glad and yes, Kleeg...we love books!

Jeopardy question #3
Answer: Roundaboutology?
Question: What do politicians major in?

sassy, you schmoozer, I'd like to see B'moon on the roundabout. I'd bet she'd be going the wrong way (and a lot of fun with some Captain Morgan, Colonel Bacardi, Major Miller [High Life], and Luitenant Leinie under her belt [Private Pabst need not apply]).

Yes, I don't want to try the roundabout without proper indocrination. Maybe U Rock could offer Roundabout 101 as part of its curriculum.

Roundabout 101: This course is designed to introduce the student to the theory and practise of the Roundabout. The student should be prepared for intense book study and lectures on the theory of roundabouts, featuring guest speakers from North America (except New Foundland) and the Baltic regions of Europe. The student should also be prepared to manauver a one-quater to scale miniature paper mache roundabout located on the campus parking lot. Optional work shops will available for those who plan to persue a degree and career in Roundaboutology. Prerequisites are Remedial Crossing At The Corner (say no to jaywalking) 099 and Advanced Career Planning For Third Generation Hippies 098. Course materials are available at the campus book store.

As for running for governor, I'm afraid I'm already outclassed by Janesville native son: Ty Bollerud (the people's choice).

As for city council, I'd only consider running if I could sit next to Amy!!!

There are some good comments here about the somewhat confusing "converter box" issue but I have to relate back to Kleej's question, "Has anyone ever heard of books? Good comment Kleej.
Thanks.

gazettefan, now I'm confused...round and round she goes...are you referring to b-moon or roundabout...or both??!

It's a good thing you are preparing so conscientiously. A lot of people just want to drive to Menard's for the pure thrill of it. Now that's what I call entertainment! Forget Noah's Ark or Six Flags, Janesville has a roundabout! And now digital tv! We won't need to leave the city limits!

And your split screen option is phenomenal! Perhaps that is the solution to the JATV conflicts. You should run for governor. Or at least city council. I'd vote for you.

sassy, I want to be prepared before I take my first test run on the roundabout.

If there's a scheduling conflict on JATV 12, maybe they can resort to that old visual brainstorm of the split-screen. Round-and-round she goes, where she stops, nobody knows!

gazettefan, not waiting for Hedberg to get it? Perhaps if JATV-12 runs the roundabout instructional DVD they won't have time to air the B-moon shows. Priorities.

Does the DTV transition affect TV sets that are connected to cable services?

No. If you subscribe to cable service, the DTV transition should not affect any TV sets that are connected to your cable services. The DTV transition applies only to full-power broadcast television stations – stations that use the public airwaves to transmit their programming to viewers through a broadcast antenna.

From the FCC web site

I hope JATV 12 runs the Roundabout Instructional DVD in Hi Def.

The only analog broacast that will stop will be over the air broadcast, affecting only TVs that are connected to an antenna. Anyone with cable or satellite service is A-OK.

The exception applies to Hannahs statement. If you subscribe to satellite and receive your local channels solely through an antenna, (which is common) you will need another solution.

optimism~
Nothing is free anymore is right. Prices are skyrocketing because these manufacturers have educated the publics mind into thinking they can't live without their products. If people band together and say, "we ain't buyin' yer stuff anymore", the companies would be forced to lower prices. Why do you think prices keep going up??? Because people keep buying! Why not put those profits back into your pocket instead of making "Corporate American Goon's" wealthy???!!! It's called the consumer rebellion! Anyone can do it if they put their mind to it too! I was a DTV junkie and found out how easy it is to live without it. I'm nothing special.

I did read you get cable on the one tv so you shouldnt need a converter box at all. also do you mean you have wire from the cable box on ohter tv running to this tv? Then you shouldnt need a converter because youre getting the cable signal running to both tvs. Just my guess.

So my question is a bit different from yours.

I get cable on the tv, just not thru a digital cable box. I get channels 1-70 something.

I think I am asking about the same as chem.
Chem doesnt have cable hooked up to the other tv so why wouldnt she need a box?

here is a question if somebody can answer.

I have direct tv- I dont pay direct tv for local stations- it is complicated to swich over my current set up to get the locals on dish.

If I get this converter box can I see local tv stations on this box w/o paying cable for them?

year Y2K all over again!!

RobsEm,
After 2/17/09, there will be no analog broadcasts. I'm assuming that is what chemical_6 was talking about, since s/he is already a cable subscriber.

chemical_6,
You will need a converter box upstairs only if you TV does not have a digital tuner inside. The link I posted below tells how to determine if your TV has a digital tuner.

Chemical_6 Common question. You will not need a converter box upstairs, Charter's analog broadcast is unaffected by the DTV transition.

Here is everything you need to know about the DTV transition.
http://www.dtv.gov/consumercorner.html

I am a cable subscriber and maybe this is a dumb question but if I use the cable box downstairs that charter gives us and then just use the basic cable (no box) upstairs, does that mean I need this converter box for the upstairs?

Nothings free anymore is it? TV and radio were two things you could count on as free entertainment. Not anymore. Sad. I am thinking about getting a box as well with the comment about needing to know what is going on when the satellite goes out.

I also wound up purchasing my box in Madison because none of the Janseville stores had any in stock. It also took several tries in Madsion to find one.

I wasn't planning on getting a converter box because I have local channels on the Dish.

THen several weeks ago when a set of nasty storms came through I found myself switching over to Broadcast tv because the thick storm clouds blocked the satalite. I wound up using my converter box a lot this weekend. You also get several more local channels and I could watch Rockford weather as well as Madison. My dish only gives me Madison.

I don't have cable, satellite or an HDTV. I rarely watch t.v. except to find out why the tornado sirens are going off again. It ticks me off that I have to buy one of these boxes for 30 minutes worth of t.v. a week. Even with the $40 coupon you have to dish out at least $20. I think since the government ordered it they should pay 100% of it.

Jason that is so true.
And don't forget the obvious...they are also smothered in lead!

How about a link?

warm
Are you off your rocker??!!! What does TV converter boxes have to do with the wellness industry???

There are three kinds of people buying these:

1. People who don't need them, but don't want to waste $80 in "free coupons"

2. People who don't need them, but don't understand why and buy them anyway.

3. People who actually will need them - those who don't have cable or satellite service.

Unfortunately - most people fall in the first two. Every one of these boxes are made in China - so it's just another massive Government program that's shipping truckloads of money to China with very little benefit locally.

Kleej...I mean Darius...I mean Kleej...Isn't this something you have at your "company"?

Right on!!! Kleej

Gotta have them converter boxes! God forbid someone can't watch the idiot box! It's 100% necessary! Has anyone ever heard of books?

From the million of commercials i've seen on the subject over the last couple of months, it's made perfectly clear (to me anyways)that if you currently get your TV with an antenna, you will need a box, cable/satallite subscribers don't need them.
.
But I'm sure some employees at stores aren't advising people correctly on the matter.

I wonder if the stores are actually asking people if they are sure they actually NEED the boxes that are "flying" off the shelves? I didn't know until a few weeks ago that with my sattelite I don't need one, yet the commercials make it sound like everyone 'had' to have it to continue watching tv. Very vague indeed, and I wonder if that was a government marketing ploy to get people to spend more money. Glad I found out the truth before wasting money I should be putting in my gas tank. ::sigh::