The Digipocalypse is fast approaching. Are you ready? Because apparently some 10 million Americans aren’t, and when the switch hits they’ll be cruelly deprived of television and will be forced to spend their leisure time interacting with their friends and family, perhaps out in that beautiful summer weather. CrunchGear’s hearts and prayers are with these poor wretches, and we beg to remind them that while broadcast TV may not work, your television is still useful for playing movies and games, or just for providing a central source of light around which your family can sit, motionless and silent.
Who makes up this unfortunate remainder? This useful chart should help:
Of course, that’s a bit of an oversimplification (and a mean one at that). The fact is that there are millions of old and poor people throughout the country who don’t have the money or savvy to set up the change, or, despite $2bn in funds being put into PR and transition groups, simply aren’t even aware of it. If you know any, point them toward our handy guide or recommend something easy like the DTVPal.
We have to make this work. After all, the family that stares together, stays together.
In all seriousness; due to not being able to get a good signal to my free over the air channels, I bought a HP slimline to get free Hulu instead.
You mean this didn’t happen yet? How long are they going to postpone it?
I am now retired and on a fixed income so I can’t just go our when ever I feel like it and by new electronic devices. I worked in Aerospace for years and dealt with analog and digital. both then were compatible why are the not compatible now. We had B/W and color compatibility for years (to present as a matter of fact). So don’t tell me that electronic engineers can’t develop over the air compatibility between digital and analog without the converter box scam. Of course, I could buy a new digital TV or sign up with one of the cable co’s (how much lobbyist money changed hands on this one). I just found out I have to get another converter box for my VCRs. Boy talk about a rip off.
A very unhappy consummer
Since broadcasters did so little to advise people of what they really needed to do in this digital transition, maybe they all deserve to hit the unemployment lines on June 13.
You don’t just “plug in the box or get Cable”.
Most people just needed to learn a few basic facts about digital reception and antennas.
But, broadcasters felt it would “confuse people”.
Are we confused NOW?
It’s a bunch of bs even if you have the gear. I have lost many channels right before and after the switch. When we first got our digital tvs we were amazed with how many new channels were available on dtv through antena now we only receive around 5.
What other forms of entertainment I wonder? Possibly some human interaction! LOL
It is pretty simple, If you want to watch TV and you don’t have it sorted yet then you need to get it sorted. If you don’t know how, then you need to find someone that does – pretty basic stuff for mine :-)
I never had a problem with reception with an outside antenna before the switch. After the switch, Channel 3, the local carrier of NBC comes and goes at irregular intervals. It will stay on for days at a time, but has moments of breaking up and audio loss, usually at a crucial moment in a story. That seldom occurs during a commercial though. Today it was off all morning.
I have to believe there was a lobbying job done to make us all get on cable or satellite service.