Analog to Digital

[Mutant Funk Drink]

My argument isn't necessarily with the difference between these two technologies. I'm angry about the fact that people are getting government coupons to get a free DTV box. Why the fuck should I have to pay for someone else to sit on his ass and pick his nose while watching the Price is Right? Since when was it the government's job to make sure that everyone is entertained? TV is entertainment. Period. People should save up the $50 to buy their own DTV box, and if they can't, well too fucking bad. Don't bother my ass because you want to watch TV. If you want news, then go read a fucking newspaper. It's cheaper. Nobody needs TV.

I want the government to give me a coupon for a free Xbox 360. After all, if the government is going to provide people with one kind of entertainment, why shouldn't they provide me with the latest in video game technology? All I have is an N64, which is more than 10 years old. It's about time the Federal Government gave me an upgrade. We can't have bored Americans, can we? ;)

Could someone please give me a good reason as to why people are getting free hardware for the luxury of having television? I don't think that this topic is argued about enough. I for one, think it's absurd.

[Sleuth]

Actually the government needs the people to need tv.

[Mantikore]

Its allows for us to see our beloved benevolent leaders better.:)

Though i do agree with you. i think its because statiosn are going to switch off their analog transmission thingy ( i dont know what its called) because its outdated. And since not everyone has digital, the government decided to save the consumeristic populace.

[sdmf_from_hell]

It just goes to show how sad it is that Western civilisation is so reliant on television for it to become a government agenda.

[Dfg]

It's the whole control the media propaganda and also the number of people affected by shift to DTV are far greater then expected. Nobody wants an Xbox360 if it doesn't support DTV. (unless your a gamer in that case don't bother)

[Kwinnie Bogan]

Don't you find this a little bit suspicious? Sad fact is most people will write this off as crackpot shit - even when the thought was purely theirs in origin - due to all the mental conditioning, dis-information and propganda out there.

The government is subsidising televisions and other sources of (controlled) media, because they're vessels for its propaganda.


Same reason our government released the money packets to demographics that were likely to spend it or put it towards new plasma television sets under the guise of an 'economic stimulus package'. Putting money back into the economy my arse, it's all about planting their seeds in our minds!

They may even be equipped with radio emitting devices (REDs) to emit low frequency radio waves. They resonate via the cranium (skull) of the target audience and manipulate brain waves at a specific frequency, and thus manipulate the powers of suggestion*. A tool for increasing the effectiveness (how active it is in the subconscious) of their propaganda.

Whether they are is only open to speculation at this point - but chances are that it is as the technology is relatively simple and was in use decades ago by the KGB, Stasi on a large scale. Communist REDs weren't just some specifically targeted CIA foreign operation shit. Full scale population manipulation. Cattle. Sheep.

Something a little bit nasty you're almost garuanteed to have hidden away in most televisions already is monitoring devices. Ever wondered how they figure out the ratings for a television show? How could they possibly know what you're watching (and isn't the concept a little bit too Orwellian?)? Yeah, well that's not the only thing they're monitoring. Microphones and cameras as well.




Even the most sceptical majority of the masses are fooled. They think we're witnessing capitalistic democracy popping up all over the country with the suspected corporations behind the government running our nation, where it is in fact the government that is running a web of corporations - ala North Korea, The Soviet Union, and the former Germany Democratic Republic.

They're coming ever closer, and you won't realise how far you've allowed them to progress before it's too late. There's no such thing as a free media, and soon no such thing as a free way of life!

Do you wanna be a part of the 'New Communist East'? It's only a step away, fascists ruling how we live our lives in a secret state of dictatorship through what are 'communist' ideals behind the sly facade of Social Democracy! It doesn't matter who you elect, they're secretly all one big party. Take your stand to the streets and blow your brains out today! head to your nearest corporate government-puppet operated petroleum distillate crack house and self immolate! molotov everything! eat the rich!



*These waves can be disrupted by insulating the cranium with any thin non-magnetic metallic material, most effective are faraday cage like meshed foils, but are extremely more difficult to get ahold of than the non meshed variety.

[Mutant Funk Drink]

Ever wondered how they figure out the ratings for a television show? How could they possibly know what you're watching (and isn't the concept a little bit too Orwellian?)? Yeah, well that's not the only thing they're monitoring. Microphones and cameras as well.

I took you seriously right up to this point.

Seriously.
http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/question433.htm

Other than that, I agree with the majority of your post.

[Mutant Funk Drink]

I guess none of you fuckers give a shit.

Bankrupt America, here we come! Let's start funding for free toilet paper for everyone so I can wipe my ass on our tax dollars.

[whocares123]

i don't get why those converter boxes cost so much to begin with. or why they have to be giant fucking boxes. honestly when i heard about the whole need to switch over thing, i pictured people having to buy a little adapter, maybe about the size of a pack of cigarettes, that the line into the tv must go through, with the thing costing like $10.

and OP, the coupons aren't for free boxes. it's like $40 off or something...they end up paying $15-20 still i think, depending on where you go.

i think your perspective is off because you were likely born in the late 80s like myself and most others here, or hell i guess even early 90s. historically, tv was a free thing available to, well, people who had a tv. then cable comes along and starts charging for tv, with the payoff being more channels and no commercials, and uncensored content. then cable says screw it to the no commercials thing, and networks start to censor themselves to attract mainstream viewers and make dat money. today we got people paying over $100/month for digital cable or satelite packages to watch tv when 30 or 40 years ago tv was free and paying for such service was fucking unheard of.

there aren't many people out there these days that don't at least have basic cable. i figure if the government wants to force this conversion on everyone without the option of keeping analog signals, then they should give these partial coupons out to the few dirt poor people who still put up with only 3-4 channels and shitty reception, not to mention the shitty reality tv programming of the past decade. shouldn't cost money to get access to a tv signal. commercials pay for everything.

[Yodabutter]

The government is subsidising televisions and other sources of (controlled) media, because they're vessels for its propaganda.

;):thumbsup:

[sdmf_from_hell]

govt pplz is watching yous

[kelsokid18]

The digital boxes DO have an Orwellian function about them. They CAN be used to kick the TV on during an activation of the Emergency Alert System. Imagine being in bed, sound asleep, then your TV comes on because an earthquake occured, and wakes you to the squawks of the EAS toning out.

[Fetus-Smasher]

I didn't know Gov was paying for them shits. Nice heads up.

[HLC]

... i figure if the government wants to force this conversion on everyone without the option of keeping analog signals, then they should give these partial coupons out to the few dirt poor people who still put up with only 3-4 channels and shitty reception, not to mention the shitty reality tv programming of the past decade. shouldn't cost money to get access to a tv signal. commercials pay for everything.

That's probably the reason for the coupons.
The gov't is taking away the option and forcing people to make the switch.
There is no customer choice in the matter.
But, you end up getting more stations and often much better clarity, so most non-cable people are going to be happy with the change.

Imagine another scenario, where this switch happened and there was no assistance.
Nearly everyone would think it was a conspiracy thought up by the companies who make digital boxes and digital TVs.
You think you hear grumbling now ...

[whocares123]

^ i don't believe digital signals will offer that much better reception or will travel further for people with antennae. i don't have a reason for it, i just don't believe it. not like there was usually any problem with getting a signal from all your local stations with an old fashioned rooftop antenna before...though for some reason we could never get the WB. it wasn't missed...

[pill popper]

I guess none of you fuckers give a shit.

Bankrupt America, here we come! Let's start funding for free toilet paper for everyone so I can wipe my ass on our tax dollars.

lol but you will never see this kind of rebate or incentive in canada thank god

at least we can leave our houses for hours at a time and not sit on our fat asses (see american hillbilly) all fucking day watching tv

the world is in a recession and all the american goverment cares about is getting people access to digital tv

american idiots

[jimany]

^^^I'm pretty sure we have such a rebate/coupon deal;)

[pill popper]

^^^I'm pretty sure we have such a rebate/coupon deal;)

Actually no we dont

the only rebates are from the cable companies themselves
rogers/shaw/bell/telus and others are giving ridiculous savings to those that sign up on horrid fucking contracts

[Snoopy]

The United States Government spent billions of dollars, and broke about every human right during the 50s, 60s and 70s to invent a way to brainwash and mindcontrol fools. Joke's on them though. 50 years later, and all those studies were a huge waste. Just give people myspace and facebook and they instantly become slaves.

Humans don't have a right to freedom. They deserve to get cancer and die painful deaths. Preferably on youtube.

Fuck all of your mothers!

[Mutant Funk Drink]

i don't get why those converter boxes cost so much to begin with. or why they have to be giant fucking boxes. honestly when i heard about the whole need to switch over thing, i pictured people having to buy a little adapter, maybe about the size of a pack of cigarettes, that the line into the tv must go through, with the thing costing like $10.

and OP, the coupons aren't for free boxes. it's like $40 off or something...they end up paying $15-20 still i think, depending on where you go.

i think your perspective is off because you were likely born in the late 80s like myself and most others here, or hell i guess even early 90s. historically, tv was a free thing available to, well, people who had a tv. then cable comes along and starts charging for tv, with the payoff being more channels and no commercials, and uncensored content. then cable says screw it to the no commercials thing, and networks start to censor themselves to attract mainstream viewers and make dat money. today we got people paying over $100/month for digital cable or satelite packages to watch tv when 30 or 40 years ago tv was free and paying for such service was fucking unheard of.

there aren't many people out there these days that don't at least have basic cable. i figure if the government wants to force this conversion on everyone without the option of keeping analog signals, then they should give these partial coupons out to the few dirt poor people who still put up with only 3-4 channels and shitty reception, not to mention the shitty reality tv programming of the past decade. shouldn't cost money to get access to a tv signal. commercials pay for everything.

That's probably the reason for the coupons.
The gov't is taking away the option and forcing people to make the switch.
There is no customer choice in the matter.
But, you end up getting more stations and often much better clarity, so most non-cable people are going to be happy with the change.

Imagine another scenario, where this switch happened and there was no assistance.
Nearly everyone would think it was a conspiracy thought up by the companies who make digital boxes and digital TVs.
You think you hear grumbling now ...

None of this matters. Since when do people have a right to television? Yes, broadcast television has always been free, but in the 80s for example, people would buy their own fucking tv equipment. We didn't rely on the government to provide us with entertainment. If you want to watch the Price is Right, you should fucking pay for it yourself. Don't have the money for it? Too bad. Television is a luxury, and always will be. There are other ways of getting the news and information, such as newspapers, or the libraries which usually have free internet. Nobody should get a free discount from the government for something so stupid as tv.


^ i don't believe digital signals will offer that much better reception or will travel further for people with antennae. i don't have a reason for it, i just don't believe it. not like there was usually any problem with getting a signal from all your local stations with an old fashioned rooftop antenna before...though for some reason we could never get the WB. it wasn't missed...

This is what I've been thinking about too. Digital signals deteriorate more easily, so it could cause problems for some people.

Plus, one of my arguments against the digital is that we shouldn't be over-complicating things, but that's a bit aside the issue.

[whocares123]

mutant, people would be pissed if the government was forcing this conversion and offering no assistance to the poor to buy these $50 boxes. i really don't have a problem with this coupon program. it's not like they're all getting free or subsidized cable tv. in our modern society, every household should have access to at least one channel.

the reason i read somewhere for the switch to digital was to free up frequencies that are going to be used by cell phone companies? possibly because of the huge growth with that industry, they need more "space?" i'm not knowledgeable in that shit though. i'm just guessing/filling in the blanks.

as a side note, i hate the way the picture looks on lcd/plasma tvs. it's gonna be a sad day when my "old fashioned" tv breaks and i'll be forced to buy one of those crap boxes because that's all they make now. :(

[Mutant Funk Drink]

mutant, people would be pissed if the government was forcing this conversion and offering no assistance to the poor to buy these $50 boxes. i really don't have a problem with this coupon program. it's not like they're all getting free or subsidized cable tv. in our modern society, every household should have access to at least one channel.

the reason i read somewhere for the switch to digital was to free up frequencies that are going to be used by cell phone companies? possibly because of the huge growth with that industry, they need more "space?" i'm not knowledgeable in that shit though. i'm just guessing/filling in the blanks.

as a side note, i hate the way the picture looks on lcd/plasma tvs. it's gonna be a sad day when my "old fashioned" tv breaks and i'll be forced to buy one of those crap boxes because that's all they make now. :(

See, here's the thing. Who gives a shit if people get pissed off? Frankly, since they voted in most of these fucker politicians, they can kiss my ass. Recycle some aluminum cans until you have the $50 to buy the box. Again, it's not your right to have TV. If the government decided to start converting our fuel from fossil to hydrogen, would you expect the government to provide everyone with a coupon that makes a hydrogen car dirt cheap? When we converted to unleaded fuel, nobody expected the fucking government to be their daddy. The hydrogen thing is a little bit far fetched, but there's a huge difference between the TVs and the hydrogen car example: one is a luxury, the other is a necessity. I could actually understand a fair amount of people being pissed off because of the government forcing them to convert their necessity. What I don't understand is why people expect the government to give them a luxury because now the luxury is being made better.

That's right. Although I smell some bullshit in that claim, I am also not an expert in the field of radio transmission, so I'm sure it's perfectly plausible.

Plasmas suck, and always have. It makes the picture look like a fucking neon sign. So many people bought into it and ended up having to replace the plasma tubes because they'd wear out after a few years and they get burn-in so damned easily. I honestly like modern LCD screens, as they now look quite brilliant.

[whocares123]

the whole flat screen look just isn't appealing to me. shit looks too digitalized and the picture gets horrible viewing from the side...tv screens were convex shaped for a reason, damnit! i also don't really care about the picture looking more realistic. it's in fucking color, there's no static because it's cable, what more do you need? i know i'm watching tv, i can see what's going on. the content of what i'm watching is more important than whether or not it looks beautiful.

as for the coupons, yeah, i'll admit it's a little silly, but even as a libertarian, i'll let this one go. i just put myself in the shoes of the poor pissed off folk...though having over a year of warning with all these ads certainly gives one enough time to save up $50...ehh. the only family i know who has over the air tv barely watches it because they illegally download everything off of their internet connection, which is either cheap DSL or wireless stolen from the neighbors. i'm not sure.

[NamelessNom4d]

The digital boxes DO have an Orwellian function about them. They CAN be used to kick the TV on during an activation of the Emergency Alert System. Imagine being in bed, sound asleep, then your TV comes on because an earthquake occured, and wakes you to the squawks of the EAS toning out.

O RLY? Not the ones my family has. A DTV box is basically a digital tuner that takes the digital signal and converts it to analog so the older TV knows how to read it. That's pretty much it... The DTV box works independently from the TV itself, its just a tuner. I'm sure it could turn itself on, but it can't turn the TV on.

I still haven't gotten a converter box for my personal TV yet. The TV is a little $15 thing I got at Goodwill, I rarely watch it. It's 12" compared to my 20.1" and 18.1" computer monitors. If I can find another cheap LCD monitor I'll probably buy a digital tuner for it and hook that up instead. The only problem with that is... if the tuner really can turn itself on, then my monitor is turning on too because computer monitors usually don't have remotes... so I would just let the thing go into sleep mode when I'm not using it. Hmmm what would I do about speakers....? *reanalyzes plan*

the whole flat screen look just isn't appealing to me. shit looks too digitalized and the picture gets horrible viewing from the side...tv screens were convex shaped for a reason, damnit! i also don't really care about the picture looking more realistic. it's in fucking color, there's no static because it's cable, what more do you need? i know i'm watching tv, i can see what's going on. the content of what i'm watching is more important than whether or not it looks beautiful.

as for the coupons, yeah, i'll admit it's a little silly, but even as a libertarian, i'll let this one go. i just put myself in the shoes of the poor pissed off folk...though having over a year of warning with all these ads certainly gives one enough time to save up $50...ehh. the only family i know who has over the air tv barely watches it because they illegally download everything off of their internet connection, which is either cheap DSL or wireless stolen from the neighbors. i'm not sure.

Newer HDTV's have beautiful picture, and a good viewing angle so you can see the picture from pretty far off to the side. Honestly I don't even use our family's new HDTV that much. I watch the occasional sitcom on it but mostly just plug my laptop into it and stream downloaded movies from my desktop upstairs.

[MunkeyQ]

The digital boxes DO have an Orwellian function about them. They CAN be used to kick the TV on during an activation of the Emergency Alert System. Imagine being in bed, sound asleep, then your TV comes on because an earthquake occured, and wakes you to the squawks of the EAS toning out.
Whilst I agree that they do have an Orwellian air about them, they CANNOT be used to kick on the TV.

If you know much about AV protocols, it's impossible to control a TV's power via SCART. Pin 24 controls auto switching to that input when it goes high but it cannot be used to wake the TV up.

HDMI has a one-wire control bus carrying CEC control data, but whilst it is mandatory for it to be connected, very few devices actually use it. Besides, it is not able to talk to the TV when it is in standby and can only carry basic remote control signals.

[-SpectraL]

If you transplant a third leg onto someone without their expressed approval, you are then legally liable and responsible to supply that extra leg with proper footware. It doesn't matter that every time you have to buy a new pair of shoes for this extra-legged person you end up throwing away one of the shoes as unnecessary. It is still your responsibility, simply because of the fact that you sewed that leg on there without permission. The move to all-digital signal is no different than a 3-legged person.

[Miaow]

We should bring back analog musical instruments.
Moogs are fucking awesome.

[Zip]

The converter box coupons are a minor expense relative to the value of the reclaimed spectrum.

[AngryOnion]

^This but we should be asking is who is really benefiting from the sale of the newly opened up spectrum.
My bet is on connected companies that donated heavily to Obamas campaign.

[Miaow]

^This but we should be asking is who is really benefiting from the sale of the newly opened up spectrum.
My bet is on connected companies that donated heavily to Obamas campaign.

Yes of course, the plan to switch all signals to digital never ever came about until after Obama started to campaign for office.

You're fucking stupid.

[Cegstar]

If you transplant a third leg onto someone without their expressed approval, you are then legally liable and responsible to supply that extra leg with proper footware. It doesn't matter that every time you have to buy a new pair of shoes for this extra-legged person you end up throwing away one of the shoes as unnecessary. It is still your responsibility, simply because of the fact that you sewed that leg on there without permission. The move to all-digital signal is no different than a 3-legged person.

I don't think your argument is relevant.

If they decommission regular radio for satellite radio, should the government pay fees?

If a family bought DTV boxes months ago before the free one was offered, should the government reimburse them?

My dad lives in a rural area. His ISP is taking away dial-up and only offering high speed. High speed isn't available in his area. Should the government step in on this?

Analog decommissioning for cell phones took place. Many cell phone users that had analog received free cell phones, that don't work due to lack of digital coverage. Should the government put up towers for them, or is it their own problem?

[AngryOnion]

Yes of course, the plan to switch all signals to digital never ever came about until after Obama started to campaign for office.

You're fucking stupid.

I knew if I threw something about Obama in someone would come to the rescue :D

[rabbitweed]

I couldn't be arsed reading the whole thread, but I'd just like to point out that it's subsidised because Digital Transmissions take up much less of a frequency range than the equivalent Analogue Transmission, freeing up the bands for other things.

[InspiredByMe]

You guys should read Brave New World. It's exactly like this.

[JREwing]

I couldn't be arsed reading the whole thread, but I'd just like to point out that it's subsidised because Digital Transmissions take up much less of a frequency range than the equivalent Analogue Transmission, freeing up the bands for other things.

+1. Since those with analogue TVs bought them in reasonable expectation of their continued usefulness, and the government is in effect outlawing analogue TV broadcasting, those effected by regulatory change must be compensated.

Also you fuckers are getting reamed for your digital boxes, in NI they are around GB£20, and I have a USB digital tuner about the size and shape of a USB memory key. I think it was like €50 or something, but I shoplifted it instead. I bet in 6 months digiboxes will be about $10.

[LSA King]

Actually the government needs the people to need tv.




True. The government needs us to be entertained because the TV controls the populace.

[Splam]

TV is just entertainment? You forget the original purpose of TV - propaganda. First public TVs viewable were in Germany in the thirties. Indeed, to broadcast their glorious leader.

[Herpy Derpy]

I knew if I threw something about Obama in someone would come to the rescue :D

He didn't say that because of Obama, he said that because of your retarded ass comment.

[LSA King]

TV is just entertainment? You forget the original purpose of TV - propaganda. First public TVs viewable were in Germany in the thirties. Indeed, to broadcast their glorious leader.




Exactly why its entertainment. It has to keep the populace entertained in order for propaganda to be effective.

[AngryOnion]

He didn't say that because of Obama, he said that because of your retarded ass comment.

Hey you know what??
FUCK YOU!!
The second somebody says any thing about Obama you get these fucking ass tards running to defend him its fucking pathetic.
bite me you fucking homo ass licker.

[Cegstar]

Hey you know what??
FUCK YOU!!
The second somebody says any thing about Obama you get these fucking ass tards running to defend him its fucking pathetic.
bite me you fucking homo ass licker.

It's because you're accusing him of something he didn't do.

I could say Bob Saget abolished the slave trade, and someone may tell me I'm wrong. However, this doesn't mean they're in love with Bob Saget.