I use an antenna for "free" TV broadcast channels {no cable or satellite etc}.
So besides applying for the converter box coupons, I just ordered a TV tuner card & a USB stick that will pick up the ATSC {new digital signal}.

Has anyone tried these?

this is what I ordered-
Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-1600 ATSC/Digital/Analog TV Tuner PCI Card
Kworld USB2.0 Tv Tuner Atsc/qam Watch Record Digital HDtv On Pc

thought I'd give them a try and see how they work....

Another idea along with this is to hook up the TV as the computer monitor
or possibly build a second system for the TV/computer setup since I don't want to use & have to move my main pc from my desk....

so I'll wait to test out those cards and see if they do what we want first..

Hi Jo:

May I ask why you don't have cable or sattelite??

I'd be a dead duck without it.

Mel

well.... we don't watch TV that much and we just don't want to pay all that extra money for a bunch of channels that we wouldn't watch anyway.

The free over the air broadcast channels are fine for us, anything else we can probably find it on the internet and watch it on the computer.

We do not use cable or satellite, either.

We pick up 5 stations and that is plenty for us!
We do not watch much TV.

I have been wondering about TV tuners ...and how to turn a TV into a computer monitor.

I have this extremely old Radio Shack TV that works as both!
(It is very old...well over 20 years old and it works fine! Great color, etc.! It is not connected to any updated computer.)

I have been wondering how come there are more of these "combinations" around?

I will read more on this thread as it continues!

Thanks for sharing!

Hi.

I went to my local Radio Shack to inquire about the tv converter thing. I have a $40 coupon and I asked the guys who worked there "Come February, will this thing work and will I get a picture?" (I have a little tv not connected to cable, and it's in my computer room. I thought that come next February, I'd simply hook up the converter box, and VOILA, I'D GET A PICTURE.

He then asked me "Do you get a picture now?"

I said: "of course not, since the World Trade Center fell, no one gets a picture using a rabbit ears antenna". He said: "if you have that kind of antenna, you won't get a picture in February"

I said: "but the guy on tv says that if you have analog, the box will convert it into digital". And the guy said: "yes, but this has nothing to do with getting reception, you need a roof top antenna".

I still don't get ANY OF THIS.

Good Lord.

I think....
The converter box is used to convert the new digital "frequency" or "air waves" that the antenna picks up so the TV can display the channels.
Or it converts the antenna so it can pick up the new digital signals... one or the other.

Basically there was only so many of the old analog frequencies available and so many things are using them all up they decided to make the "over the air" broadcast channels into digital frequencies.

Do you remember when cordless phones were analog, and now most are digital?

but as the radio shack guy said - If you didn't get a picture with an antenna before- you won't get one after the change either.

So if I'm not going to get a picture with the new box.

I'M NOT BUYING A NEW BOX.

Want to know what really scares me??

The day we have to replace the living room tv. It's a Sony. about 20 inches. and of course everybody we know has these GIGANTIC FLAT SCREEN TV'S IN THEIR LIVING ROOMS.

Some are on top of huge tv carts. Some are hanging on the wall.

Last night I went to a neighbor's home She's 27 years old. well-off and has everything new in the apartment.

I saw this humongous tv just free floating on her white wall.

I said: How is this attached? I then went behind the tv and saw these HUGE brackets holding the tv to the wall.

I said: "who did this for you". Her ex boyfriend, that's who!!!

I would LOVE to get this ex boyfriend to come to MY house (if I ever buy a big tv that is ) and hook it up for me.

Now here's my question.

They don't make regular tv's any more. They are all High Definition, right?

I only have regular cable. We do not want to pay more for HD channels because we have a regular tv.

So what happens, if let's say we buy some 37 inch flat screen tv, (Not to hang on a wall, but just to put on one of our tv carts, it would hold, we have big tv carts).

Would the tv work. Can I just take the cable from the back of my now tv, and just insert it on the back of the new big tv when I buy it.

Would the fact that it is in high definition, well, what kind of a picture would I be getting?

I went to the tv store that sells all these big tvs. I asked the question. (Now, I am NOT a stupid woman), I know how to ask a question.

The guy said "well, it depends if you subscribe to the service from Directv, blah blah"

I said: "I'm not subscribing to any new service. Just regular Directv".

He then said "why not?" oh my god, I walked out.

Can't someone just tell me that if I buy a big 37 inch tv (It has to have a headphone jack, and many do, because I checked some of them)

So let's say Melody saves her money, wants to surprise Alan and goes into PC Richards and buys a 37 inch Flat Screen TV (They don't sell any other kind by the way).

So I bring it home. Can I just hook it up, and BAM, there will be my picture on the screen.

This is what happened when I bought a little 13 inch for my bedroom. I just unplugged the cable from the older smaller tv (that broke), and just put it in the back of the newer 13 inch that I just bough. BAM, there was my soap opera.

Now can I expect the same with some new big HD 37 inch thing that I want to buy?

Please tell me i don't have to go through hoops, hire someone to install this big tv thing.

I'm really serious.

Tv's don't last forever.

Alan would LOVE to see his movies up there on a big tv.

I'm probably the only person on my block who doesn't have a 55 inch tv.

I couldn't care less.

I'm just talking about the day when the living room tv DOES break down.

thanks much

Melody

Mel you are cracking me up.

I work in advertising so we are acutely aware of the impact of the switch to digital from analog.

It is expected that as of Feb 2009 that 20% of americans will not have switched and will not have TV.

It you do not have cable or direct tv (sat) you need to converter box. I believe its only 20 dollars or so.

Hooking up to the computer I do not know if you will get live TV . You can certainly watch TV on the computer but most of the shows are sligtly delayed from live TV.

Now mel you may be different. You live in a large city in a multiple dwelling I am guessing. So if you have cable the cable guy has something installed for the building and its not on the roof and they hook you into it when you sign up.

I believe most of NYC is cable and not satellite just because of all the buildings and its easier to run cable than have dishes everywhere. And if you have satellite the dish but face a certain way/exposure for you to get service. That can be tough in NYC unless the building as a whole gets satellite and its on the roof.

So here is what I know.

If you have direct TV now you are fine. Nothing to do for the switch from analog to digital. We have direct TV and I consider it to be the best of the services.

If you have digital cable you are fine as well. No need to do anything.

If you do not have digital cable call your cable comapny and ask them if there is anything you need to do or if they are addressing it on their end. There might not be anything you need to do.

If you only have analog TV you need the converter.

On the TV end of things.

Flat panels are great, we have two.

Its a misconception that all flat panels are high def. Some are high def compatible which means you need a converter or a special cable to make it high def. And some are high def ready which I think means you dont need any special equipment.

But here's the catch just because the TV is high def ready or compatible does not mean you have high def. Its a service that you have to sign up for and pay for...like a special cable tier.

Its funny but half of the people that buy TV's think they have high def and they do not know you have to pay and sign up for it.

Either way even if you dont sign up for high def service the technology of these new TVS are great and look as good as high def.

And its a great time to buy a new flat panel. Prices have never been lower and will continue to decline. Amazon and costco often have some great prices on flat panels so watch for them. Check out the vizio's. I believe that Pioneer's are very high end and Sony is overpriced as well and quality has declined. As they open more flat panel factories in Asia, the prices will fall and it becomes more commoditized. For example right now Samsung makes the majority of the glass for all the TV regardless of brands so worry less about which brand you want because its becoming parity.

And if you buy fro a best buy or circiut city they can come install it for you on the wall for a price I believe. Let someone who knows how to intall it do it because you would be very sad if it dropped while installing it or after installed.

Hope I helped.

I got the coupons for those converters too.

Instead of buying one of those large....errrrr huge tv's, I bought a projector. I can make the screen as large as 20'x16', and only have to replace the bulb every couple years. The big plus is I can carry it in a little bag anywhere I want and make a big screen!! LOL

I heard you get great TV signals with those converters, at least that is what my friends are telling me.

There is also a little box thing I found that you can connect to your monitor and it makes it into a TV.

[The TVBox 9 is a top of the line external TV Tuner with the ability to turn your LCD monitor into a TV without the use of a PC! Featuring cutting edge Progressive Scan technology and 3D-Motion Adaptive De-Interlace, the TVBox 9 displays sharper images while you enjoy full-screen SXGA high-resolution display (up to 1280 x 1024).]
http://www.aver.com/mpd/tvbox9_feature.html

Another option we might do -
buying a nice large monitor instead of a new digital TV { less cost & less power consumption} and use the TVbox9 thing.

You can search the energy star website to find out power use/ratings etc.
http://www.energystar.gov/

monitors 26"-32" use about 30 - 50 watts while on
similar sized TV use 124- 170W watts while on