Change to Digital TV's?

[Lee]

What is with this change in the media TV system to digital? The government is offering a $40 coupon--anyone know about this. What is going on? Why are they doing this?  We get TV with our rabbit ears. Is there an option to continue with TV if we get cable or satellite? Or do we still have to buy their "black box" or should we just buy digital TV's?

I bet they are doing this to keep track of us--do these digital TV's and black boxes come with a built in GPS by any chance? There are many poor people who won't be able to afford to make this change--and it irritates me they are doing this! I think it is called: CONTROL

http://www.instantgrantsearch.com/?page_id=81&gclid=COnJoaWwl5MCFQShggodLQ5Z2g

[SavvyRonPaul]

Finally someone has the same concern about this issue that I do!  My neck gets that burning feeling about this...

We here in Northeast Wisconsin see commercials all the time about switching over to these black boxes.

Something is up, the advertising on this is relentless.  They also mention it on the news, so that right there should sound off your alarm bells.

And no, your TV won't work with Rabbit ears after February 9, 2009.  (02-09-2009)

[Ponce]

Glad to see that I am not the only crazy around here.......... anytime anyone tells you "for your convinience" I know that we are about to get screw and specially when they are willing to pay for it.

I suspect that it will be a new way to keep an eye on you, either what you wach "OR" the digital box has the capability to learn or to spy on everything that you do at home......... I have satellite tv and wont be getting one of those "magic" boxes.

[SavvyRonPaul]

I do remember hearing on AJ's show that Comcast has the capability in their boxes to "observe" who is in the living room.  Allegedly to run the "right" commercial as you are watching TV.  The "eye" is not in full color video, supposedly, but only able to see different sizes and shapes.

[Lee]

I wonder if there would be any way to "disable" these black boxes from watching us and yet have them work?  Someone mentioned using satallite TV rather than buying these black boxes--is that possible? Are you saying I can sign up for satellite through my old TV and it will work without "big brother" coming into my home and watching me?

[RadioSilence]

Actually the digital deadline is February 17.  The government wanted to allocate more of the broadcast spectrum to the military and big telecom companies.  Digital signals can be compressed more easily than analog.

That said, the box you see advertised is only for analog/NTSC TVs.  If you already have a television set capable of receiving digital signals, you won't need a converter.  I might just give up television by that point.  I hardly watch anyway.

[CaptBebops]

As an owner of an HDTV set since the fall of 2000 you won't get much sympathy from me.  The transition was originally planned for 2006 but delayed until next year.  A little late IMO.  We're replacing a dreadfully old and buggy television system, NTSC, for digital (ATSC).  NTSC was a hack to give you color television but is very poor at providing accurate color.  HDTV has a better picture.  Ask Alex why he's using HD cameras these days?  You can even get a pocket HD camera for under $150.   Freeing up the analog channels will allow many rural areas to have wide-fi broadband where it doesn't make any economical sense.

I suppose if you are susceptible to the mind programming of television digital won't help make it any more powerful.  Indeed Comcast was unwise in suggesting they would put cameras on their boxes but the management at that company isn't known for their wisdom.  

Countries in Europe have already made the transition.  They began broadcasting in widescreen in the mid-1990s.

BTW, you already have an HDTV.  You're staring at it right now reading this message.  

[RickS]

I wonder if there would be any way to "disable" these black boxes from watching us and yet have them work?  Someone mentioned using satallite TV rather than buying these black boxes--is that possible? Are you saying I can sign up for satellite through my old TV and it will work without "big brother" coming into my home and watching me?

If you have satellite or cable service, you don't have to use the box.

[uwaf]

I would like to get one of these boxes our LOOOOOving Govt is "helping" us to purchase and have someone who knows electronics take it apart and see if there are listening/recording devices built in.

[Kilika]

Yeah, thats the way I understand it. If you got a HDTV, no worries, but those others will need a box you buy, or get from your cable provider. Either your new digital tv already has the "box" or you'll have to get one. Supposedly, the digital cable tv boxes will work, so if you have digital cable, you already have what is needed, otherwise your cable company will "upgrade " you to digital with a shiny new box without having to buy a new digital tv. And as always, the picture quality you'll get is only as good as the tv you have. A digital box will not make your crap tv any better. It will still be a crap picture! Notice how they keep forcing us to "upgrade" everything, by enticing us with these fancy new widgits.

Digital tv I see as part of the overall switch to a digital society; texting, shopping, video phones, biometrics, RFID, banking, video-on-demand, healthcare, gaming, etc. It's all one big system that will allow your tv to be the media hub of your daily life, all run over the internet, and wireless so everyone, no matter where you are, your always "logged on". And yes, being chipped I see as the end goal. Advances in technology and ultimate security actually demand that it evolve to that. Its the logical direction.

Man is always seeking to make things better. We are never satisfied with the latest, and always want more, and the elites plan on giving us a shiny new digital life, so that humanity is at their mercy, and no more than a keystroke away.

[TimeLady]

I have an NTSC/ATSC USB TV Tuner. What that means is that I can get both analog and digital channels.

It's hard for me to receive digital signals compared to analog signals, and I've tried several antennas. I know if I went to the trouble of putting an aerial up on my roof I could get in more than just audio for the digital channels. As it is, I can only receive two or three digital channels (granted, two of these are the channels of the local PBS station, which is pretty good if I want to watch something like History Detectives or NOVA), compared to 17+ analog, and I can tell you that digital TV is totally worth it - the signal is just more crisp and less staticky than analog, even though with digital it seems that you either get all the signal or none at all (instead of analog, where you can get some of the signal)

If you don't want to get a converter box, just get a bigger monitor and a TV tuner card for your computer (although if you have a laptop, it might be easier just to get a USB tuner rather than a TV card).

[ronpaulunited]

As an owner of an HDTV set since the fall of 2000 you won't get much sympathy from me.  The transition was originally planned for 2006 but delayed until next year.  A little late IMO.  We're replacing a dreadfully old and buggy television system, NTSC, for digital (ATSC).  NTSC was a hack to give you color television but is very poor at providing accurate color.  HDTV has a better picture.  Ask Alex why he's using HD cameras these days?  You can even get a pocket HD camera for under $150.   Freeing up the analog channels will allow many rural areas to have wide-fi broadband where it doesn't make any economical sense.

I suppose if you are susceptible to the mind programming of television digital won't help make it any more powerful.  Indeed Comcast was unwise in suggesting they would put cameras on their boxes but the management at that company isn't known for their wisdom.  

Countries in Europe have already made the transition.  They began broadcasting in widescreen in the mid-1990s.

BTW, you already have an HDTV.  You're staring at it right now reading this message.  

You speak the truth here.

Time for NTSC to go, you'll had your fun.

[CaptBebops]

I'm surprised at the number of people including my relatives who I thought would have dragged their feet who have already purchased HDTVs.  They are not really that expensive anymore.  So the impact may not be as big as expected.  I'm concerned about the devaluing dollar actually raising the price but then some manufacturers may actually start assembling them in the US instead.  Vizio a company that makes HD sets already does that.

FYI, the reason HD is digital is the original analog HD which Japan played around with took up 14 mhz of bandwidth.  Digital MPEG-2 encoding (what your DVDs are encoded with) allowed an HD channel to fit within a standard 6 mhz TV channel.

[trixi1]

Strange. I was just having that conversation with my husband yesterday evening. He seems to think it would be pretty hard for them to spy on us if you have a satellite receiver, however, I'm not convinced.

The thought occurred to me that another reason that they may be wanting everyone to switch over is a mode of transport of signals into people's thoughts/brains. We already know they have the technology, people have heard some equipment that they've purchased in the last while have been giving off a humm, of sorts, it makes me wonder what would necessitate the need for this. What's the rush?

Something's up and I don't believe it's innocent by any means.

[UpsetBrit]

I didn't know the US population is being forced into this digital TV thing too. That's odd.

*Looks at tetra mast*
sniff
*Looks at chemtrails*
Hmmm
*Looks at new digital TV*
 

Mass mind control and the creation of a self-destructing zombie population? Sounds really science fiction, but we know they have the capacity and technology to do so. That's the scary thing.

[uwaf]

I refuse to "upgrade", I don't want to see their bullshit anyway,I watch the Lamestream Screws once a day, just to see what they're telling the sheep. I can find another way or just watch them in town in action and figure it out.  Big Brother stay out of my house!

[Zed]

Strange. I was just having that conversation with my husband yesterday evening. He seems to think it would be pretty hard for them to spy on us if you have a satellite receiver, however, I'm not convinced.

Satellite is safe, It can only receive as long as the phone line is unplugged.
(and the phone line is only used to order Pay Per View anyway)

I Used to be a technician for a Major Satellite TV Company so I know their systems quite well.

[trixi1]

Satellite is safe, It can only receive as long as the phone line is unplugged.
(and the phone line is only used to order Pay Per View anyway)

I Used to be a technician for a Major Satellite TV Company so I know their systems quite well.

Thanks for clearing that up for me. 

[CaptBebops]

I didn't know the US population is being forced into this digital TV thing too. That's odd.

The US population wasn't forced into CDs either but try to get a new 12" LP these days.   

[Noel Degrassi]

I've heard researchers in the '90s who said HDTV was going to be TWO-WAY. Enjoy your new HDTV Telescreen, brought to you by The Weownyourass Corp. Ah, can't wait for the Two Minutes Hate.

[uwaf]

Two-Way? Sounds like their other habits. Two minutes of hate, I do it every time I watch the Lamestream Screws.

[smokecheck]

 I could care less. T.V. is useless, brainwashing, distortions of reality; why do you think they call it programming?  I can't remember the last time I watched the boob tube. Furthermore,  even if cable, satellite, were free, I wouldn't be interested.

[SavvyRonPaul]

Oh I know I am opening the proverbial can of worms here, but I was doing research this weekend and came across Project Blue Beam.  There was an excerpt of a video in there that was explaining mind control, holographs and how they are supposedly for military actions.  I was watching a very short video on YouTube. 

The hubby was watching too and all of a sudden he said, that is why the switch to digital.  They need to use the analog capabilities for this Project Blue Beam.

So there.  I said it.  I still need more time to digest this new information (Project Blue Beam) but when TWO people reporting on this story die from heart attacks weeks apart, it makes you wonder, and with everything that is happening in our country today, (from 9/11 to SPP and NAU) how can you not think something like this is going on?

Please don't be too harsh on me.  It is just an opinion, something to hash over. More or less thinking out loud.

[JonTheSavage]

heh, I don't watch TV.

[changedname]

Im no longer a user...I gave up that addiction..Whew I feel so much better now!

[cloudsifter]

I do remember hearing on AJ's show that Comcast has the capability in their boxes to "observe" who is in the living room.  Allegedly to run the "right" commercial as you are watching TV.  The "eye" is not in full color video, supposedly, but only able to see different sizes and shapes.

I dunno, but when the cable guy from verizon came to install my cable box awhile back (dvr kind) and I asked him where in the box
the camera was, he told me "on the front by the clock", with a straight face. 

I figure that I don't need to be able to see what time it is on the cable box, and the screen shows me the channel number, so maybe some black tape over the face place will do the trick.  But how do I generate some white noise near the box that won't bug the heck out of me, but will serve it's purpose with the microphone "if" it's in there?

[bmanmcfly]

Oh I know I am opening the proverbial can of worms here, but I was doing research this weekend and came across Project Blue Beam.  There was an excerpt of a video in there that was explaining mind control, holographs and how they are supposedly for military actions.  I was watching a very short video on YouTube. 

The hubby was watching too and all of a sudden he said, that is why the switch to digital.  They need to use the analog capabilities for this Project Blue Beam.

So there.  I said it.  I still need more time to digest this new information (Project Blue Beam) but when TWO people reporting on this story die from heart attacks weeks apart, it makes you wonder, and with everything that is happening in our country today, (from 9/11 to SPP and NAU) how can you not think something like this is going on?

Please don't be too harsh on me.  It is just an opinion, something to hash over. More or less thinking out loud.

Oh my.... I've heard something of project blue beam.... will have to look into this one a bit more deeply.

[GoingEtheric]

I will be getting no such box.. Movies like "they live" spook me. lol

[Div]

Not to go agaisnt the grain in this thread, but has anyone actually proven that these new TVs are two way government tracking mind control boxes handcrafted by satan in the 10th circle of hell? Just going "well i heard from some guy 5 years ago that this might happen" isn't proof of anything. Let's get the technology and open it up to see if it actually does all these things before we flip out over this.

[GoingEtheric]

Not to go agaisnt the grain in this thread, but has anyone actually proven that these new TVs are two way government tracking m..........

you're right. I don't watch TV anyways. I'm ( and everyone here is...) just so paranoid. These bastards got sooooo many angles.

[mr anderson]

We got till 2013...people here already under the stress of interest rates, petrol prices and standard of living couldn't care less for spending a few thousand for a HDTV or a few hundred for a box.

My TV has a bad reception so I hardly watch it anymore.

[iks83]

I see digital TV as something good actually but it always depends on how it will be used and how it will evolve in the future. Those digital boxes should be safe as long they are not connected to a phone line or have some secret wifi connection, maybe a cellphone style connection. About cable TV I dont know... very likely that they can use a 2 way system there. I live in a rural area so we only had terrestrical TV way back before we had a satellite dish. The only thing you need for digital TV is a digital LNB and a digital receiver. Someone wrote that HDTV is designed to be a 2 way system... thats BS in my opinion except your brand new HDTV TV is able to transmit back to the satellite or into some other net maybe a wifi network or into the cellphone network... who knows.

Digital TV has way better quality... sadly only a better picture quality and not a better quality in content. Also you can pack more channels on the satellite so to speak. One analog channel that goes makes room for like 10 digital channels. Also its easier to record TV shows on your computer to later share them online. Also way better quality than converting a analog signal since you basicly dont convert anything its rather like downloading the video from the satellite. The downside is that they have many ways to restrict the content and try very hard to force it on the consumer. Like reduced resolution if you try to watch HDTV on your computer and other stuff. Of course that will only be a problem for the normal consumer. Computer savvy people will find ways to work around that.

Certainly the final goal will be a complete surveilance via TV. Selling the data to companies to optimize advertising or to tweak their programming to have the best effect. Kinda like a huge lab experiment. Satellite TV is safe for now as long there is no way for the TV or the receiver to communicate back. But who knows... like I said a connection to a wifi network could be possible since many cities already have such a network. A connection through the cellphone system could be possible if they improve the system in a way that other electronics wont go nuts when the TV tries to send something.

Another aspect that just came to my mind is TV over internet. Some say it will be the future that you basicly watch TV over your Internet connection and some ISPs are offering that, TV on demand. That is absolutely traceable and will be exploited. Maybe even one day they want to shut off all the satellite TV channels and there will be only TV over internet.

[CaptBebops]

As I've mentioned before I've had an HDTV for almost 8 years.  That 52" set cost me nearly $4000 back then but these days you can get a better DLP set that size for about $1200.  If you've been watching TV on a 17" analog set you can probably get a nice 26" HDTV set for less than you paid for the 17".  Don't forget you are looking at an HDTV right now since that is what your computer monitor essentially is.

Technically (as I have mentioned before in this thread) digital TV is superior to analog because analog TV was a hack to handle color broadcasts.  The result was the analog color was not always correct.  Digital provides the same color.  That in itself is why DVDs even look better since they are a digital media.

As a video buff I paid $3500 for my first HD camcorder in 2003.  These days you can get an HD camcorder for $99 that takes to some extent better video than that $3500 camera.  Alex's folks have switched to HD cameras.

As for the sociological side of the issue I kinda get a kick out of seeing what programs and movies are innocuous and what shows are trying to program or sell some agenda to the public.  If everyone were made aware of these agendas and psychologies then their attempts would no longer work.

[zdux0012]

hopefully the public will reject the new sets.

[life0repeats]

we need to set up pirate TV broadcast all over the nation.  take back the airwaves.  put some quality programming on TV.

[Oceanno]

With Chemtrial X in the sky, I believe that they need the full antilog spectrum for radar "Harpp"... But I do not think it is for a better picture

[Femacamper]

Ken Peters: Your TV Will Be Watching You!

[snafu]

that little box they make u put on top of your tv.. yeah thats mind control