Great Article On DTV Transition

Eureka, CA – It’s not very often that I see articles in the mainstream media where the reporter has an actual grasp of technical issues, or even bothers to spend time seriously researching the subject that they are writing about, for that matter. That being said, there is an excellent story written by a reporter [...]

Rural TV Viewers May Soon Be In The Dark

As we expected, TV viewers in rural parts of Humboldt County may very well be left in the dark after the switch is made to digital television (DTV) in February 2009. The Times-Standard reported this week that viewers in the Orleans area may lose access to KIEM-TV, the area’s only NBC affiliate, when analog transmissions cease and DTV is made mandatory. The problem? Reception in that area is currently only available via a low-powered analog translator, which relies upon solar power and batteries to broadcast a signal. The only way to keep translator service available would be for the station to install a new DTV translator or convert the station’s main signal from digital back to analog in order to be rebroadcast. The station’s current solar system does not produce enough electricity for either option though.

Eureka! We found a DTV converter box

We finally found a source for a decent CECB digital-to-analog converter box for DTV this past week. Even nicer was the fact that we were able to buy it for only about $13 out of our pocket.

List of LPTV Stations and Translators

A list of translators and low-power (LPTV) television stations in Northern California. Includes TV channels for digital and analog TV broadcasters.

Shortage of DTV Converters Continues

Few things are more frustrating than being bombarded with comercials urging you to rush out and buy a product, only to find out later that no stores have the item in stock. No, I’m not talking about the new Apple Iphone. I’m talking about the new DTV converters individuals will need in order to continue watching over-the-air television after February 2009.

Update On HDTV and DTV Service in Humboldt County

The Eureka Reporter ran an interesting story in yesterday’s edition about the state of HDTV and DTV service in Humboldt County, along with some generic information on the switchover to digital.

Don’t Buy These Converter Boxes…

A frightening number of the DTV conversion boxes currently on the market lack a key feature that will leave their owners unable to watch many of their favorite channels after installation.

Getting Your Free DTV Coupons

So, you might be wondering exactly how complicated it is to get these “free” DTV converter box coupons from the U.S. Government. There are some “catches” with the application process. Considering the fact that this program is administered by the federal government, the whole system runs fairly smoothly though.

Interesting Stats On HDTV, DTV Transition

A report released in June from the U.S. Government Accountability Office has yielded some interesting statistics on HDTV and the pending migration of television broadcasters to digital television in February 2009.

Humboldt County HDTV

HDTV Is On The Way HDTV and DTV service is coming soon to a television set near you, even if you live in Humboldt County. In February of 2009, most broadcasters across the county will be changing the frequencies that they currently broadcast at and start transmitting their signals in an all-digital format called DTV [...]