Digital TV Transition: 2008-February 17, 2009

Making sure you can continue being a couch potato just became a lot more complicated. On February 17, 2009, all full power TV stations in the U.S. are scheduled to turn off their analog TV transmitters. After that time, the analog TV tuners in old TV, VCR, and DVD units will no longer be able to receive these stations without the aid of external broadcast digital TV tuners or cable digital TV tuners. A lack of regulation has resulted in a situation in which even with brand new equipment, normal operation of all functions cannot be guaranteed. New VCR/DVD units may lack tuners of any kind, and equipment with tuners is only guaranteed to have a broadcast digital TV tuner and may still require an external cable digital TV tuner if more than basic cable is desired. Separate TV tuners break time shifting -- the ability to preprogram recordings on various channels. The transition may also be expected to break VCR Plus+ PlusCodes (Wikipedia.org), the system that lets you program recordings by simply entering the code numbers from the TV guide. That's because it was designed for a maximum of 125 analog TV channels and doesn't provide for the addition of digital TV, which lets on air stations provide up to six standard definition programs per channel.

What is the digital TV (DTV) conversion?

Digital broadcast television (broadcast TV). All full power broadcast TV stations in the U.S. are already transmitting using a new digital transmitter using the ATSC (Wikipedia.org: Advanced Television Systems Committee) system. The FCC requires that all TV, DVD, and VCR tuners made after March 1, 2007 must include the ability to receive these broadcast digital TV transmissions. But the tuners in many devices made before that date cannot pick up digital TV signals. For this reason, most broadcasters have been simulcasting using their old analog TV transmitters ( NTSC (Wikipedia.org: National Television System Committee) format). But Congress has ordered broadcasters to pull the plug on the analog TV transmitters on February 17, 2009, with temporary exceptions for translator and very low power stations. This means that on February 17, 2009, the analog TV tuners in many TV, VCR, and DVD units made before March 1, 2007 will no longer be able to directly receive most TV broadcasts.

Cable digital television (cable TV). If you have cable TV, the much publicized February 17, 2009 cutoff of analog TV transmitters will not directly affect you. However, many cable TV systems are similarly already carrying some channels using a new digital QAM (Wikipedia.org: Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) standard. But the tuners in TV, DVD, and VCR units made before March 1, 2007 may not include the ability to receive QAM signals. For this reason, many cable companies have continued to provide basic cable in the old analog TV NTSC format. But it is to be expected that most cable companies, though not required to, will choose to change to all digital channels. When your's does, the analog TV tuners in many TV, VCR, and DVD units made before March 1, 2007 will no longer be able to directly receive cable TV channels either. Often, new TV, DVD, or VCR devices with broadcast digital tuners can also tune basic cable digital channels, but with scrambled channel numbering. Even this is not guaranteed, because the FCC does not require that new equipment have digital cable TV compatibility.

What do I need to do to get ready for the end of analog TV?

There's no simple answer to this question. In the first place, reception may not be possible in many areas where reception is currently usable, as reported in Millions May Lose TV Service After Digital Switchover (ConsumerAffairs.com). But even assuming the signal is strong enough, it depends. Several possibilities are listed below.

1. For broadcast TV, a new TV set with broadcast digital TV tuner plus a new external VCR/DVD with its own broadcast digital tuner may be the most flexible solution. This avoids the need for an external digital TV converter box. Two remote controls are required. With this arrangement, you can preprogram recordings on various channels, and you can watch one program while recording another. Beware: new DVD/VCR units lack any tuner at all, and cable digital TV compatibility can't be guaranteed, because the FCC doesn't require it.
2. For broadcast TV, a new TV set with broadcast digital TV tuner and built-in DVD and/or VCR is the simplest solution. This avoids the need for an external digital TV converter box. Only one remote control is required. With this arrangement, you can preprogram recordings on various channels, but you generally cannot watch one program while recording another. In principle, this a great solution, but when I went shopping in Juneau, Costco informed me that they'll never get an all-in-one set again, because they now only carry flat-screen TV sets, and they're not deep enough to hold a VCR. But a VCR is critical for anyone with a library of prerecorded copy-protected tapes, and may be pretty important for anyone with family VCR tapes. Fred Meyer had much the same story. Wal-Mart did have one, the Magnavox CT202MW8, which is a 20 inch standard definition set. It gets a superb picture and has stereo sound, but it was the last one in stock. Beware: Cable digital TV compatibility can't be guaranteed, because the FCC doesn't require it.
3. For broadcast TV, a new DVD/VCR with broadcast TV digital tuner may be an acceptable solution if your old TV has audio/video input connectors. This avoids the need for an external digital TV converter box. Two remote controls are required. With this arrangement, you can preprogram recordings on various channels, but you will not be able to watch one program while recording another. Beware: Most new DVD/VCR units lack any tuner at all; those with tuners generally lack TV3/4 output for old sets that lack audio/video input connectors; and cable digital TV compatibility can't be guaranteed, because the FCC doesn't require it.
4. For broadcast TV, a new TV set with broadcast digital TV tuner plus audio/video output connectors may be a viable solution if your old DVD/VCR has compatible audio/video input connectors. This avoids the need for an external digital TV converter box. Two remote controls are required. But with this arrangement, only one-touch recording of the program you're watching is possible. Preprogramming recordings manually or with PlusCodes for the VCR Plus+ that is built into some recorders is not supported. And you will not be able to watch one program while recording another. Beware: Cable digital TV compatibility can't be be guaranteed, because the FCC doesn't require it.
5. Set-top Digital TV Converter Box. Another option, whether you are coping with digital broadcast TV or digital cable TV, is to buy a broadcast TV digital converter box and/or rent a cable TV digital converter box. That's right, the converter box for broadcast digital TV is not compatible with the one for cable digital TV. For broadcast digital TV, beware: most converter boxes don't have broadcast analog TV pass-through and will prevent receiving low power and translator stations, such as downtown Juneau's channel 5 (NBC) station, which will keep broadcasting solely with their analog TV transmitters for an indeterminate period. Furthermore, three remote controls may result: one for the converter box, one for the VCR/DVD, and one for the TV. This is inconvenient at best and can present insurmountable accessibility problems for the cognitively disabled. So-called universal remotes (Wikipedia.org) may or may not help. And with this arrangement, only one-touch recording of the program you're watching is possible. Preprogramming recordings manually or with VCR+ that is built into the recorder is not supported. You will not be able to watch one program while recording another. And the converter box will draw an average of 23 watts full time, even when turned off. See National Energy Use of Consumer Electronics in 1999 (eetd.lbl.gov/EA/Reports/45988.doc). While 23 watts may seem trivial, It's enough to add some $108 annually to the electric bill when rates spike to some 55 cents a kilowatt hour, as they did in Juneau recently when a massive avalanche cut hydroelectric power (www.avalanchecenter.org).
   • The purchase price for a set top broadcast digital TV converter box runs around $50-$80 per TV set. For a limited time, the government will provide a set-top converter $40 coupon (www.dtv2009.gov) to help defray the cost of buying each broadcast digital TV converter box. However, there is a limit of two coupons per household; you may not apply two coupons to the price of one converter box, you may not apply a coupon to a converter box that includes HDTV (high definition TV) capability; you may not apply a coupon to the purchase of a VCR/DVD or TV with a built-in broadcast digital tuner; and you must use the coupons within three months of issue. Beware: digital ATSC converter boxes are reportedly unable to receive even basic digital cable TV, and most do not have broadcast analog TV pass-through, which is necessary to continue receiving broadcast analog TV, such as translator stations and low power stations like downtown Juneau's channel 5 (KATH/NBC).
   • The rental price for a cable digital TV converter box can exceed $100 annually, per set. In Juneau, GCI currently charges somewhat less, about $33 annually for one, or $105 annually for two.

What about my old VCR and/or DVD recorders with their analog TV tuners? Will I be able to use them with digital television?

A VCR/DVD will still be able to play prerecorded material to a digital TV set. However, if it only has an analog TV tuner, it won't be able to record television stations that have converted to digital TV, unless used with a digital TV converter box or used with a digital TV set that includes compatible audio/video connectors. Even then, it will be limited to one-touch recording of programs you're currently watching in standard definition. All preprogramming ability will be lost, including any built-in VCR+ capability. If you want to keep preprogramming capability, you will definitely need a new VCR/DVD with built-in broadcast digital TV tuner. Beware: Most new DVD/VCR units lack any tuner at all; those with tuners generally lack TV3/4 output for old sets that lack audio/video input connectors; and cable digital TV compatibility can't be guaranteed, because the FCC doesn't require it.

Cable Digital TV Compatibility

The FCC is not making cable companies switch to digital service. However, some are choosing to change to an all digital format. If your's does, TV, VCR, and DVD units made before March 1, 2007 may be unable to receive even basic cable without renting a cable digital TV converter box. This has already happened in Juneau, and some people are not happy about it. See Judith Hauck, Forced GCI "upgrade" not an improvement (www.juneauempire.com).

If all you want is basic cable, you may be able to avoid the cable digital TV converter box rental charges by purchasing a VCR/DVD and/or TV made after March 1, 2007. This is because many of these can receive not only broadcast digital TV (ATSC) but also clear (unencrypted) basic cable digital TV (QAM). Beware: Basic cable means the very basic service, typically limited to some 20 digital channels. Most of the dozens of additional clear channels that come with the preferred service tier can't be received without the cable company converter box unless the equipment you buy is specifically identified as digital cable ready and includes the option to accept the cable company's CableCARD (Wikipedia.org);. A CableCARD ready unit is also required to subscribe to premium services such as HBO. Even with a CableCARD unit, interactive TV services are not supported. And remember that most new DVD/VCR units lack any tuner at all; and while many of those that do have a broadcast digital TV tuner can also receive basic cable digital TV, this can't be guaranteed, because the FCC doesn't require it. Finally, even if you can receive basic cable digital TV on your new equipment, you may find reception without the a rented cable digital converter box, because the channel numbering may be completely scrambled. Here is an example from the Juneau cable system as of October 2008:

New DVD/VCR Units

Apparently, most new DVD/VCR units no longer include a TV tuner, and those that do typically don't produce any output on channel 3 or 4 for older sets that lack compatible audio/video input connectors.

If you have a collection of prerecorded VCR tapes which cannot easily or legally be copied to DVD, or a large collection of family VCR tapes which would require extensive effort or piles of money to convert to DVD, you may well still want VCR capability. If you watch a 19 inch screen from 12 feet away, even the VCR probably captures as much resolution as the eye can see. But you might be happier with a combination VCR/DVD recorder, since the DVD can capture the full resolution of a standard definition digital broadcast. And with a combination unit, you can dub noncommercial tapes lacking copy protection to the DVD.

When purchasing VCR/DVD combination units, there are traps for the unwary. When I went shopping in Juneau, all but one of Costco's VCR/DVD units had no TV tuner at all and could not on their own record anything off the air or cable. The only unit that had a TV tuner was a high definition unit costing nearly as much as a new TV. Fred Meyer advised that they would never get VCR/DVD combination units having a built-in TV tuner again. But without a built-in TV tuner, one can't preprogram recordings. Wal-Mart came to the rescue, with the Magnavox ZV450MVV8, for about $200. But when I got it home, I could not get it to produce a picture on my set on channel 3 or 4. The fine print disclosed that the unit doesn't include an RF modulator and could only connect via audio/video cables. But my TV set had no such input jacks. Luckily, I had another set that does include such jacks. I've been happy with the unit: it gets an excellent picture and can even tune basic cable digital TV, though with the scrambled channel problem mentioned above.

E-waste: An Environmental Nightmare

The digital TV transition is effectively making an entire generation of VCR, DVD, and TV sets functionally obsolete. Many people who choose to get a new TV aren't going to want to keep an old set around considering that it will no longer be able to receive TV off the air without an extra cost broadcast TV converter box or off the cable without an extra rental cable TV converter box. Similarly, there may be no good reason to hang on to an old DVD/VCR that can no longer be preprogrammed to record broadcast or cable TV and actually can't record anything at all without the assistance of a converter box or an audio/video cable connection to a digital TV. With major functionality broken by the switch to digital TV, consumers are most likely to simply want to dispose of the old obsolete junk.

Unfortunately, electronic waste (e-waste) is not environmentally benign. Even the lowly VCR units have circuit boards full of lead and cadmium. TV sets are much worse and are by any measure hazardous waste: in addition to circuit boards, those with picture tubes contain 4 to 8 pounds of lead, which shields the viewer from the X-Rays they produce. TV, VCR, and DVD units can also contain mercury switches, and the plastics often contain bromides as flame retardants. See Puzzanghera, High-tech TV upgrades will create low-tech trash, L.A. Times, May 24, 2007 (www.latimes.com).

The City and Borough of Juneau will accept one TV set per residence on hazardous waste disposal days. See household hazardous waste disposal in Juneau (juneau.org). It's not clear how to best dispose of VCR/DVD units.

Sadly, even if you think you're responsibly disposing of e-waste, you may not be. Often, it is actually shipped overseas for disposal, with catastrophic environmental results. See An E-Cycling Nightmare, The Nation, Nov. 15, 20005 (thenation.com).

My Opinion

I think the conversion from analog TV to digital TV has been abominably managed. FCC rules don't require that VCR/DVD units or even TV sets include a tuner. If they do, they must be able to receive broadcast digital TV, but there is no requirement that they be able to receive cable digital TV. The FCC doesn't require that VCR or DVD units provide RF output on channel 3 or 4 for support of millions of older sets that have no audio/video inputs. They don't require cable companies to use standards compatible with broadcast TV. They don't require cable companies to provide basic cable with the same channel numbers on built-in tuners as are used in cable boxes. They don't require manufacturers to take back their obsolete products for proper disposal. They don't provide specific instructions to consumers on proper disposal of obsolete equipment. They don't recognize the effect of converter boxes on the waste of electricity or the ability of cognitively impaired people to cope with the change or with multiple remote controls. They gave away billions of dollars of spectrum to the television industry without any consideration of the full effect on consumers or the environment and of course without any meaningful compensation to the consumer for this effective destruction of private property.

Nevertheless, there are significant advantages to digital TV. Where reception is possible, ghosts are a thing of the past. Every station can transmit up to six standard definition programs at once, and it is likely that most stations will transmit at least two programs. Thus, many consumers may find that for the first time they can get excellent reception with a good selection of programming via rabbit ears. That may finally bring true competition to cable and satellite TV. But the level of disruption being allowed by the lack of comprehensive FCC regulation is, in my view, unconscionable.