So What's All The Fuss Over This Little Box?
Warm Spring Greetings from Nappanee….Spring has definitely sprung here in north central Indiana. It’s been a very wet Spring as well, so a lack of moisture in the soil should not be an issue this year, though the old saying “if you don’t like the weather in Indiana, stick around 10 minutes; it will change…” is always in the back of our minds.
Weather isn’t the only thing that changes around here. Technology changes a lot as well. I’ve written over the years about the wonders of modern technology, and how it progresses on what sometimes feels like a daily basis. From microwave-convection ovens to flat panel televisions, the RV industry has embraced the changes in technology, providing greater comfort and convenience to those who love this lifestyle so.
Some changes are bigger than others, though. Take the one that is coming on February 17, 2009. That day will bring about change that will affect us all in one way or another. That is the day, a little less than a year from now, when the Government will pull the plug on “analog” TV broadcasts, requiring stations instead to switch to a “digital” format that provides clearer picture and sound, and greater flexibility in broadcasts than ever before.
By now you have probably seen the commercials talking about the change, what to expect, and what to do to continue receiving “off air” broadcasts after that date. The government is making a genuine effort to make this as smooth a transition as possible for everyone, but before we get into that, let’s take a few minutes to look at exactly what is going to happen, and how it may, or may not, affect you.
The commercials stress that when this change occurs, if you get your local TV through a cable company or a satellite provider (like Direct TV or Dish Network), you are pretty much already set and ready to go. Cable and satellite programming is already in the digital realm, so they are providing you that signal now. That will not change on February 17. If, however, you rely on an antenna to receive the local “over-the-airwaves” broadcasts from your local TV stations, you will need to either purchase a TV with a built in digital tuner, or you will need to purchase a “convertor box” to convert those new digital signals to a form your analog TV can understand.
To help with the transition, the federal government is offering up to two coupons per household (worth $40.00 toward the purchase of a convertor box). Convertor boxes run anywhere from $50.00 – $200.00, depending on what you are looking for. In most cases, just to receive the local broadcasts, a $50.00 convertor box will certainly do the trick. There are certain stipulations for this “coupon” program, so it is important that you take the time to go to www.dtv.gov to review the criteria.
The RV world will be affected just as everyone else will. For the 2009 model year, all TV’s installed in Newmar products will have built in digital tuners, and are ready for the change. If your unit is not equipped with a TV that has a digital tuner, and you do wish to receive local broadcasts using your roof mounted conventional antenna, you will need to either replace theTV set, or install a convertor box between the antenna and the TV.
The easy (and inexpensive) way to go digital is to install the convertor box between the antenna and the video switch box. This way one convertor box takes care of all the TV’s in your unit. It does, however, mean they all have to watch the same programming if you are watching local broadcasts. One convertor box would send one signal to all the TV’s in the unit. Since the convertor box IS the digital tuner, all the TV’s would get the same signal.
The other option would be to add one to each TV, inserting it like you would at home, between the video switch box and the TV. This would allow you to watch one channel on one TV, and a different channel on another TV. Pretty simple and straight forward, right?
Keep in mind that this “analog-to-digital” change will not affect the other operations on your analog TV. You can still watch movies from a VCR, or a DVD player, or use a video gaming system (like Xbox 360 or PlayStation 2) just as you always have. This change will only affect how you receive local broadcasts.
One other common question in all of this is regarding antenna’s. Does it take a special “digital” antenna to receive those digital signals? Nope. If you have a good antenna that brings in UHF clearly now, it will do a fine job in bringing in those digital channels since most of them will be broadcast in the UHF range.
So are you good and confused now? All of the answers you seek are available on the Governments websites that are dedicated specifically to this time of transition. Visit www.dtv.gov, or www.dtv2009.gov to find out more about the “Big Switch”, and how you can submit a request for a coupon or two toward your own convertor boxes.
For our part here at Newmar, we will work with our owners and dealers to provide installation information that will help in the installation of convertor boxes in the field. While we can’t offer to provide these convertor boxes, or change out TV’s for ones with digital tuners, we can provide the technical advice to help in this time of transition. Our Customer Service staff and dealer body are ready to help should the need arise, but trust me, if you can install a VCR, you can install a convertor box.
Of course, the EASY way to avoid all this converter box business is to purchase a nice, new 2009 Newmar RV. It will come ready for next year’s video apocalypse, and you will wake up February 18, 2009 and watch TV just like the day before!
We hope the information has been helpful. Thanks again for stopping by, and we will see you next month!