There simply isn’t that many easy ways to get live OTA HDTV on your computer while there is a ton and a half available for the now-defunct analog signals. But Elgato just announced the low-cost — and low feature — EyeTV One ATSC TV Tuner that brings one more solution to the table. Don’t run over to Amazon and buy this Windows and OS X device just yet. You might not want it once you hear what it can’t do. → Read More
Here’s a public service announcement from the friendly Consumer Electronics Association and National Association of Broadcasters: Move your TV antenna way from the TV for prime DTV reception. → Read More
The government mailed out 64 million $40 coupons for DTV conversion. The program ended on the 9th, with 35 million of the coupons used. How can this be? There must be at least half a billion TVs in the US, and a lot of those households or stores needed to upgrade to digital. Do they not like free money? Did they get theirs through magic, or a secret non-government program? If you’re looking for more info at the coupon website, good luck. It’s dead for me. → Read More
Remember the big technology story of the first half of the year? Analog signals were suppose to be shut-off on February 17, but Obama saved millions of households from their procrastination by delaying it a few months. But eventually on June 12, those signals were turned off. You have to imagine that retailers moved loads of analog to digital converter boxes through the shut-off date. Not many have likely been sold since though, which is why *gasp* sales have plummeted. → Read More
Qualcomm (they probably made the chipset you’re using in your phone) is working on bringing a new type of product to the US, the FLO TV. Roughly the size of an iPhone, the FLO TV is intended to allow you to watch digital TV broadcasts on the go. → Read More
Good job, everyone! The DTV switch seemed to went well. The June 12 transition came and past on our end with little fanfare. Hopefully it was the same with you. Nielsen is reporting that the vast majority of US homes – 98.9% that is – can receive DTV signals. Kind of surprisingly though is that the under 35 demo is the least prepared with 2.7% unable to receive the digital broadcasts. → Read More
Expect to starting seeing ATSC tuners in notebooks, netbooks, and UMPCs soon. MaxLinear and Hauppauge Digital are working on a minicard that should tune in ATSC, QAM, DVB-T, DVB-H, and DTMB signals. The small card also consumes 50% less power than other tuner cards, and the small size means that it can make its way into more packages. Sounds great, right? I’m just doubtful that it will pull in ATSC signals without a large antenna and therefore killing any portability. → Read More
We’ve been screaming from a soapbox for months about today. We’ve gave you a series of tips and tricks, along with answering all the frequently asked questions about DTV. Still, there are millions of homes not ready for the switch to digital according to a recent survey. But what are you gonna do? → Read More
The DTV transition happens this Friday and there are still a bunch of households not ready according to a Nielson survey. It’s good to see that my grandparents aren’t the only old folks that get it as that segment is the most ready for the switch. However, there are still 2.8 million homes not ready with minorities leading the unprepared. → Read More
Lets keep this simple. You have questions about the DTV transition that happens this Friday, June 12, 2009 and we have the answers after the jump. See also our DTV Tips and Tricks for more help. → Read More
The Digipocalypse is fast approaching. Are you ready? Because apparently some 10 million Americans aren’t, and when the switch hits they’ll be cruelly deprived of television and will be forced to spend their leisure time interacting with their friends and family, perhaps out in that beautiful summer weather.
CrunchGear’s hearts and prayers are with these poor wretches, and we beg to remind them that while broadcast TV may not work, your television is still useful for playing movies and games, or just for providing a central source of light around which your family can sit, motionless and silent. → Read More
The analog shutoff date of June 12 is right around the corner. It will be here before you know it. The transition from analog to digital has been riddled with rumors and half-truths, but we’re here to help. Drop us a question after the jump and we’ll ensure that you and your family are prepared for the switch. → Read More
Digital OTA is great, but it can be a tad tricky to pick up sometimes. This Google Map mash-up should help by providing data on where station’s broadcast towers are and how much power is needed to pick up the given station. We only have a few days left before the June 12th shutoff, btw. Is your family ready? → Read More
Remember the DTV switch? Yeah, it got pushed back a few months but the new deadline of June 12, 2009 is quickly approaching. Have no fear Carol Brady is here! The perpetually positive mother on The Brady Bunch has some handy tips for aging baby boomers about the transition. One look at Florence Henderson and you can tell that she knows her DTV stuff. And she’s very excited to tell you about it too. → Read More
HUZZAH! Thanks to Obama and his buddies in Congress, consumers will soon be able to redeem a DTV coupon for $40 off of a DTV box. The Economic Stimulus packaged funded the program with $650 million which should make a help the millions waiting for these coupons. → Read More
Dish Network lost a bunch of subscribers at the end of last year but the company is still in the black even with losing 104,000 subs. Dish’s contract with AT&T is now up and it seems that all those peeps that got roped into deals are now dropping the service after the contract expired. Now, don’t think the company is washed up ’cause at the end of last year, Dish still had 13,678,000 subscribers and reported a 1% revenue increase from the previous year. → Read More
A good amount of analog signals have been permanently turned off across America. It’s the end of an era, folks. In case you didn’t stay up late on February 16 to experience the shut-off live, we’ve got a video after the break of the Orlando market going dark so you can experience it too. Time to move into the digital age, America. → Read More
Well that’s what you get for procrastinating. Some 600 stations switched off their analog broadcasts today and you didn’t register for your coupon in time so you couldn’t purchase a DTV converter box partly on Obama’s dime. The stimulus package will provide $650 million in funding, but it will take some time to get that cash in the appropriate account and into the hands of the some four million waiting. → Read More
