Comments on: DTV transition: Avoiding an e-waste 'tsunami'

Greenpeace and others warn of a surge in electronic waste as the U.S. shifts to digital television. Here's how to recycle or reuse your old analog TV properly.

[RayGauthier]

The DTV transition does not make the older television set obsolete. If the owner has cable (or equivalent) television service, the television would still work, just as it did last week or last year. However, you are correct in that the DTV transition does induce owners of older sets to get newer models.

[odubtaig]

Cost of a new TV Vs cost of a Digibox you plug into the one you already have.

I don't think the spike is going to be that big, especially in a recession.

[manaboulsi]

I am glad that someone is finally writing about this digital transition. I believe the problem will cause more electronic waste then what's predicted here.

The Electronic conversion boxes being sold in the U.S. under the coupon exchange program are useless even with internal AND EXTERNAL antennas. Someone must have gotten paid to certify these rip off as legitimate products. I would not buy a radio, a cell phone or any electyronics that perform like devices do.

THESE DEVICES WILL END UP IN A LAND FILL

I have purchased two boxes for me and my parent (I use ecternal antenna and they use internal one with out problems) but we both had to subscribe to cable because the pictures were pixilated and the y freeze long enough to loose the story line and last but not least, channels do not appear at all and we both live in the metro area so there is no excuse.

Does any one else have this experience?

[rkinne01]

"but we both had to subscribe to cable" Which is why this whole conversion is taking place.

[AlSleet]

I have no idea where you live. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area where geography presents real challenges to TV and FM signals. That said, we put a converter on the analog set in the bedroom--we now receive more stations AND they are crystal clear using an indoor antenna. Fortunately we have a clear shot to the main transmission tower. Using an identical antenna on a 50" plasma in a different room produces a picture which equals and in some cases clearly betters friends with cable/satellite. Attempted to do the same for relatives, but their house is further away and behind hills--no signal so they had to stick with cable. I don't know the source of your problem, but converters work.

[man_w_balls]

The converter boxes are not your problem. The reception of the broadcast signal is what is wrong with your TV system (manaboulsi).
I got my DTV converter box for $18 after tax and gov't coupon from Radio Shack. I didn't get teh one from Wal-Mart because it has the camera in it for Barak Obama to watch you masturbating in the living room.

Side note - I would never throw away my analog TV unless it suffered some catastrophic (unrepairable) failure! People who throw away useful things in such a manner are stupid. My TV has S-Video inputs, so if nothing else I could play high-quality DVD video or video games on it. Not to mention the continued compatibility of cable & satellite.

[manaboulsi]

We live in Metro Detroit. We had no problem with Analog TV using External and Internal antennas. With Digital TV nothing worked.

p.s. My boxes were purchased at BestBy, but they all came from China.

[Stormspace]

We bought one to use in our camper on a 13" CRT. Generally I have found the box using rabbit ears placed outside the camper picked up more channels than we were able to get previously using the analog tuner. It is frustrating to be getting a marginal signal and suddenly after watching for 30 minutes or so have the picture freeze, pixelate, and die. It makes you wonder what environmental factors cause a signal to do that.

[odubtaig]

Strong winds (Rayleigh scattering) and EM interference such as high powered electric strimmers/mowers. I get a pretty good signal here but in the winter high winds and heavy rain can really mess with it.

[MadLyb]

Uhhh, the 'transition' has been going on for years and while there will be a small spike, I think the combination of people who have already moved to HD, the folks on cable and satellite who will have to do nothing, and the folks who will use a converter will keep it pretty small.

[scottthesculptor]

yup.
I recycled my last analog TV in 2006.
Just before the *first* DTV transition deadline.
Have been watching ATSC ever since.
All the major channels have been there the whole time.
In four years I've only seen foreign language and religious channels added.

Anyone using an old NTSC box with a converter will be missing the major improvement.
Broadcast HDTV is pretty amazing.
but considering the brain-dead masses.
If they couldn't figure out that free HD was available for all these years . . .

Cheap HDTV if you already have a computer;
USB ATSC tuner =$40
Dell 23" 1920x1080 LCD = $200

with a $20 UHF antenna I get 38 channels - ~30 watchable with 6 PBS stations, including 2 in HD
SF bay area

[synthetikz]

analog TV : GOOD RIDDANCE.

[rkinne01]

Freecycle.org is also a great place to use to recycle old Tv's not everyone can afford a new Plasma TV!

[Beruda]

I'm happily using my 20' analog with the converter box. I'll get a new TV at some point but for now I don't want to spend the money.

B.

[pizzahutmaster]

If they don't want to throw away tv's they should make a program where they send obsolete tv's to Mexico

[seanerino]

If anyone is interested in learning more about the historical roots of the e-waste problem and obsolescence in industrial manufacturing, I recommend reading Giles Slade's book Made to Break: Technology and Obsolescence in America.

You can listen to an interview with Slade on the latest episode of Nature's Past, an environmental history podcast:
http://niche.uwo.ca/naturespast