Comments on: Should the DTV transition be delayed?

The DTV transition is still up in the air, and CNET asks its readers if they think the DTV transition should be delayed. Take our poll.

[EcuadorHomesOnline]

I am a veteran of the broadcast industry and was part of the early trials to determine what formats should be used. The biggest issue for me is that they decided to retain interlaced video standards and (30*1000/1001) frame rates. This would have been a good time to completely get rid of these old handicaps that REALLY are a pain in the neck for broadcasters and content producers alike (although the consumer usually don't even know about it!). The changeover date? Irrelevent.

[cmstratton]

This delay is absolutely ridiculous. We've had multiple years to get ready for this. By this point, if people are going to be affected and haven't either gotten a new TV and cable, or gotten a digital converter box, it's their own fault. I don't buy the "it's impacting the poor and uneducated" argument. Anyone who hasn't prepared isn't uneducated, they just haven't been paying attention. They've been procrastinating and it's their own fault. People in this boat won't act until it impacts them - i.e. they no longer have TV service. Delaying will only give them more time to procrastinate.

[Renegade Knight]

Heck no it should not be delayed. Everyone will have to deal with this. Sooner is better than later.

[thewelshbrummie]

It's far far too late to be changing the date less than 2 weeks before transition: if there was to be any delay it should have been announced several months ago.

I don't know how advertising has worked in the US but the UK Government has been sending out regular leaflets (every 3 months or so) with reminders about it happening: the last one I got announced the date in our region (it's being done by region in the UK) more than a year in advance, more than enough time.

What the House of Representatives should consider is the method being used in the UK: a 2 stage switch off: we lose one of 5 analogue channels on the given date, with the other 4 going 2 or 4 weeks later (on the same day if the week). That makes it obvious that you need to do something and I believe it would work in the USA.

[drhamad]

Heck no. If people don't understand it by now, they aren't going to understand it 3 months from now. Let's get it over with.

[shardsofmetal]

I don't believe the reason congress is voting on this has anything to do with whether people understand. It's an issue of the coupon program running out of money, so some people couldn't get boxes, not everybody has $50 they drop, especially people who can't afford cable or satellite. Some people may very well understand it, but be unable to purchase the boxes necessary to see TV.

[fuzzybomber1]

The time should not be delayed people had enough time. The coupons should have never existed in the first place, tv is not an necessity in life people can live without. there should have been more help for the elderly with more information. People whats with adjusting your antenna I have one from the 70's and it is working fine picking up digital signals and HD. People should stop complaining and cough up $50 and if they can't afford it then maybe they should be doing something other then watching tv. This country has helped people for to long and now they can't take care of themselves. If you are mentally disabled then you should get help but if you are just plain stupid and never did anything with you life then I say ****** you. You had the opportunity to make, come on school is free time college. If you didn't use that time and just focused on what she did last night or what there going to do in high school then you are just stupid. If you are having money problems then cancel the cable, internet and get ride of the cell phones the decision is between you paying your own way or people not liking you because you are just a lazy bum who leaches off others.

[shardsofmetal]

You know what else people can do without...Internet.

[mb99]

I am SICK of the simplistic argument that if you aren't prepared for this you're either an irresponsible slacker or an idiot. The facts are that the relocation of most stations into the UHF band was never properly tested in the real world. We are now finding out the the propagation at these higher frequencies is WAY worse than expected. And digital makes this even worse. Many, many, folks who got good reception under VHF are getting very degraded signals under the new system. WHOLE communities are finding their signal unexpectingly poor. Due to all this, many folks who had no reason to think that they might need to do roof-top work are discovering that they do. THIS SIMPLY CAN'T BE ACCOMPLISHED IN FEBRUARY IN THE NORTHERN STATES!! Sorry for the screaming - but there are two classes of idiots that really have me steamed about this.... those geniuses who picked Feb. in the first place, and those who don't realize it's a problem for many people now.

[shardsofmetal]

Thank you! Couldn't have said it better myself.

[mb99]

I am SICK of the simplistic argument that if you aren't prepared for this you're either an irresponsible slacker or an idiot. The facts are that the relocation of most stations into the UHF band was never properly tested in the real world. We are now finding out the the propagation at these higher frequencies is WAY worse than expected. And digital makes this even worse. Many, many, folks who got good reception under VHF are getting very degraded signals under the new system. WHOLE communities are finding their signal unexpectingly poor. Due to all this, many folks who had no reason to think that they might need to do roof-top work are discovering that they do. THIS SIMPLY CAN'T BE ACCOMPLISHED IN FEBRUARY IN THE NORTHERN STATES!! Sorry for the screaming - but there are two classes of idiots that really have me steamed about this.... those geniuses who picked Feb. in the first place, and those who don't realize it's a problem for many people now.

[sartor1]

A lot of folks with Converter boxes, will also be upgrading to digital televisions,
and will then sell their converter boxes!
No need to put more on the market now!

NO! There's obvious technical reasons why, but primarily because I'm friggin tired of hearing about the upcoming DTV transition, sheesh.

[DatabaseDoctor]

Hell no!

Don't delay it. For ten years they've been planning this and, according to one Lemmings Rights Advocate, "the poor, the disabled and the elderly are at risk from seeing nothing but snow on their screens".

So let me get this right... if we postpone the transition by four months which everyone has known about for years and have been drilled into our heads by each and every station that those three groups would be watching on their rabbit-ears, then the following will occur:

The poor will get rich
The disabled will become enabled
The elderly will grow young

Get off it and stop pandering to the lowest levels of society. You've all had plenty of time to accommodate the switch and most of you don't have to change anything at all. Face it. Stupid, ignorant people aren't who we should be worrying about.

[shardsofmetal]

By calling underprivileged people stupid and ignorant, you yourself sound stupid and ignorant. Some people have been for a while trying to figure out how it will work, and need a little more time to prepare. February is a horrible cutoff date...summer would be much better.

[SMB-IL]

Wasn't the transition originally supposed to happen in 2006? How much more delay do we need?? What more do people need to do to get ready? It's ridiculous, this argument!

[kalyanakrishna]

After years of preparation, what good will delaying another 3 months do than cost money for the TV stations? No delay, get it over with.

[rubinpham]

there should be no more delay in dtv. the consumers have plenty of time to upgrade.
delaying dtv only cost tv stations and consumers who already upgrade money, time or inconveniences.

[hyghwayman]

No delay please, I just want my DTV.

hyghwayman

[hyghwayman]

Also, if you old rabbit ear antennas don't work well enough you can make your own for under $10.oo bucks.

Go to my HTHUT web page for more details;

http://hthut.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!2243ABF263B6C3B5!209.entry
http://hthut.spaces.live.com/

hyghwayman

[CorkyMuldoon]

This is ridiculous. Do you know what overall effect this delay will have? Simple - they'll simply consider another delay in June because people who haven't gotten with the program now still won't be with it this summer! A nod is as good as a wink to a blind horse. Any why in the h*ll am I (and the rest of the taxpayers in this country) paying for these boxes?

Delay solves nothing. Whining about the coupon program is not useful. It was always promoted as a limited funds program, and it ran out of funds. Procrastinators loose out. Ah well. It's not like this program hasn't been advertised to death. I say "get on with it". Those without TV on Feb 18 will need to solve the problem or go without.

[efreak1]

people must be real poor not to afford a converter box.

[efreak1]

people must be real poor not to afford a converter box.