[RTC List] DTV Conversion Support or User Group

[Dwight Winegar]

I know the focus of this RTC mail list is quite narrow, especially  
since people did not want to have a BBS anymore, however with the  
"Digital Conversion" new questions are coming up that go beyond the  
basic FCC FAQs.   What is a local source for Humboldt County residents  
to ask various questions.

For example:

-  Digital is either "All or Nothing" so how do we know how many  
Digital channels are actually out there in the local area, that are  
possible to receive?
-  Digital broadcasting is causing the changing of numbering.  Some  
are easy - such as 6 is now at 6.1, but others are now on new channels  
or "virtual channels" (if someone wants to define that difference).    
You will not find Newschannel 3 on 3.1.
-  Rabbit ears are not enough, even though many sales people and some  
of the FCC material would have many to believe so.  Even with an  
amplified Radio Shack antenna you may very well NOW be needing an  
outdoor antenna.  Where do you get that at, and the advice on putting  
it up?   Not from the places you would have traditionally gone - such  
as hardware stores or even all Radio Shacks.
-  Oh those darn recording devices...  If I must have a DTV converter  
box than how do I pair that up with my VCR, or the newer DVD  
recorders?   What about timers and tuners in the equation?
-  Hey my converter box says DTV and not HDTV; do they make HDTV  
converter boxes? (or how beneficial would they be over DTV converters?)
-  The FCC rules for the conversion only say Full Power stations or  
"Primary", yet in this rural area there are many "Translators" and  
some "Relays" so what happens with these after 17 Feb 2009?    
Apparently a number of these will still be around and allowed to  
broadcast - and which ones are they - serving where from where?

- What you didn't kill your television yet?   Well there's still KEET  
and Jim Bernard, ... and maybe the Simpsons or House  =8-P


These are some of the more frequent questions that are coming up in  
larger numbers, and not the ones the FCC talks about.

- Dwight