Death of the Analog TV Signal- The End of an Era?

Well this is it, the final end to "Analog TV signal" over the air, free broadcasting . By midnight Friday all required TV stations, that broadcast analog signals, will have switched to "Digital" signals. There is an estimated, depends on which polls you look at, over 2 million people still not ready. They estimate that there are around 16 million to 20 million people in the US that still use an antenna to get their TV programing. And they say that many who use Cable, Dish, or Satellite to receive their TV programing are seriously considering going back to an antenna. Free over the airwaves HD broadcasting with surround sound is very tempting. I went back to an antenna last September when I discovered that many of my local TV stations were already broadcasting digital signals. My tight economical strained pockets made it an easy choice! The quality is superior to analog, if you can pick up the signal, its perfect, clear, and rich in colors. And the full rich audio will make warm "ting lee fuzzys" all over the back of your neck. I found local free broadcasting better quality than what my local cable provider was dishing out. I compare this moment to when I was a kid, remembering the excitement of the event of color broadcast signals. One neighbored on the street finally got a color TV and invited a lot of us to come over to see what color TV was all about. We gathered at night, crowded into their livingroom, to watch the only program that was in color at the time, Bonanza. I feel like this wonderful event of free digital broadcasting is going mostly unnoticed without the same excitement because we have become so accustomed to Cable, Dish, or Satellite quality viewing. Many grew up with this and have no memory of the fuzzy, snowy, ghosting analog TV quirks that my generation had to endure. I can still recall when the original Star Trek first went on the air, running out and trying to adjust the outdoor antenna to get fuzziness with "barely able to make out the picture" graininess. And I would watch that for the whole duration of the show!
It really depends what is on the air in your area and how you are located that determines what you can receive. Walls, trees, and buildings can get in your way. I would recommend this site, http://www.tvfool.com/ That site should give you an idea as to what is available in your area. Presently the little local low powered stations can still use the analog signal, but only until the date is set for them to switch. Maybe I am the only one that uses an antenna on this forum?
I am enjoying this era of free digital broadcasting, It could change the way the neighborhood looks. Maybe a return to yesterday, the whole neighborhood with antennas on every roof?

I use an antenna too. Mostly because all my favorite cable shows are on Hulu or similar websites. Which is why I got myself a Home Theater PC. An HTPC is much cheaper in the long run than paying monthly for cable and you can still get most of your favorite shows. Everything else I get from Netflix with my new updated Blu-ray account.

Speaking of which, we found one of those analog-digital converter boxes for $10 at a yard sale just for kicks. I mean WOW it really cleans up the picture image on the spare 13 inch TV we have in the guest bedroom

"The quality is superior to analog" I so disagree. I could watch programming with a weak analog signal and it would look grainy. However, I felt that graininess was more tolerable than digital blockiness and drop-outs. A strong digital signal can carry more information and be "hi def" unlike analog signals, but I still don't see the point of the FCC mandating everything to move to digital.

Then again, I also don't favor major network television programs. If I actually want to watch House or Heroes, I'll just watch some episodes on Hulu...

Since I got rid of cable, I only use my main 27" TV for video games and DVDs...

Grindspine said:

"The quality is superior to analog" I so disagree. I could watch programming with a weak analog signal and it would look grainy. However, I felt that graininess was more tolerable than digital blockiness and drop-outs. A strong digital signal can carry more information and be "hi def" unlike analog signals, but I still don't see the point of the FCC mandating everything to move to digital.

Click to expand...

The entire reason for this whole switch was originally for freeing up the VHF signal for emergency services (e.g. better communications services for police departments, fire departments and ambulance services.) But now, I'm now sure what they're going to use them for. Hopefully the FCC is still going through with the original plan.

Also, I believe some of it was auctioned off as well sometime last year to wireless carriers to improve their wireless coverage.

I also think that some of signal was actioned off for wireless internet services too.

Grindspine said:

"The quality is superior to analog" I so disagree. I could watch programming with a weak analog signal and it would look grainy. However, I felt that graininess was more tolerable than digital blockiness and drop-outs. A strong digital signal can carry more information and be "hi def" unlike analog signals, but I still don't see the point of the FCC mandating everything to move to digital.

Then again, I also don't favor major network television programs. If I actually want to watch House or Heroes, I'll just watch some episodes on Hulu...

Since I got rid of cable, I only use my main 27" TV for video games and DVDs...

Click to expand...

I experienced the dropouts on Cable a lot and have heard of people on the Dish have the same problem. I think that it is just a quirk of the technology when the reception is weak or has some interference. But with many of the stations that I watch locally I do not experience that problem. Out of the 15 channels that I pick up, I only have that problem with 3. Five of the channels I am receiving are Hi-Dif. I really don't watch the major network programming except for local news and weather. The channels that I am watching mostly locally is, FOX, MyNetwork, ION, and CW. I find it interesting just how many people are starting to depend on the internet for their Television programming.
Oddly enough, the one show that I am interested in right now, and I watched this weekend, is the Original Star Trek on MyNetwork. :lol

edit: Hey! Wait a minute, I just picked up two more channels! Make that 17 channels now! There is a possibility of at least 30 channels in my area where I sit. But I would need a rotor to get them all. I have my antenna only pointed in one direction at the moment. That one direction is where I get the most channels.