Help with understanding the U.S. switch of analog TV broadcast to Digital !!!

[TechCom0018]

I have cable TV for watching TV, and I have about 6 TV's that are hooked up to cable. 4 of them are older ones are CRT TV's with cable input in the back (that could be used for a coaxial cable or an antenna) and A/V connector inputs, other older CRT TV is a Big Screen TV with 2 cable inputs and 1 cable output, can anybody explain how that works?, 2 A/V connector inputs, 1 YCbCr Component input, and 3 S-Video ports, other CRT TV is a TV/DVD combo is a bit newer than the other TV I just mentioned, and last a LCD Flat Screen TV with 1 Cable input, HDMI input, VGA input, and more (I'm not to worried about this TV).

Now here are some other devices that is connected to are cable, and to some of the other TV's. 2 (a bit) older VCR's with 1 set of Cable in/out connections and an set of A/V in/out connectors, a personal PVR Media Center, for more info on that go to this link: Need Help Setting Up Mythbuntu 8.04, 1 Cable Modem, and 1 Comcast Digital Cable Box (Which is connected to the Big Screen TV).

So I know that when the U.S.A. makes the switch from analog TV broadcast to Digital, TV's connected to Cable or Satellite will not be affected, but I keep reading about things like my VCR channels will not work after the switch, my PVR's TV Tuner will not work after the switch, and here's a quote from How Stuff Work website about the switch for cable TV's:

So if you're not using an antenna to watch TV, you don't need to worry about the switch.

Analog cable subscribers who plug the coaxial cable directly into the back of the TV without using a set-top cable box will be affected, though.

Link to website:How Stuff Works: Digital Converter Box

So you can see why I'm confused about cable TV's fate after 2-17 2009 . The website I quoted from makes it sound like that you cable TV will still work after 2-17-2009, BUT only if you have a converter box connected to your TV.

So can anybody me help understand EXACTLY what will happen to my TV's after the switch on 2-17-2009!!! Thanks for your help .

 

[OvenMaster]

The only people who have to worry are people like me: I use a roof antenna to get free network TV over the air. People like me need a converter box (which I bought in April), a new TV, or I can shell out money to subscribe to cable or satellite TV.

People who watch cable TV will have the signals automatically converted to work with their present television sets. A VCR will still work as long as it's connected AFTER the cable converter box and BEFORE the TV set(s).

Bottom line is that as long as you use your cable box to watch TV you should be fine. The cable box is what feeds everything else.

Tom

 

[MyCattMaxx]

^^^^ +1

 

[massahwahl]

NO ONE NEEDS TO BUY A NEW TV!!! DONT BECOME A VICTIM OF THIS!! A lot of retailers are taking advantage of consumers ignorance on this subject. NO TV is incompatible with the digital converter box. To know whether or not you need a converter box, simply answer this: 'Do you pay for your television service?' If not, then you will need one. If you pay for service then you dont one.

 

[TechCom0018]

Thanks for your help, now a have a few more questions to ask you guys.

So if I'm getting my cable TV from my cable companies' cable box, then is their any reason, beside receiving digital cable, a digital cable box? The only differences I see is 1) Better picture and sound, 2) I have a few more channels, and 3) Some HD channel (but I can only get audio and not video), I think I might need Digital Cable w/ HD service in order to get HD channels?

Also if I did decide to upgrade and get Digital Cable, is it true that you have to have a Digital cable box connected to EACH TV that you want to watch Digital TV on? And does the same goes for HD TV, by which I mean that you need a Digital Cable Box with an YCbCr Component output and/or a HDMI connection port? Also here's a fellow-up question, can TV's get a good HD picture by using the YCbCr connector ports on TV's that don't have a HDMI connection port?

I'm trying to understand all of this Digital Cable and HD TV stuff, so that I can explain this to my friends and family in a better way. Thanks for your help .

 

[brian]

yeah i also had the same question. we have comcast and all the comercials say we have you covered... bla bla bla. but we have some tv's with out a box, just pluged in, also have a tuner card. do you need to get a box after that

 

[MyCattMaxx]

Brian, Not to sound like a turd, You figure you know stuff about computers and you haven't figured this out??????

 

[brian]

lol yeah i did find the answer. so i mean it is both. some cable providers will change because it is more pratical and some arnt. but they arnt required.

 

[/\E]

NO ONE NEEDS TO BUY A NEW TV!!! DONT BECOME A VICTIM OF THIS!! A lot of retailers are taking advantage of consumers ignorance on this subject. NO TV is incompatible with the digital converter box. To know whether or not you need a converter box, simply answer this: 'Do you pay for your television service?' If not, then you will need one. If you pay for service then you dont one.

Yes, the retailers are taking advantage of this situation.

Best Buy is, or so I have heard... Funny, my stepfather and I were talking about this yesterday. He said he went in there and saw a small promotion sign on one of the TV Stands for the LCD/Plasmas that said "Make the upgrade to all digital components with Best Buy." It said something like that...