I recently realized another drawback to satellite TV: The times you need it most (eg emergency weather situations) are also the times you're most likely to lose signal. That's not good.
Cable TV won't be stopped by plain rain, but anything that takes down the wiring will similarly leave you without access to TV-based information.
So, it's a good idea to have at least one plain-vanilla battery-operated TV and/or radio around; ones that can capture and process broadcast signals without requiring anything external to work.
Small portable TVs, especially non-high-definition B&W units, are ridiculously cheap now, as vendors unload their stocks before next year's switch to all-digital signals here in the US. I've seen little 5" (13cm) units selling online for as little as $10.
All older over-the-airwaves TVs will need digital-to-analog converter box to work after the big digital switchover next year. The Government will send you two $40 rebate cards, free:
https://www.dtv2009.gov/ApplyCoupon.aspx
To prevent fraud, the cards are linked to your household; 2 per; and it's one card per converter box (you can't combine them to make, say, one $80 card). The cards also must be used within 90 days of receipt. You present the card at the time of purchase and get an instant $40 off the price of the converter. The retailer keeps the card; it's a one-use thing.
Converter boxes typically cost $50-60, so your out-of-pocket cost is $10-20 after the instant rebate.
The converters require electricity to operate. If you have a 12v-to-120v battery-powered inverter or a generator as part of your emergency gear (a belt-and-suspenders kind of guy, I have both), you'd then be able to receive on-air TV at a time when you might need it most.
Newer TVs have digital-ready tuners, and won't need the converter box. If your on-air TV is old and failing, it might make sense to simply upgrade to a newer TV (doesn't have to be HD) that will work after the digital switch.
But if you have an older TV that you don't want to needlessly add to a landfill, a converter box with a net cost of $10-20 is a pretty good deal.
Fred,
ReplyDeleteI've heard that many portable, battery-powered TVs are unable to use the digital converter boxes because they have a built-in antenna and no F connector to attach the coax cable from the converter box.
It's also unclear what to do about people like me who received their discount cards back in Feb 2008 but were unable or forgot to buy a converter before the cards expired.
Bob
Hi Fred,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your columns. I personally appreciate reading them each time.
Thanks for taking the time.
Thanks again,
Chris
Cable out? Dish not receiving? No converter?
ReplyDeleteRadio is better for emergency stuff, anyway.
Yes, radio is ideal for disseminating basic essential emergency information (hence those monthly tests of the Emergency Broadcast network). But TV provides much more detail of rapidly-evolving events.
ReplyDeleteFew radio stations outside the major markets have their own external reporters. The "news staff" of most medium and small stations is an announcer or two who just read wire reports and stuff off the web.
Most TV stations have at least a external reporter or two, and are set up for live coverage of news events.
In the case of major weather event, for example, TV would likely have ongoing live coverage, while most radio stations would not.
By all means, I agree that every household emergency kit should have a basic battery-powered radio. But with just a little more planning, you also can have access to the richer detail that TV can provide.