TubeNet

OK, I went and got that thar digibox thingy because I don't have cable TV.

Now, the digibox directions say you have to put the TV on channel 3, and then you choose the channel to watch, with the digibox remote (and it is slow as molasses, too; none of that channel-flipping any more, because you miss so much in the wait time.) I have already noted that a channel that was watchable with "snow" in the picture, is no longer watchable in digital because there is nothing but the contents of bad dreams on the screen, along with a "bad signal" message.

So...now, in analog-world, I have my VCR set up to record various programs while I'm not home (if I were home I'd just watch them) and they are of course not all on the same channel. Since the TV has to be on channel 3, I assume the VCR also has to be on channel 3, it being downstream of the digibox. I also assume that the VCR is not designed to record a digital signal and would digest itself upon trying, hence the downstream-osity.

It would seem that in order to record a digiTV program on the VCR, that the digibox has to already be a) turned on, and b) tuned to the channel I want to record with the VCR. Which means I can't record, for example, channel 4 from 5 to 6 PM and channel 9 from 6 to 7 PM, because I'm not there to change the channel on the digibox.

Am I missing a concept here?

MA

Am I missing a concept here?

Indeed you are. Video Games. Make your own TV.

MaryAnn wrote:Am I missing a concept here?

Nope. That's how they work. All your channel-changing is done with the digital tuner, which means it's not done with the tuner in the VCR.

One option is to get a VCR with a digital tuner (if such are even made). Another option is to get a digital video recorder with a digital tuner, and I suspect these will be easier to find. In fact, I see a Toshiba DVR with ATSC tuner for under $200 at Amazon. It has RGB output and should plug into the AV jacks on your TV.

You may also need to upgrade your antenna. Digital provide little marginal reception. You either have the signal or you don't. That line is somewhere in the middle of the much wider marginal reception band for analog television. So, a slightly snowy analog station might come in clearly on their digital signal, but a very snowy station might disappear altogether. Nearly all of the digital television broadcasts are on UHF, so you can get a UHF-only rooftop-antenna with high gain. Yes, it's another hundred bucks.

Rick "who has just bought a new antenna and ATSC tuner, and sent in for coupons for the converter boxes for other TV's" Denney

Thanks, Rick. I knew you would come through with the proper info....and you would not be surprised at the number of salespeople who say "well just hook it up and it will work."

I'm not at all enamoured of the idea of being forced to buy hundreds of dollars worth of equipment when what I have works fine with the way things are. I guess I'm getting old. But I'm gratified to find out that I'm not stupid either, at least not yet. And who needs TV anyway?

MA

This is probably what you want (but may not want to spend the $$ for).

http://ces.cnet.com/8300-1_1-67-0.html? ... Star+TR-50" target="_blank

It actually just hits the market this month (reportedly) and no one knows the price yet (that I've found, anyway).

It includes 2 HD tuners so you can record one channel and watch another. It would replace the converter box you just bought and receive over the air HDTV.

I'm going to keep my eye on this one myself and see just how expensive it turnes out to be.

MaryAnn wrote:Thanks, Rick. I knew you would come through with the proper info....and you would not be surprised at the number of salespeople who say "well just hook it up and it will work."

I'm not at all enamoured of the idea of being forced to buy hundreds of dollars worth of equipment when what I have works fine with the way things are. I guess I'm getting old. But I'm gratified to find out that I'm not stupid either, at least not yet. And who needs TV anyway?

MA

Things change. At some point, we were going to have to go to digital television just to keep from hammering the spectrum so hard with analog TV signals.

But there is some benefit from the change, even for those watching on regular, non-HD video monitors. The digital signal allows sub-channels that the local stations can use for alternate programming. Here, the major network stations are all running 24/7 weather radar and forecasts on one of their sub-channels. You'll be able to receive that now with the converter box. It may not be useful out there in the desert, but here, where we have been hammered by severe weather this year, it has been extremely useful.

I also think you'll find the DVR a bit easier to use than a VCR, since it hardly ever runs out of tape and since it maintains much higher video quality than VHS tape.

None of that may be worth the $250 that it might cost to make it work on your system, but if you wait a bit those same components might be a lot cheaper on the used market.

Rick "there's no such thing as free air" Denney

MaryAnn wrote:And who needs TV anyway?
MA

MY favorite TubeNet quote.