Aug 28, 2008 4:00 pm US/Eastern
3 On Your Side: DTV Q&A
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
The countdown is on to digital TV and with so much talk of converter boxes, coupons, antennas and analog, it's no surprise, many viewers have questions. So 3 On Your Side's Jim Donovan answers a few of them.
Jack Green owns three portable TV's and uses them in places where he can't watch his bigger set. "Sitting outside having something to eat or drink," Jack said.
But Jack wondered whether he'd be out of luck after February 17th. That's when television stations shut off their analog signal and go all digital. "I guess people won't be able to have portable TV's anymore," he questioned.
Jack's portable sets are analog and since there are no battery operated converter boxes that are compatible, he won't be able to use them anywhere he wants.
But he's not completely out of luck with two of them, because they can be plugged into an outlet. If he hooks up each set to a converter box, the ones currently sold at many retailers, he'll be able to watch television. The sets just won't be portable anymore.
As for his third TV, there's no way to connect a converter box. "It'll be a paper weight," Jack joked.
Here's another question 3 On Your Side received. If someone needs a converter box, will a VCR or DVR work with it?
The short answer is yes. But, the analog tuner in older VCR's and DVR's will not be able to record over-the-air programs without its own converter box. So, all three, the TV, the VCR and the converter box will have to connected together.
Plus, you won't be able to watch a different program than the one you're recording because the converter box can only select one channel at a time. Keep in mind, this situation only applies if you have just one converter box. If you hook up a second box and a splitter, you'll be able to watch something else.
RELATED LINKS:http://www.ehow.com/http://tv.about.com/
(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
