We have another anachronism in the making. This means the end of “channels” as we used to know them. The word will have no meaning anymore.
I suspect local TV channels will try to keep the same numbers, as they have with cable boxes, e.g. NBC on “4” in L.A. So people will probably still speak of channels the way they do of “dialing” phones.
If we’re lucky, there will be some extra information added to the signals Teletext-style, like current weather and correct time and road conditions and so on (but probably not software). Sending the equivalent of a few pages of text a second shouldn’t strain any part of the system.
In any case, GNU Radio is looking more and more interesting.
It’s actually from Duckman, but I’m glad you liked it! It still makes me smile from time to time…
Explain, please? While we have OTA digital TV here in Toronto, everyone I know has an analogue set, has cable or satellite (and their receiver boxes), or doesn’t have a TV.
I went ahead and connected my new converter box (Radio Shack) to my TV (JC Penney, vintage 1995) and VCR/DVD player (Magnavox) and it didn’t work. So now, tomorrow, I’m going to get an A/B switch at Radio Shack so I can get the digital TV reception and watch my DVDs and videotapes, but I won’t be able to record tapes anymore. 
Plug your set-top box into the AV Input on your VCR/DVD player. Then plug your VCR/DVD into your TV however it’s currently hooked up.
Plug the antenna lead from your wall into the Set-Top Box; NOT your TV or VCR/DVD.
Set your TV to whatever channel you currently use for VHS/DVDs. Then change the channel on your VCR/DVD player to “AV 1” or whatever the input your Set Top Box is plugged into is.
You should now A) Be able to watch digital TV and B) be able to tape same onto your VCR…
What do you mean? There are still channels in digital, at least from the perspective of my convert box. I still tune to channel 30 to get ABC. Well, 30-1. Technically it’s actually physical channel 10, but that’s completely hidden away when you’re surfing.