# Transition from Low-Definition to High-Definition TVs **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 23, 2007, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transition-from-low-definition-to-high-definition-tvs/412905 "2007-07-23T23:56:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transition-from-low-definition-to-high-definition-tvs/412905/1 "2007-07-23T23:56:08Z")
If I understand correctly, at a specified date broadcast TV will all go high-def. Will low-def TVs get any reception then? What will happen to all the discarded low-def TVs? Will this be the biggest discard of a type of consumer electronic? More sudden than the transition from vinyl to CD? How big an environmental impact will it have? ---
**Author:** ![I\_m\_Ron\_Burgundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9fc29f/32.png) [@I\_m\_Ron\_Burgundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_m_Ron_Burgundy)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transition-from-low-definition-to-high-definition-tvs/412905/2 "2007-07-23T23:59:27Z")
I don’t think you understand correctly. Transmissions will go digital, not hi-def. ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2007, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transition-from-low-definition-to-high-definition-tvs/412905/3 "2007-07-24T00:03:13Z")
[QUOTE=I’m Ron Burgundy?] I don’t think you understand correctly. Transmissions will go digital, not hi-def. [/QUOTE] [Fran Drescher]Aaaaaoooow.[/FD] 🙂 Does that render all of my questions moot? 😕 My reason for asking, besides morbid curiosity, is to gauge when I should make the switch and how guilty I should feel about junking a teevee. ---
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2007, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transition-from-low-definition-to-high-definition-tvs/412905/4 "2007-07-24T00:14:04Z")
OTA transmissions are going digital. This means TV’s with NTSC receivers will no longer be capable of receiving signals. If you have a cable box you are not receiving any OTA signals and you’ll be fine. If you are using an old pair of rabbits you are screwed unless your TV has a ATSC receiver. One solution would be to purchase a separate ATSC receiver and hook it up to your TV, it would be like a cable box but will be receiving OTA signals from your local stations. Another solution will be to just get cable or satellite and yet another solution would be to buy a new TV with a ATSC receiver built in. This is just a truncated explanation. Please don’t sue me if your TV blows up when all signals go digital. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2007, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transition-from-low-definition-to-high-definition-tvs/412905/5 "2007-07-24T00:56:27Z")
I don’t know specifics for the States, but tv sets have built-in digital receivers for a number of years here, so anyone with a tv purchased in the last half-dozen (???) years will be OK. Used set-top boxes can be found for $40+ on the net, including shipping and tax. ---
**Author:** ![MrFloppy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/43a26b/32.png) [@MrFloppy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrFloppy)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2007, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transition-from-low-definition-to-high-definition-tvs/412905/6 "2007-07-24T01:00:22Z")
FYI, you can get a terrestrial receiver on eBay for $50-$75 if you look around. I bought a small HD flat screen for behind my bar and was determined not to give Comcast any more of my money (currently have two HD boxes) so I found a terrestrial receiver on eBay. Coupled with a $29 double bow tie antenna I can get probably two dozen stations, including HD (when broadcast in HD). Obviously no A&E or ESPN. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2007, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transition-from-low-definition-to-high-definition-tvs/412905/7 "2007-07-24T01:22:52Z")
Here are a few previous threads on this topic: > **[Sales of TV sets after March 2007](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=410158)** > > I just read in the newspaper that all TV sold in the United States, actually anything with a tv tuner, sold after March 2007 will have to be equipped with a digital tuner. I see hundreds of TVs in stores none of which have digtal tuners. I can’t... > **[HDTV is so confusing --a few questions.](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=392030)** > > Looking toward buying an HDTV. After all it is football season. Prices and specs and different formats are very confusing. What will happen in 3 years (3 years late) when analog will no longer be broadcast and all that will be available is HDTV? ... > **[HD Broadcasting (Antenna)](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=388616)** > > This is for a friend, so if I sound like I don’t know what I’m talking about, that’s why. Remember television antennas? I’ve had cable since 1978, but I do remember them. My friend doesn’t have cable. Not even basic. Nothing. He uses a tv... ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2007, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transition-from-low-definition-to-high-definition-tvs/412905/8 "2007-07-24T21:31:49Z")
[QUOTE=Exapno Mapcase] Here are a few previous threads on this topic: > **[Sales of TV sets after March 2007](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=410158)** > > I just read in the newspaper that all TV sold in the United States, actually anything with a tv tuner, sold after March 2007 will have to be equipped with a digital tuner. I see hundreds of TVs in stores none of which have digtal tuners. I can’t... > **[HDTV is so confusing --a few questions.](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=392030)** > > Looking toward buying an HDTV. After all it is football season. Prices and specs and different formats are very confusing. What will happen in 3 years (3 years late) when analog will no longer be broadcast and all that will be available is HDTV? ... > **[HD Broadcasting (Antenna)](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=388616)** > > This is for a friend, so if I sound like I don’t know what I’m talking about, that’s why. Remember television antennas? I’ve had cable since 1978, but I do remember them. My friend doesn’t have cable. Not even basic. Nothing. He uses a tv... [/QUOTE] thanks all for your responses. I’m gonna have to look into this. I’m one of the “not going to give money to Comcast,” and I live in their new hometown.