Raleigh, N.C. — Beware of what you hear about the upcoming digital television transition. A national consumer group issued that warning after it found that some retailers have been misleading consumers.
The North Carolina chapter of the Public Interest Research Group, or PIRG, refers to it as a serious case of "mixed signals."
One year from next week, television will undergo a huge change to digital. People who rely on an outdoor antenna or rabbit ears to watch TV will no longer be able to get a usable signal unless they take action.
After sending secret shoppers to dozens of retail stores, PIRG found sales people across the country who gave out erroneous information about DTV.
In North Carolina, 70 percent of the sales clerks questioned by PIRG’s shoppers gave out wrong information.
“This will cost consumers both time and money,” said Kat Scott with PIRG. “In the worst case scenario, instead of purchasing a basic $40 converter box, consumers may be led to believe that they need to purchase a brand new digital television, which can run upwards of $400.”
Some stores are starting to sell the basic converter boxes that Scott mentioned. The federal government is offering coupons to help pay for the boxes.
The boxes convert digital signals back to the kind of signal that standard televisions can display.
For more information about the coming change, see WRAL's DTV information page



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However for those on 1080's frequently antenna will give you a better signal than cable. It's not as quashed (compressed) on antenna as the cable providers need to do to share the bandwidth with all the channels.
I agree.... Initially they (marketers) WERE implying we needed new TV's. The other way around is if you have cable, your Cable Box is your converter for D-A. You don't need to buy anything extra.
February 15, 2008 5:19 p.m.
February 14, 2008 3:13 p.m.
Because you think the Bush Administration is responsible for the drought and they should give you a handout.
When it is really Meeker and the City Council and any one else who is not taking action to increase their water infrastructure, but want to charge you more taxes that will never be spent where it is supposed to go - but for Meekers "Happy Little Tree" project.
February 14, 2008 12:41 p.m.
Because the Federal Government auctioned off publicly owned airwaves and forced us to use another video broadcast format.
Local news, weather, Emergency Alert System (formerly Emergency Broadcast System) it's not all "brainwashing".
February 14, 2008 11:07 a.m.
February 14, 2008 8:55 a.m.