If you haven’t been given enough time by now for the 2 solid years they’ve been pushing this thing, with 6 months of delays already once so you’re not ready… you don’t deserve to watch TV, or you haven’t been for the last 2 years already anyways.

Because otherwise you’d know.

Posted by Primis on 06/10/09 at 03:09 PM ET

Heck, if they still have rabbit ears, they can pic-up CBC out of Windsor.  All is not lost!

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 06/10/09 at 03:12 PM ET

I didn’t think I was going to be affected but “OH MY GOD I MIGHT MISS GAME 7” anxiety has made me question myself.

Do you need a transfer box if you’re getting a satellite feed or is it purely for analog cable and antenna using folks?

Posted by shanetx on 06/10/09 at 03:33 PM ET

Do you need a transfer box if you’re getting a satellite feed or is it purely for analog cable and antenna using folks?

Posted by shanetx on 06/10/09 at 04:33 PM ET

Just analog and rabbit ears.  Satellite and cable folks are fine.

I know what you mean - all the constant talk makes you reconsider if you are REALLY okay, like double checking your pocket to make absolutely sure you have your keys in it, even though you just checked two seconds ago. 

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/10/09 at 03:36 PM ET

I know what you mean - all the constant talk makes you reconsider if you are REALLY okay, like double checking your pocket to make absolutely sure you have your keys in it, even though you just checked two seconds ago.

Well, I’m That Guy at the office who locks his keys in his office as he’s bolting out the door at the end of the day at least once a week.

This does not combine well with working 15-30 minutes later than all my coworkers.

Posted by shanetx on 06/10/09 at 03:59 PM ET

Primis:  It’s been a lot more than two years!  It’s just been two years since they *REALLY* started pushing it.   Some of these stations have been on the air since July 1996, believe it or not!  (I’m serious, look it up!  It was WRAL-HD out of Raleigh NC… stations nowadays go by -DT instead of -HD, as a side note.)

Quick summary for those who may need it:
* Friday June 12 is the analog shutdown, referred to by some as the digital transition.  The digital stations are all pretty much on the air already.  The analog stations will shut off throughout the day, and I wouldn’t count on them being live by the time the puck drops.  Anyway, I live in Annapolis MD, and both the Baltimore and DC stations have offered digital over-the-air for at least 4 years that I can personally attest to.  I’d be really surprised if Detroit wasn’t in a similar situation.
* The analog shutdown *ONLY* affects TVs that are using an antenna to receive analog over-the-air programming.  It does not affect anything that is hooked up to cable or satellite.  So the TV on satellite in your living room?  It’s good.  The TV hooked to FiOS or cable—also good.  The TV in the garage with the bunny ears?  It’s probably not ready.  The one that’s hooked up to your rooftop antenna—also probably not ready.
* What to do if you’ve got a good antenna but it’s not ready?  Unplug the antenna from the TV, plug the antenna into the converter box, and plug the converter box into the TV where the antenna used to be.  Turn the TV to channel 3 and you’re ready!
* If your TV uses an antenna and you watch channels like “4-1” or “4.1” (both digital) instead of “4” (analog) then you’re already ready.  Some newer TVs (like the one I just described) already have a digital tuner and you don’t need a converter box!
* You may not need a new antenna.  If the antenna only has the bunny ears and not a UHF element, then you may need to get a new UHF/VHF antenna.  You do not need a “digital antenna” nor an “HD antenna”—these are marketing terms only.

For what it’s worth, pretty much any old TV can be upgraded to work.  I have a PXL-2000 (ancient 3” black and white portable TV) and yes you can hook a converter box and external antenna.  You just hook up the box, set your TV to channel 3 just like you would for a VCR, and from then on you use the converter box’s remote instead of the TV’s tuning wheel.

If there is anyone with any questions, I’ll try to remember to check back here periodically between now and the game.  Yes, I’m a TV nerd… I hope it is beneficial to someone!

...Or like Paul said, you can just swing your antenna towards Windsor and hope for the best.  But you’re going to have to do this sooner or later…

Posted by GregAnnapolis on 06/10/09 at 05:34 PM ET

I think the TimeWarner installer only hooked up one of the six phone outlets to your telephone access point (TAP) on your router. Hopefully all six outlets start at a single point where your old phone service used to come into your house. You would then patch your six outlets back to the TAP.

Posted by Tuxedo on 06/10/09 at 05:34 PM ET

Posted by GregAnnapolis on 06/10/09 at 06:34 PM ET

That was actually very helpful information - thanks!

I’m fine television-wise, but I know a few people who weren’t sure that their televisions would be okay even with a converter box, and were a little worried because they can’t afford to just get a new television.  This will be very helpful to them. 

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/10/09 at 06:50 PM ET

I have to assume NBC will find someway to stop this process because their ratings will go down from all of the antenna users not watching, god forbid.

Posted by John from Calgary on 06/10/09 at 07:31 PM ET

John:  At this late date, NBC’s chances of delaying the analog shutdown are roughly the same as the odds of Tampa Bay winning the Cup on Friday.

Posted by GregAnnapolis on 06/10/09 at 07:53 PM ET