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Old 01-15-2008, 08:25 AM
 
Location: Tower Grove East, St. Louis, MO
12,063 posts, read 31,628,883 times
Reputation: 3799

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In Feb. 2009 analog (regular old bunny ears) won't work. I have a guess that if you don't want to pay for cable you probably don't have a digital TV, but if you do you can get digital bunny ears and watch HD programming for free (The cable company charges like $10-15 a month for the HD box) which is actually pretty sweet.
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Old 01-15-2008, 08:45 AM
 
2,329 posts, read 6,635,451 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jessiegirl_98 View Post
What happens when everything switches to digital? Won't the rabbit ears not catch anything then? (oh, I just read that doesn't happen for awhile)
You can buy a converter box. Also, the government is giving out money if you want to purchase a box. I forget what the website is to apply, but its a certain percentage of the cost (only 1 per household).
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Old 01-15-2008, 08:48 AM
 
Location: Tower Grove East, St. Louis, MO
12,063 posts, read 31,628,883 times
Reputation: 3799
The Web site is:
https://www.dtv2009.gov/

And you have to apply for the coupon before March 31
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Old 01-15-2008, 11:05 AM
 
6 posts, read 36,591 times
Reputation: 12
You will still be able to receive HD channels after Feb. 2009 with a converter box and bunny ears. It is much better than the analog signal and less prone to interference. You can try it now if you have an HD tv set.
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Old 01-15-2008, 01:10 PM
 
Location: Chicago
38,707 posts, read 103,201,963 times
Reputation: 29983
Quote:
Originally Posted by docent View Post
You will still be able to receive HD channels after Feb. 2009 with a converter box and bunny ears. It is much better than the analog signal and less prone to interference. You can try it now if you have an HD tv set.
You can also get software and a USB dongle that will turn your computer into a digital TV right now.
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Old 01-15-2008, 01:30 PM
 
300 posts, read 952,390 times
Reputation: 117
You'll just need a box that can pick up digital signals. You can still use rabbit ears no problem.

I have a HDTV with a built in digital receiver and I can pick up both standard def and high def with no problem...(in phoenix)
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Old 01-15-2008, 06:18 PM
mdz
 
Location: Near West Burbs, IL
622 posts, read 2,620,172 times
Reputation: 199
The only local channel I have always had trouble picking up is WBBM (2). Only place I ever reliably got it was when I was in Streeterville for a few years. Still can't get that one through the rabbit ears, but everything else comes in decently.
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Old 01-15-2008, 11:55 PM
 
260 posts, read 1,145,765 times
Reputation: 82
WBBM doesn't even come in well digitally. I did a demonstration of DTV for my Mom using the first portable DTV set on the market, and that is the only Chicago DTV I couldn't get in on it's three foot whip antenna some ten miles from Downtown. All the other stations came in well. I assume if you live close in to the city all you'll need is a DTV converter box and a set of rabbit ears for your old set to be useful past 02/17/09. BTW, low powered TV stations will be analog for a while, maybe even some years. The Feds decided to concentrate on the full power stations first, then they'll work on converting the low powered ones.
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