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 Replies: 12 / Views: 1,142 |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
OK so here is the latest on the upcoming changes by our government with the no more Analog signals and everything changing to Digital. They just released this info on the news. If your home security system is a radio sending system, it may well be one of the older Analog systems and when the change overs occur, POOF, no more security system. On the news they suggested all individuals with a home security system, contact your security company and request info on what happens when the government forces this changover.
They stated that even some wireless phone systems may not work or not work to great.
As you all know in February of 2009 if you have an antenna for your TV reception, your TV will no longer work. Of course you can purchase a Analog to Digital converter for your TV.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
891 Posts |
Thanks for that Carl. Wasn't aware of the home security situation. Will have to check with mine.
The way I understand the tv thing is if you have a digital tv you will still pick up your local stations that are broadcast digitally. I do with mine. I actually pick up 3 times as many channels. All on the antenna. Now if you have cable or satellite there box should convert it for your analog tv. At least thats the way I understand it.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5318 Posts |
Hmmm....why does this sound a bit like the Y2K scare? I'll tell you this: a good segment of the US population are late-adopters in regards to technology. If the broadcasters decide to cut out this sizable market segment from their programming on 2-2009, they can kiss their advertising rates goodbye. Regarding home security: if your system is wireless, it will still send/receive to the individual sensor units. Then if your alarm uses a dedicated phone line, this won't change. If it uses a cell carrier, most likely that's digital already. Alarm systems do not transceive in the same bandwidths as TV.
Edited by KurtS
02/13/2008 3:33 pm
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Moderator
 United States
188213 Posts |
Regarding Home Security... Many of the local places where I live use digital wireless leased from the cellular companies. I do not know of any of them that are still using analog; but that is not to say they do not have some grand-fathered in.
Regarding the Television... This is worse hype than Y2k! This has been coming since at least 1997! The original cutoff date was February 2008 and was changed to 2009 a couple years back.
If you have cable or satellite, their box already does the job; so do not worry. If you have a new TV with an ATSC tuner built in (depending on screen size, the inclusion has been mandated over the past few years in stages), then you can pick up the digital signal over the air; so do not worry. If you have an old-school TV, you can get a $40 voucher from our benevolent (HA!) Federal Government for a converter box. Most places I have checked with say that the $40 more than covers their cost, so do not worry.
They (the FCC) are already auctioning the 700MHz frequencies (UHF channels 52 through 69). As they consolidate the channels (with digital, you can have two occupied channels side-by-side without interference), more auctions should come.
It is really not a big deal, and it is better for the consumer in the end. I can now pick up the digital broadcast from *three* other major markets that I could never get before (and still cannot get) as analog. It's nice! Program guides, sub-channels with additional programming and/or 24 hour local weather, High Definition. I'm not going to complain. I do not think the TV stations are going to complain either, though some might just because they can. But their FCC licenses have been tied to the changeover for many years now; they have no one to blame but their selves.
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
20753 Posts |
As they said on the news today, many home security systems ARE in the analog system so it would pay to contact them for a just in case situation. Some older Radios may actually no longer work either from what they were saying but for sure a TV antenna on the roof or the rabbit ears on a TV set will NOT WORK after the change over. Virtually many millions of people still have older TV sets that do not have a digital tuner. ME for one. I have 3 TV sets and all are older without a digital tuner. I will have to purchase a analog to digital converter for each set with an estimated cost of $60 each. However, if I sign up with the government, they will send me two coupons for and estimated value of $40 each. HOWEVER, if you read what the government is saying this will allow me to see a picture, but it will not be really to great. In other words, go out and buy a new TV.
Regardless it sure would be worth the price of phone call to verify your home security system.
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Moderator
United States
188213 Posts |
quote:
this will allow me to see a picture, but it will not be really to great.
Actually, this is not exactly right... The picture "clarity" is actually better than the analog OTA signals since the "TV station" is so close (on top of your TV). Less interference, ghosting, etc. What is "bad" about most of these converters (at least the cheap ones your $40 will get you) is that your content will be "letter-boxed", that is, the black bars on the top and bottom of the screens. Some of the better converters (like modern TVs) will have a "zoom" feature to alleviate this. I have see one of the cheapie boxes at the A/V store that I worked for while I was in school. (I maintain a relationship with them to feed my home and car A/V habbits!) They say these boxes cost them about $15 and they will probably do some sort of "two for one" or even "three for two" deal to get people in the stores with their Fed Checks. Even though I love going digital, I am rather troubled by the fact the Federal Government is forcing and funding this "issue" on us. The bottom line is, I am really with you guys on the burdens... I just want to make sure all of the facts are straight... My spyder sense tells me this thread will get moved to General Discussion soon! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2600 Posts |
As I understand it, when all TV transmissions go to digital in 2009, the Govt will allow individuals to take a $200 tax deduction to cover the cost of the converter. They will profit greatly from the sale of new bandwidths but have to compensate for those with analog sets. At least this is what I have been told.
Jim
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2600 Posts |
In response to the topic question, yes I do. They are: - a safe - my Smith  - my darling and her Smith and a willingness to use it  - electronic - one large mouth of teeth with a bad attitude - and a sign asking all intruders to leave a name and address or phone number of a next of kin so we can notify them. Jim  |
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Member
United States
3242 Posts |
this a great big chance for a hacker that steal coin to back track to your ISP and find your address ?
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Valued Member
United States
174 Posts |
 My home security system is much like Jim's. If the logging chains at the front and back doors with dog bowls that say "KILLER" and "BONE CRUCNCHER" don't do the trick--then when they enter the house and see "KILLER" and "CRUNCHER's" size and teeth they will be too busy running to make it to the safe! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
533 Posts |
"- my Smith - my darling and her Smith and a willingness to use it " QFT
I don't own a house yet (I'm only 28) and I live in an apartment that doesn't have a security system. I really need to buy a safe, because I don't think that my wooden cigar box/safe would slow many thiefs down. Now that I think about it when you put 50+ oz. of AG in coins and bars, and a few oz of AU, and some cash all in one cigar box you have actually just packed it up for anyone that wants to steal it. It would probably be much wiser to hide the stuff in random places all over the apt, with no two things in the same place. lol. I can just see in now. "Honey, why is there a Krugerrand in the freezer?" But, if I am there when someone breaks in, I promise that they will be leaving in a body bag. I don't dial 911, I dial .357, and that I doubt will ever go digital.  |
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Moderator
 United States
6563 Posts |
quote:
I dial .357
 With all seriousness aside all you need to do it mount a crossbow in a closet you never use....done and done  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
533 Posts |
"With all seriousness aside all you need to do it mount a crossbow in a closet you never use....done and done"
Kinda like a guy in an email I got. Someone was stealing stuff out of his shed, so he rigged a up a shotgun to shoot at the door whenever someone opened it. He was telling his friends about it and they wanted to see it, so he showed them. He ended up killing himself in the process.  |
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Replies: 12 / Views: 1,142 |
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Posted 02/13/2008 3:32 pm
