DTV deadline extension killed! But it wouldn't have helped much anyway...

UPDATE 12:30 PM: This just in -- the House GOP mustered enough opposition to kill the bill that would impose a four-month extension in the digital TV transition. Unless Nancy Pelosi or President Obama has something up their sleeve, the transition is going ahead on Feb. 17 ... ready or not.

But there are problems with the transition that moving the deadline would not have fixed. Let me name three in particular that came up Tuesday during my appeance on the "Walt Bodine Show."

1. The people who already have converter boxes are far from satisfied with what they see. Channels are coming and going for viewers in town, out of town, and in no discernible pattern. One viewer will get all channels fine except for 5, while his neighbor just down the road can't get 41 to save his life.

AUDIO: Here's the portion of the Bodine show today where I summarize the current delay action. At about the nine-minute mark, we start to take phone calls. You can hear the frustration of some callers who have already gone to some trouble to install converter boxes and antennas and still aren't getting all the stations they currently get in analog.

And I'm getting letters. Scroll down to read a couple.

2. Many stations are going to switch to digital before June anyway. So that means that effectively, Y2K is already here. In our market, KCWE has already switched off its analog signal (technically, given it over to sister station KMBC to use as a digital signal). Since the legislation being rammed through Congress this week doesn't prevent this early-switching activity, it's possible that lots of broadcasters will shrug their shoulders and switch anyway. A longtime reader wrote me today:

"I know (and am related to) the chief engineer at a small market station who stated that the station's owner not only doesn't have the money to extend analog, but the employees of all the stations owned by his company had to take a pay cut (true fact: their reporters now earn less per hour than a McDonald's fry cook). For the record, his station made the digital switch a few weeks ago, and aren't looking back.""

UPDATE: I just got a release from the trade group for transmission tower builders, firmly opposed to a four-month shift in the DTV deadline: "Now is not the time to second guess the plans that have been made, plans that hardworking small businesses have staked their livelihood on." Scroll down for the full release.

3. What happens if a tornado hits? I'm sure there are some people who have already tested DTV in severe weather conditions and say it will come out fine. But listen to Brad on the broadcast audio above. He lost his signal right in the middle of a severe storm. And need I remind my readers: June is right in the middle of twister season. All I can say is, make sure you've got a battery-powered AM radio -- you may need it!

Karen Orrill: "In listening to to you on KCUR today, I learned that the problems I have with reception on channel 41 are not unusual. I reside in Liberty and my converter box was hooked up in May. It was awhile before I realized that certain weather conditions affected my reception. Strong winds are enough to make the pixels give an inadequate picture or make it jump around."

What other readers are saying:

Roger Toomey in Creighton, Mo., writes,

"We live about 50 miles SE of Kansas City and aim the antenna at the KC lights. On one TV we have and outdoor boosted antenna. On the other we have boosted rabbit ears plus several wires I've strung to get HDTV to sort of work. We bought two Tivax converters as this was what Consumer Reports recommended.

"The reception on both TVs is totally erratic. We never know what we'll get on each TV or what quality. It varies from hour to hour, the outdoor antenna being better than the indoor. Sometimes a channel will come in on one TV and not the other, the next day that channel will switch which TV it will come in on for no apparent reason. ... Normally when we get a signal on the outdoor it is acceptable but no better than analog. The indoor has a buzz on the audio and the picture erratically freezes and the sound sometimes is like an old audio tape dragging.

"It is nice to have the weather channels and if my children were younger I would appreciate the extra kids channels. We are in the country so there is no cable, we would have to go with a dish. Frankly, I've seen what cable and dish have to offer and to me it isn't worth the cost. On air programming is rather sick also, so we tend to concentrate on PBS and the news."

Alan, who was listening to me today while working his shift at the Harley plant, writes,

"I recently obtained a Magnavox DTV converter box for just a little over $40 at Wal-Mart; and was able to get a gov't. coupon. I use new rabbit ears that the box said would pick up either DTV or analog; and it has a coaxial-type plug into the box. I live at the top of the hill off North Oak just south of Vivion and was pleasantly surprised by the assortment of free channels I can get; and the reception here is really pretty good.

"We are a cable home; but my wife's taste in TV is different so I watch a tiny RCA handheld 2.5-inch TV for the news and Christian stations, and PBS. I feel like a guy in a bus station watching an armrest tv. It has an aux input and the DTV box's output plugs in via a stereo adapter cable. You're the first to address a concern of mine: you spoke of the lack of ability to get audio for the new TV band. Do you know if Emerson, or Grundig, or somebody is going to be able to market a receiver for DTV's audio, or is this something that can't be done? I am going to miss the mobility granted by my RCA and my Sony Walkman with TV audio."

And these are TV watchers who are on the ball.

And this just in from reader David Leiker: "The new dtv signals are much too low in power from the transmitters. Great engineering from our FCC boys in DC! There still some debate if the new transmitters will boost theirs on opening day in February. My solution is to buy a special antenna replacing the rabbit ears." David recommends the impressively nerdy-looking yet affordable Channel Master indoor antenna.

Statement from Nat'l Association of Tower Erectors

WATERTOWN, SD - January 27, 2009 - After years of preparing for the broadcast industry's shift to digital transmission on February 17, 2009, there are now conversations in Washington, D.C. to again extend the deadline for this process. The result could have detrimental effects for tower industry companies engaged in broadcast-related activities.

National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) chairman of the board of directors, Don Doty released the following statement urging Congress to halt plans for an extension to the deadline.

"The livelihoods of small businesses nationwide and their employees depend on plans that have been made around the February 17, 2009 DTV transition.

"For years, leases on tower space and special broadcast operations have been scheduled around the February 2009 analog sunset. By delaying the transition further, many millions of dollars will be wasted in unnecessary additional costs while simultaneously damaging our industry and increasing the potential for job losses in an already fragile economy.

"Broadcast infrastructure support companies were severely impacted when Congress enacted the first delay in 2002. Overnight, contracted work was halted and entire companies folded or merged with others, just to survive. Throughout our industry, specially trained laborers, technicians, and project managers lost their jobs.

"The industry feels that this conversion can be completed safely with the ample time that remains before the February 17 deadline. During these difficult economic times, an action to postpone this deadline would create more financial stress and uncertainty, while doing significant - and avoidable - harm to the many small businesses that provide essential supplies, materials, equipment and labor to the television broadcasters.

"The transition has been carefully planned for years. Congress mandated this change and broadcasters have responded. Now is not the time to second guess the plans that have been made, plans that hardworking small businesses have staked their livelihood on.

"The entire industry is ready to help make this transition happen. DTV is the way, don't delay."

About The National Association of Tower Erectors The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) is a non-profit trade association providing a unified voice for tower erection, maintenance and service companies. NATE is headquartered in Watertown, South Dakota with a staff of seven people who administer the day-to-day operation of the association. As a member driven association, NATE is directed by its Board of Directors and committees. These individuals come from all types and sizes of companies located throughout the United States. Today the Association boasts over 500 -member companies located throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, Bahamas, Canada, Cayman Islands, Romania, Trinidad, Singapore and Sweden, and continues to grow. For additional information on NATE, please visit www.natehome.com.

Comments

[Clif]

I'm glad to read that I'm not the only person who will miss TV-audio-only reception. I was beginning to think that I was the only person left in the world who listens to TV audio via a radio receiver.

[MrJeff]

Here's another niggling problem that I've had.

If I set the box to record a program too far in advance (say Monday morning for Monday evening), the box sometimes SHUTS ITSELF OFF BEFORE THE PROGRAM BEGINS.

I set the box to record the GOLDEN GLOBES awards show, since we were busy and were going to play "catch-up" after it started. I popped the tape (yes, VHS) after the first hour and put in a new tape. So far so good.

When I check back an hour later, THE BOX HAD SHUT OFF. I rewound the tape quickly - we had lost about half of Steven Spielberg's thank you speech.

But why did it shut off? No idea. But now I hesitate before setting to record more than an hour before a show starts. And I'm nervous about setting them at all when we go on vacation next month, during February sweeps.

[Greg Argendeli]

Ya know, the whole portable 'thing' has been an issue for me since I heard about the transition. I don't know of any company making a battery-powered portable digital TV sets for emergency use (aside from professional studio gear at $10k a pop), or at least a 9v battery powered converter for use with the (soon to be) legacy B&W portables.

I wish I could rely on AM radio, but with the continuing cuts by the CC and others, I doubt there will be anyone at my local (sure...) station, err, 'cluster' WHEN the big one hits.

This continues to snowball into a huge mess.

[Doug]

It's ONLY TV. Not the end of the world.

Either you figure it out or get help from someone who can figure it out for you. We have been digital ONLY at our house for three years. My experience is DTV is just as reliable as analog and I have not had to touch the antenna after the day I installed it. In all sorts of weather, including today as we get a foot of snow here in Central NY.

[WillF]

To MrJeff: Your DTV converter probably has a power saving feature that turns itself off after a period of use. You probably can turn this feature off in the settings somewhere.

[Norm Gregory]

A little off the subject but what and where is the "Bodine Show?"

This is the World Wide Web . . . so we can't know what every locality offers.

[Not to fear, my tweeps ... I am off to letmegooglethatforyou.com right now ... --AB]

[DKC]

Converter boxes work fine on both TVs... rabbit ears only.... except when it's windy, rainy or snowy. Then picture breaks up on most, but not all stations.

[PittCaleb]

*if* you are an avid TV watcher, and you are concerned about watching shows during February sweeps and you will be on vacation and you plan on using VHS tapes and an OTA signal, sorry, I must say that you simply need to 'upgrade' to something better than what you currently use. Either television is important to you enough that you move forward, or it is not and your mag tapes with an OTA signal not recording won't be an issue.

[Bill]

My understanding is the broadcasters are not able to operate their DTV transmitters at full power until their analog antenna has been shut off (since many stations have these antenna close to each other on the same tower).

[Helen Highwater]

If you're using rabbit ears, there's a pretty good chance you'll have problems with DTV. If you live in or near a big city, you'll likely see stations come and go every time the wind kicks up or it rains heavily or a plane flies overhead. If you're in an un-lucky location -- a big building across the street, maybe -- you could easily lose a station or two. If you live a long ways from a big city, you'll likely lose some or most of the stations your antenna has previously pulled in. Oh, and if you live in an area where hurricanes, twisters, or tornadoes sometimes visit, you'd better get a battery-operated AM radio for emergency alerts, because DTV reception gets increasingly unreliable as storms kick up. Other than that, the new technology is just great.

[Nancy Steinfeldt]

March 17, 2009
I have a Sony Walkman radio with TV station sound only and a Radio Shack AM/FM/TV Portavision radio. Is there anyone out there that knows if I'll still get TV sound after the change over in June?? Is there a way to contact someone in charge (Technition)? I guess they don't care about the Blind people that like to liston to TV programs. Help