Trumbull man finds digital TV converter box a trial

[Jkid]

David Simmons of Trumbull still gets his TV shows the old-fashioned way ---- from an antenna. For him and millions of other viewers nationwide, June 12 was a dark day, for it was the day that all television stations were required to convert from analog to digital broadcasting.

This meant that to get broadcast TV signals, viewers either had to spend big bucks for a new TV set with a built-in digital tuner, or pick up what is known as a DTV (for digital television) converter box for about $50 to $60, which are relatively cheap with the $40 government rebate that was offered late last year.

But as a lot of people discovered, "cheap" is the operative word here, with complaints aplenty about the boxes being shoddily made, consuming too much electricity, performing badly and overheating.

"They're no good. They're so hot, people have been taking the covers off to let the heat out, or drilling holes into them for ventilation," Simmons said of the DTV boxes.

To make matters worse, reception ranges from poor to "just plain lousy," he says, with many of the stations he's used to watching, like Channel 2 (WCBS) and Channel 4 (WNBC), no longer there. Channel 5 (WNYW) comes and goes.

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Source: http://www.connpost.com/ci_13303779

Why can't the FCC say the obvious and get it over it: you may have no choice to subscribe to cable or satellite, finding a package that does not involve channels you don't want to watch at all (read: lifeline/broadcast/antenna service) is your problem.

MPT (Maryland Public Television) is also running a ad between programs to "Get Your MPT back", problem is that those ads can only be viewed where you can actually see MPT clearly without a problem (Yeah, great work guys :sarcasm:). So how good are there if the people who have trouble getting reception can't see those ads?

Sadly MPT has the same problem:

If this is unsuccessful, you may have to investigate other options, such as upgrading your antenna. Barring that, viewers may need to investigate a pay television provider such as cable or satellite. If you do so, please be sure to let them know you want MPT in your line-up.

Probally they should say this instead and be done with it:
If this is unsuccessful, you may have to investigate other options, such as upgrading your antenna. Barring that, viewers may need to investigate a pay television provider such as cable or satellite. Finding a pay television provider package that is the cheapest without shoving channels you have no interest in is your problem. If you do so, please be sure to let them know you want MPT in your line-up.