Many portable TVs will be inoperable in 2009

A few days ago, Priscilla McClusky was putting together her disaster kit when she realized this would be the last hurricane season that she could watch TV on a battery-operated set.

[Stacie]

Craig doesn't get it. A radio is great, but the visual radar from TV during Charlie, Francis, and Jeane was invaluable to me and my family. Since our power went out each storm...we depended on our battery operated TV. We had more comfort knowing what was coming and when - timing between bands. I hope manufacturers are quick to manufacture these TV's before hurricane season 2009.

[WRC]

Outstanding
Thanks for using the "Analog Tuner" and Thank you for pointing out the portable TV - I did not think about it! I need to call that mr jon toothman

[gainesville gator]

Just one more example of the government shoving something that we don’t need or want down our throats. I for one am quite happy with what I have. Have you noticed that once the government said it was going to begin offering coupons to help cover the cost of the converters that the price went up by about that much.

[Free white and 21]

One can be assured that when the Feds step in, there will be consequences and sacrifices on the part of the consumer. I am certain that hurricanes and battery powered TV's were never discussed.

[jables]

All you have to do is buy a new antenna. Calm down.

[Jeff in Sanford]

It seems to me that the FCC, the guardian of broadcasting, controls and issues licenses that are to ensure that the public good is taken into consideration. In this case, somebody is making out like a bandit by forcing us to use higher technology with no redundancy considered for the true needs of the public safety. I just bought a portable TV to take along when boating and traveling, as well as weather safety. Perhaps in addition to the little rebate the government has allowed toward a converter box, they should also have a buyback program for all these unusable TVs we will be throwing into our landfills.

[Jimmy]

Thanks for the article. A battery operated TV is what I've been using for years when the power goes out from hurricanes and other causes.

The TV gives some sense of visual connection with the outside world when you're sitting with candles in a dark, quiet house. I use it to keep up with the local radar and news and it's been a valuable tool.

I guess we'll have to buy a fancy radio, but will miss the TV.

Still will have my guns and ammo!

[Wendy]

I just thank God that they can't do anything about the fact my portable tv also has a built-in DVD player. If I can't watch the storms on the tv part of it, I can at least keep my daughter entertained with the DVDs!
I, too, think it's unfair to force us to have to purchase something in order to watch television that has been free all this time. Do you think there will be any "pirate" tv stations broadcasting without the digital technology?

[Michael]

Hate to say it, but the switch to digital has been years in the making, and has been pushed back at least a year or two.

Digital is the wave of the future. Just yesterday all the old cellphone towers were turned off, and now ONLY digital cellphones work.

It kind of sucks, but, it's time we move on.

[doug]

Jimmy wrote:

Thanks for the article. A battery operated TV is what I've been using for years when the power goes out from hurricanes and other causes.
The TV gives some sense of visual connection with the outside world when you're sitting with candles in a dark, quiet house. I use it to keep up with the local radar and news and it's been a valuable tool.
I guess we'll have to buy a fancy radio, but will miss the TV.
Still will have my guns and ammo!

they will have cheap digital tvs soon you got your moneys worth out of that 50$ tv . Wait till you see the diff in picture quality

[Wendy]

doug wrote:

<quoted text>they will have cheap digital tvs soon you got your moneys worth out of that 50$ tv . Wait till you see the diff in picture quality

Doug, I don't think anyone is concerned about picture quality when there's a hurricane or tornado bearing down on them!

[John]

This is news?

Televisions evolve like everything else. I would guess that the cost of the converter box is greater than the value of the televisons about which you are writing.

[Leximou]

"I'm from the Government, I'm here to help....."

[E Vey]

jables wrote:

All you have to do is buy a new antenna. Calm down.

I don't think you know what you are talking about. The UHF antenna is the same for digital as it was for analog. But without a digital tuner, you won't see anything except static.

When Charley came through and the power went off, I tuned into WDBO (which was the Emergency Broadcast System station for many years) and they were running a tape of Sean Hannity. It took about 2 hours before they switched to a live person and damage reports. Once they did, it was good, but they were a little slow on the uptake.

From what I read on the 'net, there were several meetings after Charley about that.

[RGAG]

Oh rats...does this mean I can't use my crystal radio anymore????(Yeah....I'm just kidding....ain't progress a bitch)

[Darren]

This would be the same case for car DVD players that have a TV tuner as well...I was looking for a reason to replace the big clunky one on the inside of my car car anyway.

[godzilla]

This is stupid.

"Consumers can buy portable TV sets that have digital tuners, though they are hard to find. Radio Shack is selling a portable TV with a digital tuner, but it costs $200."

This will come down in price with more demand. Just like when the first battery portables cost $100-$150. Now you can buy one for $15

Don't get your panties in a wad over something so silly.

[Wendy]

Everyone also seems to miss the point on the expense. How many tv sets are in YOUR house? We have one in every room, none less than three years old, so that means we will have to buy at least three of these converters at what,$200 a pop?? I can't afford them, just as I can't afford a new tv set!! And there are people much worse off than me financially...how are they going to watch tv?!?

I can tell you right now that property crimes will be going up substantially, with the primary target being newer tv sets or those converters.

[Manor Boy]

jables wrote:

All you have to do is buy a new antenna. Calm down.

Wrong....the tuner in the TV as well the resolution of the screen is different in a digital TV...The converter compensates for the resolution and tunes the proper frequencies, Much like your cable box does now. A better antenna will just allow you to see clearer "snow"

[Brian]

I was thinking about this last month when the coupons first became available. What the article didn't mention is that these TVs are valuable even after the hurricane has left the area. When Hurricane Charlie hit, power wasn't restored in the part of Winter Park I lived in at the time for almost ten days. Thanks to the little 6" black and white TV we were able to find out that our part of Winter Park was also under a boil water alert from WFTV. Which this newspaper didn't cover.