Storm warning over digital TV switchover

[Tom tom]

camper of the saints wrote:

<quoted text>
That reminds me of what an older guy told me about street lfe in New York in the early 50,s:
"People used to sit on the stoop ( steps ) and talk to each other , then when TV came along phtt" This was accompanied by a thumb going over the shoulder.

I don't understand your message, Camper. Take your time and re-write your comment. I would very much enjoy what you are saying...

[camper of the saints]

Tom tom wrote:

<quoted text>
I don't understand your message, Camper. Take your time and re-write your comment. I would very much enjoy what you are saying...

People talked out doors, then when TV started being popular circa 1950 they went into their own apts. and stopped talking to each other.

[JMP]

Capt Ron wrote:

<quoted text>
It's NOT about converting 115VAC to 12V DC because the power will be OUT. It's also not about cheapie B&W 5" portable TVs either because they are analoge and WILL BE useless after Feb 17, 2009. Now do you get it?

Yes, all those TV's are essentially junk. Go reread the post AGAIN. Its saying the people that bought them get a nice beefy 12V power supply cheaper than they could buy it at Radio Shack. THey can use it for and array of 12V devices.
Get it? They are salvaging something from thier useless 5" BWs.

[just me]

Feel the Heat in Delray wrote:

<quoted text>
Why? because first it was presented as if it was a necessary item for a hurricane preparation, when in fact a radio is all you need. now you are just saying you "want" it? well i'd like a hot fudge sunday, but i don't see any government coupons coming for THAT.

I think you're getting all worked up over something small. I don't recall saying I needed it. I would say that potato chips, rum, and coke are necessary for my hurricane prep, but of course I won't die without them. But I can afford to buy them and it makes me happier to pass the time post-storm with some munchies and a drink. I think a TV is like that. I was glad to have it when I watched radar of Hurricane Andrew come in and felt relieved seeing how far away the eye was from my location.

Regarding the coupon... the government is making a decision that turns alot of people's TV's into doorstops. The coupon is a compromise to help people who can't afford a converter and don't have cable or satelite. The majority of the coupons won't be used for people wanting to convert the signal for their hurricane supply battery operated TV's because they don't have a generator to power the converter. So chill.

[just me]

Tom tom wrote:

<quoted text>
I don't understand your message, Camper. Take your time and re-write your comment. I would very much enjoy what you are saying...

He's saying that without TV we have fun talking to our neighbors.

[Mangler]

It was a stupid article, that may be why I seemed combattive. It was focussing on having TV after a disaster. And the power was out at work as well as the house, so there literally was no reason, for us at least, to wait around for looters to come a knockin. We watched the throngs of people lining up for miles for ice and water, the next day after the storm. And you know how nice people are when they are waiting in lines. We got a phone call a week after the storm to come back to work the next day, so we did.

just me wrote:

<quoted text>
Why are you so judgemental in your tone? Everyone that didn't evacuate wasn't sticking their fingers up their noses or too stupid to realize that other cities have power. That's a good solution for you, but not everyone has the luxury of dropping out of work until the power is back on at their house. Alot of people were expected to show up at work as soon as it was safe. We all have different needs and issues. Try to have compassion for your fellow man and judge a little less. Have a nice day.

[Capt Ron]

JMP wrote:

<quoted text>
Yes, all those TV's are essentially junk. Go reread the post AGAIN. Its saying the people that bought them get a nice beefy 12V power supply cheaper than they could buy it at Radio Shack. THey can use it for and array of 12V devices.
Get it? They are salvaging something from thier useless 5" BWs.

One more try. 1) The subject at hand is about loss of 120V FPL power. 1) This renders 120V> 12V power supplies useless. 2) A cheapie 5" B&W TV in no way is going to have a "nice beefy power supply." Even if it did, it's no use. 3) Have you ever noticed how many different pin configurations 12V power supplies have? They are NOT universal. 4) The link they guy provided was for a Radio Shack 120V>12V power supply. I think he missed the point about there being no 120V power to use it.

The ONLY way to use a digital TV (or a analog TV's converter box)in a post hurricane scenario is to have a way to go from 12V (car or marine battery) through an step up INVERTER...a power supply conversation misses the point entirely. So what if someone has a left over power supply from a B&W oldie 5" TV? The Radio Shack universal useage one was a whopping $20....again, it relies on FPL being alive and well at the wall outlet....duh.

[jjvandalay]

Capt Ron wrote:

<quoted text>
One more try. 1) The subject at hand is about loss of 120V FPL power. 1) This renders 120V> 12V power supplies useless. 2) A cheapie 5" B&W TV in no way is going to have a "nice beefy power supply." Even if it did, it's no use. 3) Have you ever noticed how many different pin configurations 12V power supplies have? They are NOT universal. 4) The link they guy provided was for a Radio Shack 120V>12V power supply. I think he missed the point about there being no 120V power to use it.
The ONLY way to use a digital TV (or a analog TV's converter box)in a post hurricane scenario is to have a way to go from 12V (car or marine battery) through an step up INVERTER...a power supply conversation misses the point entirely. So what if someone has a left over power supply from a B&W oldie 5" TV? The Radio Shack universal useage one was a whopping $20....again, it relies on FPL being alive and well at the wall outlet....duh.

1) The story is also about useless TV's that people wasted money on.
2) Check your facts, those little TV's have a tube and require some require some of current at powerup. The one I bought 4 years ago came with 12v 1A powers supply. This is more than enough to charge most cell phones.
I paid $15 total for it!!

[jjvandalay]

Listen, I am simply telling those that bought one of these recently to save the Power supply and trash the TV and know they didnt really get ripped off as bad as they think. If you disagree, then I guess, we can agree to disagree.

[Dr Bendover]

Mangler wrote:

Why people simply must have all typical items during a disaster always puzzled me. My Mother rigged their TV up to a car battery after Wilma. No lights for 60 miles, but they had a freakin TV showing that there were no lights for 60 miles.
Rather than sit around with our fingers up our noses, we left the area. Went up to Central Florida where they had power and car dealerships where I had my car fixed immediately, all rather than staying put and watching people line up for miles for ice and gas and whatever hadn't spoiled at Publix and waiting 3 months to have the windshield and other things replaced at an overworked dealer down South.
When the power came back on at work, we came back home.

Mangler, not everyone is as blessed as you are to have the financial backing to do as you did..

[Mangler]

Financial backing? It was a tank of gas.

Dr Bendover wrote:

<quoted text>
Mangler, not everyone is as blessed as you are to have the financial backing to do as you did..

[Mangler]

Come now ... while I appreciate the help digging you in deeper ...

Some people do actually get gas prior to a storm knocking out power to the entire region (and I don't mean 3 hours before FPL shuts off the grid). And that Hemi helps while traversing the aftermath to get outta town ... running over tree limbs, poles, downed lights, haitians. You know, crap that will be sprawled all over the roads.

RACE wrote:

Oh, well!
Awful flippin easy for you to talk about a tank of gas! What you drive a moped or somthing? What about us poor Hemi drivers. 26 gallons of Helll when we fill up. Need a C note and then some, just to get thru it.
JK!
<quoted text>

[Storm Trooper]

RACE wrote:

Your not Kidding!
After Wilma, that monster drove me upstate to the land of electricity! I came back with that truck LOADED!
Groceries, ice, MRE's, Tarps, gas. You know all the stuff Broward had but was too incompetent to get out to the people for the first 2 weeks after the storm.
Lived like a king, while others lived in squalor, eating cold beans from a can.
<quoted text>

You are obviously part of the Master RACE. We bow down to you.

[Mangler]

Watch your head when you get on your knees ... wouldn't want to poke your eye out.

Storm Trooper wrote:

<quoted text>
You are obviously part of the Master RACE. We bow down to you.

[A1ACharles Sees Hypocrisy]

Mangler wrote:

Come now ... while I appreciate the help digging you in deeper ...
Some people do actually get gas prior to a storm knocking out power to the entire region (and I don't mean 3 hours before FPL shuts off the grid). And that Hemi helps while traversing the aftermath to get outta town ... running over tree limbs, poles, downed lights, haitians. You know, crap that will be sprawled all over the roads.
<quoted text>

I think yo may have been thru this before?

Whats in the liquor cabinet?

[Mangler]

Me personally? Yes Sir. I have been through (as in lives near or went to help family/friends/strangers in Andrew, Bonnie, Frances, Charley, Jeanne, Dennis, Charley,(TS)Katrina, Wilma, Jeanne ... and that's all I remember off hand. I know those aren't chronological.

A1ACharles Sees Hypocrisy wrote:

<quoted text>
I think yo may have been thru this before?
Whats in the liquor cabinet?

[Robert in Davie]

It's amazing to me how many people fail to RESEARCH before opening their mouths.

Well, I did RESEARCH (I'm also an electrical engineer) and here are the results:

1) Many of the DTV converter boxes on the market actually run off of 12 or 9 volts DC--NOT 110 volts AC. They include a wall transformer to run off of AC. Note that this is NOT advertised by the manufacturers, but it is in the manual (or if you look in the box). I found copies of most of the manuals online and identified quite a few models that do it this way. For these models, it is very easy to build a cable with Radio Shack parts that would power the DTV converter from a battery. These boxes do not draw much power, so a simple Gel Cell for about $20-$30 would power it for quite a while.(probably days) I am surprised that I have not found anyone marketing such a setup, as it would be easy to fabricate, but it can be done via the DIYer with only knowledge of making sure you have the right voltage and polarity.

2) If your portable TV has input terminals, you should be all set. If not, many of the DTV converters have coax outputs on channel 3 or 4. Simple attach a short wire to the CENTER terminal of the coax and let it dangle in the air, like an antenna.(not sure of the optimal length, but it's easy to find out). If placed within a few inches of the portable TV, you should be able to see the signal. It may not be perfect, but it's better than no signal at all.

[Mangler]

You make valid points. But all that trouble to watch the news tell people first that the wind is blowing outside and then that their power has yet to be restored?

Robert in Davie wrote:

It's amazing to me how many people fail to RESEARCH before opening their mouths.
Well, I did RESEARCH (I'm also an electrical engineer) and here are the results:
1) Many of the DTV converter boxes on the market actually run off of 12 or 9 volts DC--NOT 110 volts AC. They include a wall transformer to run off of AC. Note that this is NOT advertised by the manufacturers, but it is in the manual (or if you look in the box). I found copies of most of the manuals online and identified quite a few models that do it this way. For these models, it is very easy to build a cable with Radio Shack parts that would power the DTV converter from a battery. These boxes do not draw much power, so a simple Gel Cell for about $20-$30 would power it for quite a while.(probably days) I am surprised that I have not found anyone marketing such a setup, as it would be easy to fabricate, but it can be done via the DIYer with only knowledge of making sure you have the right voltage and polarity.
2) If your portable TV has input terminals, you should be all set. If not, many of the DTV converters have coax outputs on channel 3 or 4. Simple attach a short wire to the CENTER terminal of the coax and let it dangle in the air, like an antenna.(not sure of the optimal length, but it's easy to find out). If placed within a few inches of the portable TV, you should be able to see the signal. It may not be perfect, but it's better than no signal at all.

[A1ACharles Sees Hypocrisy]

Robert in Davie wrote:

It's amazing to me how many people fail to RESEARCH before opening their mouths.
Well, I did RESEARCH (I'm also an electrical engineer) and here are the results:
1) Many of the DTV converter boxes on the market actually run off of 12 or 9 volts DC--NOT 110 volts AC. They include a wall transformer to run off of AC. Note that this is NOT advertised by the manufacturers, but it is in the manual (or if you look in the box). I found copies of most of the manuals online and identified quite a few models that do it this way. For these models, it is very easy to build a cable with Radio Shack parts that would power the DTV converter from a battery. These boxes do not draw much power, so a simple Gel Cell for about $20-$30 would power it for quite a while.(probably days) I am surprised that I have not found anyone marketing such a setup, as it would be easy to fabricate, but it can be done via the DIYer with only knowledge of making sure you have the right voltage and polarity.
2) If your portable TV has input terminals, you should be all set. If not, many of the DTV converters have coax outputs on channel 3 or 4. Simple attach a short wire to the CENTER terminal of the coax and let it dangle in the air, like an antenna.(not sure of the optimal length, but it's easy to find out). If placed within a few inches of the portable TV, you should be able to see the signal. It may not be perfect, but it's better than no signal at all.

Pretty much all electrical gadgets, especailly electronics run on DC. The AC in turned to 3 to 12 volts DC.