What Are DTV Converter Boxes and the DTV Transition?

The digital television transition is where all television stations in the USA will stop providing analog television signals and will only provide digital signals. This transition is schedule occur on February 17th of 2009 at 12:00 p.m.

What is the purpose of the DTV transition?

The transition in happening for two specific reasons. The first reason is to provide a better experience for television users. Going to 100% digital should allow consumers to get a better picture and also give them more programming options. The other reason is to free up the analog airwaves for emergency services.

Will the digital television transition directly affect me?

The transition will affect you if you have an older tv. Mostly likely anything that you purchased more than 3-5 years ago will be analog. If you have one of these analog televisions it will no longer pick up television signals after the transition date. The transition will not affect your analog television if you have cable.

Is there anyway to continue using my old analog television after the transition?

There is one way to make your old televisions compatible with the new digital signals. If you purchase a DTV converter box then you should be able to get all of the channels you received before the transition and maybe even more channels.

What is the price of a DTV converter box?

Most DTV converter boxes range from a price of $50 to around $70. You can get ones for a lot more money but it is quite unnecessary

Where can I buy a converter box?

DTV Converter boxes can be purchased from electronics stores and also general merchandise stores. I would suggest Best Buy or Wal-Mart.

Can I find a coupon to lower the cost of my DTV converter?

The government has decided to help out consumers with the DTV transition and is offering $40 coupons to people who need to purchase a converter box. They have set aside roughly $1.4 billion for these coupons. With the $40 coupon you can get a DTV converter for about $10. If you want one of these coupons I suggest requesting it ASAP because there is a limited number of them. You can visit the governments DTV transition website to request a coupon card.

Is there a limit to the number of coupons I can get?

There is a limit of 2 coupons per household. If you need more coupons then you will need to have them sent to a different address.

Is there any other way to keep my old analog television working after the transition?

The only other way to keep your television working is by getting cable. Of course if you want you could always go out and purchase a new all digital television.

Is there any other information that I should know about in regards to the transition?

The only other important thing is to make sure you look up reviews and comparisons on the different DTV converter boxes. These converters are brand new products and there have been a lot of glitches with them so you should definitely check out which ones are working the best.

I am a digital transition experts who gives out free advice over the internet. You can visit my digital converter box reviews blog to learn more about a digital TV converter box ratings.

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Home Theater Speakers - More About Subwoofers

We all know what bass can do to a movie soundtrack. It can create drama, danger, even a feeling of strength depending on the visuals that go along with it. Bass is one of the most important elements of any audio format because it provides balance and contrast to the overall score of a movie, television show, even commercial. Quality bass in a sound system is impressive while not being overpowering.

In a 5.1 surround sound system, one of the most common for home theater installations, the '.1' is the bass. The speaker for the bass sounds on a soundtrack is called a sub-woofer. Lower frequency sound waves use a larger diaphragm to move the amount of air it takes to make these sounds. While smaller speakers can produce these lower frequency waves, they typically cannot produce the kind of quality that one would expect from a quality theater. Smaller speakers can often sound tinny when trying to produce these lower sounds. Large home theater speaker towers are capable of handling this part of the soundtrack though it may require the reduction of sound quality from the mid and high range frequency speakers.

Choosing a good sound system with a quality bass speaker is not impossible, even for people who do not have a lot of experience. First, start with the sub-woofer. Homeowners will need to consider whether they require a passive sub or an active woofer. A passive sub-woofer does not need a separate power supply. Rather it uses power from the same amp that is driving the other home theater speakers. Volume from the amplifier can usually be controlled, there is less control overall with a passive sub. An active sub has a separate power supply. This means that the signal received from the amplifier/receiver is enhanced by the sub-woofer itself, without taking any of the power from the other speakers.

Once you have your home theater sub-woofer and other speakers picked out, lay them out to get the best sound from each. Bass sound is omni-directional, meaning that it goes out from the speaker in all direction. To decide where to place the sub-woofer, put it in the same position that you will be sitting in, whether it is on the couch facing the television screen or in a home theater chair. Turn on a favorite film then move around your room and listen. Find the spot that the bass sounds best and move your sub-woofer to that location. It can be set on the ground, on a shelf or off of a wall depending on where you feel the best low tone sound is heard. Since the sounds are going out and bouncing around the room in roughly the same direction, the sound should be great when you get it into place.

We've all heard the laments of mothers and fathers forced to deal with the incessant thumping and pounding of boom box bass lines from their adolescent's car or room. There is something to say for the potential for this phenomenon to occur in a home theater as well. While walls, ceiling and floor will generally block high sound frequencies from leaving the room, they can actually increase the volume of the lower range sounds. While laying out your speakers, try to also find the right volume balance for all frequencies that your family can enjoy the sound quality a bass can provide without driving your neighbors crazy.

~Ben Anton, 2008

Ben Anton lives in Portland, OR and writes for Ronny's 5th St. Audio Vision.
We invite you view the best in home subwoofers for theaters from vendors like Dali and Quad at Ronny's speaker, home theater and accessories store.

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Wireless Home Theatre Systems

Have you ever purchased a home theater system and been met with a hundred feet of wire? If you have, you are not alone. This seems to be a problem that many individuals have faced. They have found that the rear speakers have around 25 to 50 feet of wire that has to be concealed throughout the room. Even the front speakers can have a considerable amount of wire. However, it always seems that the center speaker never has enough length. This means that a wireless home theater system is probably going to be the way to go on your next home theater purchase.

A wireless home theater system eliminates the need for all of those wires. This means you don't have to stand there trying to figure out how you are going to conceal every inch of wire around a room. That in itself takes much longer than actually hooking up the speakers to the sub-woofer and connecting the sub-woofer to your television. You could actually have the entire system hooked up in a matter of minutes. You don't have to worry about hiding wires behind your baseboards and you do not have to worry about them falling all over the place and being unsightly.

Another great thing about a wireless home theater system is the fact that you can place your speakers anywhere you need them within range. This means that you can have an optimal surround sound experience, which is an experience you won't have if you are restricted with wires. Many people are unable to fully enjoy the potential of their system because they can only take them where the wires will let them. Again, this is not the case with wireless systems. Just imagine being able to place your speakers right behind your couch or on each side of the room where you want them. Some individuals cannot place speakers in the proper places because the shape of their family room may not allow it.

Just know that when you invest in wireless home theater systems, you are not only getting the best possible sound experience, you are getting much more than that. No messy cords, no difficult installations, and no tearing up your baseboards or walls to conceal the wires. That in itself makes it worth the investment.

As for where you can find wireless home theater systems, you can go on the internet and find great dealers offering these systems for great prices. You don't have to pay a fortune to have one, so don't. Compare prices, check reviews, and find the system that is going to fit your home theater needs. Once you have everything hooked up and ready to go, you'll be glad you did.

Ian Pennington is an accomplished niche website developer and author.

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