The way we watch television has evolved a lot over the years, with even bigger changes to come.
On Feb. 17, over-the-air TV stations will cease broadcasting analog signals, after which any TV viewers who depend solely on legacy NTSC tuners will be left in the dark. You can, of course, continue using these devices if equipped with digital converter boxes or if you have satellite or cable service.
Contrary to rumors, this change isn’t going to force people to subscribe to cable or install a satellite dish to continue watching TV. Those affected are the millions of people who still rely on set-top “rabbit ears” or rooftop antennas. To help, Congress passed a bill to subsidize the purchase of ATSC converter boxes to allow viewers to receive over-the-air digital broadcasts on analog sets.
It’s a hassle, to be sure, not to mention an expense many people don’t need right now. But, like it or not, it is coming. The good news is you can use your existing antenna — although an upgrade might be necessary — while enjoying more channels and better picture quality.
Computer users can get a jump on this new technology, called digital terrestrial television, or DTTV, by adding a digital tuner to their existing system. Increasingly popular, these tuners come in a wide variety of formats, from internal cards to external devices using USB, Firewire or eSATA connections.
I’ve recently had the pleasure of testing Pinnacle Systems’ PCTV HD Mini Stick, a highly portable digital tuner that’s as compact and easy to use as a USB flash drive. Just install the software, plug it into any desktop or notebook PC USB 2.0 port, and you’ve got instant access to over-the-air high-definition TV.
The first time I fired this device up, my jaw about hit the floor. I’ve used many PC-compatible TV…