Technology Tip

Hershey's Mill Conversion to Digital TV

The Board of Directors of the Hershey's Mill Homeowners Association has renewed a multi-year agreement with Comcast that will permit Comcast to convert our television viewing from the present analog system to an all digital one. This change in our TV viewing has nothing to do with the Government mandated switch to all digital for over-the-air TV broadcasting next year. This is a business decision by Comcast to allow them to use their system more efficiently. Basically a digital format is much more efficient than an analog format.

Under the agreement each home will be supplied with a single device called a "digital converter". The FCC has allowed cable companies to manage the switch to digital by supplying converters for home use. This device will convert the incoming digital signal to analog so you can still use the same analog television set you are currently using. This device will be connected to the TV of your choice. If you have additional analog TV's in your home each one will need a converter. However, there are other options to consider. You can replace your existing analog TV's with new digital TV's that have a cable tuner (QAM type) built in, or you can hold off and wait to see what Comcast does with the analog system. Additional digital converters are available from Comcast at $4.95 each per month. (Price subject to change.

Comcast will offer their Digital Starter Package along with the new converters. This package offers the same channels that are presently available plus On Demand and Music Choice. On Demand offers additional features such as free movies and shows that you can watch when you want to watch them. There's no set schedule. Music choice allows for 48 channels of music. The music you hear in the background at Channel 20 comes from Comcast's Music Choice.

Comcast's present plans are to install the converters over a 4 month span village by village. Installation days are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays between 10:30 AM and 5:30 PM. Evening hours are between 5:30 and 7:30 PM. You will receive a letter from Comcast informing you of the date and time for the installation. The Comcast technician will also train you in the use of the converter. The converter's universal remote will control the TV and VCR so you don't have to use 2 or more remotes. If you have used all of the available power outlets near the TV purchase an AC power adapter that has extra receptacles so the converter will have power available. Comcast will not supply the power adapter. Also provide space for the converter. It is 5 1/2" wide x 6 ¾ " deep x 2" high.

Current Comcast viewers that already have digital or High Definition TV's, are unaffected by this change. This change affects only those TV's that cannot receive digital signals directly. If you are not sure what you have you can test your TV by using your TV remote and tuning to channel 3. Then use the channel UP button to go to the next higher channel. On a properly set up and tuned digital TV with a QAM tuner, without a Comcast digital converter box, you should see channel 3 - 1 which is the high definition digital signal for channel 3. If you see channel 4 then you have an analog TV. Any flat screen TV manufactured since March of 2007 will be a digital TV. If you are replacing an analog TV get a digital one that also has a QAM tuner. The QAM tuner is NOT government mandated to be installed in a digital TV so check before buying!

Answers to questions about our new digital TV service, HDTV, and of course computers, will be answered at our monthly PC Club meetings. They are held the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM upstairs in Winfield Hall.

More information about digital television is available on-line at our Web site: www.hersheysmill.org. Click on Tech Tips and view the Feb. 2008 article "Adding a Second Flat Panel TV in Your Home".

Don Trauger

To get answers to your questions about computers, please come to the PC Club meeting. The computer club meets the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM in Winfield Hall.

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