Making analog TVs work with FIOS

[NealA]

Just a heads up for anyone living in Oregon, Verizon FIOS TV is only broadcasting in digital, no analog.  Hence, your old analog TVs won't work, unless you get a converter box.

In Oregon Verizon Fios TV is ONLY carrying DIGITAL signals, no analog as the rest of the country is getting, at least until Feb 2009.  You will need a digital-to-analog converter box to be able to use your old analog TVs.  Verizon claims that they have the only box (Motorola DCT-700) that will work with their FIOS TV, contrary to what I've read on this forum and Verizon's own website.  They charge an extra $3.99/mo for the box.  OF course they don't tell you that when you sign up for FIOS TV.

The federal government has a coupon program for $40 toward the purchase of qualified converter boxes that you can purchase at most electronic stores like Best Buy, Circuit City, RadioShack.  The price averages about 59.99, and with the $40 coupon will only cost you $19.99.  See these website for more details, www.dtv.gov and www.ntiadtv.gov.

[Kaos]

You are confusing two different things. The FCC has mandated that the analog Over The Air (OTA) broadcasts be discontinued by February of next year and be switched over to a digital signal. The converter boxes at the electronic stores and the above websites are to be used if you only watch channels OTA and have an older television that cannot descramble digital OTA channels. If you use cable or satellite service for your television viewing, you do not need one of these converter boxes. These boxes cannot be used with Verizon TV service.

Verizon has made a business decision to use an all digital signal in the Oregon area. Verizon could carry all analog channels if they wanted to but they would have to carry fewer channels as analog takes up more bandwidth then digital. Most people will say that Verizon has fiber optic cable which can carry more bandwidth. That is true but the equipment that is used cannot handle the bandwidth that the fiber optic cable can handle. Later this year, all areas that Verizon serves will be all digital just like Oregon. Everyone will be required to have a set top box if they want to watch television on that tv set.

[pfh]

Correct.  If you use an antenna, then the coupon program is for you.  If you use a cable provider than you are more than likely stuck with their solutions.  That being said, if you purchase a new tv with a digital tuner than you still won't nesc. need a cable box.  The coax can be hooked directly into the tv just like before and then the reception is dependant on the functionality of the tv's digital tuner.  Some digital tuners are better than others.  If I'm not mistaken, they are required to at least recieve local digital reception and the provider is required to provide it as well.  New tv's are required to have digital tuners.  That is fact.  There are no requirements regarding HD though.  Digital is one thing and high def digital is another.