-------------- Original message --------------
From: "David I. Emery" <die@...>
On Mon, Feb 05, 2007 at 06:41:41PM -0000, mmoss111 wrote:
This appears to be true with respect to all NTSC test equipment.
I have a ton of signal generators and various NTSC monitors and I
wonder what they will be worth soon with digital TV coming?
Kinda like my 8-track test tapes and now even my VCR test equipment is
getting a lot less use (almost none). My whole shop will be worthless
soon!! Boo-hoo.....
Remember that cable will no doubt continue to supply NTSC VSB-AM
TV for some time into the future in many markets. Too many retro folks
don't have ATSC or QAM capability and many of those folks will happily
expect their NTSC TVs to work on channel 3/4 AM VSB RF from somewhere
for many years yet - maybe until it dies of old age in 15-20 years.
These days only a rather small minority of households get their
TV off the air - cable/satellite penetration is well over 85% in most
places. So the shutdown of OTA NTSC in 2009 won't impact much.
Of course compared to well tuned ATSC HDTV, the image quality on
this old technology is PRETTY bad, but for many people they either don't
notice or think that digital LCD/plasma is STILL way too expensive for
mere TV...
And downressing 720p or 1080i to NTSC can be done in a couple of
chips these days... (though the 16:9 issue is a PAIN).
--
Dave Emery N1PRE, die@... DIE Consulting, Weston, Mass 02493
"An empty zombie mind with a forlorn barely readable weatherbeaten
'For Rent' sign still vainly flapping outside on the weed encrusted pole - in
celebration of what could have been, but wasn't and is not to be now either."
