Here's the explanation I found off the web:
I got this photo from Wikipedia....."all the analog TV signals will be shut off in February. It won't be pretty, but it'll be progress. Hawaii, though, has a dilemma: it just so happens that the analog towers that'll be torn down are awfully close to the nests of the state's adorable and endangered petrel birds, whose nesting season also occurs in February. Hence Hawaii's digital switch will occur a month early on January 15th..."
Art has resisted getting cable and paying that extra cable bill each month since the kids were little. Both Jon and Tif still laugh about their dad's insistence that, "We don't need cable. You should be reading a book or playing outside."
When we built the second floor to this house over two years ago, Art had the electrician wire TV connections to the attic where he installed a roof antennae. He figured the antennae would then be protected from the fierce winds we often get in winter. I know our contractor thought we were quite eccentric. However, they were very impressed when they saw the reception we got.
With the digital conversion, however, TV stations are moving their broadcasting towers to a different part of the island so Art is having to crawl in the attic trying to figure out which direction he should point his antennas. Unfortunately, some of the towers are in different directions and we'll have to choose which ones we consider most important. Presently, PBS is the only one that we can't do without that we don't get yet but we're hoping it's because they're in the process of moving or something.
Well, at least I'm getting Brian Williams and I can see Chuck which we love. Art was watching Heroes tonight and blood looks bloodier (cringe) and bullet holes are even more gross (yuuuck!) with the digital reception. I'm seeing a lot more wrinkles on people. Brian Williams looks good even with wrinkles, though so I'm perfectly happy.
I'm so glad to hear they had some consideration for the birds; though it is nice to know some towers will come down. I hate the sight of tall towers and masts on our own mountains.
ReplyDeletePutting the antenna in the attic is a great idea: my parents did the same thing, though they weren't dealing with high winds. They simply thought the roof looked much nicer without a big antenna sticking off it, and neither one liked climbing onto the roof to adjust the antenna if it needed it LOL. So when they were older, inside it went. It worked beautifully.
Art's right: we should ALL be reading books and playing outside!
I also watch Brian Williams! Art will certainly be getting his exercise running 'the attic run.'
ReplyDeleteI have to admit that I would miss not having cable TV. It helps pass days for my mom, and me,too.
wow so you moved from the windy city chicago area to windier hawaii? but at least the winds are warmer. we have cable tv and internet bundled together. it's a wired world we live in and we can't do without our electronics as long as we have electricity. if not then we'd have to read books and run around...not a bad idea.
ReplyDeleteHi Kay!! I read books and play outside and still enjoy watching my tv after the running is done a couple times a week. It's a pleasure that I won't give up, though I have pared down and eliminated many stations. I, too, am glad they thought of nature in scheduling your "crossover". That alone is a wonderful thing.
ReplyDeleteHope you are all well and enjoying this time of year!!
We too once had our antenna in the attic; it worked fine. Art had good advice...I say the same things to my grandkids now because they watch way too much television.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I'm with Joyce...I enjoy the mindless entertainment of television sometimes. I do require my TiVo though so I can fast forward through the endless commercials.
We've just gone with FIOS, mostly because my husband watches a lot of TV. I gave it up before the election, totally burned out, and discovered I was a lot better off without it. I watch special programs but that's about it. After being without it for a while the noise annoys me now. I wouldn't want to be completely without TV but left up to me, it would be used very little.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed reading about your life in Hawaii.
Gosh Kay, I can remember being humiliated because we were the only family on the block without COLOR TV! Lol! My dad had the same attitude as Art and he always encouraged us to play outside with our friends or read books. I know what you mean about watching TV in high definition... Jim was watching a boxing match the other night and you could clearly see the beads of sweat and trickles of blood on the boxer's faces. Yucko!
ReplyDeleteHi Kay! I understand Art's point, but I need my TV. TV keeps me company, but I do enjoy reading. Lisa
ReplyDeleteI've had no 'free reception' where I live for all 29 years I've been here, so I've paid for cable all that time (except for two years I went with DISH). If I want television access, I have no other options.
ReplyDeleteHugs and blessing,
I'm glad they had consideration for the birds, too. When my son had our TV service shut off, I thought I would miss it, although I've never been a big TV watcher, but I'm been amazed -- I don't miss it! I can get news off my computer, I can rent movies and documentaries for a lot less than we paid the TV company and I never liked all the series anyway. But you're right, Brian Williams does look good, even with wrinkles!
ReplyDeleteActually, everybody. We're not doing without TV at all. We get all the major channels plus quite a number of them that we hardly watch. We even get the FOX network and my mother's Japanese channel with the attic antennae. And it's all digital, coming in quite clearly... at times too clear... without paying anything. :-)
ReplyDeleteKay: so you're saying it's "for the birds?" LOL Aloha-
ReplyDeleteKay: so you're saying it's "for the birds?" LOL Aloha-
ReplyDeleteKay..did you change your comment format because I am not having the trouble I usually have..Hmm..In any case, I wanted to let you know what I always read, I just can't always comment, but maybe it will be easier now. Poor Art and poor you with all the home renovations. I admire your Craig's list spirit and your continued determination to get all the shades. I am so shade measuring phobic and I really need to do something with our bay window. ..
ReplyDeleteWell, we watch Brian Williams and love "Chuck" too.
ReplyDeleteWe have had cable for a long time, but with so many channels we still have a hard time finding something to watch some evenings!
Glad I'm not on TV...imagine all the imperfections that would be seen on HDTV. Eeek! Glad you're getting good reception. Art's right there is nothing like a good book, it's way better than TV.
ReplyDeleteHei! HOw are you? Chrismas in Hawaii must be awesome!
ReplyDeleteMe love Chuck too! HAhaha, its easy to get addicted to the television.There are so many channels!
Just wanna wish you a very Merry Early Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!
We have cable at our home but at the cabin it is antenna and that is all I want there. Cable saved me when my babies were little as the oldest one (29 now) never, never slept so I was up for hours and hours rocking her or playing with her and needed COMPANY. But, at the lake I want nature and very little TV (just weather, we have tornados here you know (LOL) !)
ReplyDeleteKay, something you might want to check into-my son-in-law refuses to get cable so he purchased an Hi-Def box of some kind from Best Buy (I think it costs $39.00). If you don't have a Hi-Def antennae after the conversion you won't get reception anymore. Atleast that is what he told me, so you might want to check it out. He said they do make Hi-Def receivers and I think that is what he bought at Best Buy. Hope that helps!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sherri. We have a converter box installed in my mother's room for her older TV. Our TV in our kitchen does not need a converter box because it is a newer TV and already has the digital conversion ability installed. Still, in order for them all to work, you have to have an antennae or cable.
ReplyDeleteHappy Christmas to all of you!
There's always something new to keep us re-doing something that was supposedly done well in the first place, huh? Hope you get converted without too much hassle.
ReplyDeleteGood for Hawaii! That's a wonderful story. You may know that we gave up our satellite dish (the only way we could get tv out here in the country) a while ago, and are watching via Netflix only. I can't tell you how much happier we are. It's the 'noise' of television which bothers me so much - commercials, ads for other shows. We just can't stand them. Now we are late with current shows, but when we watch them we can see as many episodes as we want in a row, and with no ads. And Tom is going to buy the 'season pass' for LOST on iTunes because we cannot- repeat cannot -wait for it. Ah, Sawyer-time coming soon. I'll be looking for you as on the island, Kay. :<)
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