Much has been written and reported about the transition from an analog to a digital TV system in the United States and in other countries around the word. This column has discussed the features of new TV sets and the various “flavors” of technologies and services that you can use to receive these new digital signals. The other day I was asked some very simple questions which have not received much attention in any of these reports, including mine. Why are we doing this? Why are we spending billions of dollars to rebuild, from the ground up, a national TV system that seems to work perfectly well?
Well, there is not one answer but several. Basically it comes down to money, available resources, and the quality of the TV product. I’ll take them one by one.
In the mid to late 1990s Congress was looking for every way possible to increase federal revenues in order to wipe out, or at least reduce, the national deficit. This came at the same time more and more wireless technology companies were exhausting their allocated radio frequencies. A quick calculation showed that current analog TV was using a disproportionate amount of the radio spectrum and that a conversion to digital would free up some of this very valuable space. Since conversion to digital was inevitable, setting a time table was a “no brainer.”
A bit of science here. All assigned radio frequencies (channels) within the radio spectrum(AM, FM, shortwave, emergency radio, cell phones, garage door openers, etc.) are not equal. Some frequencies are more valuable than others. It so happens that the frequencies that we use for analog TV are among the most desirable, since these signals can penetrate buildings, travel long distances, etc. So these TV channels could bring billions in revenue to federal coffers. In fact, the first two auctions took place in mid-January with bids totaling some $2.8 billion. The total revenue is pegged at between $10 and $12 billion.
I am sure you have read about the continuing problems that our police and fire departments often have establishing reliable communications in the event of a major disaster. This was brought home all too clearly in the aftermath of 911. The problem again was that available channels were just plain filled up. Part of the channels that will be made available in February 2009 when analog TV ceases to occupy the airwaves will be dedicated for use by homeland security and other first responders. This should greatly expand communications between and among these emergency workers.
The third reason for moving to digital is to take advantage of all the improvements digital affords. High Definition pictures and sound, multiple channels that occupy less space in the spectrum and easier recording and storage of programs are only a few of the benefits. None of these were practical within the old analog constraints.
For sure this conversion has and continues to be expensive. CET has spent millions to convert our studios and transmitter to digital as have all the other stations in Cincinnati and around the country. For the consumer, new TVs or set top converters will need to be purchased if you are not a cable or satellite subscriber. Is it all worth it? In my opinion, yes it is. Using wisely the radio spectrum is no less important than conserving any finite natural resource. For the consumer, the TV product, at least as it relates to the quality of the pictures and sound will be greatly enhanced. Time will tell if the stuff is worth watching …but that’s another column.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
I Don't Care What Time It is In Katmandu!
A few weeks back there was an interesting segment broadcast on 60 Minutes discussing the increased complexity of technology. David Pogue, a respected and articulate technology columnist for the New York Times was featured in the segment. The discussion centered around the popularity of new services launched to help Joe and Mary Consumer deal with new home computers, appliances and entertainment systems. David was challenging the interviewer to find the on and off button, volume control and channel change button on a new remote control. As you might guess, the intelligent educated reporter could not easily find any of these basic functions. All I could think of is “been there, bought the tee shirt.”
The 60 Minutes segment related that service companies like “Geek Squad®” and “Firedog” have developed quickly to fill a need. Technicians from these companies come to your house and can fix your PC or teach you how to use your remote control. We shouldn’t need them for the latter. For sure some companies do a better job of friendly intuitive designs. Apple, for example, seems to be able to have powerful devices with easy to use interfaces. They remain one of the few.
While I am not an engineer, I have more than a passing knowledge of new technology and I have to admit some of the controls and instructions for these devices leave me clueless. Why is it that we can design and build a vast array of truly marvelous devices and can’t make them easy to use?
I think there are two main reasons. First of all designers seem to want to make every electronic device a sort of Swiss Army Knife. It is not enough for the refrigerator to keep food cold, someone wants to put a TV on the door. A simple wrist watch not only tells you the current time but must be able to tell you what time it is in Katmandu and what time sunrise happens in Timbuktu. Don’t even get me started on cell phones. The classic has to be the much maligned BMW and Lexis controls that required you to use a menu system on a flat panel display to control the AC and other basic functions. Why do they do this? Because they can. The use of microprocessors makes the incremental cost to add these functions minimal so engineers keep pushing the envelope.
The second reason has to do with the fast pace of change. Products are coming off the production line and into the store in record time. With the attitude first adopted by software developers, i.e. “we’ll fix it in version two,” there just is not time for “real” people to use the product and find the design flaws before it is shipped. In other words, products never get to the mature level.
On another topic, I got the following email from a reader in West Harrison:
I read your article printed in the January 16, 2008, Harrison Press regarding DTV converter coupons. Apparently the information I obtained when I called DTV-2009 was different from the information you obtained. I was told the coupons would not be mailed until the converters were available in the stores, and the expiration date would be 90 days from when they were mailed.
I was also told only 2 coupons would be mailed to each household, so if you let your coupons expire before using, you cannot have any additional ones mailed to the same address. Therefore, reapplying for coupons will not be an option, unless you have them mailed to someone else’s address.
I look forward to your advice on which converter to buy and where to find the best deals.
Nancy
Nancy asks some good questions. I also have read several versions of how the program is rolling out. I have read several different interpretations from NTIA, the government office in charge of the program. The most recent NTIA release stated that coupons would begin to be sent out Feb 17, 2007. How they will know if the tuners are in our local stores is beyond me. A recent discussion with one of the sales people at Best Buy™ gave me even more pause, as he not only did not know when converters would be available at Best Buy™, but I had to explain to him what a converter was, what it was used for, and that there would be coupons. Not a good sign.
The government has some 22 million coupons to send out in the first round. Another 11 million will be available after the first round is used up. In the second round though, you will only be eligible for coupons if you DO NOT have cable or satellite.
All this being said, I still think that since we have more than a year before we need converters, waiting to send for the coupons until the devices are available in local outlets is the better way to go. Also, I am not sure that I want a first generation model anyway.
The 60 Minutes segment related that service companies like “Geek Squad®” and “Firedog” have developed quickly to fill a need. Technicians from these companies come to your house and can fix your PC or teach you how to use your remote control. We shouldn’t need them for the latter. For sure some companies do a better job of friendly intuitive designs. Apple, for example, seems to be able to have powerful devices with easy to use interfaces. They remain one of the few.
While I am not an engineer, I have more than a passing knowledge of new technology and I have to admit some of the controls and instructions for these devices leave me clueless. Why is it that we can design and build a vast array of truly marvelous devices and can’t make them easy to use?
I think there are two main reasons. First of all designers seem to want to make every electronic device a sort of Swiss Army Knife. It is not enough for the refrigerator to keep food cold, someone wants to put a TV on the door. A simple wrist watch not only tells you the current time but must be able to tell you what time it is in Katmandu and what time sunrise happens in Timbuktu. Don’t even get me started on cell phones. The classic has to be the much maligned BMW and Lexis controls that required you to use a menu system on a flat panel display to control the AC and other basic functions. Why do they do this? Because they can. The use of microprocessors makes the incremental cost to add these functions minimal so engineers keep pushing the envelope.
The second reason has to do with the fast pace of change. Products are coming off the production line and into the store in record time. With the attitude first adopted by software developers, i.e. “we’ll fix it in version two,” there just is not time for “real” people to use the product and find the design flaws before it is shipped. In other words, products never get to the mature level.
On another topic, I got the following email from a reader in West Harrison:
I read your article printed in the January 16, 2008, Harrison Press regarding DTV converter coupons. Apparently the information I obtained when I called DTV-2009 was different from the information you obtained. I was told the coupons would not be mailed until the converters were available in the stores, and the expiration date would be 90 days from when they were mailed.
I was also told only 2 coupons would be mailed to each household, so if you let your coupons expire before using, you cannot have any additional ones mailed to the same address. Therefore, reapplying for coupons will not be an option, unless you have them mailed to someone else’s address.
I look forward to your advice on which converter to buy and where to find the best deals.
Nancy
Nancy asks some good questions. I also have read several versions of how the program is rolling out. I have read several different interpretations from NTIA, the government office in charge of the program. The most recent NTIA release stated that coupons would begin to be sent out Feb 17, 2007. How they will know if the tuners are in our local stores is beyond me. A recent discussion with one of the sales people at Best Buy™ gave me even more pause, as he not only did not know when converters would be available at Best Buy™, but I had to explain to him what a converter was, what it was used for, and that there would be coupons. Not a good sign.
The government has some 22 million coupons to send out in the first round. Another 11 million will be available after the first round is used up. In the second round though, you will only be eligible for coupons if you DO NOT have cable or satellite.
All this being said, I still think that since we have more than a year before we need converters, waiting to send for the coupons until the devices are available in local outlets is the better way to go. Also, I am not sure that I want a first generation model anyway.
Monday, January 21, 2008
2008 Consumer Electronics Show Review
Well, neither my day job employer, CET, nor the Harrison Press was willing or able to ante up for my travel to the recent Consumer Electronics Show (CES) which ran January 7 thru 10 in Las Vegas. While I do serve on a national advisory group that held its meeting as part of the show, by the time I found that out the limited hotel rooms were long gone. For the uninitiated, the CES is the largest trade show in the US. This year more than 140,000 (that’s right, one hundred and forty thousand) people attended. For those interested in technology and technology trends, this is as close to heaven as it gets. I have been able to vicariously participate by monitoring various blogs, news reports and getting first hand reports from people who were there.
For as long as I can remember, Bill Gates has always given a Key Note speech to open the show. This year with his upcoming retirement, he announced that this would be his last one. There is a really neat funny video produced as part of his presentation that you just have to see. You can view it anytime on YouTube.com. The address is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1M-IafCor4 For anyone who follows Microsoft this video is a must.
Spread out over acres and acres of exhibit space were products ranging sfrom giant plasma TVs to cell phone ring tones. Here are a few of the more interesting products and announcements.
The High Definition DVD Player wars seem to be coming to an end. By this time next year the victor should be known. Right now Sony® and its Blue Ray™ technology seem to be winning the battle as more and more content providers are siding with this technology. While Toshiba® and its HD DVD™ system has not yet thrown in the towel, I think they will soon. If most of the good movies are available only on Blue Ray™ it will be tough to fight. Many analysts note that for most people the quality of the picture is just about same for Blue Ray™ and HD DVD™. So content will be king.
Panasonic® obviously feels that “bigger is better” as they displayed the largest Plasma TV in the world. This 150 inch behemoth produces a TV picture that can cover an entire wall. You could use it in your living room where it could double as a “virtual window.” Don’t like looking out your window at your neighbor’s 1964 pick up truck propped up on blocks? Now you can have view of the skyline of New York or the mountains of Colorado. It will cost you, though. Since it is a prototype, a firm sticker price has yet to be set. But as they say, “if you have to ask…?”
I am a bit cautious about even mentioning the next technology since it has been displayed for two or three years and has yet to come to market in any substantial way. It is called WiMax. This technology provides high speed access to the Internet and other computer applications wirelessly over very large areas. You can think of it at WiFi on steroids. While several cell phone providers have data networks, they really are not as fast as a typical connection in your house with DSL or cable modems. If this technology does finally make it to market this year you can look for big changes in what you can do on line in a car, bus or train. Even radio as we know it may change since you will be able to listen to any radio station on line from anywhere in the world using an internet connection in your car. There are still several hurdles to overcome, but vendors promise WiMax network roll outs in Washington DC, New York City and a few other major cities in 2008.
For as long as I can remember, Bill Gates has always given a Key Note speech to open the show. This year with his upcoming retirement, he announced that this would be his last one. There is a really neat funny video produced as part of his presentation that you just have to see. You can view it anytime on YouTube.com. The address is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1M-IafCor4 For anyone who follows Microsoft this video is a must.
Spread out over acres and acres of exhibit space were products ranging sfrom giant plasma TVs to cell phone ring tones. Here are a few of the more interesting products and announcements.
The High Definition DVD Player wars seem to be coming to an end. By this time next year the victor should be known. Right now Sony® and its Blue Ray™ technology seem to be winning the battle as more and more content providers are siding with this technology. While Toshiba® and its HD DVD™ system has not yet thrown in the towel, I think they will soon. If most of the good movies are available only on Blue Ray™ it will be tough to fight. Many analysts note that for most people the quality of the picture is just about same for Blue Ray™ and HD DVD™. So content will be king.
Panasonic® obviously feels that “bigger is better” as they displayed the largest Plasma TV in the world. This 150 inch behemoth produces a TV picture that can cover an entire wall. You could use it in your living room where it could double as a “virtual window.” Don’t like looking out your window at your neighbor’s 1964 pick up truck propped up on blocks? Now you can have view of the skyline of New York or the mountains of Colorado. It will cost you, though. Since it is a prototype, a firm sticker price has yet to be set. But as they say, “if you have to ask…?”
I am a bit cautious about even mentioning the next technology since it has been displayed for two or three years and has yet to come to market in any substantial way. It is called WiMax. This technology provides high speed access to the Internet and other computer applications wirelessly over very large areas. You can think of it at WiFi on steroids. While several cell phone providers have data networks, they really are not as fast as a typical connection in your house with DSL or cable modems. If this technology does finally make it to market this year you can look for big changes in what you can do on line in a car, bus or train. Even radio as we know it may change since you will be able to listen to any radio station on line from anywhere in the world using an internet connection in your car. There are still several hurdles to overcome, but vendors promise WiMax network roll outs in Washington DC, New York City and a few other major cities in 2008.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Better wait to send for those DTV Converter coupons
Now that the new year is well underway we find ourselves just about thirteen months from the end of analog TV broadcasting. I have written several times about this transition and will certainly continue to do so in future columns all year. You may have seen some spots on TV discussing the various options you have in order to make sure that you continue to receive your favorite TV programs after February 17, 2009. Look for cable companies and satellite services to run advertisements that lead you to believe that you will need to subscribe to one of their services to continue to use you old TV. You don’t need to use them. In fact, you don’t even need a new TV set. You can purchase a converter that will receive the new digital channels and convert them to channels that your old TV can display.
In my column last week I briefly mentioned the beginning of the Federal program that will provide up to two $40 coupons for use in purchasing DTV converters. Over the past few weeks there have been several articles in the newspaper and some news reports on TV and radio urging people to request the coupons as soon as possible. While the program officially began January 1, 2008, and more than 800,000 households have already requested coupons, I would suggest that you wait to send for your coupon.
There is a one detail about the coupon program that has not received much discussion in most of the reports in the news. The coupons have an expiration date. They expire 90 days from date of issue. If you request the coupons now, they will expire in April. I have been watching the stores and have yet to see any converters for sale. Since there have been only a few manufacturers that have been approved to make the devices and those approvals have been issued by the FCC in the last few months, it may well be spring or even summer before the devices can be purchased in local stores. I don’t know about you, but I am not too excited about re-applying to the Federal Government for two additional coupons when the ones I first received expire.
Waiting till summer or even fall should not be a problem. Congress has indicated that if the first appropriation to fund the coupon program is not sufficient to handle the demand, they will increase the funding. No congressperson wants his constituents calling and complaining that they can no longer watch TV.
I will continue to monitor the various local electronic stores and report when the converters are available. A spokesperson for Best Buy® was quoted in a recent Associated Press article that his stores would be getting the converters soon after the first of the coupons were mailed to consumers. Once that happens I will see what models are available. Since there will be several “flavors” of these converters, each with special features and options. I’ll try to cut through the “technobabble.” In the meantime you can get more information by going to my blog or by calling 888 DTV-2009 (888-388-2009) or go to the DTV information website http://www.ntia.doc.gov/dtvcoupon/PreparingForTheDTVTransition.pdf
In my column last week I briefly mentioned the beginning of the Federal program that will provide up to two $40 coupons for use in purchasing DTV converters. Over the past few weeks there have been several articles in the newspaper and some news reports on TV and radio urging people to request the coupons as soon as possible. While the program officially began January 1, 2008, and more than 800,000 households have already requested coupons, I would suggest that you wait to send for your coupon.
There is a one detail about the coupon program that has not received much discussion in most of the reports in the news. The coupons have an expiration date. They expire 90 days from date of issue. If you request the coupons now, they will expire in April. I have been watching the stores and have yet to see any converters for sale. Since there have been only a few manufacturers that have been approved to make the devices and those approvals have been issued by the FCC in the last few months, it may well be spring or even summer before the devices can be purchased in local stores. I don’t know about you, but I am not too excited about re-applying to the Federal Government for two additional coupons when the ones I first received expire.
Waiting till summer or even fall should not be a problem. Congress has indicated that if the first appropriation to fund the coupon program is not sufficient to handle the demand, they will increase the funding. No congressperson wants his constituents calling and complaining that they can no longer watch TV.
I will continue to monitor the various local electronic stores and report when the converters are available. A spokesperson for Best Buy® was quoted in a recent Associated Press article that his stores would be getting the converters soon after the first of the coupons were mailed to consumers. Once that happens I will see what models are available. Since there will be several “flavors” of these converters, each with special features and options. I’ll try to cut through the “technobabble.” In the meantime you can get more information by going to my blog or by calling 888 DTV-2009 (888-388-2009) or go to the DTV information website http://www.ntia.doc.gov/dtvcoupon/PreparingForTheDTVTransition.pdf
Monday, January 7, 2008
Some things to watch for in 2008
It is always dangerous to make predictions. It is even more dangerous and potentially embarrassing to make those predictions in writing. Nevertheless, I have a few things that might help you as you make decisions about purchasing electronic products and services in the new year.
In February you can look for some great deals on HD televisions. Leading up to the Super Bowl®, you will be inundated with ads from all the leading retailers touting sales of new TVs so you can wow your neighbors at your Super Bowl Party. Once that day passes, sales will slow down and you will be able to get some great deals.
February 2009 will then be just 12 months away. Remember February 17, 2009 is the day when we turn off all the analog channels and if you are among the 20% of US households that use over-the-air receivers to watch TV, you will need to do something. If you don’t decide to subscribe to cable or satellite you will need to either purchase a new digital TV or get a set top adapter. The adapters will begin to be found in stores in early 2008. Also, the federal government will begin to issue coupons. Each household is eligible to get 2 coupons each worth $40 toward the purchase of a DTV adapter. Right now they are priced at about $70. For more information you can call 888 DTV-2009 (800-388-2009) or go to the DTV information website http://www.ntia.doc.gov/dtvcoupon/PreparingForTheDTVTransition.pdf
The cell phone providers will begin to expand capabilities beyond one-to-one communication. Many will find it surprising that the United States and Canada are among the most backward countries in the world with our cell phone networks and hand set capabilities. In many countries today you can now do your banking via cell phone, pay for gas, buy a subway fare and watch sporting events. While some of these features are now beginning to be made available here, 2009 should see some real advances.
Look for more devices to be controlled by voice commands. This technology has been available on higher end products but now is becoming common place. You may have seen the commercials on TV for some of the new Ford Motor Company cars with Synch Technology™. This system being co-developed by Microsoft®, allows you to operate your iPod® and phone using spoken commands. While many of us have had this calling feature on our cell phones, you will now see this technology being integrated into a host of other devices. Great news, we can all stop clapping to turn on our living room lamps!
You will see an increase in attempts to get information about you. The discount programs using ID cards with bar codes, the sales clerk request for your email address, the manufacture’s warranty cards that ask for much more information than the model number of the toaster you just bought, all are ways of gathering information about you and your consumer habits.
The green energy efficiency movement will get into full swing with added emphasis on doing little things in your home that will add up to substantial community savings. The dropping prices and greater variety of energy efficient Compact Fluorescent Lamps are good examples. Look for more LED lamps in automobiles too.
I will revisit this list one year from now and see how I did.
In February you can look for some great deals on HD televisions. Leading up to the Super Bowl®, you will be inundated with ads from all the leading retailers touting sales of new TVs so you can wow your neighbors at your Super Bowl Party. Once that day passes, sales will slow down and you will be able to get some great deals.
February 2009 will then be just 12 months away. Remember February 17, 2009 is the day when we turn off all the analog channels and if you are among the 20% of US households that use over-the-air receivers to watch TV, you will need to do something. If you don’t decide to subscribe to cable or satellite you will need to either purchase a new digital TV or get a set top adapter. The adapters will begin to be found in stores in early 2008. Also, the federal government will begin to issue coupons. Each household is eligible to get 2 coupons each worth $40 toward the purchase of a DTV adapter. Right now they are priced at about $70. For more information you can call 888 DTV-2009 (800-388-2009) or go to the DTV information website http://www.ntia.doc.gov/dtvcoupon/PreparingForTheDTVTransition.pdf
The cell phone providers will begin to expand capabilities beyond one-to-one communication. Many will find it surprising that the United States and Canada are among the most backward countries in the world with our cell phone networks and hand set capabilities. In many countries today you can now do your banking via cell phone, pay for gas, buy a subway fare and watch sporting events. While some of these features are now beginning to be made available here, 2009 should see some real advances.
Look for more devices to be controlled by voice commands. This technology has been available on higher end products but now is becoming common place. You may have seen the commercials on TV for some of the new Ford Motor Company cars with Synch Technology™. This system being co-developed by Microsoft®, allows you to operate your iPod® and phone using spoken commands. While many of us have had this calling feature on our cell phones, you will now see this technology being integrated into a host of other devices. Great news, we can all stop clapping to turn on our living room lamps!
You will see an increase in attempts to get information about you. The discount programs using ID cards with bar codes, the sales clerk request for your email address, the manufacture’s warranty cards that ask for much more information than the model number of the toaster you just bought, all are ways of gathering information about you and your consumer habits.
The green energy efficiency movement will get into full swing with added emphasis on doing little things in your home that will add up to substantial community savings. The dropping prices and greater variety of energy efficient Compact Fluorescent Lamps are good examples. Look for more LED lamps in automobiles too.
I will revisit this list one year from now and see how I did.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Watch Out for the Extras
One of my coworkers at CET recently asked me for some advice about what type of cable she should use to connect her new HD TV to the various components. She noted that the salesperson at the store from which she bought the new TV was insistent that she needed to use a very expensive HDMI cable when connecting her television. Wanting to get the most out of her new purchase, she complied and bought the $70 cable, all four feet of it. After talking to some others, I found out that many who are buying new sets are finding a dizzying array of cables and accessories and service plans that can add hundreds of dollars to an already expensive purchase.
Well the bottom line for most of these add-ons is …Don’t do it! It brings to mind the final steps we have all had to endure when buying a new car. The salesperson finishes up the “deal’ and then you are sent to the “finance guy” to “just fill out a few papers.” Once in the office you are confronted with extended warranty plans, undercoating options, glass guard, ultraviolet ray paint coating, fabric protection, cures for acne and several other options. All of these of course cost extra and in most cases are a total waste of money. It seems that some of the electronic retailers have spent a few too many hours shopping for cars, because they are adopting some of these lucrative “up selling” techniques with their customers.
Let’s talk about HDMI cables. Yes, you should get one for each component that uses this interface to connect to your new HD TV. No, you should not spend $70 on a single cable. You can get HDMI cables on line and at discount stores for as little as $10 to $15 and they will work just fine. Sure, the sales person will confront you about impedance mismatches and the benefits of gold plated connectors and any of a host of other “Klingon” jargon. When you are watching your new TV, you will not be able to tell the difference in picture quality from a set connected with a $15 HDMI cable from one that uses a $100 cable. The same holds true for the most part for audio cables. There are slight differences, but they are not worth the steep mark up.
The pitch for purchasing an extended warranty will also be an issue as you walk toward the check out counter. Modern electronic devices will either work out of the box or will fail in a short time, well within the regular manufacturer’s warranty period. Except for a laptop computer, I can think of no other device that should be protected with an extra warranty policy. Three years is an eternity in the world of digital electronics. A DVD player purchased 18 months ago for $200 can now be found on sale for $29.95 and it will come with more features. Purchasing a $75 warranty for a $200 machine just does not make sense. Just say No!
Another rip-off is the HDTV Antenna. If you see a box marked “designed for HDTV,” run out of the store. There is no such thing as an HDTV antenna. The design of an antenna, either for set top or outdoor use, is no different for picking up an HDTV digital signal than it is for analog signals. The fact is that the new digital over-the-air broadcasts use the same channels as we have used since the beginning of TV in the late 40s. Don’t pay extra for an antenna just because it says that it is for Digital or HDTV use. The only difference from the one you bought five years ago is the box.
It is a scary world out there …”caveat emptor”…that’s Latin, not Klingon.
Well the bottom line for most of these add-ons is …Don’t do it! It brings to mind the final steps we have all had to endure when buying a new car. The salesperson finishes up the “deal’ and then you are sent to the “finance guy” to “just fill out a few papers.” Once in the office you are confronted with extended warranty plans, undercoating options, glass guard, ultraviolet ray paint coating, fabric protection, cures for acne and several other options. All of these of course cost extra and in most cases are a total waste of money. It seems that some of the electronic retailers have spent a few too many hours shopping for cars, because they are adopting some of these lucrative “up selling” techniques with their customers.
Let’s talk about HDMI cables. Yes, you should get one for each component that uses this interface to connect to your new HD TV. No, you should not spend $70 on a single cable. You can get HDMI cables on line and at discount stores for as little as $10 to $15 and they will work just fine. Sure, the sales person will confront you about impedance mismatches and the benefits of gold plated connectors and any of a host of other “Klingon” jargon. When you are watching your new TV, you will not be able to tell the difference in picture quality from a set connected with a $15 HDMI cable from one that uses a $100 cable. The same holds true for the most part for audio cables. There are slight differences, but they are not worth the steep mark up.
The pitch for purchasing an extended warranty will also be an issue as you walk toward the check out counter. Modern electronic devices will either work out of the box or will fail in a short time, well within the regular manufacturer’s warranty period. Except for a laptop computer, I can think of no other device that should be protected with an extra warranty policy. Three years is an eternity in the world of digital electronics. A DVD player purchased 18 months ago for $200 can now be found on sale for $29.95 and it will come with more features. Purchasing a $75 warranty for a $200 machine just does not make sense. Just say No!
Another rip-off is the HDTV Antenna. If you see a box marked “designed for HDTV,” run out of the store. There is no such thing as an HDTV antenna. The design of an antenna, either for set top or outdoor use, is no different for picking up an HDTV digital signal than it is for analog signals. The fact is that the new digital over-the-air broadcasts use the same channels as we have used since the beginning of TV in the late 40s. Don’t pay extra for an antenna just because it says that it is for Digital or HDTV use. The only difference from the one you bought five years ago is the box.
It is a scary world out there …”caveat emptor”…that’s Latin, not Klingon.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Keeping the Lights On & the House Warm
The recent devastating ice storms in Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri brought back memories of our brush with ice during early spring last year. While for the most part most of us in western Hamilton County and eastern Indiana were spared long outages of our electric service, I remember some in Clermont County that were without power for many days.
Today’s modern houses rely heavily on electrical power. Lighting, cooking, heat and air conditioning all depend on our ability to connect to and stay connected to the power company’s grid. Gone are the days when you could light an oil lamp and put a few more lumps of coal in the furnace and hunker down till the lights came on.
One of the most popular features of many new homes is a stand-by power generator. The top of the line models use gasoline, diesel or natural or LP gas and can keep most of the critical systems operating if the power company system fails. They are not cheap. Even a modest 16,000 watt system will cost some $5,000 by the time you get it installed. While 16,000 watts may sound like a lot of power, it really is not if you factor in all the electrical devices in your home. From cell phone chargers to heat pumps, a modern home can take five times that amount of power under normal circumstances. So if you do decide to go the stand-by power route, you will need to ration the power to only the most critical devices like refrigerators, water pumps etc.
I have to emphasize that if you decide to install a system you will need to hire a professional electrician for this project. If you put a system in wrong you not only endanger your home and its electrical system, you can endanger other people. An improperly installed system can actually send power backwards into the electrical grid. A Duke Energy technician working to fix the outage working miles away from your home can be killed because of your mistake. This is not a DIY project!
Another caution; if you decide to purchase a small unit, using it only for lighting and perhaps a few small items, make sure that the unit is kept outside. Every year we read of the deaths of individuals or families killed by carbon monoxide poisoning. A generator running in a garage or even close to the house on the porch can give off lethal fumes that can enter the house.
I have a relatively inexpensive option for those who heat with natural or LP gas or oil. While most of us can survive without air conditioning in the summer, when the temperature drops below freezing, our homes can quickly become unlivable. You can keep your furnace running with very little electricity. A modern gas or oil furnace uses electricity to pump the oil, ignite the flame, control the thermostat and run the motor in the blower. None of these takes a lot of electrical current.
You can ask your furnace technician to wire the furnace so that is can be easily isolated from your home electrical service and plugged directly into a small generator. This should cost a few hundred bucks. You will need to have him tell you how many watts the furnace will need. Remember that the blower motor will require extra power when it starts. Once you have the number of watts required, you can purchase a generator that can handle that load and perhaps a lamp or TV. In most cases this should be in the $500 to $750 range. If the power should go out, at least you will be able to stay warm and keep the pipes from freezing.
Thanks for all the good comments during the first year of this column. My best to all for a Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday and peaceful New Year.
Today’s modern houses rely heavily on electrical power. Lighting, cooking, heat and air conditioning all depend on our ability to connect to and stay connected to the power company’s grid. Gone are the days when you could light an oil lamp and put a few more lumps of coal in the furnace and hunker down till the lights came on.
One of the most popular features of many new homes is a stand-by power generator. The top of the line models use gasoline, diesel or natural or LP gas and can keep most of the critical systems operating if the power company system fails. They are not cheap. Even a modest 16,000 watt system will cost some $5,000 by the time you get it installed. While 16,000 watts may sound like a lot of power, it really is not if you factor in all the electrical devices in your home. From cell phone chargers to heat pumps, a modern home can take five times that amount of power under normal circumstances. So if you do decide to go the stand-by power route, you will need to ration the power to only the most critical devices like refrigerators, water pumps etc.
I have to emphasize that if you decide to install a system you will need to hire a professional electrician for this project. If you put a system in wrong you not only endanger your home and its electrical system, you can endanger other people. An improperly installed system can actually send power backwards into the electrical grid. A Duke Energy technician working to fix the outage working miles away from your home can be killed because of your mistake. This is not a DIY project!
Another caution; if you decide to purchase a small unit, using it only for lighting and perhaps a few small items, make sure that the unit is kept outside. Every year we read of the deaths of individuals or families killed by carbon monoxide poisoning. A generator running in a garage or even close to the house on the porch can give off lethal fumes that can enter the house.
I have a relatively inexpensive option for those who heat with natural or LP gas or oil. While most of us can survive without air conditioning in the summer, when the temperature drops below freezing, our homes can quickly become unlivable. You can keep your furnace running with very little electricity. A modern gas or oil furnace uses electricity to pump the oil, ignite the flame, control the thermostat and run the motor in the blower. None of these takes a lot of electrical current.
You can ask your furnace technician to wire the furnace so that is can be easily isolated from your home electrical service and plugged directly into a small generator. This should cost a few hundred bucks. You will need to have him tell you how many watts the furnace will need. Remember that the blower motor will require extra power when it starts. Once you have the number of watts required, you can purchase a generator that can handle that load and perhaps a lamp or TV. In most cases this should be in the $500 to $750 range. If the power should go out, at least you will be able to stay warm and keep the pipes from freezing.
Thanks for all the good comments during the first year of this column. My best to all for a Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday and peaceful New Year.
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