Are You Ready ? "2007" & Beyond
All television receivers of any size must include a DTV tuner effective March 1, 2007….
Other video devices (videocassette recorders, digital video recorders such as hard drive and DVD recorders, etc.) that receive television signals — 100% of all such units must include DTV tuners effective March 1, 2007."
All analog television stations will cease broadcasting at midnight February 17, 2009.
FCC Second Report and Order 11/8/2005
The above three sentences will certainly impact the operation of all your audio/video systems.
These FCC requirements will impact your systems in the following ways:
Any size television now purchased must have a digital tuner. It may have an analog (NTSC) tuner, but it is not a requirement. Read specifications carefully.
Effective March 1, 2007 manufacturers may no longer import or ship across state lines any VCR, TiVo or any other recording device that does not have a digital tuner. This means that all the VCR's and VCR/DVD' that are presently on the market are being discontinued immediately.
Private or public cable (CATV) or master antenna (MATV) systems will not be required to distribute only digital signals. BUT, any analog (NTSC) receivers or demodulators will be obsolete as of February 2009, and new digital receivers must be installed.
Manufacturers seem to be scrambling to meet the demand for VCRs and DVDs in three manners. Produce a product with no tuner, produce a product with a digital (and maybe analog) tuner, or leave the marketplace.
Panasonic and JVC will no longer market stand-alone VHS or S-VHS machines.
JVC will introduce in May two models, the DRMV77 ($249.95 list) and the DRMV99 ($329.95 list). The 77 will have no tuner, and the 99 will have an ATSC (off-air digital) tuner. Both will dub from VHS to DVD.
Panasonic announced two combo models with digital/analog tuners. These include the DMR-EZ47V ($ 379.95 list) available in May, with DVD recorder, SD card slot,1080p up-conversion and HDMI output. The DMR-EZ37V, available in April is a reduced-feature model ($ 329.95).
LG will introduce the RC700N combo VCR/DVD along with several other models. I could not find any information about Samsung.
Please contact Don Bailey at 301-946-2436 if we can offer our services to update any of your systems or answer any questions about the transition to digital television.
