Since this *is* a technical list, let's not get things confused. It's
not the television *receivers* that are changing to digital, it's the
*transmitters*. That's why people with cable or satellite are
unaffected by the changeover.
Coinciding with the DTV *transmitter* changeover is a new television
broadcast standard. The one your old tv uses is NTSC which has been
around since 1940. The new standard is ATSC which will officially be
inaugurated February 17, 2009, currently the day the last of the old
analog NTSC *transmitters* is to be turned off in the US. But actually
most large market stations are already broadcasting ATSC.
As of last month when I last checked there are still many NTSC-only
tuners on the shelf at Walmart (TVs, VCRs, DVD recorders). By law they
must now carry a notice that they will not receive ATSC broadcasts.
In practical terms, "DTV" currently equates to "ATSC". However, most
circuits in televisions have been digital for years.
Oh, and to answer your specific question, no, none of the formats in
ATSC include any kind of audio locking. And I actually read the TV
trade mags, and rest assured the sync issues are driving broadcasters
batty right now.
I wouldn't replace a working TV right now just for the heck of it. If
it's still running 2/09, and if congress doesn't postpone the
changeover yet again, just get one of the converter boxes. OTOH If I
was shopping today I wouldn't buy the old stock that lacks ATSC
("DTV") tuners.
On Jan 2, 2008 5:20 PM, Constance Warner <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Does anyone know if manufacturers are doing anything to solve the synch
> problem in the next generations of TV's? Or is this a bug that's
> inherent in the system, and for which there is no practical bugfix?
>
> We have an analog TV that's on its last legs, and we're planning to
> replace it with digital. Is there any point in waiting until the
> technology gets better?
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