How come no one on RPF has been complaining about the TV converter coupons?

[Rael]

Or maybe they have and I didn't notice. But the government is handing out $40 coupons to help people buy digital converter boxes.

Sure I will take the coupon, I don't begrudge anyone else on here taking it either. Otherwise we are just paying for everyone else to watch tv. Might as well get some of what the government stole from us back.

However if up to me nobody would get a coupon including myself. This is so patently ridiculous. I can understand the motivation at least and sympathize with wanting to feed people and shit, but TV?

Someone I mentioned it too said that "Well, alot of old people on SS watch TV and could not afford it.?"

So? This is my problem how?

What if an old person has a converter box but their tv breaks one day. Should we buy them a new goddamn TV?

 

[Rael]

I actually meant to post this in general politics, mods please move if you feel the need.

 

[Josh_LA]

it's no more worse than the fact the government already controls the airwaves, or else they'd not care. They'd not even have the power to switch us over if they didn't.

the fact is, they depend on using tv to keep us calm, and they feel they owe us a favor to help us switch over to the new tube, does this mean TV converter boxes will be making good money YES, but that's what we knew already anyway.

those in power kept these things in status quo, so they intend keep it that way (oops, double talk)

 

[HOLLYWOOD]

I did!.

I think I was the only to bitch about it detail and the frigin ripoff it all is to people! Yeah I also have a RF Engineering degree/experience.

I'm too tired, toasted, and busy killing brain cells with SNL right now to find my posts.

 

[coyote_sprit]

I did!.

I think I was the only to bitch about it detail and the frigin ripoff it all is to people! Yeah I also have a RF Engineering degree/experience.

I'm too tired, toasted, and busy killing brain cells with SNL right now to find my posts.

http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?p=1937008#post1937008

 

[emazur]

I heard that the money for these coupons will come from the money government will be making from auctioning off the analog broadcasting frequencies, so these coupons won't cost the taxpayers money. But that's just what I heard and I have no source - maybe someone else can verify.

 

[Rael]

I heard that the money for these coupons will come from the money government will be making from auctioning off the analog broadcasting frequencies, so these coupons won't cost the taxpayers money. But that's just what I heard and I have no source - maybe someone else can verify.

Well, it still is costing us money, because instead of doing this the government could use the money to pay off the debt or return it to the taxpayers.

 

[Josh_LA]

Well, it still is costing us money, because instead of doing this the government could use the money to pay off the debt or return it to the taxpayers.

how can you think about debt when people can't watch their TVs?

 

[Nanerbeet]

This is the greatest video on the subject so far:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcWWaWmFJjQ

 

[WRellim]

I heard that the money for these coupons will come from the money government will be making from auctioning off the analog broadcasting frequencies, so these coupons won't cost the taxpayers money. But that's just what I heard and I have no source - maybe someone else can verify.

BINGO.

And in a certain sense, the government turning OFF the standard broadcasting is an arbitrary taking/seizure of "presumed" property rights by obsoleting of everyone's TV and other broadcast reception equipment (rendering it all virtually worthless w/o the adapters). Its a form of "eminent domain" that has been arbitrarily declared via legislation w/o proper due process of law (and I am certain that THAT is one of the main reasons they did the coupon program, else they would have faced a HOST of lawsuits -- which, BTW, could still happen).

And even with the coupons, there is still a loss of value from several standpoints:
1) the coupons do NOT cover the full cost of the boxes;
2) Many people (esp in rural areas) need to purchase more sensitive antennas (the digital signals do NOT carry as well as the old analog);
3) The converter box setup does NOT compensate for the loss of much of the functionality that was previously present in a lot of equipment (timed recording from multiple different channels, recording of one channel while watching another, etc).

 

[Number19]

The surprising thing is, to most people, is that the converter box will not necessary allow you to receive a digital signal. I've been trying to tell family, friends and co-workers this for about a year and a half now and they recently had a big article in the Houston Chronicle admitting this.

It's called the "cliff effect". You will either get a perfect digital signal or you won't get anything. No in between. It's all about strength of signal reception. If you are city or urban you will probably not have a problem, depending on other obstructions which might block the signal. But for rural people, being able to pick up the signal is iffy. The solution will be to purchase an antenna and possibly hire a technician.

The thing is, most people won't know this until their TV goes black, and then they probably won't know what the problem is.

 

[ryanduff]

This is the greatest video on the subject so far:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcWWaWmFJjQ

That guy was freakin hilarious. All valid points. I loved his "presentation" of the facts.

 

[liberteebell]

The surprising thing is, to most people, is that the converter box will not necessary allow you to receive a digital signal. I've been trying to tell family, friends and co-workers this for about a year and a half now and they recently had a big article in the Houston Chronicle admitting this.

It's called the "cliff effect". You will either get a perfect digital signal or you won't get anything. No in between. It's all about strength of signal reception. If you are city or urban you will probably not have a problem, depending on other obstructions which might block the signal. But for rural people, being able to pick up the signal is iffy. The solution will be to purchase an antenna and possibly hire a technician.

The thing is, most people won't know this until their TV goes black, and then they probably won't know what the problem is.

Well, good. Maybe the black screen will wake some people up to the complete and utter incompetence that is the fed gov.

 

[Truth Warrior]

Because in the big scheme of things when compared to the other MAJOR and more pressing and compelling life and death issues, it's purely TRIVIAL.<IMHO>

 

[muzzled dogg]

according to rothbard we shoulda been on uhf to begin with

 

[ILUVRP]

I did!.

I think I was the only to bitch about it detail and the frigin ripoff it all is to people! Yeah I also have a RF Engineering degree/experience.

I'm too tired, toasted, and busy killing brain cells with SNL right now to find my posts.

Don't fall into a TRAP or you could be filter out

Just remember that 1/4 wavelength is a short and 1/2 wavelength is a open.

 

[madengr]

I think I was the only to bitch about it detail and the frigin ripoff it all is to people! Yeah I also have a RF Engineering degree/experience.

Cool! Same here. Here is my little side business:
http://www.rfpoweramp.com/

Anyhow, the converter box coupons were supposed to be funded from the billions collected from the 700 MHz auction. IIRC it never sold for anywhere near the expected amount.

 

[Nate K]

Here's my satiric take on it on another forum. Not surprisingly, most of them thought I was serious..

 

[angelatc]

I did!.

I think I was the only to bitch about it detail and the frigin ripoff it all is to people! Yeah I also have a RF Engineering degree/experience.

I'm too tired, toasted, and busy killing brain cells with SNL right now to find my posts.

I bitched about it from an economic standpoint. The $40 coupon only serves to keep prices up.

 

[lucius]

don't watch tv...