var json_comments = new Array("<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9624053\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=386042\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-386042-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=386042\">fjordtjie</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9624053\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T18:29:12-05:00\">December 22, 2008  6:29 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9624053);\">Moderate</a> |</span>	<script type=\"text/javascript\" src=\"http://consumerist.com/mt-static/plugins/Moderate/moderate.js\"></script>	<script type=\"text/javascript\">		successMsg = \"\";	</script><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9624053');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p><p>\"and 41 percent think that every TV in a house must have a new converter box, even those that are already connected to cable or satellite\"</p><br /><p>don't you need a converter box for every tv if you don't have cable or satellite? am i one of the 41%? i get that you won't need one at all if you have cable or satellite, but am i wrong that you need 2 if you have 2 tv's and neither cable nor satellite?</p></p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9624053, 'fjordtjie')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->																<div class=\"num-replies\">10 replies</div>	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->     <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->        <div class=\"reply-container\" >            <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9631402\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">                <a href=\"\"><img src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"         width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>            </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\">Anonymous    </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9631402\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T23:27:16-05:00\">December 22, 2008 11:27 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9631402);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9631402');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>@<a href=\"#c9624053\" rel=\"nofollow\">fjordtjie</a>: You're misreading the article. Yes, you're right that if you don't have cable or satellite you're probably in need of a converter box. But the point they're making is that 41% think that even TVs connected to cable or satellite need a converter box, which is untrue.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9631402, '')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	     <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->                    <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9624418\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=439678\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-439678-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=439678\">snowburnt</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9624418\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T18:42:28-05:00\">December 22, 2008  6:42 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9624418);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9624418');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>@<a href=\"#c9624053\" rel=\"nofollow\">fjordtjie</a>: They should make a flow chart:<br />1. Do you have cable: no goto 2<br />2. Do you have sattellite: no goto 3<br />3. Do you have FiOS: no goto 4<br />4. Do you have a digital TV: no goto 5<br />5. Get a converter box</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9624418, 'snowburnt')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->        <div class=\"reply-container\" >            <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9631481\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=386042\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-386042-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=386042\">fjordtjie</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9631481\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T23:33:18-05:00\">December 22, 2008 11:33 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9631481);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9631481');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p><p>@<a href=\"http://consumerist.com/5115821/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch#c9624418\" rel=\"nofollow\">snowburnt</a>: the flow chart is a good idea for people that don't get it, except it was irrelated to my question.</p><br /><p>it may have been more clear why i was confused if i quote it this way: <br /><br />\"41 percent [mistakenly] think that every TV in a house must have a new converter box\".</p><br /><p>it ends up i'm not a moron and had understood correctly that you need one per tv. the quote, which i took like this ^, is what confused me. thanks JustThatGuy3 for answering my question.</p></p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9631481, 'fjordtjie')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->        <div class=\"reply-container\" >            <div class=\"comment last\" id=\"comment-9642447\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">                <a href=\"\"><img src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"         width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>            </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\">Anonymous    </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9642447\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-23T17:37:10-05:00\">December 23, 2008  5:37 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9642447);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9642447');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>@<a href=\"#c9624053\" rel=\"nofollow\">fjordtjie</a>: @<a href=\"#c9624053\" rel=\"nofollow\">fjordtjie</a>: @<a href=\"#c9631481\" rel=\"nofollow\">fjordtjie</a>: <p>You may or may not need a converter box per TV if you use an antenna. It depends on your TV. If you have a newer TV it should be fine. <br /> My local stations are testing out the digital signal for a few minutes a week so the people in area can see if  it works before the switch in Feb. They tell you that a test is going to happen at such and such a time and if you see us, it means you are ready for the transition.<br />  so in answer to your question, you may need 1, 2 or no converter boxes. The flow chart created is an easy way to find out. Also, if you're not quite sure, ask your TV manufacturer if the model you have is compliant. </p></p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9642447, '')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	</div>     <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	     <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->                    <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9628118\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=99943\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-99943-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=99943\">FLEB</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9628118\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T20:56:10-05:00\">December 22, 2008  8:56 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9628118);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9628118');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>@<a href=\"#c9627730\" rel=\"nofollow\">scoosdad</a>: Since you sound knowledgeable...</p><p>Are these digital channels at the same frequencies as their original UHF/VHF numbered counterparts, just using less bandwidth, or are they placed in a new position within the overall UHF/VHF section of spectrum?</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9628118, 'FLEB')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->        <div class=\"reply-container\" >            <div class=\"comment last\" id=\"comment-9628444\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=297123\"><img        src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=297123\">The Porkchop Express</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9628444\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T21:08:29-05:00\">December 22, 2008  9:08 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9628444);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9628444');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p><p>@<a href=\"http://consumerist.com/5115821/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch#c9628118\" rel=\"nofollow\">FLEB</a>: The channels will all move around. There will be more channels to get with your ant.</p><br /><p>the problem is that the digital signal is all or nothing from what I've heard. no faint channel if you are out of range. just nothing. the signal range is like a cliff instead of a slope</p></p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9628444, 'The Porkchop Express')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	</div>     <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	     <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->                    <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9626798\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">                <a href=\"http://cheapassgamer.com\"><img src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"         width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>            </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a title=\"http://cheapassgamer.com\" href=\"http://cheapassgamer.com\" rel=\"nofollow\">Angryrider</a>    </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9626798\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T20:03:43-05:00\">December 22, 2008  8:03 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9626798);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9626798');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>@<a href=\"#c9624418\" rel=\"nofollow\">snowburnt</a>: Agreed. Considering how moronic people can get despite the facts are staring them right in the face.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9626798, 'Angryrider')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	     <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->                    <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9626654\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=157517\"><img        src=\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-157517-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=157517\">kc2idf</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9626654\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T19:59:01-05:00\">December 22, 2008  7:59 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9626654);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9626654');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>@<a href=\"#c9624418\" rel=\"nofollow\">snowburnt</a>: <a href=\"http://www.allappropriatetech.com/wordpress/wp-trackback.php?p=219\" rel=\"nofollow\">You have inspired me.</a>  Thanks.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9626654, 'kc2idf')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	     <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->                    <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9626371\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=462429\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-462429-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=462429\">Vitamin_G</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9626371\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T19:49:21-05:00\">December 22, 2008  7:49 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9626371);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9626371');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>@<a href=\"#c9624418\" rel=\"nofollow\">snowburnt</a>: Yes! I love flow charts! I think this is a great idea.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9626371, 'Vitamin_G')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	     <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->                    <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9624906\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=267895\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-267895-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=267895\">Ajh</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9624906\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T19:00:00-05:00\">December 22, 2008  7:00 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9624906);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9624906');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>@<a href=\"#c9624418\" rel=\"nofollow\">snowburnt</a>: I love that.  I'm going to use that to explain it to my coworkers.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9624906, 'Ajh')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	     <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->                    <div class=\"comment last\" id=\"comment-9624746\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=98237\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-98237-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=98237\">speedwell (!)</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9624746\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T18:53:58-05:00\">December 22, 2008  6:53 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9624746);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9624746');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p><p>@<a href=\"http://consumerist.com/5115821/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch#c9624418\" rel=\"nofollow\">snowburnt</a>: Laugh it up, but that is an excellent teaching tool; clear as a bell and absolutely impossible to misunderstand.</p></p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9624746, 'speedwell (!)')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	</div>     <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	     <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->                    <div class=\"comment last\" id=\"comment-9624394\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=401425\"><img        src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=401425\">JustThatGuy3</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9624394\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T18:41:47-05:00\">December 22, 2008  6:41 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9624394);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9624394');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p><p>@<a href=\"http://consumerist.com/5115821/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch#c9624053\" rel=\"nofollow\">fjordtjie</a>:</p><br /><p>If you have a TV that gets its signal via antenna, it will need a converter box, unless it already has a digital tuner built in (unlikely unless it was bought post-2005). One box per TV.</p></p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9624394, 'JustThatGuy3')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	</div>    </div>","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9624090\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=538267\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-538267-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=538267\">EricLecarde</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9624090\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T18:30:35-05:00\">December 22, 2008  6:30 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9624090);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9624090');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p><p>As part of my job, I have to repeat this to senior citizens at least 15 times a day. I can only imagine what its going to be like on Feb 19th when the switch finally happens. People blame us for it.</p></p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9624090, 'EricLecarde')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->										<div class=\"num-replies\">4 replies</div>	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->     <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->        <div class=\"reply-container\" >            <div class=\"comment last\" id=\"comment-9624612\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=530576\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-530576-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=530576\">summerbee</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9624612\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T18:49:06-05:00\">December 22, 2008  6:49 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9624612);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9624612');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p><p>@<a href=\"http://consumerist.com/5115821/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch#c9624090\" rel=\"nofollow\">EricLecarde</a>: Is it the 19th? I thought it was the 17th, which is my birthday. And our digital signals are terrible in my area, and I do NOT appreciate it as a quarter-century birthday present.</p></p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9624612, 'summerbee')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->        <div class=\"reply-container\" >            <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9639890\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=538267\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-538267-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=538267\">EricLecarde</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9639890\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-23T15:44:45-05:00\">December 23, 2008  3:44 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9639890);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9639890');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p><p>@<a href=\"http://consumerist.com/5115821/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch#c9624612\" rel=\"nofollow\">summerbee</a>: @<a href=\"http://consumerist.com/5115821/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch#c9629818\" rel=\"nofollow\">QuantumRiff</a>: @<a href=\"http://consumerist.com/5115821/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch#c9630618\" rel=\"nofollow\">melking</a>: Apologies, it is the 17th. I was thinking of my brothers birthday, which is the 19th. As long as its not on my wifes birthday, the 14th, all is well. Birthdays and DTV, bringing the world closer one step at a time.</p></p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9639890, 'EricLecarde')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	     <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->                    <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9630618\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=127623\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-127623-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=127623\">melking</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9630618\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T22:42:14-05:00\">December 22, 2008 10:42 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9630618);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9630618');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>@<a href=\"#c9624612\" rel=\"nofollow\">summerbee</a>: it's my birthday too. i thought it was kind of a fun way to remember it - but I have satellite and so have no worries. Happy early birthday.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9630618, 'melking')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->        <div class=\"reply-container\" >            <div class=\"comment last\" id=\"comment-9633472\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">                <a href=\"\"><img src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"         width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>            </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\">Skorpeyon    </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9633472\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-23T01:59:42-05:00\">December 23, 2008  1:59 AM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9633472);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9633472');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>@<a href=\"#c9630618\" rel=\"nofollow\">melking</a>: Mine, too!  o.o  Happy early birthday to the both of you! :)</p><p>I've been looking forward to that day since I've got basic cable and am paying too much for what is essentially analog signals piped to my TV via a cord.  I'll drop it like a bad habit the day after if we're able to decently pick up any nearby digital broadcasts.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9633472, 'Skorpeyon')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	</div>     <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	     <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->                    <div class=\"comment last\" id=\"comment-9629818\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=114659\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-114659-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=114659\">QuantumRiff</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9629818\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T22:03:11-05:00\">December 22, 2008 10:03 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9629818);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9629818');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>@<a href=\"#c9624612\" rel=\"nofollow\">summerbee</a>: I have heard that most digital broadcasts are not yet running at full power.  They don't wan't to cause any interference with their analog broadcasts.  Come S-Day, they will fire up the amps to 11 on those babies, and the range should be extended.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9629818, 'QuantumRiff')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	</div>     <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	</div>    </div>","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9624203\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=631841\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-631841-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=631841\">unobservant</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9624203\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T18:35:07-05:00\">December 22, 2008  6:35 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9624203);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9624203');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>I feel like such a n00b for asking if this affects us hosers, but does it?</p><p>Up here in Canada, the only time I hear about this is when I watch American TV.  They aren't giving out coupons here or anything.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9624203, 'unobservant')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->										<div class=\"num-replies\">4 replies</div>	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->     <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->        <div class=\"reply-container\" >            <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9628818\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=146805\"><img        src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=146805\">shepd</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9628818\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T21:22:44-05:00\">December 22, 2008  9:22 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9628818);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9628818');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>@<a href=\"#c9624203\" rel=\"nofollow\">unobservant</a>:</p><p>No, Canada does not switch over until at *least* 2011.  Maybe 2014 for some extremely northern areas.  It will be fun watching border cities fight over whether or not Canada should be stamping all over their new spectrum the US has made available to God-knows-who with continued analog broadcasts.  Expect a lot of US ads to appears on any Canadian analog service near the border, picking up where the US left off.  :)</p><p>Personally, I'm very sad we are going with ATSC.  The rest of the world uses DVB-T, for which you can buy dirt cheap equipment which works everywhere in everything.  *sigh*</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9628818, 'shepd')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->        <div class=\"reply-container\" >            <div class=\"comment last\" id=\"comment-9637339\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=139172\"><img        src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=139172\">jamar0303</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9637339\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-23T11:39:16-05:00\">December 23, 2008 11:39 AM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9637339);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9637339');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>@<a href=\"#c9628818\" rel=\"nofollow\">shepd</a>: How about Japan? I've got a DVD player with integrated digital tuner from there (Sony's Japanese stuff is way better- a simple DVD player behaves much closer to a \"PS3 lite\", interface and all). Or should I be calling in for a coupon?</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9637339, 'jamar0303')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	</div>     <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	     <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->                    <div class=\"comment last\" id=\"comment-9624544\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=118527\"><img        src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=118527\">kamel5547</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9624544\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T18:46:38-05:00\">December 22, 2008  6:46 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9624544);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9624544');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p><p>@<a href=\"http://consumerist.com/5115821/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch#c9624203\" rel=\"nofollow\">unobservant</a>: Well... it only affects you if you pick-up american stations over the air across the border.</p></p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9624544, 'kamel5547')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->        <div class=\"reply-container\" >            <div class=\"comment last\" id=\"comment-9626097\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=350350\"><img        src=\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-350350-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=350350\">dragonfire81</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9626097\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T19:40:31-05:00\">December 22, 2008  7:40 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9626097);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9626097');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>@<a href=\"#c9624544\" rel=\"nofollow\">kamel5547</a>: With an antenna I presume. :P</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9626097, 'dragonfire81')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	</div>     <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	</div>    </div>","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9624223\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=437972\"><img        src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=437972\">billbobbins</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9624223\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T18:35:44-05:00\">December 22, 2008  6:35 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9624223);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9624223');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p><p>But am I going to need a special antenna? In the old days I would have rabbit ears on top of my TV and I could get by with a fuzzy picture. My friend bought a new digital tuner TV with a similar antenna and rather than snow, the picture just freezes and stops for a few seconds.</p><br /><p>I have cable TV and split my signal about 6 ways with quality splitters and premium cable. And by quality I mean professional grade I found on the web. I balanced the signal loss properly. Time Warner Cable has installed new coax from the box in the yard into my house. My analog tuners may have a slightly fuzzy picture at times, but my digital tuners will just freeze for a few seconds when the signal is not strong enough.</p><br /><p>So while you may not NEED to get cable or satellite, you may need a big antenna on your roof.</p></p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9624223, 'billbobbins')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->																<div class=\"num-replies\">10 replies</div>	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->     <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->        <div class=\"reply-container\" >            <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9631488\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=369324\"><img        src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=369324\">sponica</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9631488\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T23:33:44-05:00\">December 22, 2008 11:33 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9631488);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9631488');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>@<a href=\"#c9624223\" rel=\"nofollow\">billbobbins</a>: I use my rabbit ears antenna, and they work just fine to get the Big 3, and Fox....but I lost PBS :(</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9631488, 'sponica')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	     <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->                    <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9627527\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=87038\"><img        src=\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-87038-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=87038\">GearheadGeek</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9627527\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T20:35:12-05:00\">December 22, 2008  8:35 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9627527);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9627527');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>@<a href=\"#c9624223\" rel=\"nofollow\">billbobbins</a>: If you want to get an idea about the kind of antenna you need, check out <a href=\"http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/Address.aspx\" rel=\"nofollow\">[www.antennaweb.org]</a> and put in your ZIP.  (You can give them your exact address, but why?)  It'll bring up a map where you can click to fine-tune your location and then tell you what class of antenna you should need for the various stations in your area.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9627527, 'GearheadGeek')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	     <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->                    <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9627400\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=333203\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-333203-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=333203\">ezacharyk</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9627400\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T20:29:59-05:00\">December 22, 2008  8:29 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9627400);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9627400');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>@<a href=\"#c9624223\" rel=\"nofollow\">billbobbins</a>: I use some pretty crappy bunny ears on my 12 year old 13in tv. With a digital converter box, I get every channel My rack antenna on top of my house gets. Which is all but one. But that one is not my fault, the station has a crappy broadcast tower and everyone has problems with it.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9627400, 'ezacharyk')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	     <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->                    <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9627399\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=147328\"><img        src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=147328\">Nighthawke</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9627399\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T20:29:58-05:00\">December 22, 2008  8:29 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9627399);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9627399');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>@<a href=\"#c9624223\" rel=\"nofollow\">billbobbins</a>: We have one of the big 8 foot Winegard's that gives up a ratty image on analog. I put one of the RCA units bought at the local WallyWorld and (NEO moment) whoa. Crystal clear and 4 channels that have two sub channels, one for SD and HD. HD looked good on the standard \"Motel duty\" RCA TVs we have. Signal strength is 17, so we'll probably head out with the meter beeping away when things warm up a bit and tweak the antenna around.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9627399, 'Nighthawke')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	     <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->                    <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9627081\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=21229\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-21229-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=21229\">dwneylonsr</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9627081\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T20:15:12-05:00\">December 22, 2008  8:15 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9627081);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9627081');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>@<a href=\"#c9624223\" rel=\"nofollow\">billbobbins</a>:</p><p>I currently use rabbit ears to receive over the air HD.  Or rather the UHF loops part of the antenna.</p><p>When television goes all digital in February they will also be boosting the signal strength as there will not be any analog channels to interfere with.</p><p>Depending on your distance from the antenna you may or may not need a better antenna.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9627081, 'dwneylonsr')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	     <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->                    <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9626715\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=488475\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-488475-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=488475\">HogwartsAlum</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9626715\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T20:01:13-05:00\">December 22, 2008  8:01 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9626715);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9626715');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>@<a href=\"#c9624223\" rel=\"nofollow\">billbobbins</a>:</p><p>I have a big antenna on my roof that was there when I bought the house.  When my DTV went out, I plugged it into my (analog) TV and was able to watch the 4 regular channels  we get here.</p><p>But if my DTV goes out, I don't think it will hook up to my new TV.  The cord isn't long enough.  I'll just have to watch TV online.  LOST will be back by then.</p><p>Hopefully the LOST picture will look better after the 19th.  On my new TV it looks like crap!!!!</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9626715, 'HogwartsAlum')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	     <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->                    <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9626491\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=270549\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-270549-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=270549\">Slatz_Grobnik</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9626491\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T19:53:13-05:00\">December 22, 2008  7:53 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9626491);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9626491');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>@<a href=\"#c9624223\" rel=\"nofollow\">billbobbins</a>: Big antenna? No. Newer one? More powerful one? Possibly, depending on where you live.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9626491, 'Slatz_Grobnik')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	     <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->                    <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9625625\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=523658\"><img        src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=523658\">spazztastic</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9625625\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T19:25:56-05:00\">December 22, 2008  7:25 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9625625);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9625625');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>@<a href=\"#c9624223\" rel=\"nofollow\">billbobbins</a>: That's because if there is loss in the digital signal, there is no data to show; with analog, you get fuzzies and snow in place of the missing data.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9625625, 'spazztastic')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->        <div class=\"reply-container\" >            <div class=\"comment last\" id=\"comment-9626206\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=568516\"><img        src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=568516\">PetrinaCrocodile</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9626206\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T19:44:27-05:00\">December 22, 2008  7:44 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9626206);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9626206');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>@<a href=\"#c9625625\" rel=\"nofollow\">spazztastic</a>: I added an antenna to my roof that was neither large or specialized. Cost about 50 bucks for the whole project and now I get lots of free tv!</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9626206, 'PetrinaCrocodile')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	</div>     <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	     <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->                    <div class=\"comment last\" id=\"comment-9624442\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=439678\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-439678-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=439678\">snowburnt</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9624442\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T18:43:15-05:00\">December 22, 2008  6:43 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9624442);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9624442');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>@<a href=\"#c9624223\" rel=\"nofollow\">billbobbins</a>: you dont NEED a special antenna, but it's advised because you'll need a better signal than before.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9624442, 'snowburnt')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	</div>    </div>","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9624299\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">                <a href=\"\"><img src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"         width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>            </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\">Anonymous    </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9624299\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T18:38:46-05:00\">December 22, 2008  6:38 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9624299);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9624299');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>I'm a Comcast subscriber here in NY and I can't believe how misleading some of the commercials that they're running here are. Messages like \"Don't get left in the dark when the transition hits...\"....the way they word it, there is no mention that they what they offer is optional, they seriously imply that you have to pay to watch tv after the switch.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9624299, '')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9624309\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">                <a href=\"\"><img src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"         width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>            </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\">Anonymous    </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9624309\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T18:39:09-05:00\">December 22, 2008  6:39 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9624309);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9624309');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>I saw a commercial on TV last night for Time Warner cable.  They said make sure that if you have any TVs not connected to cable to get them switched over by February 17th.   They never mentioned the fact that you could get a converter box and made it said specifically to get cable boxes for them and to call Time Warner.  This was definitively deceptive marketing as they made it sound like the only way the TVs would still work would be if you got their cable box.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9624309, '')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>","","","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9624433\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=132277\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-132277-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=132277\">randomizer9</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9624433\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T18:42:57-05:00\">December 22, 2008  6:42 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9624433);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9624433');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>I, for one, can't wait for The Great TV Riots of 2009.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9624433, 'randomizer9')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->							<div class=\"num-replies\">1 replies</div>	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->     <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->        <div class=\"reply-container\" >            <div class=\"comment last\" id=\"comment-9630271\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=52435\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-52435-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=52435\">Applekid</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9630271\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T22:24:27-05:00\">December 22, 2008 10:24 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9630271);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9630271');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p><p>@<a href=\"http://consumerist.com/5115821/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch#c9624433\" rel=\"nofollow\">randomizer9</a>: I wonder if rioters would loot TVs...</p></p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9630271, 'Applekid')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	</div>    </div>","","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9624506\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">                <a href=\"http://\"><img src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"         width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>            </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a title=\"http://\" href=\"http://\" rel=\"nofollow\">se7a7n7</a>    </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9624506\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T18:45:28-05:00\">December 22, 2008  6:45 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9624506);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9624506');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>People should also know that they don't need a special HD/Digital antenna to get the new signal.</p><p>I actually thought that was the case because there are so many \"Digital/HDTV\" antennas being sold.  I was going to buy one for for parents for Christmas but did a quick google search to find out that ANY antenna will work to get HDTV signal.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9624506, 'se7a7n7')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->										<div class=\"num-replies\">4 replies</div>	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->     <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->        <div class=\"reply-container\" >            <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9627431\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=333203\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-333203-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=333203\">ezacharyk</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9627431\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T20:31:09-05:00\">December 22, 2008  8:31 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9627431);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9627431');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>@<a href=\"#c9624506\" rel=\"nofollow\">se7a7n7</a>: That is a huge scam and I laugh every time I see it. I can't believe they get by with that crap.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9627431, 'ezacharyk')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	     <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->                    <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9625032\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=385624\"><img        src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=385624\">mbd</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9625032\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T19:04:27-05:00\">December 22, 2008  7:04 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9625032);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9625032');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p><p>@<a href=\"http://consumerist.com/5115821/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch#c9624506\" rel=\"nofollow\">se7a7n7</a>: Any antenna that can receive current UHF channels will work.</p></p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9625032, 'mbd')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->        <div class=\"reply-container\" >            <div class=\"comment last\" id=\"comment-9627730\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=196743\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-196743-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=196743\">scoosdad</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9627730\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T20:42:54-05:00\">December 22, 2008  8:42 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9627730);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9627730');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>@<a href=\"#c9625032\" rel=\"nofollow\">mbd</a>: </p><blockquote>Any antenna that can receive current UHF channels will work.</blockquote><p>And VHF.  This is a huge misconception that all of the digital channels everywhere will be on UHF. There will be a digital station on every single VHF channel after 2/27/09, somewhere in the US.  Analog channel 8 in CT is currently running in digital on VHF channel 10, for example.</p><p>And if your local digital channel is currently on UHF,  that's no guarantee that it will stay there either.  Some of the digitals currently on UHF are there only temporarily, and will move back to their original VHF channel assignment once they are able to shut down their analog transmitters on those channels.  In Boston for example, 7-NBC will move from UHF back to VHF 7 after the cutover. New Hampshire channels 9 and 11 are moving back to VHF as well. So if you're putting up a new antenna on your roof, you may need one that pulls in VHF as well as UHF depending on your local market. Reason for them moving back to VHF? Primarily, it's that in most locales, VHF can go the same distance as UHF but on far less transmitter power, and therefore huge electricity cost savings to the station.</p><p>Also if you scan for digital channels now and get the box set up, you may need to re-scan after 2/17/09 because a few of the UHF channels will move around within the UHF band also. Depends on your location.  And as danep mentions below this comment, most of the digital channels on the air now are running at reduced power and won't be at full power until after 2/17 or even beyond that date.   So if you can't get that channel today, that doesn't mean you won't after 2/17.  YMMV.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9627730, 'scoosdad')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->        <div class=\"reply-container\" >            <div class=\"comment last\" id=\"comment-9627994\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=196743\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-196743-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=196743\">scoosdad</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9627994\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T20:51:45-05:00\">December 22, 2008  8:51 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9627994);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9627994');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>@<a href=\"#c9627730\" rel=\"nofollow\">scoosdad</a>: For anyone who's interested in checking their city for the final digital channel assignments, there are two FCC Excel spreadsheets online that have the final US list.  First link is the main list:</p><p><a href=\"http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07-138A2.xls\" rel=\"nofollow\">[hraunfoss.fcc.gov]</a></p><p>and the second is a small update to the main list:</p><p><a href=\"http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07-138A3.xls\" rel=\"nofollow\">[hraunfoss.fcc.gov]</a></p><p>Column D is their \"known\" channel number (like the 5 in \"News 5\"), and column E is the actual VHF or UHF channel assignment following 2/17/09.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9627994, 'scoosdad')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	</div>     <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	</div>     <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	     <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->                    <div class=\"comment last\" id=\"comment-9624932\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=196743\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-196743-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=196743\">scoosdad</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9624932\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T19:01:10-05:00\">December 22, 2008  7:01 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9624932);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9624932');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>@<a href=\"#c9624506\" rel=\"nofollow\">se7a7n7</a>: Just like those \"digital-ready\" headphones when CDs first came out!</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9624932, 'scoosdad')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	</div>    </div>","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9624509\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=481290\"><img        src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=481290\">danep</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9624509\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T18:45:31-05:00\">December 22, 2008  6:45 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9624509);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9624509');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>Keep in mind that while you may need a converter box, you most likely will NOT need a new antenna. If you don't get a strong signal right now, and you think you need a bigger / amplified antenna, I would advise waiting until after the transition to invest in one. The reason for this is that many (most?) stations will increase the power of their digital transmissions by 5-10x after the transition is complete.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9624509, 'danep')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->								<div class=\"num-replies\">2 replies</div>	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->     <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->        <div class=\"reply-container\" >            <div class=\"comment last\" id=\"comment-9627582\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=5207\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-5207-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=5207\">Slack</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9627582\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T20:37:43-05:00\">December 22, 2008  8:37 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9627582);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9627582');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>@<a href=\"#c9624509\" rel=\"nofollow\">danep</a>: Umm 5-10x?? what's your suorce for this info. I'm a wee bit skeptical of that figure.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9627582, 'Slack')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->        <div class=\"reply-container\" >            <div class=\"comment last\" id=\"comment-9637768\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=149337\"><img        src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=149337\">remarkie</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9637768\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-23T13:30:42-05:00\">December 23, 2008  1:30 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9637768);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9637768');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>@<a href=\"#c9627582\" rel=\"nofollow\">Slack</a>: I can't confirm the order of magnitude, but it is true that many DTV stations are not yet broadcasting at their full post-transition power capacity.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9637768, 'remarkie')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	</div>     <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	</div>    </div>","","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9624553\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">                <a href=\"http://www.CanItKillTheGrimace.com\"><img src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"         width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>            </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a title=\"http://www.CanItKillTheGrimace.com\" href=\"http://www.CanItKillTheGrimace.com\" rel=\"nofollow\">NHTOB_GitEmSteveDave loves-&gt;★</a>    </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9624553\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T18:47:00-05:00\">December 22, 2008  6:47 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9624553);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9624553');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>This article, in addition to the helpful video I saw, cleared this whole issue up for me.<a></a></p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9624553, 'NHTOB_GitEmSteveDave loves-\\&gt;★')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->								<div class=\"num-replies\">2 replies</div>	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->     <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->        <div class=\"reply-container\" >            <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9636381\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">                <a href=\"\"><img src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"         width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>            </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\">kalmakazee    </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9636381\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-23T06:38:28-05:00\">December 23, 2008  6:38 AM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9636381);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9636381');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>@<a href=\"#c9624553\" rel=\"nofollow\">NHTOB_GitEmSteveDave loves-&gt;★</a>:</p><p>HaHa!! I LOVED the video, thanks!! That old lady is such a cutie, lol. :)</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9636381, 'kalmakazee')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	     <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->                    <div class=\"comment last\" id=\"comment-9625491\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=332258\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-332258-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=332258\">rpm773</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9625491\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T19:19:47-05:00\">December 22, 2008  7:19 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9625491);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9625491');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>@<a href=\"#c9624553\" rel=\"nofollow\">NHTOB_GitEmSteveDave loves-&gt;★</a>: Very nice.</p><p>As one who's been assigned getting my 89 year-old grandfather up and running, I got a kick out of this.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9625491, 'rpm773')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	</div>    </div>","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9624574\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=211880\"><img        src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=211880\">jamesmusik</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9624574\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T18:47:31-05:00\">December 22, 2008  6:47 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9624574);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9624574');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>I received a very misleading mailer from Comcast that, had I not known any better, would have led me to believe that I needed cable to watch TV after February...</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9624574, 'jamesmusik')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->									<div class=\"num-replies\">3 replies</div>	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->     <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->        <div class=\"reply-container\" >            <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9625019\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=267895\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-267895-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=267895\">Ajh</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9625019\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T19:04:00-05:00\">December 22, 2008  7:04 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9625019);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9625019');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>@<a href=\"#c9624574\" rel=\"nofollow\">jamesmusik</a>: They word it confusing on purpose.  You'll not buy their service any other way right?</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9625019, 'Ajh')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->        <div class=\"reply-container\" >            <div class=\"comment last\" id=\"comment-9631074\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=6798\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-6798-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=6798\">magic8ball</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9631074\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T23:05:39-05:00\">December 22, 2008 11:05 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9631074);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9631074');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>@<a href=\"#c9625019\" rel=\"nofollow\">Ajh</a>: We got the same type of ad. I already knew what the deal was - and already have a converter box - but I had to read the ad REALLY closely to discover that they technically had not lied, but merely implied very strongly that you must have cable in order to keep using your analog TV after the switch.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9631074, 'magic8ball')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	</div>     <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	     <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->                    <div class=\"comment last\" id=\"comment-9624808\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=301614\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-301614-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=301614\">EBounding</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9624808\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T18:56:05-05:00\">December 22, 2008  6:56 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9624808);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9624808');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>@<a href=\"#c9624574\" rel=\"nofollow\">jamesmusik</a>: I think a lot of people have no idea what digital broadcast TV looks like either.  I had no idea until a few months ago.  I grew up with cable and I figured that digital TV was just different method of delivering a crappy picture.  But it actually looks BETTER than cable since it's not compressed.  As long as you have at least 40% signal strength, you'll get a crystal clear picture.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9624808, 'EBounding')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	</div>    </div>","","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9624726\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=460777\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-460777-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=460777\">hardtoremember</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9624726\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T18:52:58-05:00\">December 22, 2008  6:52 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9624726);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9624726');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>I have tried and tried to explain this to my parents who continually believe that I know nothing about technology! They went out and bought 2 converters for 2 televisions that are both connected to cable!<br />Come transition time there will be thousands of old people walking the streets with led pipes, chains and crow bars like a scene out of a 1970's gang fight movie when they find out they never needed the converters at all.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9624726, 'hardtoremember')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>","","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9624752\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=103766\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-103766-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=103766\">Ash78 ain't got time to bleed</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9624752\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T18:54:05-05:00\">December 22, 2008  6:54 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9624752);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9624752');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p><p>This has been the biggest government PR/PSA campaign I've seen in my lifetime. Not a day has gone by in the last 18 months that I haven't heard something about it.</p><br /><p>Seriously, at this point, not knowing the detail on this is like never having heard of 9/11 or something.</p></p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9624752, 'Ash78 ain\\'t got time to bleed')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->								<div class=\"num-replies\">2 replies</div>	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->     <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->        <div class=\"reply-container\" >            <div class=\"comment last\" id=\"comment-9625553\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">                <a href=\"\"><img src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"         width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>            </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\">rkaufman    </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9625553\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T19:22:17-05:00\">December 22, 2008  7:22 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9625553);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9625553');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>@<a href=\"#c9624752\" rel=\"nofollow\">The Name's Ash78, Housewares</a>: I disagree. Yes, there have been plenty of posters up, but they're the most unhelpful things EVER. Here in DC, this is the poster we get: <a href=\"http://flickr.com/photos/afagen/2671337702/\" rel=\"nofollow\">[flickr.com]</a></p><p>What average person understands \"Full-power analog broadcasting\"? Why didn't they just say \"Your TV will stop working if the following conditions are true\"? Oh, right, because it's the government and they don't know how to communicate with ordinary people.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9625553, 'rkaufman')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->        <div class=\"reply-container\" >            <div class=\"comment last\" id=\"comment-9625723\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=103766\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-103766-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=103766\">Ash78 ain't got time to bleed</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9625723\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T19:29:09-05:00\">December 22, 2008  7:29 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9625723);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9625723');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p><p>@<a href=\"http://consumerist.com/5115821/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch#c9625553\" rel=\"nofollow\">rkaufman</a>: I'm talking mainly about the local network affiliates, including even CW. At least twice every half hour during the afternoon broadcasts. The local news teams do the best job at it--all of them come on for 30-second spots and explain it very clearly (\"if you have cable or satellite, you're fine\"). I assume that's not the case everywhere, though. Your poster is a good example of ambiguity for the average joe.</p><br /><p>So as usual, the government fails and the private companies do a pretty good job.</p></p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9625723, 'Ash78 ain\\'t got time to bleed')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	</div>     <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	</div>    </div>","","","","","","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9625197\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=199681\"><img        src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=199681\">Altdotweb</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9625197\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T19:09:58-05:00\">December 22, 2008  7:09 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9625197);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9625197');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>The spot they run on TV with the guy walking in the cracked desert reminds me of an ED drug commercial.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9625197, 'Altdotweb')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9625393\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=352008\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-352008-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=352008\">chrisjames</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9625393\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T19:16:32-05:00\">December 22, 2008  7:16 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9625393);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9625393');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>Please add that you do not need a <i>special antenna</i> to pick up digital transmissions.  Whatever antenna you use for analog will work now and after the switch for digital.  Just like with analog, a larger antenna or an antenna placed on a roof, in an attic, or somewhere where it can better receive the signal works better than an antenna with a larger price tag or a fancy name.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9625393, 'chrisjames')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->								<div class=\"num-replies\">2 replies</div>	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->     <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->        <div class=\"reply-container\" >            <div class=\"comment last\" id=\"comment-9625787\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=10718\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-10718-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=10718\">juri squared</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9625787\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T19:31:30-05:00\">December 22, 2008  7:31 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9625787);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9625787');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>@<a href=\"#c9625393\" rel=\"nofollow\">chrisjames</a>: unless you're on the wrong side of the \"digital cliff\" - since analog signals travel farther than digital signals, some people may need a bigger/more well-placed antenna.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9625787, 'juri squared')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->        <div class=\"reply-container\" >            <div class=\"comment last\" id=\"comment-9626287\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=352008\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-352008-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=352008\">chrisjames</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9626287\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T19:46:56-05:00\">December 22, 2008  7:46 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9626287);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9626287');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>@<a href=\"#c9625787\" rel=\"nofollow\">jurijuri</a>: Did I not say that?  Chances are that if you have a clear analog picture now, you won't experience the cliff.  Plus, after the transition, it's possible the digital channels will be getting a little boost, but that's all relative.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9626287, 'chrisjames')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	</div>     <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	</div>    </div>","","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9625501\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=76892\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-76892-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=76892\">msthe8r</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9625501\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T19:20:19-05:00\">December 22, 2008  7:20 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9625501);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9625501');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>My 77-year-old mother , displeased with yet another rise in her cable rates, called her cable company to negotiate a better deal. She threatened to cancel her service.</p><p>The CSR actually TOLD her that with the digital transition  she would absolutely HAVE to have cable.  Mom told the CSR that she'd buy a radio.</p><p>Mom got that rate lowered, but is it any wonder people are confused?</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9625501, 'msthe8r')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->							<div class=\"num-replies\">1 replies</div>	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->     <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->        <div class=\"reply-container\" >            <div class=\"comment last\" id=\"comment-9627106\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=488475\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-488475-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=488475\">HogwartsAlum</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9627106\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T20:15:54-05:00\">December 22, 2008  8:15 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9627106);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9627106');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>@<a href=\"#c9625501\" rel=\"nofollow\">msthe8r</a>:</p><p>Your mom rocks.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9627106, 'HogwartsAlum')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	</div>    </div>","","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9625584\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=70279\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-70279-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=70279\">mantari</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9625584\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T19:23:47-05:00\">December 22, 2008  7:23 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9625584);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9625584');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>In Texas, Time Warner Cable is pushing a heavy rotation of advertisements letting people know that they don't have to buy new TVs, get a special antenna, or get a converter box for the transition. \"Time Warner Cable is all you need.\"</p><p>It looks like the various interests out there are putting out commercials that explain things from their point of view, or the specific solutions that they have, but end up making the big picture muddy for most people.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9625584, 'mantari')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->								<div class=\"num-replies\">2 replies</div>	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->     <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->        <div class=\"reply-container\" >            <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9633246\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=68098\"><img        src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=68098\">scootinger</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9633246\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-23T01:40:26-05:00\">December 23, 2008  1:40 AM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9633246);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9633246');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>@<a href=\"#c9625584\" rel=\"nofollow\">mantari</a>: Are they trying to get you to buy a box for the TV's that are hooked up to analog cable, as in they are going to pull their analog cable service? It simply pisses me off that cable companies always try to make you rent their boxes and get digital cable service no matter what. For 90% of people, the tuner built into their TV is completely fine; why make them get something they don't need?</p><p>It pisses me off since my local cable company (Cox) encrypts their HD channels, and for most channels I don't think the encryption is actually mandated by the provider (with the exception of HBO, Cinemax, etc). Cox doesn't even offer the local channels over QAM!</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9633246, 'scootinger')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	     <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->                    <div class=\"comment last\" id=\"comment-9627570\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=211131\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-211131-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=211131\">lalaland13</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9627570\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T20:37:06-05:00\">December 22, 2008  8:37 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9627570);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9627570');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>@<a href=\"#c9625584\" rel=\"nofollow\">mantari</a>: Cox here is doing that as well. Although every damn day, every few minutes it feels like, there's a scroll about the switchover. So aggravating. It seems like very few people actually need a converter box, and everyone else is just getting confused or worrying needlessly.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9627570, 'lalaland13')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	</div>    </div>","","","","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9625924\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=315378\"><img        src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=315378\">ModernTenshi04</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9625924\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T19:36:00-05:00\">December 22, 2008  7:36 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9625924);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9625924');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>My local ABC and Fox stations ran a DTV test last week.  Nice to see they're making efforts to let people test their sets to see if they need a converter box or not.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9625924, 'ModernTenshi04')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>","","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9626122\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=119066\"><img        src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=119066\">bonzombiekitty</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9626122\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T19:41:16-05:00\">December 22, 2008  7:41 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9626122);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9626122');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>Around here they've had a multiple special TV spots in which all the broadcast stations cease broadcasting regular analog programming.  If your TV is not digital, it comes up with a screen that tells you it's not digital and that you need to buy a converter box for your antenna.  If your TV is digital, there's scrolling text that says your TV is fine.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9626122, 'bonzombiekitty')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9626134\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=350350\"><img        src=\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-350350-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=350350\">dragonfire81</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9626134\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T19:41:43-05:00\">December 22, 2008  7:41 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9626134);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9626134');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>Am the only person here who thinks this whole digital transition thing has been blown WAY out of proportion.</p><p>There's all this \"the sky is falling and your life will be miserable if you don't act now to save your precious TV\" kind of stuff everywhere and it bothers me.</p><p>I really don't think there's going to be a bunch of chaos come Feb. 17.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9626134, 'dragonfire81')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->							<div class=\"num-replies\">1 replies</div>	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->     <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->        <div class=\"reply-container\" >            <div class=\"comment last\" id=\"comment-9630376\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=52435\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-52435-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=52435\">Applekid</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9630376\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T22:28:57-05:00\">December 22, 2008 10:28 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9630376);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9630376');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p><p>@<a href=\"http://consumerist.com/5115821/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch#c9626134\" rel=\"nofollow\">dragonfire81</a>: I agree it'll be chaos free. If anything it'll be kind of like that Simpsons episode when Marge managed to get Krusty cancelled and all the kids actually started going outside and playing.</p></p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9630376, 'Applekid')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	</div>    </div>","","","","","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9626513\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=3865\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-3865-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=3865\">AlteredBeast</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9626513\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T19:54:04-05:00\">December 22, 2008  7:54 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9626513);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9626513');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p><p>Can someone answer this for me??</p><br /><p>I have regular analog TVs hooked up directly to cable TV. No set top boxes. And I only pay for the over-the-air channels.</p><br /><p>Would I need to pay for set top boxes if they are sending digital-only signals through the cable connection?</p></p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9626513, 'AlteredBeast')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->									<div class=\"num-replies\">3 replies</div>	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->     <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->        <div class=\"reply-container\" >            <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9628325\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=196743\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-196743-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=196743\">scoosdad</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9628325\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T21:04:02-05:00\">December 22, 2008  9:04 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9628325);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9628325');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>@<a href=\"#c9626513\" rel=\"nofollow\">AlteredBeast</a>: Most cable companies will be converting the over the air digital channels to analog and putting them on the cable in the same place as the original stations once the analogs shut down.</p><p>You won't get anything in HD of course on those converted analog cable channels but you shouldn't lose any channels at this point.  The cable companies are operating under an FCC ruling to keep over the air channels they offer receivable by cable ready TVs until at least 2012.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9628325, 'scoosdad')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->        <div class=\"reply-container\" >            <div class=\"comment last\" id=\"comment-9643368\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=3865\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-3865-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=3865\">AlteredBeast</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9643368\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-23T18:12:39-05:00\">December 23, 2008  6:12 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9643368);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9643368');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p><p>@<a href=\"http://consumerist.com/5115821/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch#c9628325\" rel=\"nofollow\">scoosdad</a>: Oh wow, I did not know that. Thanks! Logically, I thought I'd lose those channels since it'd still be an analog signal that my TV needed via the cable line.</p><br /><p>I guess if the cable companies informed customers that they'd still offer those channels after the conversion, they wouldn't be able to scare up as many customers.</p></p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9643368, 'AlteredBeast')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	</div>     <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	     <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->                    <div class=\"comment last\" id=\"comment-9627702\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=87038\"><img        src=\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-87038-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=87038\">GearheadGeek</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9627702\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T20:41:57-05:00\">December 22, 2008  8:41 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9627702);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9627702');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>@<a href=\"#c9626513\" rel=\"nofollow\">AlteredBeast</a>: You won't need anything until your cable company moves everything to the digital tier so you'll have to rent cable boxes or CableCARDs.  You should get the federal coupons and get the cheapest converter box you can find and see if rabbit ears will suffice... if you're just buying the \"locals\" from your cable company, you may find you get more/better programming with rabbit ears, and if you don't you can always return the rabbit ears.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9627702, 'GearheadGeek')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	</div>    </div>","","","","","","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9627192\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=104285\"><img        src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=104285\">bohemian</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9627192\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T20:19:30-05:00\">December 22, 2008  8:19 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9627192);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9627192');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>I saw a commercial over the weekend from Knology, our local cable provider. It was telling people that you needed cable TV or your TV would not work after the switch. It was blatantly untrue. What was odd is that it was one of those commercials that was served up via the cable system between regular broadcast commercials so only cable subscribers would see it.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9627192, 'bohemian')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>","","","","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9627506\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=182704\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-182704-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=182704\">crackers</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9627506\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T20:34:26-05:00\">December 22, 2008  8:34 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9627506);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9627506');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>I have a related question: I applied for a coupon for a converter box, and was told I didn't qualify because my address was a \"business\" address. My space is dual-zoned for commercial and residential (it's an artist's live/work space) so I submitted an appeal email. It's been almost a month and I haven't heard anything.</p><p>Has anyone else had this issue? What was the resolution?</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9627506, 'crackers')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->								<div class=\"num-replies\">2 replies</div>	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->     <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->        <div class=\"reply-container\" >            <div class=\"comment last\" id=\"comment-9629264\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">                <a href=\"\"><img src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"         width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>            </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\">Anonymous    </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9629264\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T21:39:31-05:00\">December 22, 2008  9:39 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9629264);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9629264');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>Easiest thing to do would be to get a friend who doesn't need a coupon for themselves, and doesn't live in a dual zoned area, apply for a card and give it to you (just have them say they don't have a pay TV service.) It takes around a month for those coupon cards to come in the mail once you are approved, so if you wait much longer you'll likely won't receive the coupon until AFTER the switch. </p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9629264, '')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->        <div class=\"reply-container\" >            <div class=\"comment last\" id=\"comment-9635426\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=182704\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-182704-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=182704\">crackers</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9635426\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-23T04:45:57-05:00\">December 23, 2008  4:45 AM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9635426);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9635426');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>@<a href=\"#c9629264\" rel=\"nofollow\">KeelyNepos</a>: Thanks! That was my Plan B, but it didn't occur to me that the coupons will take a while to arrive. Luckily I don't watch a ton of TV so if I miss a few weeks, no biggie.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9635426, 'crackers')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	</div>     <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	</div>    </div>","","","","","","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9627844\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=333203\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-333203-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=333203\">ezacharyk</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9627844\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T20:46:55-05:00\">December 22, 2008  8:46 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9627844);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9627844');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>The Cox ads in my area are pretty deceptive.</p><p>They start talking about the digital transition and that after Feb, your tv will stop working. Then they go into how in order to prevent this you can subscribe to cable. You don't need a new tv or a converter box then.</p><p>While they stop short of claiming cable is the only solution, it still muddies things up for everyone.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9627844, 'ezacharyk')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9627953\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=87038\"><img        src=\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-87038-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=87038\">GearheadGeek</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9627953\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T20:50:40-05:00\">December 22, 2008  8:50 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9627953);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9627953');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>I read that NYT article this morning, and actually posted to my own blog about it because it's borderline FUD disguised as journalism.  <a href=\"http://ghgsatx.blogspot.com/2008/12/digital-tv-conversion-confusion.html\" rel=\"nofollow\">[ghgsatx.blogspot.com]</a></p><p>It's got all sorts of fear lines, like \"old TV sets will no longer work\" when it should have said \"old TV sets will need a converter.\"  He doesn't even MENTION converters until the 4th paragraph.  It's a lousy article.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9627953, 'GearheadGeek')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>","","","","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9628430\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=129060\"><img        src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=129060\">chatterboxwriting</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9628430\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T21:07:48-05:00\">December 22, 2008  9:07 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9628430);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9628430');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>My parents bought the converter box but, unfortunately, they can only get three channels with it.  With their old antenna, if a channel was fuzzy, you could mess with it until the picture was as clear as possible and you could at least hear what was going on.  With the converter box, you either get the channel or you don't.  So, my mom had the cable company come and hook up cable today.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9628430, 'chatterboxwriting')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>","","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9628707\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=636090\"><img        src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=636090\">MooseOfReason</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9628707\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T21:18:24-05:00\">December 22, 2008  9:18 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9628707);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9628707');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>Congress never should have passed that stupid law.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9628707, 'MooseOfReason')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9628785\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=34412\"><img        src=\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-34412-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=34412\">LatherRinseRepeat</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9628785\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T21:21:23-05:00\">December 22, 2008  9:21 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9628785);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9628785');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>I can just imagine when February rolls around.. I'm willing to bet that some misinformed people will think their TV is broken and will kick it to the curb next to their trash cans.</p><p>Or we'll see a huge increase in new cable or satellite customers.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9628785, 'LatherRinseRepeat')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>","","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9628958\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">                <a href=\"\"><img src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"         width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>            </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\">Anonymous    </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9628958\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T21:27:44-05:00\">December 22, 2008  9:27 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9628958);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9628958');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>Well, the cable companies themselves aren't doing anything to help clarify things.  My wife called Comcast a while back due to a problem with our reception, and the representative she spoke with fed her a complete B.S. line about how she (the representative) noticed we hadn't switched to digital cable yet, and that we needed to make sure we did so before the February '09 deadline, otherwise we were going to lose reception completely.  If I could have reached through the phone lines to strangle the lady, believe me I would have.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9628958, '')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>","","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9629522\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=529488\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-529488-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=529488\">Oranges w/ Cheese hates what Christmas has become</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9629522\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T21:49:54-05:00\">December 22, 2008  9:49 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9629522);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9629522');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>Don't worry - cable is still using it as a huuuuge signing up point. \"You don't have to worry, no hassle, no boxes, etc\"</p><p>I think its a government plot to make cable companies more money. Seriously.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9629522, 'Oranges w/ Cheese hates what Christmas has become')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>","","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9630138\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=46738\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-46738-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=46738\">krunk4ever</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9630138\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T22:18:14-05:00\">December 22, 2008 10:18 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9630138);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9630138');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>The title of this article is a bit ambiguous. When I first read it: <i><b>Tell A Friend: You WILL NOT Need Cable After The Digital TV Switch</b></i>, I thought that it meant to suggest I should tell friends to get rid of Cable TV after the digital TV switch, which didn't quite make sense as you may have imagined.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9630138, 'krunk4ever')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->								<div class=\"num-replies\">2 replies</div>	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->     <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->        <div class=\"reply-container\" >            <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9637460\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=222420\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-222420-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=222420\">vastrightwing</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9637460\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-23T12:22:29-05:00\">December 23, 2008 12:22 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9637460);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9637460');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p><p>@<a href=\"http://consumerist.com/5115821/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch#c9630138\" rel=\"nofollow\">krunk4ever</a>: Actually, you don't NEED cable or Satellite now or later. Fact is, the new DTV signal is MUCH better than what you pay for. And it's FREE! The cable companies now have something to worry about. All they can do is mis-inform everyone and scare them to death. Oh, well, nothing new to see here.</p></p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9637460, 'vastrightwing')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	     <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->                    <div class=\"comment last\" id=\"comment-9636483\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">                <a href=\"\"><img src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"         width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>            </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\">kalmakazee    </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9636483\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-23T06:56:05-05:00\">December 23, 2008  6:56 AM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9636483);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9636483');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>@<a href=\"#c9630138\" rel=\"nofollow\">krunk4ever</a>:</p><p>I also thought that it meant that we won't have to pay for Cable TV anymore. Who cares, I watch all my FAVORITE television shows on the internet anyways and with no commercial interruptions. :)</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9636483, 'kalmakazee')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	</div>    </div>","","","","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9631062\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=90578\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-90578-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=90578\">djanes1</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9631062\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T23:05:17-05:00\">December 22, 2008 11:05 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9631062);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9631062');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>They should have had a day in October or November called 'Switch Practice Day' where they switched to digital and you could see if your TV worked or not.  But, it probably makes more sense to phrase the switch confusingly so people are more likely to get cable or buy a flat screen tv.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9631062, 'djanes1')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>","","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9631234\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=314204\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-314204-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=314204\">Feminist Whore</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9631234\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T23:15:58-05:00\">December 22, 2008 11:15 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9631234);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9631234');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p><p>Here is a hilarious spoof PSA about the digital switch :</p><br /><p><a href=\"http://www.hulu.com/watch/36608/talkshow-with-spike-feresten-cable-psa\" rel=\"nofollow\">[www.hulu.com]</a></p><br /><p>A sweet old lady is terribly confused..</p></p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9631234, 'Feminist Whore')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->							<div class=\"num-replies\">1 replies</div>	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->     <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->        <div class=\"reply-container\" >            <div class=\"comment last\" id=\"comment-9631239\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=314204\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-314204-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=314204\">Feminist Whore</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9631239\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-22T23:16:15-05:00\">December 22, 2008 11:16 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9631239);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9631239');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p><p>@<a href=\"http://consumerist.com/5115821/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch#c9631234\" rel=\"nofollow\">alphafemale</a>: and oh yeah it's from TalkShow with Spike Feresten</p></p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9631239, 'Feminist Whore')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	</div>    </div>","","","","","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9632452\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">                <a href=\"\"><img src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"         width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>            </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\">Anonymous    </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9632452\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-23T00:39:55-05:00\">December 23, 2008 12:39 AM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9632452);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9632452');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>Build your self a Gray Hoverman antenna.  <a href=\"http://www.digitalhome.ca/ota/superantenna/design.htm\" rel=\"nofollow\">http://www.digitalhome.ca/ota/superantenna/design.htm</a>  and hook it up to your HDTV or you converter box,  either way it picks up signals from 60+ miles and cost nothing to $20 to build depending on what you have around the house.   </p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9632452, '')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9633188\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=383394\"><img        src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=383394\">Bramble73</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9633188\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-23T01:35:45-05:00\">December 23, 2008  1:35 AM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9633188);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9633188');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p><p>A cable guy came to my mother's house and almost had her sold on a $60 a month package. She has bad antenna service now, and is worried then when the switch to digital comes she will go from just barely getting some stations in to not getting them at all. (She's heard lots of trees will block digital signals worse then analog.)</p><br /><p>Luckily she runs all these things by me and I convinced to at least wait until after the transition to see what kind of signal she really gets. And then if its bad she can go with the basic, local only, package for more like $10 a month. And I told her not to be worried about missing the deal the cable guy was offering, there are always deals on cable if she decides she really wants it.</p></p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9633188, 'Bramble73')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>","","","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9634222\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=391270\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-391270-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=391270\">Dyscord</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9634222\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-23T03:03:18-05:00\">December 23, 2008  3:03 AM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9634222);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9634222');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>The way I always saw it is that you need a tuner if you get your channels through the air.</p><p>I think one of the ways this misconception started is the fact that if you currently have cable then you're fine. So people assume that you need to get cable or something.</p><p>You don't NEED to get cable, but if you're just barely getting by with rabbit ears, like my mom, then you're probably better off with at least basic cable.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9634222, 'Dyscord')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9634728\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">                <a href=\"\"><img src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"         width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>            </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\">Anonymous    </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9634728\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-23T03:45:04-05:00\">December 23, 2008  3:45 AM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9634728);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9634728');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>I think a lot of people fail to take into consideration the cost of the converter as opposed to the cost of a basic only installation of cable.  Yes, your 60 dollar converter will work 1 television... or your 60 dollars can get basic cable installed in 3 rooms.  3 rooms worth of converters, provided you got the coupons, is what?  $90?  Sure there's a reoccuring cost, but i'd be willing to sacrifice two lattes a month for a steady picture and support if needed.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9634728, '')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9635297\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=29212\"><img        src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=29212\">Cary</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9635297\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-23T04:34:40-05:00\">December 23, 2008  4:34 AM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9635297);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9635297');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p><p>If you get UHF channels now (14-69) then you will get digital channels later... digital broadcasts are on UHF frequencies but get remapped to the 2-13 numbers we know and love.</p><br /><p>If your TV is older than 3 years, and you don't have cable or satellite, call the Fed and get a coupon (or spring for the $40... or wait 2 months and get a new 40\" TV for the same $40)</p><br /><p>If your TV is newer than 3 years, you're good in any case.</p><br /><p>And what the hell: if you don't subscribe to cable or satellite the advertisers don't care about you or your trailer anyway.</p></p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9635297, 'Cary')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->								<div class=\"num-replies\">2 replies</div>	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->     <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->        <div class=\"reply-container\" >            <div class=\"comment last\" id=\"comment-9636264\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=196743\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-196743-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=196743\">scoosdad</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9636264\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-23T06:24:59-05:00\">December 23, 2008  6:24 AM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9636264);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9636264');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>@<a href=\"#c9635297\" rel=\"nofollow\">Cary</a>: </p><blockquote>... digital broadcasts are on UHF frequencies but get remapped to the 2-13 numbers we know and love.</blockquote> Not exactly true.  Digital channels are on on both UHF <b>and</b> VHF channels, both now and after 2/17.  See my previous post about that here:<p>@<a href=\"#c9627730\" rel=\"nofollow\">scoosdad</a></p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9636264, 'scoosdad')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- Loop through the reply comments -->        <div class=\"reply-container\" >            <div class=\"comment last\" id=\"comment-9636306\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=196743\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-196743-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=196743\">scoosdad</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9636306\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-23T06:29:35-05:00\">December 23, 2008  6:29 AM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9636306);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9636306');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>@<a href=\"#c9636264\" rel=\"nofollow\">scoosdad</a>, to Cary: {damn we need that button to edit/add to a post} ...and if it was a UHF channel to begin with (e.g. \"Fox 25\") it won't get 'remapped' to a VHF channel, it will still be known as channel 25.  Some of us know and love lots of stations in the UHF band too.  :-)</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9636306, 'scoosdad')\">Reply</a></div>		 	    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>                <!-- Display comment (reply comment, which may be a parent of more replies) -->            <div class=\"inner-reply-container\" >                 <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	</div>     <!-- For each reply comment, recursively display any reply comments -->          	    </div>        	</div>    </div>","","","","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9636334\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=280348\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-280348-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=280348\">uglyjdkdjdodkdldkdl;d;'dd;dldldel;eie8e88</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9636334\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-23T06:33:11-05:00\">December 23, 2008  6:33 AM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9636334);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9636334');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>I got the info to get the gift card from the govt here on the consumerist. With 2 prepaid cards and $20 got 2 of the cheapest digital convertors. works great.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9636334, 'uglyjdkdjdodkdldkdl;d;\\'dd;dldldel;eie8e88')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>","","","","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9637449\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=222420\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-222420-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=222420\">vastrightwing</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9637449\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-23T12:17:31-05:00\">December 23, 2008 12:17 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9637449);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9637449');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p><p>Hey Cable companies (AKA Comcast, Time Warner, cox, directv, et al.) Keep mis-informing everyone and duping them to believe they need to \"upgrade\" to \"digital\". Keep moving the legacy analogue channels to the digital tier, keep raising the price, keep compressing the crap out of your, so called \"HD\" signal to where it's no longer HD. Go ahead! Make my day. It just makes me feel better knowing that I've dumped you all already and eventually the government will turn it's big snarly head towards you and regulate you back to where you belong :)</p></p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9637449, 'vastrightwing')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>","","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9637520\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=540817\"><img        src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=540817\">MrFrankenstein</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9637520\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-23T12:42:40-05:00\">December 23, 2008 12:42 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9637520);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9637520');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>The average citizen, if memory serves me, watches around 3hours+ TV a day.</p><p>Weird to have that degree of complete passivity being considered 'normal.'</p><p>Kind of a waste of a life, if one adds up the hours spent sitting doing nothing other than staring at someone elses images.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9637520, 'MrFrankenstein')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>","","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9638094\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=120850\"><img        src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=120850\">Protector</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9638094\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-23T14:10:18-05:00\">December 23, 2008  2:10 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9638094);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9638094');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>Definitely looking forward to Feb.17th to see the idiots go crazy, despite all the warnings they had via TV commercials.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9638094, 'Protector')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9638657\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=431264\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-431264-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=431264\">radiochief</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9638657\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-23T14:46:18-05:00\">December 23, 2008  2:46 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9638657);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9638657');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>I too, am disgusted by the FUD the cable companies are spreading.</p><p>If you have an old TV: you need a box.<br />If you have a new TV: you probably don't.<br />If you have an HDTV: you certainly don't.</p><p>I just downgraded my current service to the family plan on Comcast. $30/month (OTA + select family channels). The only thing I really missed was football in HD.</p><p>If you do not have the ability to put up a outside TV antenna for the change- there are few good amplified indoor TV antennae by Terk, RCA (both &gt;50dB amp) and Philips (~30dB amp).</p><p>I had an amplified Terk bowtie antenna, the amp did wonders. And the picture from HD was better than any HD signal I ever paid for with Comcast.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9638657, 'radiochief')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>","","","","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9644387\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=72530\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-72530-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=72530\">LorneReams</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9644387\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-23T18:51:43-05:00\">December 23, 2008  6:51 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9644387);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9644387');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>I got a message from Cox that had a FAQ about this and they were pretty clear that you need to have cable or you are SOL. I can't believe they are allowed to do that. The government should be fining them heavily for it.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9644387, 'LorneReams')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9648702\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=711376\"><img        src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=711376\">TRiLaKiNi</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9648702\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-23T21:23:28-05:00\">December 23, 2008  9:23 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9648702);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9648702');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>The thing that confused me the most is Basic Analog Cable.  I have Basic Cable hooked up to an Analog TV tuner on a Media Center PC, and wasn't sure until about a month ago if i would need to update to Digital Cable.<br />From what i understand you don't, and Basic Cable will continue to work even after the transition, it's just the Antenna TVs that will.<br />Please correct me if I'm wrong.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9648702, 'TRiLaKiNi')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9653636\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">                <a href=\"\"><img src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"         width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>            </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\">flipnut    </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9653636\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-24T01:45:34-05:00\">December 24, 2008  1:45 AM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9653636);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9653636');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>Build you own Gray Hoverman antenna, the signal is great and doesn't cost more than the parts you don't have laying around the house.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9653636, 'flipnut')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9659055\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=364014\"><img        src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=364014\">thesum</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9659055\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-24T14:14:43-05:00\">December 24, 2008  2:14 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9659055);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9659055');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p><p>Although I understood what they mean, but every time I see the conversion commercials, they DO seem misleading and I can see how people will be forced into buyring a DVR or Digital cable package when it isn't needed.</p><br /><p>...I have to really fight my urge to call this a conspiracy concoted by the FCC and cable companies....</p></p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9659055, 'thesum')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-9662651\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=726292\"><img        src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=726292\">midgrade</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9662651\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2008-12-24T17:41:52-05:00\">December 24, 2008  5:41 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9662651);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9662651');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>I live in a very small TV market; my biggest concern is about the quality and coverage of the digital signals.</p><p>I live in the middle of town and can pick up the local stations' analog signals clear as a bell with a powered, attic-mounted omnidirectional antenna. But even though all of the local stations endlessly tout their digital / HD channels, I can only pick up one or two of them -- but just barely, and they \"come and go\".</p><p>Which brings up another problem with digital TV: a weak or spotty analog signal is usually watchable; it may be a little snowy, but you can at least make out the picture and hear the sound. A bad digital signal is \"choppy\". The screen freezes up, the sound cuts in and out, etc. making for a very frustrating viewing experience.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9662651, 'midgrade')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment last\" id=\"comment-9864165\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">                <a href=\"\"><img src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"         width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>            </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\">Anonymous    </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2008/12/tell-a-friend-you-will-not-need-cable-after-the-digital-tv-switch.html#comment-9864165\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2009-01-07T13:56:38-05:00\">January  7, 2009  1:56 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(9864165);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=9864165');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>I live on Long Island and use Cablevision.I have 3 tvs, but only 1 is connected to cablevision's  box. The other 2 tvs are split from coax coming into the house.I've been losing channels on the  other 2 tvs every other week. The store bought converter box does not pull any signal in so far ,just a blue screen with a menu from the maker of the box.(Insignia)The 1 HD box from cablevision brings all channels  in which I subscribe to. I called cablevision about the missing channels on the other tvs that does not have the cablevision supplied box, they said I need a box from them for the other tvs to get the channels I've lost so far. I feel thats a big rip off since cablevision won't allow the store bought converter boxes to work with their signal and require 1 box per tv when this transition happens.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(9864165, '')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>");