[opendtv] Re: News: DTV Boxes Could Cost $1 Billion
- From: "Dale Kelly" <res0xtey@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 26 Jul 2004 19:04:32 -0700
Frank Wrote:
> "Reception equal to, or better than, NTSC" is never going to be true for
all the people all the time, even with the most perfect DTV receiver that
one can conceive. We've been through all this many times -- the problem of
the 'digital cliff,' the FCC DTV Planning Factor basis of 'DTV reception
wherever Grade 3 NTSC reception is possible,' etc.
I very aware of this and that is why I stated that NTSC reception should be
replicated by the proposed DTV converter box "as best practical". Clearly
we're dealing with different dynamics and, as you very well stated below,
there can never be a complete match. However, my original point was that, if
the free Set Top box approach to speeding the transition is to be
successful, it must be based upon the best current technology. Until
recently, there truly was no ATSC receiver technology capable of providing
the required performance (IMO).
----- Original Message -----
From: "Eory Frank-p22212" <Frank.Eory@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, July 26, 2004 3:55 PM
Subject: [opendtv] Re: News: DTV Boxes Could Cost $1 Billion
> >From: "Dale Kelly" <res0xtey@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> >To: <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> >Date: Mon, 26 Jul 2004 12:37:09 -0700
>
> >>Give them a converter box and they can continue using that old NTSC
> >>set until it dies. If they buy a new TV with an integrated ATSC
> >>receiver, their problem is solved and they don't need a government
handout.
>
> >That was understood and makes sense. My concern is to assure, as best as
> >practical, that the DTV box provide reception equal to, or better than,
NTSC
> >and a statement to that effect from Motorola would be helpful.
>
> "Reception equal to, or better than, NTSC" is never going to be true for
all the people all the time, even with the most perfect DTV receiver that
one can conceive. We've been through all this many times -- the problem of
the 'digital cliff,' the FCC DTV Planning Factor basis of 'DTV reception
wherever Grade 3 NTSC reception is possible,' etc.
>
> The biggest problems I see with reception 'guarantees' are (1) VHF to UHF
transition, which will require some OTA viewers to install new antennas, (2)
DTV ERP and (3) comparisons of DTV to NTSC where NTSC is worse than Grade 3.
>
> This last one is especially difficult. For example, how many people will
watch a very snowy NTSC broadcast of high-value content (like a football
game), if that is the best they can get? You can't expect such a consumer to
find any comfort in the fact the he "just missed" having perfect DTV
reception by only 1 or 2 dB, when he's looking at a blank screen. On the
other hand, he will get perfect DTV video on other channels or in other
reception conditions where NTSC was far less than perfect. From a reception
perspective -- as perceived by individual consumers -- not by engineers
taking measurements -- some things will be better, but some will be worse.
>
> DTV is *not* equal to NTSC, and DTV reception will never equal NTSC
reception, just as apples will never equal bananas. You could say that with
advanced receivers, with stations at full power, etc., that for most people,
most of the time, DTV reception will be better than NTSC reception. But that
still doesn't help the guy who misses it by 1 dB on the day of the big game,
who wishes he could still receive the snowy NTSC version rather than nothing
at all.
>
> >Many of those refusniks do live in poorer urban environs and I assume
there
> >will be a backlash should current reception not be replicated.
>
> There will be a backlash for many reasons, but I think reception issues
will be far down on the list.
>
> -- Frank
>
>
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