Need Converter

[bobinyec]

When all TV goes digital in a couple of years, I'm going to have to do something to feed the 3 TVs, 3 VCRs, and 2 Tivo machines. I don't want to have to have a D/A converter on each machine. Besides being cumbersome, I'd lose the ability to automatically record because I'd have to manually set the channels for the recorders.

What I'd like to do is to have one big D/A converter which will convert a number of digital TV signals to analog, and then pipe it throughout the house as a combined TV signal. In this way, everything within the house would work exactly as it does now.

Can anyone offer a solution to this? Cost? By the way, would the cable TV company or satellite TV company allow this?

Thanks,

John Bobinyec

[Ratman]

The shutdown of all analog signals is proposed for 2009 and is targeted for OTA only. By that time, you may have new TV's anyway. Converters will supposedly be available at a targeted price of approx. $50.

Satellite is already 100%, so that's a non-issue. Cable providers are slowly transitioning to 100% digital. You will need a cable box or a TV equipped with a CableCard slot.

I wouldn't be overly concerned at this time. Perhaps by 2009, they will digital converter/distribution unit. (But I wouldn't hold my breath!)

[57U]

In addition, VCRs will be obsolete. If you have access to cable, one option would be to contact your cable company and rent DVRs for each TV requiring a recorder. They are relatively inexpensive and a better solution than what you've proposed