The loss of over the air television.

[nacho]

50,000, not 500,000 Watts, is the legal limit in the US for a radio station.

Yeah I knew that, I just derp'd out

Actually there's a competing station that run station ID's that proudly claim, "Five-million milliwatts of truth!" Sorry dude that's what we used to call 5,000 watts.

[KJ4VOV]

Don't know if it's still true or not but...

Slogan of 105.9, the classic rock radio station in Chicago: 'Of all the radio stations in Chicago ... we're one of them.'

[KJ4VOV]

Ive found that digital broadcasts go much further than the analog ones, but as others have noted, fringe reception is either 'you get it and it looks almost perfect' or 'you dont get it at all'.

The digital datastream is much easier to pick up out of noise than analog waveforms, so the transmission range for any given tower is boosted considerably, but if the receiving unit cannot get enough of the signal to put together a picture, it just doesnt work, period.

As I said in the last post, all of those emergency radios with TV-band audio no longer work, since the audio signal on TV is now encoded with AC-3.

Now, that said, battery powered digital format TV's are under $50, so it wont break the bank to get one:

http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Prism-Por ... digital+tv

ETA: Nevermind, get this one instead: http://www.amazon.com/RCA-7%2522-Portab ... digital+tv

Just an FYI, the RCA arrived today and is currently charging up. First impression is that it's decent quality with a good set of features and good picture.

[TEC9man]

Personally I think it's all part of the government wanting to control all media. Next will be radio. Then in case of emergency we won't be able to get any info when the power goes out.

[williaty]

Personally I think it's all part of the government wanting to control all media. Next will be radio. Then in case of emergency we won't be able to get any info when the power goes out.

The government doesn't give a crap about controlling radio or TV. The corporations, on the other hand, want control of, and payment for, everything you experience. It's already happened in radio, BTW. ClearChannel is the devil.

[Tater Raider]

FCC controls access therefore the US government controls every signal originating within the United States. They don't want to control it, they in fact and quite legally do have control of it. All of it. Telephone lines, radio signals, cable, satelite signals, everything.

Put the tinfoil away before someone gets a "paper" cut.

[williaty]

FCC controls access therefore the US government controls every signal originating within the United States. They don't want to control it, they in fact and quite legally do have control of it. All of it. Telephone lines, radio signals, cable, satelite signals, everything.

Put the tinfoil away before someone gets a "paper" cut.

Look at the amount the FCC actually does with its control authority. Those are not the actions of a body actively interested in exerting control. It's like the Red Green prayer of regulation. "I'm the FCC and I can regulate. If I have to. I guess.".

[Blacksmith]

Personally I think it's all part of the government wanting to control all media. Next will be radio. Then in case of emergency we won't be able to get any info when the power goes out.

The government doesn't give a crap about controlling radio or TV. The corporations, on the other hand, want control of, and payment for, everything you experience. It's already happened in radio, BTW. ClearChannel is the devil.

So the USG gives away the airways for free eh? I need to get in on that.

ETA- Tec9man don't be an idiot. The government spends billions every year trying to give away information during a disaster.

[williaty]

So the USG gives away the airways for free eh? I need to get in on that.

In fact, they do. I'm also pretty damned sure you're taking advantage of it, too. Wireless router, the remote for your garage door, the remote for your car's locks...

[Blacksmith]

So the USG gives away the airways for free eh? I need to get in on that.

In fact, they do. I'm also pretty damned sure you're taking advantage of it, too. Wireless router, the remote for your garage door, the remote for your car's locks...

Sadly I must accept all interference and at the same time not interfere with anyone else. Unfairs.

[williaty]

So the USG gives away the airways for free eh? I need to get in on that.

In fact, they do. I'm also pretty damned sure you're taking advantage of it, too. Wireless router, the remote for your garage door, the remote for your car's locks...

Sadly I must accept all interference and at the same time not interfere with anyone else. Unfairs.

I always thought that was the weirdest damned thing to find printed on the backs of calculators.

[Tater Raider]

It's like the Red Green prayer of regulation. "I'm the FCC and I can regulate. If I have to. I guess.".

Oh that is so getting sigged.

[TEC9man]

Not an idiot, just someone who doesn't trust the government. Anymore said and I'll be asshated.

[Tater Raider]

Not an idiot, just someone who doesn't trust the government. Anymore said and I'll be asshated.

It's all good and FWIW I'm right there with you on trust issues.

[nacho]

ClearChannel is the devil.

I never understood why people hate ClearChannel so much. Their news stations in LA are the best news sources out of all the media, and they used to own the only independently operated rock station in Los Angeles.

[williaty]

ClearChannel is the devil.

I never understood why people hate ClearChannel so much. Their news stations in LA are the best news sources out of all the media, and they used to own the only independently operated rock station in Los Angeles.

1) If it's owned by CC, how is it "independently operated"? Being owned by CC is sort of the exact opposite of being independent.

2) They tend to form a near-monopoly in any market they enter. They've repeatedly lobbied to have the limit for how much of any one market they can own raised. They're well known for making sure ALL the content you get on any of their stations puts out whatever corporate decides you're supposed to know and to like.

[crypto]

Don't know if it's still true or not but...

Slogan of 105.9, the classic rock radio station in Chicago: 'Of all the radio stations in Chicago ... we're one of them.'

there was a Station in the place I used to live whose slogan was "Broadcasting with as much power as a half-dozen medium-size hair dryers"

[Grant]

I did have a few AA powered tiny TV's that were analog only, and a few radios with TV band. The odd thing is, I was going to dump them but a couple guys from my university's ham radio club (who repaid the favor with helping me get my General ticket) jumped on them when I was carting them off. I told them to help themselves if they thought anything was good, they took ALL of them.

I honestly think I got a much better deal than they did. I still have no idea what they did with those things.

[nacho]

1) If it's owned by CC, how is it "independently operated"? Being owned by CC is sort of the exact opposite of being independent.

Well what I mean by independently operated was that CC owned "Indie 103.1" and did all the marketing, but the program director was given freedom to do what he wanted, so you would regularly get guys like Steve Jones, who had his own show, doing in studio interviews with guys like Ken Andrews of Failure, and playing their records. It was run more like a college radio station, that was all punk, rock, and alternative, that just happened to be owned by CC and Entravision. The FCC stepped in and made CC sell off one of their stations (they are only allowed to own 8 in the LA market) so they sold off their interest in the station to Entravision, and about a year in they flipped format to Spanish language.

2) They tend to form a near-monopoly in any market they enter. They've repeatedly lobbied to have the limit for how much of any one market they can own raised. They're well known for making sure ALL the content you get on any of their stations puts out whatever corporate decides you're supposed to know and to like.

All I can say is vote with your dollars, you don't like the station don't listen. I rarely flip from AM to FM, and when I do I rarely tune north of 90MHz.

[williaty]

All I can say is vote with your dollars, you don't like the station don't listen. I rarely flip from AM to FM, and when I do I rarely tune north of 90MHz.

That's exactly what I do. Since Clear Channel borged my AO, the only radio stations I listen to are NPR and PBS!