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The Gadgetress ~ TV, mobile and Internet: Covering technology's monthly bill

Archive for the 'service' Tag

Portable TVs will fade away after February

August 12th, 2008, 6:56 am by

10/2/2008 — UPDATE to this question: There is now a battery-powered converter box. Read the post, “50% more coupons available for digital TV converter box program”

Stump the GadgetressStump the Gadgetress isn’t really back. I’ve just been answering a ton of digital converter box questions and this one seemed worthy of sharing my research with all readers.

Question: Will my portable TV not work after Feb. 2009?

Gadgetress: Nope. You’re out of luck. 

**UPDATE** WineguardDirect.com now sells a battery-powered converter box.**

My initial research shows that nearly every portable TV will need a converter box because they are analog TVs. And everyone should know by now that on Feb. 17, 2009, TV broadcasts for the major channels will switch to digital only, leaving analog TV viewers in the dark. But you don’t need to get rid of your TV — you just need to buy and install a digital converter box. Lots of info on that at “Guide to the Digital TV transition.”

The lone exception to ditching the TV is the portable TV. There are no battery-operated cAccurian 7″ Portable Handheld TV sold at Radio Shack is one of the rare digital portable TVsonverter boxes available and no manufacturer has stepped up to make such a product. It’s probably because the portable TV market is so small, no one can make any money developing such converters.

This is quite sad for many folks out there who rely on portable TVs for news during emergencies.  Guess you’ll have to rely on TV on your cell phone during those tough times.

However, there are portable TVs that have the digital tuners built in, but that will set you back at least $200. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: news • • • • • • • • • • • | 1 Comment »

Ask iGirl: Dampen volume on TV commercials

February 5th, 2008, 9:00 am by

helpme!Q: Cox Communication is my signal provider and we are having problems with the incoming signal for sound volume. When changing from another channel to Channel 3 the volume is extremely loud compared to the other channels. The same goes for commercials for many of the stations. We are in the market for a new HDTV; is there a TV on the market that will maintain the volume of incoming signals? If not a TV is there a device that can be connected to the TV line that will manage the sound volume?

iGirl: The volume of TV programs and commercials is not regulated by the Federal Communications Commission. According to the FCC Web site, the agency regulates the amount of power a station can transmit and the peak sound level of the program material. The site goes on to say that within the FCC’s power limitations “broadcasters and program producers have considerable latitude to vary the ‘loudness’ of the program material.”

Now that we understand why some TV programs and commercials are louder, it’s time to explain how that can be avoided.

Wait: Since you are looking to buy a TV, it might be wise to wait until later this year to make that purchase. That’s when two solutions — Dolby Volume and SRS Volume IQ — could solve your problem. Both products maintain a steady audio volume on TVs, as well as set-top boxes, computers, mobile phones and portable media devices.

The Volume IQ from SRS Labs in Santa Ana was picked up by Cirrus Logic this January to be added to that company’s chips. Bill Schnell, a Cirrus spokesman, said manufacturers are designing products right now so consumers could see TVs with these volume controls built in as early as the second half of 2008.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: news • • • • • • • | 2 Comments »

Stump: Watch TV on a computer

December 17th, 2007, 3:00 pm by

helpme!Q: How can I watch TV on my laptop (suppose i have cable or satellite)? Thank for your help. ~ Yesteryear

iGirl: There are a number of ways to do this. Let me list a few…

Hauppage WinTV USB 2.0

The most convenient solution is a TV tuner, such as the WinTV-USB2 family of products from Hauppage . Plug the tuner into your computer’s USB port, and plug an antenna or cable box into the tuner.

Tuners typically include software and a remote control. Some even have personal video recorder (PVR) functions so you can record shows to your computer. The many different versions of WinTV include a variety of features and can be found from about $60 to $150.

For Mac users, there is Elgato’s EyeTV line of tuners. The hybrid version sells for $150 on the manufacturer’s site. Hybrid here means that the device can pick up both analog and digital TV signals.

If you only want to watch specific shows on your computer, this page on Microsoft’s site explains how to bring TV shows from a Media Center PC to a laptop computer by burning them to a DVD or copying them to the computer’s hard drive.

Check out hdtvtunerinfo.com to learn more about how to use an HDTV tuner with a computer. Also, laptopmag.com has five tips about using a laptop to watch TV on your schedule.

Posted in: news • • • • • • • | 2 Comments »

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