So you have managed to not pay attention to any of the notices that today is the day that the digital transition is in full effect and old analog televisions cannot receive over-the-air signals without a converter box. What can you do if you’ve been affected? Well if you didn’t pay attention to all the news, then clearly you don’t care about television. So how about some suggestions what to do with all your free time?

This Friday, broadcasters will stop sending out analog signals and make the DTV transition. However, even with an extended digital TV deadline imposed, an estimated 3 million homes are not prepared to make the transition. This represents roughly 2.5 percent of the television market. Nielsen released the report this Wednesday and it showed that elderly more »

So far, we’ve had plenty of drama with the digital television transition. Washington D.C. has delayed, un-delayed, then delayed (pending a vote) the transition. If you’ve been reading Gadgetell, you know what we’re talking about.

Best Buy is joining the party by letting everyone know that the transition is still scheduled for February 17th. Televisions in Best Buy will show an ad talking about “Blackout Prevention Day.” The video will run two times every hour.

Here we go again, indeed. The DTV transition was originally scheduled for February 17, but Democrat Senators wanted to pass a bill that would postpone it for 4 months because they thought 6.5 million people were not ready yet.

I can imagine that, if Americans are anything like me, they would probably wait until Valentine’s day and give a loved one a converter box if they needed one. Then, a few days ago the House Republicans blocked the bill, because they did not get the necessary 2/3 to pass it, even though the majority was for it, so it’s back to the drawing board. Last night, the Senate unanimously passed the same bill, hoping this time it will get through the House.

In an unexpected move today, The House of Representatives voted 258-168 to not delay the switchover to digital TV from February 17 to June. The surprise is increased by the Senate’s unanimous vote yesterday to delay the switch, and by the reluctant acceptance by many telecom companies after the Senate vote was announced.

Rep Joe Barton, author of the original transition bill in 2005, led the charge to stop the delay. Barton sent a letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi stating that the proposed delay had no merit and actually harmed the country as the spectrum will be used in part by emergency services. Barton said in his letter, “Osama bin Laden isn’t fictional, and he isn’t waiting.” He is correct. Hopefully now that this crisis has been averted, our leaders can get back to more pressing issues.

The digital television transition is coming this February. While I’m sure that every Gadgetell reader is ready for the change, San Diego is testing its residents tomorrow. At 6:58 PM on January 22, 2009, all the major broadcast networks (including the local CBS, NBC, ABC, and Fox affiliates) will drop their analog signal at the same time.

After a bit of a delay, Dish Network has confirmed that they will be releasing the DTVPal DVR mid-December. However, you can pre-order it starting next week. Originally introduced as the EchoStar TR-50 when it was shown at the Consumer Electronics Show the beginning of the year, the slightly modified HD personal video recorder now has a spiffy new name to match its new look. Continued after the break.

This Tuesday, October 28th, NYC is cutting out analog television for three minutes. They aren’t pulling any punches; analog signals will go dark between 5:58PM and 6:01PM right in time to mess up most news programs.

If you aren’t aware, on February 19, 2009, all television broadcasts in the U.S. will be digital. If you (or more likely, your grandparents) have a television without a digital tuner, you will not be able to watch free over-the-air television without a converter box.

Where did they get the idea to do this? Maybe from some friends of ours. Check out more after the break.