Er...they may wish to push the analog cutoff to July 2009 vice July 2008. As far as I am concerned, I purchased a Magnavox converter from Wal-Mart and a Zenith converter box from Radio Shack using the DTV Converter Coupons. A larger concern is that I will need a converter box that will support my Sony HD DVR since it uses the analog GemStar TV Guide On Screen (TVGOS). Unless Sony upgrades the firmware on this model DVR (I doubt that will happen since they are out of warranty) then it, along with millions of other analog TVGOS devices such as DVRs, DVD Burner, and TVs, will be rendered useless come 9 Feb 2009...unless I can obtain a digital-to-analog converter box that will convert digital TVGOS to analog TVGOS by inserting the TV Guide Data into the VBI section of the outputted analog datastream. Anyway, my parents sent me their coupons and I am waiting for the Dish Network TR-40 (aka DTV-Pal) to hit the streets and hopefully address this issue. We shall see. I can tell you there will be a lot of unhappy campers should people lose their beloved recording devices such as my Sony HD DVR, not to mention their spare analog TV sets.

Scott, You must remember that not all stations are currently broadcasting at full power. The only stations I have a problem picking up in my area (BK NY) turned out to be the ones that aren't at full power. The same may be the case in other areas. We may not know for sure until 2/18 if this is a real problem (i.e. loss of channels that are not LP).

Riffjim, the Sony dhg hd dvr's can receive guide info from the digital stations. It has been shown by people in markets where the digital onscreen is already available.

Scott, There is going to be a problem, rabbit ears hardly picks up the digital signals unless you are a few miles from the towers. Here is NC we have Hurricanes alot and we use portable tv when the power is out. When analog is gone, those tvs are trash. There is a usb device out that is a digital tv tuner, hook up the antenna to it and you can watch ota tv.

There's no question the analog shut down will force a period of adjustment, but putting off the deadline is no answer. Digital broadcasts have been widely available for several years now. If you think your Aunt Louise or Uncle Harry might need a rooftop antenna after transition, why not offer to install it this summer, rather than waiting for next February. Let's just get this transition done. It's been delayed to many times already.

NC has a LOT of hurricanes? Huh, I must have been in a deep NC sleep for the past 31 years...Yawn...

I live in a valley in Nortwest Connecticut and used to pick up WFSB and WVIT with rabbit ears. Not a perfect picture, but good enough for a secondary set. With the Zenith converter, I need an outdoor antenna and pre-amplifier to pick up WVIT-DT and WTIC-DT. The location, height and direction of the antenna is real touchy. The WFSB-DT signal is to weak to get a picture.

Probably 90% of the TV households have cable or satilite and do not need to do anything for the analog to digital conversion. So, if any of the remaining 10% that have antennas are ready, then the number NOT ready has to be less than 10%. Come on people get off your butts and get ready. You have had ten (10) years to get ready. What are you waiting for. Leave the change over to Feb 2009, since some people will never be ready until you ;turn them off.