WHAT CAN BE DONE WHEN CABLE AND POWER ARE LOST?

One of the emerging problems with the DTV transition, perhaps especially for those of us potentially affected by storms, is what to do when the power and cable go off during bad weather.  All the battery-operated TV’s we have used for years will no longer work after February of 2009. 

Unfortunately, there are currently no easy, inexpensive methods of replacing that TV.

First, everyone needs to be aware you can receive DTV signals straight from FOX 13’s transmitter -- without the need for cable.  Your digital TV set or your new converter box will allow you to receive FOX 13 for free, using an external antenna or rabbit ears. 

But what if there is no power to run the TV or converter box?  Options are few for DTV reception during a power outage -- for now, at least.  Battery-operated DTV off-air receivers are available, but seem to be in the $200 range to purchase -- lots more than the $29 battery-operated TV’s that are common now. 

Another option is a DTV/ATSC receiver that plugs into the USB port on your laptop, which of course runs on battery power. 

A third option is to purchase an inverter for your car.  That inverter will plug into the power plug (cigarette lighter plug) of your car and deliver enough power to run a small TV and your DTV converter box.  Be careful of running down the car battery, though.

FOX 13 would welcome anyone’s creative ways of coping with this problem.  You can write us via the blog hosted by our chief engineer, Mike Howey.

LINKS:

  VIDEO: HOW TO HOOK UP YOUR CONVERTER BOX

  WHY THE CHANGE?

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