Remains to be seen

The time is fast approaching according to the broadcast authorities when the old analog televisions will not work. February 2009, that is the date set when televisions will change to digital. Well, okay they will or might work with some minor modifications. I hear that one way to fix the problem is to get a converter box and connect it to the analog television. Thereby, the signals that we have received over the airwaves will then change into a form the television can recognize. I understand why the change will occur. Apparently, the intent is to provide better signals, greater reception and less interference through the range of frequencies.

I don’t watch that much television anymore and haven’t for the last couple of years. For years, we had cable television that claimed to provide outstanding service and the greatest selection of channels for our viewing pleasure, yeah right. But, that’s another story. Over time, we found that the only person watching the majority of the cable programs was our daughter. At any given time of the day, she would be lounging on the couch watching and flipping channels between commercials. It consumed a big portion of her time. So, we did what any responsible parent would do. We had the cable disconnected and you know what. My wife and I never missed it and our daughter eventually got over it. So, we saved in excess of $60.00 a month for a service that we weren’t utilizing and seem to be sucking the creativity out of our daughter’s brain. So, that solved that problem.

Here’s my actual dilemma, and it is uniquely a one sided situation. Now as I said, we don’t watch that much television. But when we do, I don’t want to have to pay for it other than the electricity. When I grew up, we had three, count them (3) channels to choose from. My parents only paid for the electrical current to operate the television and nothing for the channels. At this point in my life, that makes perfect sense to me.

So, if I buy and connect a box I will have more expense. If I scrap (legally) the old television and buy a new one, I have more expense. It just never ends as to how the more technology changes to more it costs. I consider myself somewhat of a conservative and very guarded when it comes to spending. I just don’t like the idea of being forced into throwing out something I don’t use often. Or buying another item just to make it work the way it did when I first purchased it just for an occasionally form of entertainment. I guess it just boils down to what we want to see when we stare at the big visual box. By the way, when I was a kid…televisions had round screens. What happen there?