Managing the Impending Analog Shutdown

Experience an easy, cost-effective transition to Digital TV

The countrywide transition from analog to digital over-the-air television—the so-called “analog shutdown” scheduled for early 2009—is proving challenging to many analog TV owners. Even if they understand the concept driving the conversion, consumers are finding some conversion options to be both confusing and expensive.

What most consumers don’t know is that both PC and Mac users can already enjoy high-definition TV while working and in full screen – taking advantage of today’s modern monitors. Pinnacle Systems’ series of HD TV Sticks are a revolution in TV tuning that help smooth the transition to digital. With a variety of additional features and benefits, Pinnacle Systems’ complete line-up offers the perfect complementary solution to the analog shutdown, allowing users to watch, timeshift and record TV on a PC at home or on the go.

Comprehending the digital conversion

Although Colin worked in a high-tech company, he considered himself grounded firmly on the human side—in the HR department. Still, some of his best friends at the company were programmers and network experts who regaled Colin with tales of the latest gaming software, IT trends and cool communication gizmos. So when Colin saw a television announcement for an “analog shutdown” scheduled for February of 2009 he consulted his buddy Bob, the resident tech guru.

Bob explained to Colin that analog shutdown referred to a U.S. Congress mandate requiring analog TV stations to broadcast only in digital starting on February 18, 2009. It meant that for folks with standard analog television sets, like Colin, receiving TV programming would necessitate some changes. Bob outlined the benefits that Colin would gain from the analog-to-digital conversion: crisp picture and sound quality, high-definition programming and even more channels than Colin ever received from analog over-the-air broadcasts.

Weighing the alternatives for digital conversion

Bob’s news excited Colin but to receive digital TV, Colin and his wife Jennifer would need to either subscribe to a comprehensive pay-TV package, connect a digital TV converter box to each TV in their home or purchase all new TV sets with a built-in digital tuners. Since the couple wasn’t convinced about the benefits that the new technology would bring - therefore not willing to call for such expensive options – they wondered if there was any other way to experience HDTV.

There was one other option: they could take Bob’s suggestion to purchase a PCTV HD mini Stick from Pinnacle. According to Bob, with the portable USB tuner, Colin could either use the antenna included with the Stick to receive free digital over-the-air TV signals in SD and HD; or simply subscribe to basic cable, plug the USB device into any PC in his home, and tune in to unencrypted digital cable channels in standard and high definition—at no extra cost.

Although their PCTV-equipped computer would not replace their home TV sets, it would allow the couple to watch HD TV after the analog shutdown until they decided if they wanted to purchase a digital converter for their analog sets or new HD TVs. And Pinnacle’s PCTV HD mini Stick would make it easy to set up their laptop wherever they wanted—in the kitchen, on the patio—even take it to the park and use the high-gain antenna to watch live TV while completing a work project—at the same time and on the same laptop!

Infused with a newfound sense of high-tech confidence, Colin went ahead and bought a PCTV HD mini Stick from his local computer store. After an easy software installation, he slid one end of the HD mini Stick into a USB port on his laptop and then attached the other end to the portable telescopic antenna that was included in the pack. The results were amazing. Colin and Jennifer watched crisp digital TV, right on the PC, and had access to channels they didn’t even know existed. They could watch the programs in full screen, or reduce them in a window while performing other tasks on the computer. A mini remote control device let them pause programs, forward them and even record them on their computer or burn them directly to DVD. Besides, the PCTV HD mini Stick worked as a DVR, allowing them to schedule recordings and never miss their favorite shows. To their delight, Colin and Jennifer could receive a number of digital channels using nothing but the included portable antenna. Colin learned later from Bob that using a rooftop antenna, the results were often better than when using an indoor antenna. In fact, when he connected the HD mini Stick to his rooftop antenna, he could tune in even more channels. And if they decided to subscribe to a cable service later, the PCTV HD mini Stick would give them access to any unencrypted digital standard and high-definition programming via cable too.

Colin and Jennifer were excited to see that the Pinnacle PCTV HD mini Stick made it easy to view digital TV on their laptops from nearly anywhere and record their favorite shows direct to DVD or to their computer’s drive. The mini Stick didn’t replace their living room television set, but it did transform their PCs into cable HDTVs with access to every unscrambled digital channel available.