It’s Digital Conversion Day: Are You Or Your Abuela Enjoying The Snow?

The news media is aflutter with the story of the digital conversion of our television signals that is happening today. The analog signal that we’ve all come to know and love, flowing through the airwaves, giving us brain tumors, is a thing of the past. This morning and continuing into the afternoon, television stations have been shutting off their analog signals and going completely digital. This, according to the media, is causing mass hysteria in the households of the aged and the poor, where cable is but a pipe dream. Nowhere does the aged/poor nexus cross more dramatically than at the home of the average Mexican abuelita. So, we called our grandmother in South Texas yesterday to see if she was as confused as the media is saying she should be. It went something like this:

Guanabee: Hey Grandma, you know about how TV’s are going digital?

Grandma: Yes.

Guanabee: You do?

Grandma: Well, I was reading about it, but I have cable so…

Guanabee: Grandma you’re not supposed to know about it. You’re ruining my story.

Grandma: Como qué I’m ruining your story?

Guanabee: Do you have any friends who don’t have cable?

Grandma: Well, let’s see…no… because Gina has it…

Guanabee: Uh-huh

Grandma: And, Mr. morales has cable, you know.

Guanabee: I don’t know, Mr. Morales.

Grandma: Mrs. Salinas and then Eloisa…

Guanabee: Ok. Grandma?

Grandma: And then the Chapas, también.

Guanabee: Grandma…

Grandma: No, I don’t know of anybody without the cable.

Guanabee: I see.

Grandma: Most everybody has the dish. Or the cable. Even those who live in the country. Like Mr. Garrido.

Guanabeee: Uh-huh.

Grandma: He lives in the country, but he has the cable.

Guanabee: Yes, well, if you think of anyone…

Grandma: I’ll call you.

Guanabee: Thanks.

One hour later she did call us and give us the name of a 60-something year-old woman who allegedly does not have cable. We called her. Twice. But the call went straight to her answering machine. Perhaps she is not that phone savvy, either.

For those of you who are still in the dark on this situation, (Meaning our grandmother knows more about technology than you do.), here’s the down and dirty according to the Associated Press:

Any sets hooked up to cable or satellite feeds are unaffected. Newer, digital TVs that get broadcasts through antennas — and older sets hooked up to converter boxes — should be fine, but they will need to be set to “re-scan” the airwaves, to find stations that move to new frequencies Friday.

There’s also a government website called DTV.gov that your grandmother, who doesn’t have cable, can go to on that internet connection she has.

We did manage to reach out to Omar Gallaga who is the Technology & Culture reporter for the Austin-American Statesman and a contributor to NPR’s All Tech Considered. Moments ago, Omar attended the official shut-off at local Austin NBC affiliate KXAN. He said that the station manager there is witnessing less lack of awareness from old or poor people and more of it from the youngsters who rely less on television to watch their shows. Makes sense. We personally know of one well-educated WASP without cable. Here’s hoping he’s enjoying the snow on this hot, June day. Omar also gave us this bit of insight on what it was like to witness the official shut-off at a TV station:

I was expecting a giant red “Analog/Digital” lever on the wall, something out of a Wile E. Coyote cartoon.

In the end, shutting off the transmitter amounted to the click of a mouse and a screen full of snow on a nearby monitor. Cheers went up in the very crowded aisle of the control room, and in the end, the station only received one phone call in the minutes that followed the shut-off.

It was one of those things that might only seem historic or significant if you’re in the news or broadcast business, like switching over to narrower newspaper pages. I get the feeling most everyone else had already moved on.

Confusion expected as analog TV broadcasts end [AP]
Viewers pelt Houston stations with questions as TV goes digital [Houston Chronicle]