TV or no TV...that is the question.

October 11, 2008 4:37 PM

Will my old black and white battery operated television be defunct after the analog to digital switch?

I have an old black and white portable television that runs on 8 D cell batteries. It's ancient, but still pulls in a pretty good signal and has come to my rescue several times when I have been without power -- once for several days at a time. I only use it when the power is out.

With the new analog to digital television switch coming in February of 2009, I've tried to look for converters, but they are all requiring another power source, which kind of voids the whole battery operation feature.

Is there any kind of analog to digital converter out there that runs on batteries as well? Or is there some kind of battery operated power source I can use?
Any suggestions Hivemind?

posted by NoraCharles to technology (3 comments total)

According to this article: Portable sets endangered, there is only one manufacturer making a battery operated converter.
posted by seymour.skinner at 5:22 PM on October 11, 2008

Here's one. DTV.gov has a few suggestions too.

There are also new portable LCD TV's that are ATSC compliant out there (for example) which will likely eat less power and last longer in an emergency.

On preview: stupid slow fingers!
posted by tracert at 5:25 PM on October 11, 2008

It will still work fine with your old VCR and cable box.
posted by FauxScot at 7:17 PM on October 11, 2008