To The Editor:
Soon, television transmission as we know it will end. Those, who do not subscribe to cable television, especially senior citizens, should be given immediate attention at this time, by their families, friends and neighbors.
Not all the facts are being advertised regarding this change. We are being told that regular television service will stop on February 17. The government is supplying $40 for coupons for converters, which cost about $60 (an individual out-of-pocket expense of $20 each, plus tax).
If you purchase a converter box and it doesn’t work, you will not get your coupon back, only your additional $20 upon returning it. Expired coupons and those lost in the mail are not being replaced.
Most important, if one is not able to view the UHF channels (21 to 68) clearly now, they are not going to be able to view digital television. The reason is that digital television is captured by the UHF part of the antenna.
In Brooklyn, State Senator Carl Kruger sent out a letter asking people who have cable to apply for and donate their coupons to be collected in his office, and to be distributed to his constituents. The AARP have asked people to apply and donate their coupons as well.
The only solution, if you do not have good UHF reception today, is to either purchase and install a new, strong UHF/digital outdoor antenna (about $200 with installation), or a very good indoor “rabbit’s ear” antenna, capable of capturing UHF/digital. Please note that a new digital television will not function without the proper antenna.
I am a senior citizen. I purchased a new LCD television and couldn’t get Digital Channel 13 at all.
During the October ‘08, two minute digital test in New York, I had no digital reception on my new television, on any channel. After my new 10-foot antenna was installed on my roof, and I purchased two converters for my two non-digital televisions, I can view all the local digital channels. By the way, I purchased the converters with my son’s coupons, because mine had expired before I could find a recommended converter box!
Consumer Reports’ new magazine (February 09) has converter box recommendations. If the converter box doesn’t work, the problem is probably the antenna.
Also, for the Do-It-Yourself crowd — no roof-climbing for seniors! For others, the antennas in Brooklyn have to be pointed to the Empire State Building. Also, be aware that there are no recommendations for digital indoor antennas.
Good luck to all of us.
G. Udewitz
Sheepshead Bay
To The Editor:
Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly are living in fantasy worlds.
I want to take my hat off to Mothers Against Guns President Liz Bishop Goldsmith. I’m a mother, who lost two of my sons to gun violence. I live in a violent neighborhood, and I hear shots everyday, and sometimes at night.
Our own young black people are killing each other over nothing. This is black-on-black crime.
Who will fix this problem? Something needs to be done about it. We need help to solve this on-going problem. And, it has to start with our young black people.
Doris Fortner
Bedford-Stuyvesant
