The TV Radio Band: Will It be Useless in 2009?

A reader has pointed out that 2009 should be a challenging year for those who use their radio's TV band:

I wonder if the purchasers/owners of "TV audio" radios realize that in much of the U.S. after February, 2009 over-the-air TV signals will change to ATSC digital thereby rendering that TV band unlistenable with such analog radios. One could patch the RF signal from an ATSC-NTSC converter box ($40 rebate coupon available from Uncle Sam) into the radio if one figures out a way to get the RF into the radio with no external antenna input. Perhaps an F connector to alligator clip adapter attached to the headphone's cord should do the trick. Of course the "sound system" would not be very portable.

Tom Welch reports that Sangean is already adjusting to the new "radio environment":

For Sangean radios, you will probably see the NOAA weather band replace the TV band. In fact, the new Sangean DT-400W pocket radio does just that replacing the DT-200VX's TV band with the weather band.

Comments

[Ed S.]

I notice catalog's like C. Crane's are printing disclaimers that the TV sound function for the radios which now have it (ie, the CC Radio)will be inoperable come the change-over to digital.

[Jeff McMahon]

That's a good idea on their part. I imagine the TV band is soon to be a thing of the past.