[opendtv] Re: Dueling Statutes?

Cliff Benham wrote:

> Here's today's list of complaints about the new STBs
> from members of the AudioKarma list. Why weren't the
> boxes properly field tested by consumers so they
> would not have to find out there are problems with
> them only *AFTER* buying them?

I can't tell if some of these are problems with a specific unit, or design 
problems. Or maybe a bit of both.

> "The Zenith/Insignia (they're identical) have a really
> low audio output level (even at 100% volume setting).

Is this true? This sounds like operator error or a faulty box. Does this 
complaint sound remotely like the box is meant to work that way? Not to me.

Case in point. The Accurian HD box from 2004 does not have an internal volume 
control. The almost identical Digital Stream HD3150plus does have, but who 
knew? The remote control certainly doesn't give a clue.

So when I first set up the HD3150plus, after having had the Accurian for 
several weeks, the super low volume concerned me. Very soon, though, searching 
the menus, I found the internal volume setting and the problem was solved. 
Could this situation be similar?

> The Zenith/Insignia does not pass-thru the antenna
> when powered off.

When NTSC goes off, no one will care about this, unless they really do watch 
LPTV.

> My Digitalstream makes a high-pitched whistle when
> powered off. It's subtle but you can't sleep in a silent
> room with it plugged in. Anybody else notice this?

I'd like an answer to that last question. If this is a design problem, it 
should certainly be addressed by Digital Stream. Or pull the plug when you're 
trying to sleep.

The rest of the complaints are basically frivolous, IMO. Hey, a box that costs 
you $10 is allowed to look a little cheap, okay?

Craig wrote:

> The NTIA dropped the ball, in large part because they
> were not qualified to handle the assigned task. They
> approached this task as a bureaucracy would, not as a
> manufacturer would in trying to develop a product to
> meet the market requirements.

This is overstated, IMO.

The NTIA certainly appears to have had this blind spot about LPTV stations and 
their transition schedule. But the fallout from that oversight should be 
minimal. The fact that journalists are milking the goof for all it's worth does 
not change the fact that it's not a big deal, as problems go.

Aside from that one issue, I don't think any of the problems Cliff listed are 
problems the NTIA should have had to prevent with new coupon-box-specific 
specifications. For example, line level audio outputs are supposed to provide 
roughly 1 V rms at max output volume for all audio equipment. The NTIA should 
certainly NOT have had to re-specify all audio/video CE equipment standards for 
this D/A converter program. A CE vendor that knows anything at all knows what 
the interface specifications are.

In short, I think this is more of the same persistent, and mostly gratuitous, 
complaining that has dogged the US DTV transition from the very beginning.

Bert

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