oops.  Her new set is 32", and the Sony was 28".  When watching 4:3 pictures, her picture is now within 1/2" of the size of the 4:3 screen on the Sony (thanks to my doing the math.) 

She's now complaining about shows that don't fill up the picture because they aren't in HDTV.  When watching ER (letterboxed in NTSC), the picture is now bigger. 

I suggested she might want a 37" set.  But, I should note, there were smallter 16:9, supposedly HDTV sets in all three stores we visited.  No need for government cheese.

John Willkie

-----Original Message-----
From: John Willkie
Sent: May 23, 2008 10:06 AM
To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [opendtv] Re: NTIA Issues Alert on Microprose DTV-Converter Box

more speciousness and foolishness.  The lack of dotting is and crossing ts was not on the part of the NTIA; it was the fools at the CBA.

Didn't they encourage customers to book the units before they were available?  Oops, another problem, but not a problem caused by the NTIA.

It will be interesting to see how many dozens of these units are sold.  Perhaps even dozens; it sounds like Dan Grimes will have to get one for his mother in law.

Here's a better idea.  Bit the bullet.  No government cheese.  My mother bought -- for $650 at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Post Exchange a week ago a Funai/Sylvania HD (720 set) to replace her balky Sony NTSC set. 

She's an analog cable subscriber.  Somehow, she gets all the local stations in HD, and even HBO for free.  She might end up paying $10 per month for digital cable, because we haven't found her (desired) Hallmark Channel.  But, she was anticipating paying $800 for a set.

John Willkie

-----Original Message-----
From: James Albro
Sent: May 23, 2008 7:59 AM
To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [opendtv] NTIA Issues Alert on Microprose DTV-Converter Box

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6563455.html?nid=3347

NTIA Issues Alert on Microprose DTV-Converter Box

National Telecommunications and Information Administration Seeks to Clarify Representations Made by Community Broadcasters Association, Vendor About MPI-500PT Model

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 5/22/2008 2:46:00 PM

Attention, online converter-box shoppers: The National Telecommunications and Information Administration put out an alert on representations made by the Community Broadcasters Association and Microprose for the latter's MPI-500PT model of digital-to-analog converter box.

That box has the analog pass-through capability that will allow viewers to still see the thousands of low-power analog stations that will likely still be broadcasting after the Feb. 17, 2009, switch to digital without having to unhook the box.

 

While that is a feature the NTIA is encouraging manufacturers to include, it has not yet certified the new box for its DTV-converter-box coupon-subsidy program. The NTIA is concerned about consumers being led to believe that they can use their $40 coupons toward the purchase of the boxes, which Microprose is selling online.

 

On its Web site, Microprose promotes the May 15 launch of its online-box sales by saying, "Of central interest to many is the ability to order the Microprose MPI-500PT model digital-to-analog converter boxes by many early adopters whose NTIA coupons are set to expire May 31 if not used."

 

While the urgency of that message certainly leaves the impression, as does a release issued this week, that the boxes are coupon-eligible, the description of the item on the new sales site says: "Certification discrepancy has put this unit as non-coupon-eligible. If your coupon is set to expire and you want to purchase an NTIA box, please select our non-analog MPI-500."

 

But it is the message discrepancy that troubled the NTIA.

 

In a consumer alert issued Thursday, the NTIA said: "The MPI-500PT model has not been certified by the program as coupon-eligible." The agency added that it is talking with the CBA and Microprose about the May 20 press release.

 

Greg Herman, VP, technology of CBA, says his group believed the box had already been certified, and was simply trying to do what NTIA and others had advised them to do, which was to inform viewers about how they could continue to receive low-power signals and help them get the right equipment.

 

"Some i's were not dotted and t's crossed at NTIA, " Said Herman, "so, instead of fast-tracking the box, they decided it was more important not to."

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