Re: FCC Orders All TV's To Have Digital Tuners By 2007

[Ben Gore <ben@hrdent.com>]

> >Ben Gore wrote:

> >How about one where the receiver is a plug in module, and you just plug in
> >what you need, as and when you need it? This would put it all in "one box", and
> >would be easy to upgrade/change as the so-called "standards" change.

Larry Weil replied:

> I guess that would work, as long as all the manufacturers could a agree on
> a standard for the plug-in.  That's the thing about standards, they are
> such a good thing that there are a multitude of them.

The manufaturers wouldn't need to agree on a standard plug in. As long as they
manufactured the appropriate plug in for their product, they could market the same
design for any number of different worldwide broadcast standards, allowing the
local retailers (or someone else) to plug in the required modules for their area.

Of course it would be nice if it was a standard module. If that were the case, then
you could have a scenario such as the local cable TV company providing a module
instead of a converter box, and have it preprogrammed to descramble to services you
have subscribed to. That would eliminate the set-top box, and truly get us down to
one box for many homes.

-Ben