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Set top Boxes for Pensioners

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I guess if you're going to have a truly fair and workable national plan, you need to cover as many scenarios as possible. The point was made earlier that some pensioners may already have an LCD TV and would therefore miss out on the projected $400 windfall. How about giving them ALL the $400 with the option to redeem it for one of a range of pre-approved LCD's from a couple of our national retailers, OR to keep the cash (and watch their old TV fade out in the next few months if they have already updated).
Just make sure you put plenty of clear instructions into the package so that they understand the deal being offered and I'm sure they'll be happy with the option.
I shouldn't have to say it, but I will, we just need to make sure that the "national retailers" that I mentioned don't rip them off or "up-sell" them at the POS.
I just see this as a way of taking away a future flood of upset and confused pensioners who simply won't be able to handle the complexities of STB's. It may be simple to you or I but many of our oldies struggle with the new technologies (as they would see it).
Just gotta finish with loving the "Pink Batts Mark II" comment - gold!
Thanks
 
How do the feds know pensioner's want/ need a new STB I am sure the are a lot of other things they would spend $400 and with the Feds involved Pink Bats Mk 11 it will be.
Bike Hell Muts springs to mind as an idea
 
So_Cynical said:
Get a grip people :rolleyes: A digital STB installation that works consistently in 99.5% of weather conditions would include the following.

  • HD-STB $65 > $80
  • Digital antenna $75 > $100
  • 10> meters RG6 Coaxial cable + conduit etc, cable run, fittings etc $40 > $60
  • Call out charge + 2 > 3 hours labour $80 > $110
  • Possible replacement of antenna mount $30 > $50

Above is a typical metro install on a single story house...Km charges 2/3rd story and multiple outlet charges would apply.

Hope this helps give a little taste of reality to the uninformed. :)
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If you already get decent reception on the analogue TV channels then under most circumstances that is good enough for digital.

One thing I noted that puzzled me, is the hugely different existing digital TV takeup rates around the country. According to the media, there are still quite a lot of people watching the analogue signal in Sydney and Melbourne (around 22% digital) whereas it is already virtually obsolete in Tasmania (86% digital) and Darwin (87% digital).

A possible explanation is that Tas has had a digital-only channel since 2003, but I would have thought that the introduction of ABC2 and the various other digital-only channels would have lead to a bigger usage in Sydney and Melbourne. Maybe it's the weather (seriously)?

As for those missing out, my mother already has a working digital STB and has had since late 2003. That was installed (by me) as an alternative to upgrading the antenna since the analogue reception on ABC wasn't much good. The box cost $299 back then. Looks like she'll now get a free upgrade to HD...
 
Smurf1976 said:
If you already get decent reception on the analogue TV channels then under most circumstances that is good enough for digital.
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So_Cynical said:
The big difference between analogue and digital tv is that with a poor or weakish signal analogue picture quality will simply degrade...with digital it simply stops, if the tuner doesn't get enough information to draw the picture it simply stops (frozen pixels result from the tuner redrawing the last image because it hasn't got enough info to draw the next image) the vast majority of the $400 will be spent on delivering a very strong signal to the outlet.
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There is no "good enough" when it comes to digital...you either have a very strong signal in 99.9% of weather conditions...or you don't.
 
Just maybe a little bit of self interest here on the part of electricians.
I've never in my entire life had an electrician to install any sort of electronic equipment e.g TV etc.
 
As a licensed electrician, I'd have to say that there is absolutely no need for an electrician to install a STB in a typical household situation.

If you're setting up a huge video wall then yes, you'll need an electrician involved somewhere. But the average person isn't trying to turn their loungeroom into a Harvey Norman showroom or a TV studio. You don't need an electrician to connect your STB that uses all of 10 watts and comes with a 2 or 3 pin plug already attached. Just like you don't need a mechanic to wash your windscreen.

87% of homes in Darwin, and 86% in Hobart, already have digital TV and I can assure you that in Tas at least the vast majority of people just bought a new TV or a STB and set it up themselves. There's a market for professional installation certainly, just like there's a market for washing windows and mowing lawns. But to suggest that it requires an electrician is, in the vast majority of cases, outright nonsense.
 
Yes of course it is, as you say Smurf.

Plug it in. Attach the antenna coax here. Attach the out coax to the back of the television. Auto search for the channels. All up about 10 minutes. Say 15 minutes because the batteries need to be inserted into the remote (without getting electrocuted:D).
 
Why doesn't the government tender out the work to the Harvey Normans etc. of the world and let them handle it. Bit of lateral thinking needed!!!!
 
Logique said:
Yes of course it is, as you say Smurf.

Plug it in. Attach the antenna coax here. Attach the out coax to the back of the television. Auto search for the channels. All up about 10 minutes. Say 15 minutes because the batteries need to be inserted into the remote (without getting electrocuted:D).
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I have just done the TV in our caravan, cost me $33 only, the hardest part was getting the batteries out of that dam shrink wrap plastic, this is the pink Bat's all over again. One has to say that Labor is constant with the screw ups.:eek:
 
pilots said:
I have just done the TV in our caravan, cost me $33 only, the hardest part was getting the batteries out of that dam shrink wrap plastic, this is the pink Bat's all over again. One has to say that Labor is constant with the screw ups.:eek:
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It's now known as "Building the Entertainment Revolution"...:D
 
sails said:
It's now known as "Building the Entertainment Revolution"...:D
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Love it Sails!!!

A couple of years ago I finally persuaded my mum (who is nearly 90) to buy a big, flat screen tele. My husband offered to install it for her. No need. She phoned a shop, bought it, had it delivered, installation was apparently minimal, and next time I turned up - there it was in all its glory!! Because she was proactive she will miss out on $350.

Who invents these profligate schemes? When pensioners don't have enough money to pay their electricity bills our rulers in their wisdom "can't afford" to give them any more, but suddenly, millions of $$$ have materialised - most of which will end up in the pockets of the companies providing and installing these boxes.
 
Look up STB manufactures in China and buy shares that way you may get some money back
 
Ruby, I can't take credit for "Building the Entertainment Revolution" - Abbott labelled it in his speech last night...:D

But it's a good one and aptly describes another potential labor policy on the run which quickly turns to debacle.

Yes, it's a shame that those such as your mother will miss out while other's who haven't been proactive will be rewarded. Although, she might still be offered a set top box - whether it's needed or not...lol

And this cold weather will be hurting many pensioners who are too scared to turn heating on for fear of a monster power bill that they can't afford. I think Abbott said in his speech that electricity costs have risen 50% since labor took power in 2007. And then Gillard wants to bring in her pet carbon tax to hike things up a bit more...:rolleyes:
 
Knobby22 said:
Why doesn't the government tender out the work to the Harvey Normans etc. of the world and let them handle it. Bit of lateral thinking needed!!!!
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I read in today's paper that Gerry Harvey has said he could "supply and install the STB's for less than half the proposed $400". Senator Conroy is reportedly considering calling his bluff.
There is reference in the report to a "tender", so I'm guessing there'll be a tender for this at some stage.
Call me cynical, but if any ONE supplier gets the job I reckon there'll be some rip-offs taking place.
Like I said earlier, here comes "Pink Batts II".
 

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