HDTV/Digital TV and Closed Captioning - A bhNews Special Report

Editor: I follow a BUNCH of hearing loss email lists, and one of the best is bhNEWS (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bhnews), run by Bob MacPherson. It's unique in the hearing loss world, being a combination of posted news articles and thoughts from list members. And to this already interesting mix, Bob has just added electronics reviews! (Bob's well qualified to do so, by the way). Anyway, here's his (slightly edited) recent report on HDTV/Digital TV and Closed Captioning

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Hi Gang! A reader recently asked, "Has anyone who depends on captions and cannot rely on their hearing for a radio (such as weather alert) made the switch to digital television? What are your experiences? Does anyone who receives broadcasts with an antenna (not cable or satellite) have a digital television?"

We promised an answer. And tonight we have it for all to enjoy and learn, on bh News!

A bit of history first, on television captioning:

The first open captioned TV program was The French Chef on PBS with Julia Child in 1972.

The first closed captioned programs aired in 1980 with the ABC Sunday Night Movie, NBC's Wonderful World of Disney and PBS's Masterpiece Theatre.

This revelation for the deaf and HOH [Ed.: Closed captioning] was based on a technical standard known as EIA 608, where the CC data was included in line 21 of the vertical blanking signal. (pardon lapse into techie, please) <G>

But, holy-moly, how times have changed, as the report to follow will amaze and delight!

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*OBJECTIVE: To examine the latest standard for closed captioned television, EIA 708, as applicable to current HDTV receivers presently on the market for the deaf and HOH.

* Test site: The bhNews labs <G> located in Deerfield Beach, Floriduh - Midway between the broadcast towers of Miami and West Palm Beach. Because all TV antennas are directional, the reception from some channels is iffy at best, unless an antenna rotator is employed.

* The research staff: Yours truly and the Cat Editors (in white labcoats, clipboards in paws)

* TV receiver as tested: Samsung 30" flat screen model TXP 3071 WH, with HDTV tuner. (BobNote: don't be fooled by the "HDTV ready" BS in ads)

* Signal source: An outside antenna, cost about 40 clams, which may blow away to Cuba sometime this summer of thrills for Floriduhians if a good 'cane comes our way! <G>

*The test: Skeptical Bob watched as one of our field technicians, Mike Weiss, flipped the over 100 # set onto a table hastily cleared for the new toy and research subject like a box of feathers. I think I heard a whimper from the little 13" analog set that was resigned to the carpet.

"Show me!! I'm from Missouri", I said to Mike!

And he did. I became speechless. This was a first for me, although I've been in the business for almost 50 years.

The pictures from Palm and Miami, usually marginalized with interference, ghosts and stuff like that, magically appeared in DVD-like clarity!

Beyond amazing!!

"Let's check out the captioning", I said to Mike. Then, "Wait! Let me do it. I need to report on this experience!"

Setting up the captions was intuitive, a "piece of cake", albeit lacking any users manual. (We'll download that later, if ever.)

CONCLUSIONS: The original EIA 608 standard essentially brought CC to TV in a singular format.

1: In today's test of live, off-the-air captions with the EIA 708 standard on HDTV, I found not one, but 1029 options for personal customization of captions:
Sizes- 3
Fonts - 7
Background color - 7
Foreground color - 7

2: The set is awesome, but I would never pay the price for it. The only way I have it is 'cuz the whistle (unheard by yours truly) from this over $1000.00 TV resigned it to the dumpster! For those who enjoy TV, however, this may well be a wise investment. IT IS SO GOOD!

3: Cost comparisons, past and present:
In 1947 my family of very modest income (We couldn't even afford a cat.) in Arlington, Virginia dropped the then princely sum of $400 or about as I was told, for a 10" Philco B&W TV, with outside antenna installed.

In today's dollars, that works out to about $3800.

Final: The Cat Editors CAN hear the whistle from this TV. The moment I click the ON button, they head for security - under the bed, of course!

That concludes this bhNews Special Report

Cat Editors: Turn the !!!%$@)(&^%&^% TV OFF or we quit!!

Decisions... Decisions...

Bob