TV commercials too loud?...

{Updated 2009 September 19}

One of the things I have always hated is that television commercials can be louder than the program I was watching. If it happens during a show I want to watch (all of), I'll mute the entire commercial break or switch to a different channel until the break is over. If it's just a show that I have on, I might not return to the channel after I have left it...

I've never understood how many television receivers were made without audio leveling functionality as a standard feature, or a button on the remote control to allow for quick and easy lowering of the volume for when these horrible practices of presentation were on.

I found some time to search to see if there are solutions in the market, and found a few products all manufactured by Toshiba. They have a "StableSound" feature on some models: "This feature maintains television volume within a preset range regardless of the source signal. Benefit: Eliminates the annoyance of normal program volume being followed immediately by extremely loud commercial messages or drastic volume fluctuations while changing channels."

The Toshiba 46XV545U 46" REGZA 1080p LCD HDTV (J&R Item # TOS 46XV545U) has StableSound...and a mute/half-mute function! It's listed as a "Clearance Item" with "Limited Availability" for $1,099.97...so there's no telling how long this will be around.

Kmart has a 26-inch LCD TV with HDMI unit (135000TOS-26HL67, Model# TOS-26HL67), with StableSound, for $712.49

And the least expensive TV I was able to find with StableSound is a Toshiba 15DLV77 15" LCD TV with Built-In DVD Player (Model: 2009304) for $229.00

We can put a man on the moon and watch it on television, and watch Michael Jackson "moonwalk" across the TV screen, but ads like "We Love the Subs" for Quiznos need a leash.

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After Dick DeBartolo made a post about SRS TruVolume, I found a post on their blog:

"...once you set your volume to a comfortable listening level, you can sit back and enjoy watching television or listening to music without worrying about sudden or frequent changes in volume level or having to reach for the remote control to adjust volume."

...and a press release:

"...VIZIO’s complete 2009 LCD HDTV lineup...will feature...TruVolume.

"SRS TruVolume allows VIZIO HDTV users to enjoy television programming, music, DVD and Blu-Ray content free from annoying volume fluctuations that are normally encountered when switching between sources, channels, and when programming transitions to commercials.

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And, I recently received a message from SRS Labs:

"Right now you can find it in various models, most notably Samsung and Vizio TVs. It can also be found in Vizio soundbars."

USB digital TV receiver

During the Tech Tuesday segment on KOLD News 13 Live This Morning, Andy showed: a personalized coffee mug from RocketLife.Com, a World of Warcraft Battle Chest, Pinnacle Studio 12 for Video Editing and Creation, and an Encore Electronics USB DTV Tuner...



The Encore Electronics ENUTV-DAT USB ATSC Digital TV Tuner is powered by the USB port. An infrared remote control, and antenna, is included.

The HDTV resolution goes to 1920 x 1080i. You can schedule for a program to be recorded. And time-shifting allows for the recording, and playback, of live television broadcasts...at the same time! Files are recorded in iPOD, PSP MPEG-4, and Windows CE-WMV formats. Images can be captured in JPEG and BMP formats...

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Encore sent the unit to us months ago, and I tried it, but decided to withhold posting a review because of all of the changes in the final date for digital conversion.

A CD is included that has the software needed for the unit. When I inserted the CD into my computer, the Drivers & Utilities Installation menu appeared. The first item on the menu is Setup Utility...the second item is Setup Driver. The handbook states to install the driver, then the utility...

After doing so, I connected the device and an error message appeared: "The device cannot be detected or is not supported." After restarting the computer, and connecting the device, it was recongized.

When I tested it I was in the northwest area of Tucson (Marana), inside of a coffee shop. The signals from the stations could not be expected to be very strong. One of the reasons I was trying to wait as long as possible about posting this review is because some will be increasing their power, but I don't know when that will be and if there are stations in my area that will be.

I was able to get KVOA (Channel 4), and KHRR (Channel 40)...and our local PBS affliate, KUAT. KUAT impressed me the most:

KUAT6/HD
http://tv.azpm.org/kuat/
"271" (channel 27.1)

KUAT 6-Kids-HD.
http://tv.azpm.org/kids/
"272" (channel 27.2)

PBS-World
http://tv.azpm.org/world/
"273" (channel 27.3)

If you look at their website, there appear to be at least two more channels available.

Andy and I have tried other digital television receivers, and feel that...based on our experiences...outdoor amplified antennae should seriously be considered when at all possible.

mandatory change to digital television moved to June

Wednesday, February 11th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
...President Barack Obama signed S.352, a bill to postpone the DTV transition date to June 12th...

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Congress mandated that “full-power” TV stations will not be able to broadcast in analog after June 12, 2009...three other categories of TV stations exist – “low-power” stations, “Class A” stations, and “TV translator” stations. There is currently no deadline for these stations to convert to digital broadcasting.

...the June 12, 2009 deadline for ending analog broadcasts does not apply to low-power, Class A, and TV translator stations...

Viewers should look for information from their LPTV, Class A, and TV translator stations about plans to convert from analog to digital broadcasting. Viewers should also visit www.fcc.gov for any updates on the digital transition of low-power, Class A, and TV translator stations.

List of All Class A, LPTV, and TV Translator Stations

antennas for television reception

AntennaWeb.org attempts to suggest types of antennas needed to receive local television broadcast channels based on geographical maps and signal strengths.

For example: most of the transmitters of the Tucson (Arizona) television stations are on Mount Bigelow in the Santa Catalina Mountains, which is north of Tucson.

My area is Picture Rocks, which is far west of Tucson...beyond the Tucson Mountains.

According to AntennaWeb.org:
for my CBS, ABC, and PBS affiliate stations I need a Medium Directional Antenna rooftop antenna with a pre-amp...
and for my Fox, NBC, and KTTU stations I need a Large Directional Antenna rooftop antenna with an amplifier.

(I'm not surprised...as long as I've lived in Tucson, to receive most of the television stations available, I've needed to use the best antennas I could afford.)

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Regarding the installation of outdoor antennas...

The Telecommunications Act (Section 207/rule 47 C.F.R. Section 1.4000) prohibits restrictions that impair the installation, maintenance, or use of antennas used to receive video programming including: satellite dishes, TV antennas, and wireless cable antennas.

It applies to condominiums, rental properties, and single-family homes.

viewer-submitted parodies of Discovery Channel shows

"You Spoof Discovery: The ultimate viewer-submitted low-cost high-quality extremely entertaining Discovery parody special hosted by Mike Rowe of Dirty Jobs, who also narrates the series American Chopper, American Hot Rod and Deadliest Catch".

G4 on the Wii

I dont' have a Wii, so I don't know how to get there on it...but here is the link.