This is a time of change throughout the broadcasting industry. My local
small-town police force, who I thought would be broadcasting VHF forever,
skipped right by trunking, and now our entire town's communications is
handled through Nextel. As a former newsperson, this breaks my heart,
especially when I have several scanners that won't be a whole lot of use to
me from now on.

Of course, digital television is on its way. I thought that might take 10 to
20 years, but stations are really putting out the programming and consumers
are really buying the receivers. It truly won't be long until analog
televisions will be useless without a converter box and companies are
basically giving away analog tvs right now.

It disturbs me that the Eton E1, successor to the Grundig Satellit 800, is
now XM and DAB ready. But why shouldn't it be? If digital is truly taking
over the airwaves (and it is), why shouldn't the receiver makers build the
newest technology into their newest products?

I guess I'm just a child of the 20th Century who somehow has made it into
the 21st century.

Or in the immortal words of ELO's Jeff Lynne (circa 1980):

"Things ain't how you thought they were
Nothing have you planned
So pick up your penny and your suitcase
You're not a 21st century man."