You’ve no doubt started to hear the hype beginning. On February 17, 2009 federal law requires that all full-power television broadcast stations cease their analog broadcasts and begin broadcasting only in digital format. This means that if you have not properly prepared you will awaken on February 18 and be greeted by a blank screen. However, your story does not have to end this way. If you absorb some of the information contained herein you can have all your proverbial ducks in a row before that fateful day. If you have questions, we have DTV answers.
Background on the digital television transition.
Beginning at midnight on February 17, 2009, all full-power television stations in the United States must stop all analog broadcasts and switch to 100% digital broadcasting. Digital broadcasting promises to
provide a clearer picture and more programming options and will free up airwaves for other uses, such as advanced wireless services (wireless broadband) and public safety communications (use by rescue squads, police, and fire departments).
Not all stations will have this cutoff date. Low power and translator stations will be exempt from the February 17 deadline. No deadline has yet been established for these low power stations, which have a limited broadcast range in rural or urban areas. TV translator stations, which retransmit signals from full-power stations, are in the same boat. Under the current plan, these stations can continue analog broadcasts after the dominant stations have switched to digital.
Between October 2007 and September 2009, a federal program will make payments to eligible low power stations to assist with the transition to digital TV. The program will be administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).
If you live in a community with these stations, you may wish to contact them for details concerning their transition time frame. As these stations go digital, you will need to take action to continue to receive your free TV with an antenna and may want to consider applying for TV converter box coupon before March 31, 2009, because after that date, they will no longer be available.
How do I know if the transition will affect me?
If you currently watch TV on an analog TV set that is not connected to cable, satellite or other pay TV service you will be affected by this transition. If you own a television with a digital tuner or subscribe to a pay TV service, you will likely continue to receive TV programming as usual after the transition.
The best way to determine whether your TV set has a digital tuner built in is to consult your owner’s manual. For most of us, this will be impossible. There is a very good chance that you can find information on your set (maybe even a new owner’s manual) on the manufacturer’s website. The last option will be to get up close and personal with your TV. Pull it out from the wall and scrunch in behind it; you may even consider dusting it while you’re at it. In any case, you’re looking for an input connection labeled “digital input” or “ATSC” (for Advanced Television Systems Committee, which is the DTV format).
In general, the following should be true:
If you bought your TV set before 1998, it probably doesn’t have a digital tuner at all. Almost every TV set made before 1998 was a traditional “analog” set.
If you bought a projection television (’big screen’) between 1998 and 2004, there is a slight chance that it will have a digital tuner built in. Only a fraction of projection TV sets (mostly those with 42 inch screens and larger) included digital tuners.
If you have purchased a new TV set since 2004, your chances of having a built-in digital tuner improve quite dramatically. Starting in 2004, many of the TV sets sold at popular electronics stores featured digital tuners that will allow you to not worry about February 17, 2009. Don’t get too excited though; your odds only increased, it still isn’t a sure thing. Even some of the newest TV sets are purely display monitors that still lack the internal circuitry needed to pick up the new digital broadcasts. These sets have been advertised as “HDTV monitor” sets or as “HD ready”. All that means is that while they can display digital and high-definition signals, they still need additional equipment to pickup that signal in the first place. In other words, you’ll still need a digital-to-analog converter box or a pay TV connection.
What should I do to insure that my TV continues to work?
Thankfully, you have a variety of options. For example, you can keep your existing analog TV and purchase a DTV converter box. A converter box is a device that plugs into your TV translates the new digital signals to a format your television can understand. You can also sign up and connect to cable, satellite or another pay service. As a final option (assuming you still want to watch TV) you can purchase a new TV that has a digital tuner built in.
A digital-to-analog converter box (also know as a TV converter box) is a new product that plugs into your analog TV and, along with your antenna, will allow your analog set to continue working after February 17, 2009. A TV converter box is a one-time purchase and they normally cost between $40 and $70.
Converter boxes plug into your TV set and also have a spot to hook up your antenna (or rabbit ears). Each TV converter box will come with installation instructions from the manufacturer. You should be able to install the converter box using the instructions provided by the manufacturer. For specific questions, you should ask your retailer or call the manufacturer’s technical support hotline.
In an effort to help ease the sting of this transition, Congress has created the TV Converter Box Coupon Program for households wishing to keep using their analog TV sets after February 17, 2009. The Program will allow all U.S. households to obtain up to two coupons, each worth $40 that can be applied toward the purchase of eligible converter boxes. While everyone is eligible to participate in this program, you must remember that supplies are limited. There will be 22.25 million coupons available to all U.S. households, and once those coupons have been issued, there will an additional 11.25 million coupons available only to households that solely receive their TV broadcasts over-the-air using an antenna. Households with TVs connected to cable, satellite or other pay TV service are not eligible for this second batch of coupons. You will be able to apply for these coupons until March 31, 2009, or until the all the funds have been exhausted.
What if I still need more information?
If this article still left you with lingering questions, there are several useful websites you can visit:
www.digital-tv-converter.info
www.dtv2009.gov
www.dtvtransition.org
www.dtv.gov
www.ntiadtv.gov
If you’ve already got your coupons, we have a great list of digital converter box reviews to help you make an informed purchase. You can also apply for your converter box coupon online or browse our list of coupon eligible converter boxes.
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