Digital TV Converter Quick Setup Guide

Many of you still writing in and having trouble hooking up your digital TV converters. We’ve decided to add another article to our series that aims to help you setup your digital television converter. If you haven’t had time to order your digital TV converter, now is the time. Many coupons will be expiring soon, and you certainly don’t want to be left in the dark when February rolls around.

Unpack your digital TV converter
digital TV converter cables
- In the box you will find an instruction manual, a coax cable, a remote control with batteries, and the set-top converter box. A power cable, power supply, audio/video cables and cable adapters may also be included.
- Begin by placing your digital TV converter near your television set so it will be visible from the front.
Connect your digital TV converter
- Disconnect your existing antenna by pulling out or unscrewing the coax cable from the “antenna in” jack on the back of your TV.
- Connect the antenna cable to the “antenna in” jack on the back of your digital converter box.
- Use the supplied coax cable to connect the “antenna out” jack on the converter to the “antenna in” on the back of your television.
  NOTE: The red, white, and yellow auxiliary outputs can be used as an alternative to the coax cable if your set is equipped with corresponding input, or to connect your digital tv converter to a VCR.
- Next, plug in the converter box power cable and install the supplied batteries in the remote control.
  NOTE: If your antenna connects to your set through a thin, flat wire hooked to a pair of screw terminals instead of the threaded coax cable input, you will need to use an inexpensive antenna adapter, available from your local electronics retailer and use our guide for connecting your digital TV converter with a twin lead antenna.
tv hookup
Scan for digital television channels
- Turn on the television and tune it to channel 3. If channel 3 is used in your area, consult the manual that came with your digital tv converter for instructions on using channel 4 instead.
- Point the remote control toward the digital converter box and press the “power” button. A small light on the front of the box will indicate that the box is getting power and has turned on.
- The first time the unit is powered up, it will either prompt you to scan for local digital channels or it will begin scanning for channels automatically. This could take several minutes but will only happen once. Once the scanning process is complete, your digital TV converter will be ready to use.
Enjoy your new cheap digital TV
- Press the “channel up” button on the digital TV converter box remote to explore your new digital stations. Do not be surprised if you suddenly receive many additional stations.
- If any of your desired stations are missing, refer to the converter’s manual for instructions on how to add additional channels.
- Now, just sit back and enjoy the added features and superior quality of digital television. If you need more information on the digital transition, please check our DTV answers section or visit DTV2009.gov