February 17, 2009 is the
Deadline for Conversion to Digital Television Signals
Learn How to Prepare for this DTV Conversion
While the benefits of DTV are remarkable, millions of households risk losing television reception unless they take the easy steps to receive a digital signal.
What is HDTV?
HDTV stands for High Definition TV. The television you're watching now is Analog TV (SDTV-standard definition TV). HDTV can transmit more than 6 times the information of the analog system. The average analog TV has about 300,000 pixels while HDTV has more than 2 million. The analog screen has 525 scan lines and the HDTV screen has 1,080. What this means to you is a wider screen that looks more like a movie, with the highest quality picture and digital surround sound.
What is Anolog TV?
Analog television service is the traditional method of transmitting television signals. Analog transmission has been the standard broadcast technology since the inception of television. Analog is not as efficient as digital television: it uses up much more of the valuable spectrum than digital, and TV stations can only transmit one channel of programming with an analog signal versus up to four or more programs with a digital signal in the same amount of spectrum. Analog is also susceptible to interference and “snow” that make a picture less clear.
What is the DTV Transition?
The DTV transition is the switchover from analog (the traditional method of transmitting television signals) to exclusively digital broadcasting of free television programming. The transition from analog to digital television represents the most significant advancement of television technology since color TV was introduced. The DTV transition will be completed on February 17, 2009, as set by Congress. Television stations have been preparing for the transition from analog to DTV since the late 1990s, when they began building digital facilities and airing digital channels alongside regular analog broadcasts. Today, 1,624 out of 1,762 full power television stations nationwide offer digital programming.
What Equipment Will I Need?
If you currently receive free over-the-air television programming on an analog television set, you will need a DTV converter box to continue to receive television service after February 17, 2009. DTV converter boxes will be available in early 2008.
To help consumers cover the cost of the converter box, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will be issuing up to two converter box coupons valued at $40 each to households in early 2008. Information about the DTV converter box coupon program is available at www.ntia.doc.gov.
What is a DTV Converter Box?
A DTV converter box is an easy-to-install electronic device that hooks up to your analog television set and over-the-air antenna and converts the digital television signal into analog, making it viewable on your analog TV. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will issue up to two converter box coupons valued at $40 each to households to help defray the cost of the converter box.
How do I switch?
the digital signal into analog for an existing television set.
The DTV converter box, sometimes referred to as a set-top box, is an electronic device that makes the new digital signal viewable on an older “analog” television set. DTV converter boxes will be available for purchase in early 2008, and are expected to cost between $50 and $70. To help consumers cover the cost of the converter box, the federal government will offer up to two converter box coupons valued at $40 each to households beginning in early 2008. Each coupon may be used toward the purchase of a single DTV converter box and the coupon program will be administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) www.ntia.doc.gov.
You will still need an over-the-air antenna in addition to the converter box to receive a digital signal on your analog television set. Your current antenna should work the same as before.
Click here to find out how to get your own converter box.
Purchase a new television set with a built-in digital tuner. Another option you may choose is to upgrade to a new television set with a built-in digital tuner. As with older sets, you will need an over-the-air antenna that provides quality reception of over-the-air analog television signals to pick up free digital broadcast programming from local stations. Before deciding to purchase a new digital TV, you should make sure your current TV doesn’t already have a built-in digital tuner. Most sets sold in the last few years that are larger than 27 inches will likely have a digital tuner.
To check whether your TV set can receive over-the-air digital broadcast signals, take a look at your owner's manual or look on the set for an indication that it has a built-in Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) tuner. You can also go to the manufacturer's Web site and check the capabilities of the set by manufacturer model number.
Source: DTVAnswers.com
Low Power Television Stations, Translator Stations, and the Digital Television (DTV) Transition
Source www.LPTVAnswers.com
But the law does not require "low power" television (LPTV) stations to go digital. These smaller LPTV stations, and low power "translator" stations that boost a signal's strength at distances far from the station's main transmitter, may continue broadcasting in analog after February 17, 2009.
What does that mean for you?
Specifically, viewers who plan to watch low-power TV after February 17, 2009 will need a special kind of "analog pass-through" converter box that passes through an analog signal and a digital signal. See the side bar for an up-to-date list of converter boxes with the pass through option.
Without that special converter box, viewers will need a small new device called a "splitter" and some new wiring – not unlike setting up your TV to a DVD player and VCR.
Do I watch LPTV? Find out here!
Below are converter boxes available for purchase with the analog pass-through option:
- APEX DT250
- CASTi CAX-02
- Digital Stream DSP7700T
- Digital Stream DX8700
- Digital Stream DTX9950
- DISH Network DTVPal
- Echostar TR-40
- Jiuzhou DTT9001
- Magnavox TB-100MG9
- Philco TB150HH9
- Philco TB100HH9
- RCA DTA800B1
- Tatung TDB3001
- Venturer STB7766G1
The two links below offer a wealth of information on the different types of DTV sets available, costs and comparisons of brands and news on new technology. The Alaska Broadcasters Association does not endorse any of the products or services that may be offered. The links are provided only as a beginning point for learning about DTV and product availability.
