Get Ready for Digital TV

Get Ready for Digital TV

Everyone who owns a television needs to know about the big change coming to our television sets.

By February 17, 2009, all television stations will stop sending out program signals on their analog channels. If you already have a digital TV or if you have cable or satellite service you most likely don't need to do anything. The change to DTV will mean a better quality television picture and more channel options. Check with your cable or satellite service provider to see if and when they'll be providing any new equipment.

If you have an older set and use rabbit ears or an outside antenna, your TV won't work after February 17 unless you act to: 1) get a special converter box that will make your analog set work, 2) subscribe to a cable, satellite or other pay service for all the sets in your home, or buy a new TV that will receive digital signals.

Buying a New Television

If you are shopping for a new television in the next few months, you'll want to get a set that you know will work when the change is made to digital-only signals. All newly manufactured TVs must include digital tuners. But any analog sets still in inventory may be sold. The TV on super sale may be marked down because it won't work next year.
Getting a Converter Box

Starting now you can get a coupon that will cut $40 off the cost of the converter box. You can get up to two coupons.
You can apply for the coupon online.
Or call to request the coupon (s):
1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009)
TTY English 1-877-302-2634
TTY Spanish 1-866-495-1161

You can also download a paper form (PDF). Mail the form to:
TV Converter Box Coupon
P.O. Box 2000
Portland, OR 97208
or fax it to 1-877-DTV- 4ME2.


Once you receive your coupon you have to use it within 90 days.

You can purchase the box from a retail store, like Best Buy, Circuit City, Radio Shack, or Wal-Mart. You can easily find the store nearest you. Call ahead to make sure a coupon-eligible box is in stock.

This box that sits on top of your TV changes digital signals coming over the air from the television station to analog format that your set can use. Keep in mind that every analog set in your house, unless it is connected to cable or satellite, will need a converter box. If you already use a roof-top or rabbit-ears antenna, the same antenna should work with the converter box.

AARP Resources

HDTV Pre-Purchase Decisions
There are lots of things to think about before you purchase that flat panel high definition television.

Additional Resources

TV Converter Box Coupons

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration is responsible for administering the coupon program. Over 7 million coupons have already been requested.

What Every Consumer Should Know (Adobe Acrobat required)

The Federal Communications Commission has more information about the transition to digital TV.


National Association of Broadcasters

Television as We Know it is About to Change

Comments

Thanks for posting this useful information. You should have mentioned that on the morning of Feb. 18 anyone using an antenna to recieve television signals should RESCAN for channels! Most DTV stations are on temporary allocations right now, and will change frequencies when their analog signals go off the air.

For instance, in my area the NBC affiliate's DTV signal is currently on channel 2, but will move to 17 on Feb. 18. Anyone who does not RESCAN will also be left in the dark.
 
I didn't mention it because I didn't know that. :redface: Thank you for informing myself and others.
 
Just saw the news. The majority of us knew this of course; now it is possible that the cutoff date may be extended because the government has run out of coupons and there is a waiting list. They do not expect the list to be completed by that date so it may be extended!
 
The change to DTV will mean a better quality television picture and more channel options.
Not for everyone, though. I've got a digital converter box. Without it, I get what I've always gotten -- three stations from Roanoke (on the other side of the mountain) with a snowy picture, but pretty good audio. It's never been a great signal, but after having lived here for years, I'm pretty used to it.

With the digital box, the signal on two of the channels are so poor that the box won't convert it, so it looks like I may end up with just one channel unless the other Roanoke stations boost their signals between now and the transition date. (Which might actually happen, I've heard.)

That said, the one channel I do get looks fantastic.
 

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