Questions and answers
If you’re already a cable customer, the good news is, you may not have to do anything to continue enjoying full power broadcast TV stations in their new digital format.
That’s because your cable company already has technology in place to handle full power local over-the-air TV stations in the new digital format. It does this by capturing these digital signals and sending them to your home through the same cable connection that delivers popular national channels like ESPN, CNN, HBO and hundreds of others. As long as your TV sets are connected to cable, they’ll display local stations.
And, if you’ve signed up for Digital Cable, you’re already enjoying all the benefits of digital TV, including more channel choices, and better quality picture and sound.
If you’re not a cable customer, or don’t think you’ll sign up for cable or satellite service, there are other solutions that can help.
To ensure you’re ready for TV’s transition to digital, check through the following question and answer guide:
What should I do first to prepare for TV’s digital transition?
First, take an inventory of the television sets in your home. Even if you’re a cable customer, you may have one or more sets that aren’t hooked up to cable, and instead use an antenna to gather in full power over-the-air TV signals. These secondary sets are likely to be “analog” - that is, they probably don’t have the digital tuners that are featured in all of the “digital” TV sets your local electronics dealer sells today. These older sets won’t be able to tune in the signals that TV stations will start broadcasting in February 2009.
You mean they’ll literally go blank?
Yes, unless they’re connected to cable, satellite, or to a converter box, they’ll no longer be able to “see” full power broadcast TV signals. Your older sets will continue to work for as long as they operate, if they’re connected to cable, satellite, or to a special add-on digital tuner/converter.
What do I do to keep these sets useful?
There are two solutions.
You can call your local cable company and get your secondary sets connected to cable service. That way, all of the TV sets in your home will be able to display full power TV stations when they begin transmitting their signals exclusively in the new digital format.
Or, there’s a do-it-yourself method available: You can buy a special add-on “converter” that will let your old TV sets pick up and display over-the-air digital signals. These converters will be available from retailers early in 2008, and the federal government wants to help you pay for them. You can apply for up to two vouchers that offer a significant discount off the price of the converters. For more information on the converter coupon program, go to www.DTV.gov, or call, toll-free, 1-888-DTV-2009.
How do I know if my TV set is able to receive digital signals by itself?
What you need to know is whether your TV set has something called a “digital tuner” already built in. If it does, your TV set is already configured to receive and display the new digital over-the-air TV signals that will be transmitted beginning in February 2009.
The best way to determine whether your TV set has a digital tuner built in is to consult your owner’s manual. If that’s not possible, you may be able to look up information about your TV set on the manufacturer’s website. Or, you can take an up-close look at your TV set. In any case, you’re trying to find out if your set has an input connection labeled “digital input” or “ATSC” (it’s the acronym for the new digital TV format).
Here are some general guidelines that may help:
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 that can’t display digital TV signals without either a special converter or a cable TV connection.
If you bought a big-screen, projection TV between 1998 and 2004, it’s possible there’s a built-in digital tuner inside. But chances aren’t great. Only a limited percentage of projection TV sets (and generally only those 42 inches in diameter or larger) included digital tuners before 2004.
If you’ve purchased a new TV set since 2004, your chances of having a built-in digital tuner improve dramatically. Starting in 2004, many of the TV sets sold at popular electronics stores have featured digital tuners that will let you receive the new digital over-the-air broadcasts starting in February 2009. But be wary: It’s not a sure thing. Even some of the newer TV sets are purely display monitors that lack the internal circuitry needed to pick up digital broadcasts. Usually these sets have been advertised as “HD-ready” or “HDTV monitor” sets. That means they can display digital and high-definition signals, but they need help getting those signals in the first place. That means you still need a special converter or a cable TV connection.
Where can I buy a new digital TV set?
If you’re interested in replacing your old analog TV set with a new digital TV, your local electronics retailer has a vast array of digital TV sets and products. To learn more about digital TVs, and how to find one that’s right for you, visit http://www.myceknowhow.com/digitalTelevision.cfm.
Do these new digital over-the-air signals deliver TV in high definition (HDTV)?
Many of them do. Many popular full power TV stations already are transmitting HDTV signals using their new digital broadcasting capability. But keep in mind that you can see the crystal-clear HDTV versions of TV stations only if you have a TV set or monitor that’s built specially to render HDTV pictures. (You may be familiar with the terms “plasma” and “LCD.” Both are types of HDTV sets.) If you have a digital TV that’s not HDTV-capable, you’ll be able to see any digital TV stations already on the air with improved clarity, and there will be more after Feb. 17, 2009. But you won’t see the ultra-sharp pictures contained in their HDTV broadcasts.
If I do have a new HDTV set, how do I get real high-definition television?
You can ask your cable company to connect you to Digital Cable with HDTV. You’ll get lots of national and local channels in crystal-clear, high-definition resolution. If you’re interested in receiving just broadcast HDTV programming, your set may contain a cable tuner allowing you to receive HDTV broadcast signals carried by your cable system. Or, you can mount a special HD antenna to your home to receive broadcast TV HD channels that are available in your area.
What if I’m not a cable or satellite customer - and don’t want to become one - but still want to use my old TV sets?
If you’re not a cable or satellite customer and don’t wish to become one, you can buy a special add-on “converter” that will let your old TV sets pick up and display over-the-air digital signals. These converters will be available from retailers in 2008, and you can apply for up to two vouchers from the federal government that can help pay for them. For more information on the converter coupon program, go to www.DTV.gov, or call, toll-free, 1-888-DTV-2009.
How can I get help in paying for the equipment I’ll need?
If you have older analog TV sets, and want to continue using them, you’ll need to connect them to cable or satellite service, or to a special digital-to-analog converter, to continue receiving full power TV signals. Your cable company helps keep costs low by allowing you to connect additional TV sets to cable service for only a small monthly fee - you don’t have to “buy” any new equipment.
If you prefer to buy a special digital-to-analog converter from a local electronics store, you can get up to two vouchers, worth $40 each, that will help pay for the devices. Information on the voucher program will be available from the U.S. Commerce Department starting January 1, 2008. Each home can request up to two coupons for the converter boxes, which are expected to cost between $50 and $75 each. The coupons will be mailed, and you’ll have approximately three months to redeem them. More information on the government’s converter coupon program is available at www.DTV.gov, or by calling a toll-free number, 1-888-DTV-2009.
What if I’m an over the air viewer of a low power (or LPTV) station in my community – how can I continue to watch it on my analog TV set?
In order to continue viewing LPTV stations broadcasting in analog, you must ensure that your analog TV set remains capable of viewing analog broadcasts, even if you make provisions to see digital TV on your analog set. Some people refer to this capability as an “analog pass-through.” There are several ways to ensure that you have this capability. For people who watch television over the air, the most direct way is to obtain a digital-to-analog converter that offers an “analog pass-through” option. Several brands of these converters are available in retail outlets, and your local consumer electronics retail store can guide you in your purchase decision. Cable customers who want to view LPTV stations over the air on an analog TV set that’s hooked up to cable simply need to know how to switch their TV set from cable viewing to viewing stations over the air. The owner’s manual for your TV set should offer details on how to do this. Or your local cable operator may be able to provide you with guidance as well. For more information on low power TV stations, translators, and other broadcasters that are exempt from the 2009 digital TV transition — or to find a list of them in your area — visit http://www.ntia.doc.gov/dtvcoupon/lowpowerTV.html on the website of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.
What if I’m watching over the air television from a “translator” that many full power broadcast stations may use to extend their signal to distant or rural communities?
Similar to low power TV stations, broadcasters aren’t required to switch these “translators” from analog to digital, so many will continue to transmit in analog after February 17, 2009. Therefore, over the air TV viewers that wish to continue viewing over the air broadcasts from a translator service on analog TV sets will need to ensure that those TV sets can continue to receive and display analog signals. See the previous question for information on how to do this.