The conversion from analog to all-digital television broadcasting is scheduled to occur Feb. 17. The switch was established by Congress in order to free up and sell pieces of the broadcast spectrum for wireless and emergency needs.
The result has been a slew of questions from consumers. Here are a few to help guide the way.
Q. Who is affected by the Feb. 17 switch to digital-television signals?
A. The more than 1.5 million Denver broadcasting-area households that rely on an antenna to watch free over-the-air TV must be digitally ready by having either a converter box or digital television with digital tuner. As of Thursday, Nielsen Co. estimates 72,000 of them were not ready.
Rural communities that watch local low-power television stations, however, won’t be affected since those stations are exempt from the conversion, as are communities that rely on translators — boxes that rebroadcast faraway signals to a different channel.
Those who subscribe to cable or satellite television are not affected.
Q. How will I know whether I need a converter box?
A. If your television set is analog and not digital, you will need a converter box. You can tell by looking at the set and finding a label or by checking the owner’s manual. Generally, TVs older than 10 years are likely analog. Sets should contain the word “digital” or “DTV” to tell. If your set is digital, you should be sure it has a digital tuner, too. If it does not, as is the case with a digital monitor, you will need a tuner, not a converter box.
Q. What does the converter box do?
A. The box picks up the digital signal and changes it, or converts it, to an analog signal an older television can use. Boxes also should have an analog “pass-through,” which allows an analog signal to move directly to the television. Without it, you’ll not be able to view low-power stations in your area.
Q. Will the channel numbers stay the same?
A. Most of the new digital signals will be transmitted on the higher UHF band, which is channels higher than 13. TV stations until now were mostly on the lower-numbered VHF band. The digital signal for Channel 2, for instance, will be transmitted on UHF 34.
But the converter box will actually show it as channel 2.1 — and after Feb. 17 simply as channel 2 — because of an extra bit of information contained in the signal transmission. Stations such as Channel 9, which also transmits digitally on UHF 16, will revert the new signal back to its more familiar spot at Channel 9 after the switch. That’s because it’s on the higher end of the VHF spectrum.
Q. Does the switch mean I can watch free TV in high-definition (HD) now?
A. Yes, but only for those shows that are transmitting in HD and only if you have an HDTV. A regular digital-television set or an analog set with a converter box will not show programs in HD. Some stations advertise that they are in HD, but not all programs they show are. You’ll also need a good high-gain antenna.
Q. Do I need to buy a new television set?
A. You shouldn’t. Unless you really want to see the high-definition signals transmitted by some programs, you’ll do fine with a converter box. Sets not as old as others might have a firmer picture, but even the oldest sets should be fine. Remember, though, new set or not, if you want free television, you’ll need an antenna.
Q. What type of antenna do I need now? Won’t my old rabbit ears work just fine?
A. Generally, any regular UHF-VHF antenna should work just fine. Rabbit-ears antennas — even those with a UHF “loop” — might not be the best choice unless you’re close to Lookout Mountain, where most of the digital signal towers are located, and your view to the mountain is unobstructed.
You should not have to purchase “HD” or “digital” antennas.
Some antennas can be used indoors, but the best reception is likely to be from one mounted outdoors or in your attic.
Apartment and condominium dwellers should check with building management for pre-existing antenna wiring that could save money and be more convenient.
Q. Will the channels I get remain the same as always?
A. Probably, though some consumers who rely on free over-the-air television might lose a station or two. That’s because digital signals don’t usually travel as far as analog ones. Too, digital signals are an all-or- nothing proposition, which means you won’t get signals with ghost images. You’ll either see it or you won’t.
Some stations have moved the locations of their signal towers, changing the areas they cover. So while you might lose one, you might also pick up another.
Q. I received a government coupon to buy a converter box, but it’s expired. Can I get a replacement?
A. No. The federal government rules are clear: You must use the coupon within the 90-day expiration assigned to it. That begins tolling on the day the coupon is sent to you, not the day you receive it. Once a coupon or two are sent to your address, you’re no longer eligible to get another, even if you didn’t use the originals.
Q. Do I need a coupon to buy a box?
A. No. The coupons are merely a subsidy provided by the government to ease consumer expense for having to purchase equipment to continue watching free television. The $40 coupon is merely a discount — and not all boxes are eligible for its use. You may purchase any converter box you’d like without one.
Converter-box connection made simple
1. Disconnect the cable running from your antenna to your TV and plug it into the “antenna in” jack on your converter box. (This may be labeled “RF in.”)
2. Take the coaxial cable that is provided with the converter box and plug it into the “antenna out” jack of the converter. (This may be labeled “RF out.”)
3. Plug the other end of the coaxial cable into the “antenna in” jack on the TV.
4. Turn on your TV and tune to channel 3 or 4.
5. Plug in your converter box to the wall outlet.
6. Turn on the converter box using the remote control and you should see the output of the converter box on the TV screen. It will prompt you to scan for local channels, or it will do so automatically.
