How to Switch to Digital TV

Guide Note If you have a television that uses an antenna or is connected to cable or TIVO, you may be affected by the switch to digital TV that is scheduled to occur on February 17, 2009. This page will explain what you need to know and what you can do to help ensure you are able to continue watching television on February 18.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Who Will Be Affected
• Does Your Television Have a Digital or Analog Tuner?
• What About Your VCRs and DVRs?
• What Cable Customers Need to Know
• What TiVo Customers Need to Know
• What Antenna Users Need to Know
• How to Connect a Converter Box
• Conclusion
• References

Digital Switch Tips

1. On February 17, 2009, television stations will stop broadcasting analog signals.
2. Anyone who receives signals over the air will require a digital signal or a converter box.
3. Older analog televisions should not be thrown out.
4. VCRs and DVD recorders, like televisions, may also be affected.
5. Converter boxes can be purchased at almost any electronics store.
6. The government has a coupon program that allows consumers to obtain converters at a reduced rate.
7. Do not purchase a new or used television, VCR, or DVR unless it states it has a digital tuner built in or you know you can make it work.

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All the information you need to make the digital TV switch

• by Darcy Logan

Introduction

• Approximately 34.5 million households in the United States have at least one television in their house that receives an over-the-air signal.¹ If not prepared, these televisions will lose their picture on February 17, 2009, when stations make the switch to digital. If you're not sure if or how you will be affected, then you will need to check out this page.

Who Will Be Affected

• People who receive over-the-air television broadcasts through the use of an antenna will be the most affected. However, antenna users are not the only ones who will be affected. Cable and TiVo users may also be affected. In fact, it seems the only people who won't be affected are ones who have all their televisions connected to a satellite system, such as DISH Network or DIRECTV.

• 

  (Creative Commons photo by Alan_D)
  To know if you will be affected, first you should figure out if your television and VCR or DVR has a digital tuner. If they do, then you will not be affected. If they don't, then you may or may not be affected:

1. If you subscribe to satellite TV and all your TVs are connected to that service, you are fine.
2. If you subscribe to cable, you may be affected. Check out the section on What Cable Customers Need to Know.
3. If you receive your television signal over the air through the use of an antenna, then you are most at risk for being affected. You will need to check out the section on What Antenna Users Need to Know.
4. If you use TiVo, you could also be affected. Check out the section on What TiVo Customers Need to Know.
5. If you use a VCR or DVR that is not connected to a cable box or satellite, check out the section on VCRs and DVRs even if your TV has a digital tuner.

Does Your Television Have a Digital or Analog Tuner?

• When your television receives a signal, it translates it using either an analog (NTSC) or digital (ATSC) tuner. If your television has a digital tuner, then the switch will not affect you. If you do not know what type of tuner your television has, then you will need to do a bit of detective work. How does one tell if their television is digital or analog? Here's how you can tell:

1. All televisions built before 1999 are analog.²
2. All 35-inch or larger televisions built after July 2005 are digital.³
3. All 25-inch or smaller televisions built after March 2006 are digital.³
4. All televisions shipped or sold after March 1, 2007, are digital.⁴
5. Televisions are digital if they have any of the following words on them: ATSC Integrated Digital Tuner, Digital Tuner Built-In, Digital Receiver, Digital Tuner, DTV or HDTV.⁴
6. If your television is labeled with the words Digital Monitor, HDTV Monitor, Digital Ready or HDTV Ready, it may not be digital.⁴
7. Check the manual for your television under specs and it should tell you if it is ATSC (digital) or NTSC (analog).²
8. Using your remote, check your television's setup menu. Select "search for channels" to see if you have an option for digital channels.²
9. Check with your set's manufacturer.

What Cable Customers Need to Know

• Although cable companies are telling you that you are taken care of simply by being their customers, there is a little loophole that they are not broadcasting. Any analog televisions connected directly to the wall (instead of through a set-top cable box) may be affected.⁵

• In other words, analog televisions must be connected to a digital-to-analog set-top converter box.⁴ This is something that cable providers typically charge an extra monthly fee for, plus the cost of installation.⁵ Unfortunately, the converter box coupons offered by the government will not help cable consumers. So, consumers are responsible for the additional cost.⁴

• Larger cable companies will most likely convert digital signals back to analog, which means their customers will not be affected.⁵ However, cable companies are not required to do this.⁶ You should check with your cable company to see how your televisions will be affected. Some of the more popular cable companies are:
  1. Time Warner Cable: DTV
  2. Bright House Networks Corporate: Digital Transition
  3. Cablevision: DTV Transition
  4. Charter Communications: Digital Transition 2009
  5. Comcast: Get Ready for the Digital Transition with Comcast
  6. Mediacom: Digital Transition
  7. Cox Communications: The Digital Transition

What TiVo Customers Need to Know

• If you are a TiVo customer, you may be affected by the switch if you have a Series 1 or 2 DVR.⁷
  1. If you own a Series 1 DVR, it will no longer work with your antenna.⁷
  2. If you own a Series 2 DVR, it will work with your antenna but will require a converter box. Check out TiVo's page to find out which converter boxes are compatible with TiVo.⁸
  3. If you have cable, Series 1 and 2 DVRs will require the use of a cable box in order to continue receiving channels.⁷
• To find out more information on how you are affected, go to TiVo's page on Get Ready for the Digital Transition.⁹

What Antenna Users Need to Know

• If you use an antenna to receive your television signal over the air and you do not have a television with a digital tuner, then you will need to do one of four things:
  1. 

     (Creative Commons photo by Alpha)
     Connect your TV to a digital converter box.¹⁰
  2. Purchase a television set with a digital tuner.¹⁰
  3. Purchase a VCR or DVR with a digital tuner.³
  4. Subscribe to cable or satellite television.¹⁰

• The cheapest solution for the long term is to get a digital converter box. The cost of a box starts at $50 but can run up to $200.¹ However, you can request a coupon from the federal government. These coupons are worth $40 towards the purchase of approved digital converters.¹¹ There are several ways you can apply for a coupon:
  1. Go to the TV Converter Box Coupon Program website and apply online.¹²
  2. Call the program toll-free anytime at 1-888-388-2009 (English/TTY: 1-877-530-2634 or Spanish/TTY: 1-866-495-1161 from 9AM to 9PM ET).¹³
  3. Mail a coupon application to PO BOX 2000, Portland, OR 97208-2000.¹⁴
  4. Fax the application to 1-877-388-4632.¹³

What About Your VCRs and DVRs?

• VCRs and DVRs have been sort of overlooked during this whole project and, to be fair, the issue will only come into play if you have a digital television. If your television has a digital converter, but your VCR or DVR does not, it will no longer be able to record programs unless it is connected to a digital converter, even if it records in digital format.¹⁵

• Because digital converters are expensive, few VCRs or DVRs had them before March 25, 2007. After March 25, 2007, any television equipment being sold is required to have a digital tuner or identify itself as not having one.⁴ If you're expecting to see a sign that says "does not have digital tuner" you are sadly mistaken. Instead, you will see things labeled as "tunerless" which means it does it not have a digital tuner or an analog tuner. It can still play but it will only record directly from a cable box or similar device.¹⁶ It will not be able to change channels.

How to Connect a Converter Box

• When connecting your converter box, it is important that you remember that cables are one way streets. One end should be connected to an in jack and the other to an out jack.¹⁷ Since the antenna is where the signal comes "in," the jack where you connect the cable or the cable you connect to your television is considered "out."¹⁸

• Before beginning, use some masking tape and label each end of your coaxial cables. One end should read out and the other in. This will help ensure that you get your cables in the right location.

• To connect your converter box to your television, you will need two coaxial cables (unless your antenna has one attached).¹⁹

1. If your antenna does not have a coaxial cable already connected, take a coaxial cable and connect it to your antenna (out jack). Next, attach this cable to the in jack of the converter box.
   • Out from Antenna --> In to the converter box
2. Take a second coaxial cable and connect it to the out jack of the converter box. Then, attach the other end to the TV (in jack).
   • Out from converter box --> In to the TV

Adding a VCR, DVR or TiVo

• If you are connecting your VCR/DVR, it can help if you picture your TV channel going out from the antenna, into the converter box (to convert it to a picture). It then goes out from the converter box in to the VCR/DVR so it can get recorded. Then, it goes out from the VCR/DVR and in to the TV so you can see the image.

• 

  (Creative Commons photo by Alpha)
  To connect your converter box to your television and your VCR or DVR, you will need three coaxial cables (unless one is already connected to your antenna).¹⁷ To start, let's make two of the easier connections (because there is usually only one choice for your antenna and your television).

1. If your antenna does not have a coaxial cable already connected, take a coaxial cable and connect it to your antenna (out jack). Next, attach this cable to the in jack of the converter box.
   • Out from Antenna --> In to the converter box
2. Take a second coaxial cable and connect it to the out jack on the converter box. Then, connect it to the in jack on the VCR/DVR.
   • Out from converter box --> In to the VCR/DVR
3. Take your third coaxial cable and connect it to the out jack of the VCR/DVR. Then, attach the other end to your TV (in jack).
   • Out from the VCR/DVR --> In to the TV

• Connecting your TiVo is done exactly the same way a VCR/DVR is, except your TiVo box is used instead of the VCR/DVR. However, you may want to check out the instructions listed on their site.²⁰

Conclusion

• This page is meant to be an overview of the digital TV switch. If you are looking for more information, check out:
  • The Digital TV Transition: What You Need to Know About DTV
  • Federal Communications Commission: All-digital Television Is Coming (and Sooner Than You Think!)
  • DTV Answers: What You Need to Know About the February 17, 2009 Switch to DTV
  • DTVTransition.org: A New Era in Television Broadcasting
  • Cable: Digital Transition is coming...Are You Ready?
  • CEA: The Digital Revolution

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References for How to Switch to Digital TV

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} CBS11tv.com: Learn What To Expect From The Digital TV Switch
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} ABC News: Digital Dilemma: Will Your TV Go Dark? (February 15, 2008)
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} ConsumerReports.org: How to Survive the Digital TV Transition
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5} Federal Communications Commission: All-Digital Television Is Coming (and Sooner Than You Think!)
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} USATODAY.com: Digital Transition Could Cost Cable Customers
6. ↑ Federal Communications Commission: FAQs: Can My Cable Company Make Me Get a Box to Receive the Cable Channels I Receive Today Without a Box?
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2} TiVo: Digital Transitions: Which Switch Is Which?
8. ↑ TiVo: Which Digital Converter Boxes for Antenna Are Compatible with My TiVo DVR?
9. ↑ TiVo: Get Ready for the Digital Transition
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1 10.2} DTV Answers: Who is affected by the DTV transition?
11. ↑ NTIA TV: Coupon Eligible Converter Boxes (CECB)
12. ↑ TV Converter Box Coupon Program Website: Apply for a Coupon
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1} TV Converter Box Coupon Program Website: What are my Options?
14. ↑ TV Converter Box Coupon Program Website: Coupon Application  
15. ↑ First Glimpse Article: New Laws, New Signal
16. ↑ CNET Home Audio & Video Forums: Tunerless Equipment - How Do They Work?
17. ↑ ^{17.0 17.1} UNC TV: Digital Converter Box Hookup  
18. ↑ Department of Housing and Urban Development: Set Up Your Digital TV Converter Box
19. ↑ Federal Communications Commission: Setting Up Your Digital-to-Analog Converter Box (Basic)
20. ↑ TiVo: Antenna Converter Instructions