Digital TV Frequent Questions (FAQ)

Following are general questions about DIGITAL TV.  There are more details in other topics on this website. 

What is the Digital TV Transition?
Why is the Digital TV Transition happening? 
How does the Digital TV Transition affect me?
What do I have to do?
Will my analog TV be obsolete when analog TV channels turn off?  Do I need to buy a new TV?
How soon should I figure out how I'm going to watch digital TV stations?
How do I get a CONVERTER BOX?
I heard that CONVERTER BOXES are free.  Is that true?
Who installs a converter box?
If I watch DIGITAL TV channels with a CONVERTER BOX, will I get HDTV on my ANALOG TV? 
I use an ANTENNA to receive ANALOG TV.  Will the same ANTENNA work for the DIGITAL TV channels? 
I have analog CABLE TV service (so I watch cable TV with no SET TOP box).  Do I have to change my cable service to "digital" cable before the February 17, 2009 TV station analog channel shutoff?
Is DIGITAL TV the same thing as HIGH DEFINITION TV? 
After the analog channel shutoff, will all television programs be in HDTV? 
Are other countries going through a digital transition like the U.S.?

What is the Digital TV Transition?

The DIGITAL TV TRANSITION is the process by which the traditional, ANALOG system of broadcasting TV in the U.S. is being replaced by a DIGITAL system of broadcasting.  The first phase of the transition began when U.S. FULL POWER stations turned on new digital channels.  The second phase will happen when full power TV stations turn off their traditional analog channels on February 17, 2009.  The final phase will happen when all remaining U.S. stations still using analog channels, which are LOW POWER and TV TRANSLATOR stations, convert to digital channels, which has not be scheduled yet. 

They key issue is that ANALOG TVs cannot tune in DIGITAL TV channels.  It is estimated that there may be up to 20 million U.S. homes that watch TV OVER-THE-AIR, with a TV ANTENNA, using mostly ANALOG TVs. They could be affected when ANALOG channels are turned off, so the digital TV transition is the focus of a massive governmental and industry awareness campaign. 

Why is the Digital TV Transition happening? 

The U.S is transitioning from an ANALOG TV broadcasting system to a DIGITAL TV broadcasting system for several reasons.  First, it will bring the benefits of digital technology to TV broadcasting, which has used the current ANALOG system since commercial TV began in the 1940s.  This includes the ability to transmit programs with excellent quality, including stunning HIGH DEFINITION TV for viewers with HDTV sets, and incredible SURROUND SOUND. Also, TV stations can send several programs in their signal at the same time, called "MULTICASTING."  And all these programs, including HDTV, can be received with digital quality using a TV ANTENNA. 

Second, it will make 18 former TV channels available for other important uses.  Some channels are being assigned to emergency and public service agencies, and others have been auctioned to private companies for new wireless services, earning the government nearly $20 billion in license fees. 

How does the digital TV transition affect me?

If you have an ANALOG TV that receives local TV channels OVER-THE-AIR, with an ANTENNA, you may have to take steps to be able to continue watching local TV stations in digital after February 17, 2009. 

What do I have to do?

You need to consider each TV you own.  How does that TV get the signals of local TV stations?  If the TV gets the signals from a SUBSCRIPTION TV service like cable TV, satellite TV, or telephone company TV, or if it has a digital ATSC tuner built in, you should not have a problem receiving local TV stations.  If you use an ANTENNA, you can purchase a DIGITAL TV CONVERTER BOX which will receive DIGITAL channels and turn them into signals that can be watched on your ANALOG TV.  

Will my analog TV be obsolete when analog TV channels turn off?  Do I need to buy a new TV?

No.  Your TV will still be very useful.  You can purchase a DIGITAL TV CONVERTER BOX to receive the DIGITAL channels, and plug that into your current TV.  Plus you can use your TV to continue watching any local LOW POWER or TV TRANSLATOR stations that you watch.  If  you live near the northern or southern U.S. border, you can still watch Canadian or Mexican stations which will continue broadcasting in analog for a few more years.  And the TV is still a great MONITOR for watching DVDs, VCRs, and video games. 

How soon should I figure out how I'm going to watch digital TV stations?

You should start as soon as it's convenient, and definitely this year.  If you're eligible to get CONVERTER COUPONS, you can get yours while they're still available.  You'll beat the rush to purchase converters and antennas, and you can start watching your local digital stations with quality digital TV pictures, new channels, and CD-quality sound, for free.  

How do I get a CONVERTER BOX? 

CONVERTER BOXES are being sold in most electronics stores or electronics sections of large retailers, including WalMart, Best Buy, Circuit City, Radio Shack, and others. Retailers representing over 9700 locations say they are stocking converter boxes.  Plus several companies are selling converter boxes in their catalogs, by phone, or online, via the Internet.  See the topic "Digital TV Converter Boxes"  or click here.

I heard that CONVERTER BOXES are free.  Is that true? 

Not free, but not expensive either.  To keep your cost down, there are several steps involved.  First, you must request and receive a CONVERTER COUPON, which is worth $40 toward the purchase of a CONVERTER BOX that qualifies for the coupon program.  Then you need to shop for a converter box.  Right now, converters are available at prices between $49.95 and $69.95.  The least expensive models will cost a little over $50 including tax, and if you use your coupon it will subtract $40 from that total.  In that case, you've spent a little over $10. See the topic "Converter Box Coupon Program" or click here.

Who installs a converter box?

When they are purchased, converter boxes are personal property.  They are designed to be installed by TV owners or someone who can follow the instructions that come with the box.  Installing a converter box is similar to connecting a device like a VCR or video game to a TV.  Most manufacturers provide phone or Internet-based support for their converter models. 

If I watch DIGITAL TV channels with a CONVERTER BOX, will I get HDTV on my ANALOG TV? 

No.  The converter box just tunes in the digital channels and converts them to a signal your analog TV can display.  The digital channel pictures should be very good (no noise or "ghosts").  But the pictures will only be as good as your analog TV can display, which is not digital or HD quality. 

I use an ANTENNA to receive ANALOG TV.  Will the same ANTENNA work for the DIGITAL channels? 

It should.  DIGITAL TV uses the same broadcast TV channels as ANALOG TV.  But you may need to experiment with the type of antenna and the location.  Some TV station digital transmitters are in different locations than their analog TV transmitters, and are using different power levels.  See the topic "Using a TV Antenna" or click here.

I have analog CABLE TV service (so I watch cable TV with no SET TOP box).  Is cable going to turn off their "analog" service?  Do I have to change my cable service to "digital" cable before the February 17, 2009, TV station analog channel shutoff? 

No.  The February 17 "analog shutoff" is something only local TV stations are going to do with their signals.  Cable TV service, whether it's analog or digital, is not affected, so you should not have to make any changes to your cable service level.  Most cable systems are required by law to continue carrying the local TV stations in analog, so that no "digital box" is needed.  (Some cable systems may have to move or drop a few stations due to the TV broadcast changes, but they should notify you if there will be any changes to the channels they carry.)

There is one activity that cable subscribers have noticed: some cable systems are moving TV channels or satellite networks from "analog" service to "digital" service, which requires a "digital cable box" to receive, and of course there is a fee for that.  By law, they can't do this with local TV channels, but they can make the business decision to put other video channels on whatever service level they want.

Is DIGITAL TV the same thing as HIGH DEFINITION TV? 

No.  Digital TV is the entire system of producing and broadcasting digital TV shows.  TV shows that are broadcast on digital TV can have several levels of quality, from STANDARD DEFINITION TV quality up to HIGH DEFINITION TV (HDTV) quality.  HDTV is the most popular and exciting feature of digital TV, and the number of TV shows produced in HDTV is constantly increasing.  (You must have an HDTV or an HD MONITOR with an HD signal source to see true HDTV.)  See the topic, "What is Digital TV?" or click here.

After the analog channel shutoff, will all television programs be in HDTV? 

No.  While full power TV stations will be broadcasting with only a digital signal, they will still carry many "STANDARD DEFINITION" programs, along with HDTV programs.  The number of HDTV shows is constantly increasing, but it won't reach 100% of TV shows next year. 

Are other countries going through a digital TV transition like the U.S.?

Yes.  For the same reasons that the U.S. is going through a digital TV transition (channel efficiency, program quality, and the release of unneeded channels), other countries are in various stages of a digital TV transition.  Canada is converting to the same ATSC digital standard as the U.S, with an analog shutoff date of August 31, 2011.  Mexico is also using the ATSC system to phase digital broadcasting, and will end analog broadcasts no later than January of 2022.  In Europe, at least 13 countries are doing a digital TV conversion.  Germany and the Scandinavian countries have nearly completed it, and Britain is in the first year of a DTV transition (called the "Digital Switchover") that will take four years to complete. 
 
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CAPITALIZED WORDS are defined in the Digital TV Glossary.