Moving from Analog TV to Digital TV
Get Ready to Flip the Switch
By Rick Hazeltine
As the country gets closer to the February, 2009 deadline to end broadcasting of analog signals, many consumers will be trying to determine how they will be affected. The change will not affect most Americans.
Basically, television signals have been broadcast in analog since their invention. When digital signals came along, broadcast stations began sending both. The U.S. government is switching everything to digital because that technology is more efficient. The broadcasters will then return the "space" used by analog and the government will sell it to advanced wireless service providers and use some for public-safety programs.
How this will affect individual households depends on its television and mode of reception. Only those with an analog TV that uses an antenna will be impacted. If you receive your signal from cable or satellite, the switch will not affect your viewing.
Even if you use an antenna for reception, you will likely not be affected if you already have a TV capable of receiving digital. If you aren't sure if your TV is digital or analog, you can check your owner's manual or go to the Web site of the manufacturer to find out.
If you have an analog TV and use an antenna, you will have to purchase at DTV converter box for each analog set in your household. These boxes cost between $40 and $70 and are available through major retailers, such as Wal-Mart, Circuit City, Radio Shack and Best Buy.
Consumers can apply for up to two $40 coupons from the U.S. government to defray the cost of purchasing converter boxes. Visit www.dtv2009.gov to access an online application and for more information. Another site with more in-depth information on the switch is www.dtvanswers.com, which is run by the National Association of Broadcasters.
