Get your TV tuned in to the digital age

McClatchy Newspapers (MCT) - Perhaps you have heard about the change coming in the new year. And no, it's not just about having a new president. If you watch television, you probably have heard that on Feb. 17, broadcast signals will switch from analog to digital. Well, if you're like me, you probably have no idea what that means or what kind of signal networks use to transmit to our TVs.

So we have done a little research and found answers to burning questions you might have about the switch and how it will affect you.

Q. Will I need a new TV set?

A. No. Even if you have an old TV, it won't have to be replaced.

Q. So what's the big deal?

A. If you have digital cable or digital satellite service, you won't have to do anything. But if you are using a rabbit ears antenna or a roof antenna, you will have to get a digital converter box. That's because you are receiving analog signals through your antenna. On Feb. 17, those signals are not going to be transmitted anymore.

Q. Why not?

A. The federal government sold off most of the analog spectrum this year in an auction that netted billions of dollars. Verizon Wireless, AT&T and Google were among the winning bidders. They'll use the spectrum to develop more wireless technologies.

Q. So how do I watch TV after the conversion on Feb. 17?

A. You have to get a digital-to-analog converter box. There are three ways to plug it into your television, all of them fairly easy. The box takes the signals from your rabbit ears or rooftop antenna and turns them into delicious digital signals.

Q. How much will this box cost me?

A. The converter box can cost anywhere from $40 to $80, but since the government is making you buy it, the Federal Communications Commission will send you two $40 coupons toward the purchase of a pair of converter boxes. The one we bought cost only $12 with the coupon. By the way, the government set aside $1.5 billion for the coupon program, so feel free to get yours.

Q. How do I get coupons?

A. You have to call 888-DTV-2009 or order them at www.dtv2009.gov. It usually takes two weeks to receive them. You have to order them by March 31; after that you're on your own. The coupons look like red plastic credit cards.

Q. What stores have converter boxes?

A. RadioShack, Wal-Mart, Circuit City, Best Buy_all the usual electronic stores. Amazon's got them, too.

Q. Will the converter box and digital transmissions affect how videos look?

A. No. Game consoles, DVD players and other video devices will be unaffected.

Q. Will I get better reception with a converter box?

A. Probably not. Your TV set isn't digital, so you'll still be watching analog signals. Notice it's a digital-to-analog converter, not the other way around. The box just makes it so that you get a picture and sound. You may have to adjust your antennas, though. And in some cases, you may need to buy a new, more powerful antenna and position it differently, depending on where you are relative to the broadcast tower. The overall effectiveness of your rabbit ears will diminish as well.

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Q. I've heard that if someone stands between the antenna and the TV, they lose the picture.

A. Apparently, that can happen. Reportedly, people moving around in a room, passing nearby traffic and airplanes flying overhead have been reported to break up the image on the screen as well. At that point you might want to upgrade to an LCD TV, and if affordable, a cable or satellite provider, even just getting the basic package.

Q. If my antenna is connected by a thread, will I need a new one?

A. No, but you need a pair of baluns, a cabling device that interfaces with your current antenna wiring. For more details on issues like these, see www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/setup-converterbox.html.

Source: www.dtv.gov

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© 2008, Fort Worth Star-Telegram.