Digital Television Transition: DTV and HDTV Conversion Checklist
Transition to digital television is today! Have you waited until the last minute to get ready for the conversion to DTV? If so, we’ve prepared a checklist of what you will need to continue watching free television on your local TV stations. In many cases, you won’t need to do anything. Here’s the scoop…
Do you subscribe to TV service from the local cable company?
If so, you probably don’t need to worry. If you are a cable TV subscriber, no additional equipment beyond what you are using now should be necessary to continue viewing local stations. However, depending upon what type of programming package you subscribe to, you might not be able to view these channels exactly as they are broadcast using the new DTV standard. Cable companies often offer a cheap “basic cable” tier, which is only available in analog. While you won’t need any new equipment to continue viewing programming, you may also not be getting a high-quality digital picture in such a programming tier. If you want to watch local TV stations in High-Definition (HDTV), you will need an HDTV ready TV tuner. This is assuming that there are local stations in your area that offer HDTV programming and that the cable company passes this signal along without down-converting it to a picture of lesser quality. Call your cable TV provider to see if HDTV programming is indeed available in your area.
Do you subscribe to TV service from DirecTV or DISH Networks?
In 90% of the country, DirecTV and DISH Networks offer local TV channels via satellite. If this is the case, you should not need any additional equipment to continue viewing local TV stations. If you happen to live in a rural area (like where we live in Humboldt County) you might be out of luck when it comes to receiving local TV stations via satellite, since neither DISH nor DirecTV carry them. If you want to watch local TV stations in addition to satellite programming, you will need separate equipment. Keep reading for more info. HDTV programming is available in selected markets. You will need an HDTV capable TV if you want to watch these channels in high-definition though.
Do you have an outdoor TV antenna?
If you have an outdoor TV antenna that is mounted on a mast or other structure, you will need to make sure that it is capable of picking up UHF TV signals in addition to the “old” VHF band. Stations will be using different frequencies for the broadcast of digital television signals. Most of them will be in the UHF band. If your current antenna only picks-up (old) channels 2-13, you will likely need to upgrade to a new antenna.
Do you use “rabbit ears” to receive local TV stations?
Unfortunately, most people who currently receive a strong signal via rabbit ears or an antenna that is built-in to many older TV sets will need to upgrade to an outdoor antenna in order to continue receiving over-the-air signals. Why? Because many local TV stations are now broadcasting DTV signals using less power than they did before. Plus, the new digital television standard does not perform well at all in weak-reception situations. If you had marginal analog TV reception before, you will likely have NO digital TV reception now. Find a qualified, local installer for advice on what type of antenna you will need.
Do you have a newer, HDTV-ready TV set?
If so, congratulations! You should be able to watch local TV stations in both DTV and HDTV formats, assuming that you have an antenna that can receive signals from local TV stations reliably. HDTV reception is only available from stations that broadcast in high-definition. With others, you will receive DTV programming in standard digital TV resolution. The new DTV standard gives a better quality picture than you would receive in analog, but it isn’t the same thing as HDTV.
Do you have an older, analog TV set?
This is where things start to get expensive. Most TV sets that are more than 2-3 years old only receive channels in analog format. They are not capable of receiving digital television signals over the air without a special converter box. HDTV is not viewable on older, analog TV sets, due to their design. So, if you want high-definition, you will need to buy a new HDTV-ready TV set. If you wish to continue receiving broadcast television stations that have converted their signals to digital, you will need to purchase a DTV converter box. These are sold in electronics and appliance stores, and range in price from around $50 to well over $200. Pricing generally depends upon what type of extra features are available. Many have built-in program guides and other bells and whistles that will increase the cost. The converter box needs to be connected between your TV set and an external antenna. If you have an antenna built-in to your TV set, you will need to purchase a new outdoor antenna or an indoor antenna that is capable of receiving very weak signals. Regardless of your location, an outdoor antenna is always the better choice.
How do I know which channels I can receive?
Newer HDTV-ready TV sets and DTV converter boxes can scan all available frequencies to find what channels are available to you in digital or analog formats. If you have scanned through all available frequencies and not found any channels, you will likely need a better antenna and/or amplifier to improve your reception. There is no guarantee that you will be able to continue viewing your local stations. New transmitters may be using less power or be aiming the signal in a different direction than they were previously. Unfortunately, the only way to know for sure if you will be able to receive a signal is trial-and-error. There is no foolproof method of determining what signals will be available to you beforehand.
What type of antenna do I need?
If you have to ask, you probably should rely on a professional to pick an antenna for you. Retailers such as Radio Shack are typically NOT the best place to go to for advice. In many cases, you will be dealing with salespeople who know little more than you do about TV reception. So, unless you happen to know one of these people personally, I would not recommend relying upon their advice. Your best source of information is local TV antenna installer. Look in the yellow pages under “television” or “antennas” to find one. If you don’t see any listings in your area, the best place to look is in the listings for “satellite television”. Most professional TV antenna installers also install satellite TV equipment. Chances are that any company that has been in the business for 10+ years or installs C-Band or FTA (free-to-air) receivers either installs local TV antennas as well, or knows of someone who does. It is definitely worth a phone call. If you still can’t find anyone locally, I would suggest contacting a mail-order provider that specializes in selling antennas and that has technicians available to give advice. One retailer I would highly recommend is Solid Signal.
What else will I need?
Depending upon your location, you may need an external amplifier or amplified antenna in order to continue receiving a watchable TV signal.These are generally available at Radio Shack or other electronics retailers. If you are installing an outdoor antenna for the first time, you will also need to purchase an appropriate length of coaxial cable to connect the antenna to the TV or DTV converter box. High-quality, well-shielded RG-6 is usually the best bet when it comes to cable. We recommend using cable made by quality manufacturers, such as Belden. It is definitely worth the extra few cents per foot to purchase high-quality cable.
Be sure to check out the rest of our website at HDTV for more information on the digital TV transition, including tips on antennas, where to get free coupons for DTV converter boxes and much more.
