Have you already installed your converter box but are still having trouble with your reception? PBS offers basic dtv troubleshooting tips including what to do with your old vcr and how to position your indoor or outdoor antennae. Make sure to install your converter box before the transition to digital in February 2009 so you can fix any problems early.
Questions? Call our DTV Transition Help Line at 314-512-9617 or visit http://www.pbs.org/dtv.
How do you know if your current TV is ready for the switch to digital in February 2009? Norm Abram and Maria Hinojosa of PBS offer helpful tips to answer this question. You can also visit http://www.pbs.org/dtv for more DTV information or to watch the TV show Get Ready for Digital TV.
On Wednesday, October 1 at 9:30 p.m., tune in to Channel 9 for Get Ready for Digital TV. The crew from This Old House will offer DTV how-to guidance and tips to help you prepare for the upcoming switch to digital television which takes place in February 2009.
For more information and resources about the digital TV transition, click here.
Kevin O'Connor and Norm Abram from This Old House
Save the date: The DTV Speakers Bureau is holding an informational seminar in St. Louis on Friday, September 19, at 10:30 a.m. at Cardinal Ritter High School. This is part of a larger initiative to alert Americans about the upcoming switch to digital television that takes place on February 17, 2009. Broadcasters in all 50 states are participating in a series of DTV education speaking engagements that are taking place at local community venues nationwide.
For more information, visit dtvanswers.com.
A recent article in the Washington Post says that nationally, more than 40 percent of Spanish-speaking households watch over-the-air television and are still unprepared for the switch to digital TV in 2009.
In order to help spread the message about the DTV transition to Hispanic viewers, Channel 9 produced the video below. Please share this valuable information with others.
El 17 de febrero de 2009, la televisión se emiten sólo en digital. KETC/Channel 9 proporciona información importante sobre la transición DTV.
Beginning in September, OASIS will offer DTV information sessions for community members who would like to learn more about TV’s upcoming transition from analog to digital. Learn the basics of DTV, see a hands-on demonstration of how to install a converter box, and ask specific questions about how the transition will affect you.
The sessions will be led by Channel 9 staff member Angela Smith, whom has assisted KETC’s viewing community with the digital transition since February 2008.
Call OASIS at (314) 539-4555 to register or for more information.
Times and locations:
Monsanto YMCA, 5555 Page Blvd: Monday, October 27, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Herbert Hoover, 2901 North Grand: Tuesday, Nov 18, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
About OASIS
OASIS is a national nonprofit educational organization designed to enhance the quality of life for mature adults. Offering challenging programs in the arts, humanities, wellness, technology and volunteer service, OASIS creates opportunities for older adults to continue their personal growth and provide meaningful service to the community
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Article originally published on August 11, 2008, in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
By Gail Pennington
For almost a year, public service announcements have cautioned: “Some TVs need an upgrade to get digital. You could even lose your signal. Get the facts.” The informational campaign has been so extensive, including radio and cable spots, on-screen crawls and newscast segments, that some viewers complain about sky-is-falling overkill.
But St. Louisans who still get TV via antenna either aren’t listening or aren’t rushing to act. If the switch took place today, 14.68 percent of St. Louis area households — or about 182,674 homes — would lose all television reception, Nielsen says. And an additional 16.1 percent, or 202,957 homes, would lose the signal on at least one set. More than 30 percent of St. Louis area homes, or 385,631, are unprepared in some way.
To view the entire article, visit stltoday.com.
Article was originally published in February 2008 for Consumer Reports.
The impending switch to all-digital broadcast TV will be a step forward, but it could be bumpy for many
Over the next year or so, you’ll be hearing a lot about the digital TV transition. Here’s what you need to know: On Feb. 17, 2009, broadcasters must shut down their analog systems and transmit only digital TV signals to comply with the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act.
While that sounds cataclysmic, the change will affect only the way free TV will be broadcast over the air, to a rooftop or indoor antenna. All TVs (no matter what type) connected to cable, satellite, or one of the new telephone company fiber-optic services should continue to function (though you might have to get a set-top box for cable).
A TV connected to an antenna might or might not work after Feb. 17, 2009. That depends on the type of TV.
Which TVs will still work with an over-the-air antenna?
A TV with a built-in digital tuner (called an ATSC tuner) will be able to get free over-the-air digital programming, with no action on your part. Your TV probably has a digital tuner if it falls into one of the following categories:
It’s a big-screen, high-definition TV bought within the last few years. The government has required sets with screens 35 inches and larger to have a digital tuner since July 2005, and sets 25 inches and larger since March 2006. Those sets are sometimes called integrated HDTVs.
It’s a new TV purchased this year. Since March of this year, all new TVs regardless of size have been required to have a digital tuner. Most TVs bought within the last few months should be OK, whether they’re high-definition sets or the new digital standard-definition TVs. (Retailers are allowed to sell off their existing inventory of analog TVs that do not have a digital tuner. They should be clearly marked as analog sets, but ask the salesperson to be sure.)
Which TVs will no longer work with an over-the-air antenna?
A TV that has only an analog tuner, called an NTSC tuner, will not be able to get free over-the-air digital programming. Your TV does not have a digital tuner if it is one of the following:
(If you’re unsure as to whether or not your TV contains a digital tuner, consult the product manual or call the manufacturer’s customer service line.)
For the entire article, click here.
If you have a portable television that you use when your power goes out, it will probably need to be replaced before the DTV transition in 2009. Check to see if your portable TV has a digital tuner. If not, you will need to buy a new portable digital TV to stay connected in case of emergencies.
If you installed a converter box, but are still having difficulty receiving digital channels, you may need to consider an alternative outdoor antenna. A great online resource for determining what kind of antenna can be found on AntennaWeb.org. This mapping program provided by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), locates the proper antenna to receive your local television broadcast channels. Based on geographical maps and signal strengths, just enter your ZIP Code and AntennaWeb locates the best antenna for you.
And while you’re there, check out the Rabbit Ears Pioneers contest. If you know an elderly individual that relies on broadcast TV signals and an antenna for their programming, Rabbit Ears Pioneers offers ways to make the DTV transition easier for them.
