DTV Switch Information

Contact Webmaster · Station Info · What's on TV

Home · Weather · News · Morning Show · Sports · TV Station · Contests · Local · Features · Blogs · Epros

For Women Only · Money · Entertainment · 23 News Politics · Food and Recipes · Lottery · Digital TV Switch · Game Room · Watch CBS Programs

Those interested in coupons for digital TV converter boxes can apply now by calling (888) 388-2009 or by logging on to www.dtv2009.gov

How to Contact the FCC: Do you still have questions about the DTV Transition? If so, please contact the FCC.

Federal Communications Commission:

Phone: 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322)
TTY: 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322)
Fax: 1-866-418-0232
E-mail: DTVinfo@fcc.gov

Submit a Question

How do I get the coupons for the converter box? - 6 Comments Posted

Answers to Digital Switch Story Comments - 3 Comments Posted

DTV Switch Information

Save

Posted: 6:28 PM Mar 17, 2008
Last Updated: 5:37 AM Mar 18, 2008

10 comments

A | A | A

The DTV Trekker is traveling around the country on a mission to educate consumers about the transition from analog to digital TV.

Come February, analog TV's will not get reception unless they're connected to a converter box or users pay a TV service like cable or satellite.

March 21st
10am-3pm
Sportscore
8800 East Riverside
Loves Park, IL 61111

del.icio.us

Google

Yahoo

digg

More Stories
Digital Switch (Video Included)

DTV Switch Information

Coupons Available For Digital Switch in 2009

HDTV: What's the Best Buy?

Switching To Flat Screen TV's

Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Jeff Location: WIFR on Apr 28, 2008 at 11:11 AM
Steve, Are you sure you hooked the converter box up right? You shouldn't see "snow" with a digital signal. Double check the instructions and make sure you've hooked everything up correctly.

Posted by: stephen Location: campbell ,ohio on Apr 22, 2008 at 01:30 PM
sportsteve2@aol.com i live in a suburb of youngstown,ohio have and outdoor antenna pick up cleveland,pittsburgh and so forth the antenna and tv is 8 years old received my coupons set everything up ans the menu comes is verry snowy is the antenna and tv too old ?

Posted by: marisol Location: home tv's on Apr 10, 2008 at 11:21 AM
I would like the coupons for my home tv uses

Posted by: Jeff Location: WIFR on Mar 27, 2008 at 11:38 AM
Barbara, You will get all the channels you mentioned plus, Chanel 13-2 which is the Stateline's CW, 17-2 which is MyStateline, 23-2 which is our 24/7 Weather Channel. The picture is much clearer and the sound is better too.If you have an outside antenna and receive stations from another market you can enjoy their channels as well. Channel 21 in Madison has 5 different channels to choose from. The most important fact that you should be aware of is that these channels are available right now. You don't have to wait until February 17th, 2009 to change to DTV. That is just the deadline for broadcasters to turn off their analog signals. So go out and get your converter and enjoy better television now!

Posted by: Barbara Location: Rockford Illinois on Mar 26, 2008 at 01:51 PM
What channels will you get using just the converter box, will it be channels 13,17, 23,& 39.- & will more channels be available for free.

Posted by: Jeff Location: 23WIFR on Mar 25, 2008 at 12:19 PM
There is no special antenna needed. As long as you have a standard UHF or VHF antenna that it work fine. If you’re thinking about upgrading though, we found two sites that will help you decide which antenna works best for you. One note from experience though; if you’re using a rotor to receive stations in different directions you might want to add an antenna for the different directions or purchase an omni-directional antenna that the second link will probably help you find. DTV converter boxes and tuners will scan for all available channels so one of these antennas will eliminate scanning each time you change antenna directions. http://www.dtvanswers.com/dtv_antenna.html http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.aspx

Posted by: Jack Location: Belvidere on Mar 21, 2008 at 08:27 AM
If you purchased a TV within the last year or two, you might not need a converter box. Many newer TVs have a digital (ATSC) tuner built in. If you have an older TV and don't plan on buying a new one in the next 11 months, you'll need a converter box. Those run $50 (Walmart) to $60 (Radio Shack, Best Buy), but you can get two $40 coupons towards purchasing two units, so they're only $10-$20 each. Don't be caught up in the TV stations attempts to sell you an antenna you don't need -- if you currently receive programming over the air and the picture is "fine", chances are, you can get excellent reception using a digital tuner. TV stations are just trying to cash in on the uninformed public.

Posted by: Jeff Location: Rockford on Mar 20, 2008 at 07:51 PM
There is alot of information about the converter boxes....however virtually NO information about the antennas that will be needed to get the signal off the air. When I look online the deep fringe ones seem to be made for about 50 miles. My mom up in Minnesota currently gets stations that are 100-150 miles from her home - she is asking me what she is going to do. No information about antennas for this type of long distance reception is available. Can you enlighten me so I can pass the information on to her.

Posted by: Lee Location: Pecatonica on Mar 18, 2008 at 07:11 PM
We have Dish Network, but for the past several weeks, the reception for Ch 23 has very hazy....what can we do???

Posted by: stacey Location: rockford ill on Mar 18, 2008 at 01:38 AM
how much will this cost

Your DTV COUPONS are one click away! CLICK HERE

Return To The DTV Main Page

February 17, 2009 (in ) the era of analog broadcast television in the United States will end as the nation completes its transition to an all-digital system. While this change will mark the end of the traditional analog method of broadcasting over-the-air television, it won’t signal the end of free broadcast television, and your favorite broadcast programs and local television stations will still be available.

Consumers that subscribe to a "pay" television service such as cable and satellite aren’t likely to be affected by the switch, but if you currently receive analog television over the air or via an antenna, you’ll need to take action to continue watching your favorite stations.

TV sets that currently receive programming through cable or satellite are not likely to be affected by the transition to digital.

However, TV sets that rely on "over the air" broadcasting with an antenna (set-top or rooftop) to receive a signal will be affected by the cutoff of analog broadcasts in 2009. You will need to consider one of the following options:

Purchase a digital-to-analog converter box that plugs into an existing television. The boxes, which are expected to cost between $50 - 70 will be available for purchase in 2008. Beginning on January 1, 2008, U.S. households can request up to two coupons valued at $40 each. Each coupon can go toward the purchase of a single set-top converter box that will allow you to continue watching FREE "over-the-air" television on an analog set.
Subscribe to a cable, satellite or telecommunications service provider if all desired local broadcast stations are carried by that service.
Purchase a new television set with a built in digital tuner.

Any of these steps will ensure that "over-the-air" television consumers will continue to receive programming.

Oppo DV-980H Upscaling DVD Player
OPPO’s DV-980H fills out a line of upscaling DVD players that represent outstanding value and performance.