If you have an older TV, your TV is probably only ready to receive analog broadcasting through your antenna. However, all free, over-the-air television has transitioned to digital TV. By law of the U.S. Congress, all analog broadcasting ended on June 12, 2009, so if your TV is not digital TV-ready, you no longer receive free television channels. That might explain why you get nothing by static, no matter how much tinfoil you add to your rabbit ear antenna. To make your TV digital TV-ready is not a difficult process. The simplest way to continue receiving TV is to install a single converter that takes the digital signal and converts it into an analog signal that your TV can understand. The converter is placed between your antenna and your TV.
Why Digital TV?
Why did the U.S. Congress cause all this trouble? Well, digital TV is a much higher quality, more reliable form of broadcasting than analog TV. The picture and sound quality coming from digital signals is far superior than the older analog signals. For example, the white, fuzzy static, or "snow," that you often see on your television will no longer appear thanks to the digital signal. Digital TV also allows more complicated operations, including interactive TV and applications, much like what satellite or cable providers offer.
Making Your TV Digital Ready
Unless you are done watching TV for the rest of your life, you need to update your TV to make it ready to watch digital TV. The quickest, cheapest, and easiest solution is to purchase a small converter that you plug in between your antenna and your TV. There is a cable running from your antenna to your TV, and the converter will just plug into that cable. A converter typically costs between $40 to $70.
HDTV
The digital TV transition allows over-the-air broadcasting of high-definition TV. High-definition TV provides a much higher quality sound and picture quality, especially if you purchase a new HDTV. Because all free channels are broadcast in HDTV, your over-the-air channels will be of a better quality than many cable- and satellite-provided channels.
Government Coupons
The federal government is issuing two free $40 coupons per household that can be used to buy converter boxes. To get your coupons, call 1-888-388-2009 (voice) or 1-877-530-2634 (TTY). You can also visit Dtv2009.gov. The coupon program expires on July 31, 2009.
Installing the Converter Box
To install your digital converter box, you simply need to find the cable that plugs your antenna into your TV and disconnect that cable from the TV. Plug the disconnected end into the converter box, and then run a new cable from the converter to your TV. You will now be ready to benefit from the digital TV transition.
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