All you need is a digital-to-analog converter box (an ATSC tuner).

Over 2000 television stations, however, will NOT make the switch to digital. These are Low Power stations such as municipal, public school and private television stations and translators that re-broadcast the signal from full power stations to local communities in areas where reception is poor. These will continue to broadcast analog tranmissions until some future date http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/DTVandLPTV.html.

One disadvantage of digital broadcasting is that the FCC has mandated a lower power threshold for broadcasters that means some must reduce power by as much as 80% to comply. Distant areas that now receive good analog signals will simply not be able to receive the new digital signal. Those that do may need a better antenna to continue good reception. To see your broadcast market visit Antenna Web for a listing of TV stations and the direction to their transmitters.

What is the TV Converter Box Coupon Program?

Congress created the TV Converter Box Coupon Program for households wishing to keep using their analog TV sets after February 17, 2009. The Program allows U.S. households to obtain up to two coupons, each worth $40, that can be applied toward the cost of eligible converter boxes.

A TV connected to cable, satellite or other pay TV service does not require a TV converter box from this program. However, if you choose to DROP CABLE, you WILL NEED a digital-to-analog converter box for your older analog televisions. Additionally, after February 2009 hundreds of low power television stations will continue to broadcast analog signals. If your reception is only digital you can no longer see your local public school, city, county or any television broadcasts in analog unless you subscribe to a cable TV service or connect your antenna to two tuners.

Consumers have a variety of options. Options to explore include:

• Keep your existing analog TV and purchase a TV converter box. A converter box plugs into your TV and will keep it working after Feb. 17, 2009, or
• Connect to cable, satellite or other pay service, or
• Purchase a television with a digital tuner.

First you need a cable splitter... just feed your antenna cable to the splitter then one cable from the splitter to the digital-to-analog converter box and the other to your TV or VCR.

Then use the video output jacks on your digital-to-analog converter box to feed the signal to the video input jacks on your TV or VCR. You now have BOTH analog signals and the digital conversion on your TV. Just change the channels on your TV normally to see the analog channels and go to the line input to see the digital channels. If you're connected to a VCR or other recording device you can record a digital channel while watching another analog channel on your TV. You can even set up your vcr to record one digital channel and multiple analog channels in a timer recording session. But still can't program your vcr to change digital channels that way.

I applied for my coupons in January 2008. I received them in March. They were only good until June 19th. Searching for a converter box in the big retail stores in April I found nothing but empty shelves. So I purchased a box from Radio Shack for $59.99 - minus the $40 coupon (but still paying state sales tax on the full price) the box cost me about $25.00 I decided to wait and redeem my other coupon for a cheaper box.

I watched and waited visiting several stores but all were out of stock. I wanted to find a "pass through" box that allowed analog signals to be available as well as digital. I assumed it would be like my VCR - turn it off and the signal from the antenna still goes to the TV. Then I discovered that the Magnavox I was looking for only provided the analog signal in a system option that required the box to be turned on. What good is that?

May 20th my wife told me Target had "a couple" of boxes. I drove there the next day and found out she meant two brands and about fifty samples. I bought the less expensive for $47.99 - my cost w/tax $11.35 - the only difference between the cheap box and the Radio Shack box was that the cheaper box did NOT contain a direct video RCA-type three-wire cable or EPL (Extended Program Listing). Only an RF cable. It also seems to be less sensitive to signals.

The TV Converter Box Coupons. Radio Shack DigitalStream DTX9900 $59.99 - Venturer STB7766G $47.99 at Target.

Since MANY TV stations will continue to broadcast in analog after February 2009 - stations like local public schools and municipalities - I wanted to keep the ability to tune in analog signals. I installed a splitter on my antenna cable and ran a connection to the digital converter box and one to the VCR antenna input. The digital box was then connected via direct cables to the VCR. It was that simple to preserve the analog connection. Digital TV is now the line input on my VCR. My TV is connected to the VCR. With the VCR recording digital TV or any other channel I can still watch analog on my TV and receiving the low power TV analog signals is still available.

Here's the difference: with my analog tuner I can detect 23 TV stations. About 8 or 10 are clear and clean. The rest vary from no picture at all to fuzzy pictures but tolerable to watch. With digital I only receive 13 TV stations but 28 channels - all crystal clear. Combined with analog I now receive 38 channels 35 of which are viewable.

My antenna is on a metal pole beside my one-story house and rises to about eight feet above my roof. It could use an upgrade. My digital signals are just strong enough to receive the picture. With digital if you receive a signal at all the picture is good but not always stable. To improve the signal I need to replace my video cables that are now twenty years old (or more) and replace the metal pole with a non-conductive wood or plastic mount. However, with hurricanes a possibility I won't do that anytime soon.

With high lead content in CRTs, and the rapid diffusion of new, flat-panel display technologies, some of which (LCDs) use lamps containing mercury, there is growing concern about electronic waste from discarded televisions. Related occupational health concerns exist, as well, for disassemblers removing copper wiring and other materials from CRTs. Further environmental concerns related to television design and use relate to the devices' increasing electrical energy requirements. If you do get a new TV dispose of your old TV appropriately. Better yet, if it still works donate it to a local charity or thrift store. With a digital-to-analog converter box it can be used for years.

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