Analog to Digital Transition FAQ

[pulsar]

• What is the Analog to Digital Transition?
  The switch from analog to digital broadcast television is referred to as the digital TV (DTV) transition. In 1996, the U.S. Congress authorized the distribution of an additional broadcast channel to each broadcast TV station so that they could start a digital broadcast channel while simultaneously continuing their analog broadcast channel. Later, Congress mandated that February 17, 2009 (see next paragraph) would be the last day for full-power television stations to broadcast in analog. Broadcast stations in all U.S. markets are currently transmitting in both analog and digital formats. After February 17, 2009, all full-power television stations will broadcast in digital only.
  
  

  Congress has changed the date to June 12, 2009. About 1/3 of the television stations have applied to the FCC for permission to go ahead with the transition on February 17. Although the FCC chairman has stated that they will not let all stations in a given market terminate their analog broadcasts, it is very likely that many stations will be broadcasting only digital signals after February 17.

  
  
  

  Digital and High Definition are not equivalent terms. All High Definition signals are Digital. But not all Digital signals are High Definition. The mandated changeover is to Digital, not to High Definition.

  
  
  
• Why the switch to digital television?
  To free up portions of the broadcast spectrum for other purposes, such as public safety communications and advanced wireless services. Although less of the broadcast spectrum will be devoted to over-the-air television, because digital transmissions are more efficient than analog, there will be more channels available. In addition, the average viewer will have substantially better picture and sound.
  
  
• Who is affected?
  The mandated change is for all full-power over-the-air television stations. If you currently use a roof-top antenna or "rabbit ears," then you are affected.
  
  
  • Satellite TV users already receive digital signals.
    
    
  • In September, 2007, the FCC finalized the rules for cable companies relative to the digital changeover. Cable companies are required to provide all local broadcasts in analog, if they provide any analog service. Some companies will choose to go to all digital and could require you to rent or purchase a "digital cable set-top box."
  
  
  
• What do I need to do?
  
  • If you have digital TV(s), you do not have to do anything. A TV is digital if it has a digital tuner (ATSC). Digital TVs should have a label; for example, "Digital Tuner." Note: "Digital Ready" does not mean it has a digital tuner.
    
    One way to tell if a TV is digital is to look at the remote control. A remote for a digital TV will have a period '.' or a dash '-' with the numbers so that one can enter 7.1, 7.2 (7-1, 7-2) etc.
    
    
  • If you will continue to use an analog TV, then you will need a Set Top Converter box, a device that converts the digital signal to an analog signal. Converter boxes will be discussed below.
    
  
  
  
• Will I need a new antenna?
  No, not if your current antenna receives channels 2 - 83. This includes RV-style 'batwing' antennas. If you have an old-style antenna that connects to your TV with two wires, you will need to purchase two adapters, because the converters use coaxial cables. These 75 to 300 ohm adapters can be purchased at electronic stores, such as Radio Shack.
  
  
• Converter Boxes
  As stated above, a digital to analog converter converts digital signals received from an over-the-air antenna into analog signals that are required by "older" televisions.
  
  
  • Converter Box Coupons
    The Government established a coupon program to defray the changeover costs to consumers. Each household can receive up to two coupons worth $40 each. The coupons can be applied toward the purchase price of "eligible" converters. The eligible converters range in price form $40 to $70.
    
    You can apply for coupons at https://www.dtv2009.gov/
    
    

    Added 1/25: The following notice is on the government coupon site:
    
    Important: The TV Converter Box Coupon Program has reached its funding ceiling. However, coupon requests from eligible households will be filled as funds from expiring coupons become available. If you would like to apply for a coupon today and are eligible, you will be placed on a waiting list and will receive coupons an a first-come-first-served basis as funds from expiring coupons become available. Coupons will expire within 90 days or the date they are mailed

    
    
    Although you may need the converter boxes for your RV, the program is for households that receive over-the-air transmissions. Thus, one should be careful in filling out the application form. You don't want to mention the cable or satellite TV you use at home. You must provide a home address, not a business address. (Note: I know of only one person that was, seemingly, turned down because he noted that he had cable service.)
    
    
  • Which is the right converter to buy?
    The coupons will come with a list of "eligible" converter boxes. To use the coupons, you must purchase converters from that list.
    
    Not all converter boxes are created equally. Some have RF "pass-through," which allows analog signals to pass through the converter box without being changed. This is particularly useful now, while stations are broadcasting both digital and analog signals. The pass-through should allow analog cable signals to pass through. It will also allow low-power (LP) stations, who are exempt from the digital conversion, to still be viewed on a legacy analog television. (There are hundreds of these transmitters, and some cities will remain almost exclusively analog because the whole town is served by LP transmitters.)
    
    Not all remote controls are equal. Some will allow you to control features, such as on/off and volume of the television, as well as change the channels on the converter box.
    
    Let's note here that your TV will be set to channel 3 or 4, depending on switch setting on the converter, and the converter box will be used to change the channels. It is the converter box that has the digital tuner. (Also, all of the converter boxes have analog Video and Stereo Audio outputs that can feed an external V/A input on a vast majority of analog receivers.)
    
    
  • Installing the converter box in an RV
    Most of the converter boxes will require 120 VAC - the eligible boxes were designed for households, not RVs. There is one on the list specifically designed for 12V.
    
    The connection sequence is:
    
    Antenna to distribution switch, if your rig has one.
    Distribution switch to converter.
    Converter to television.
    
    antenna -> distribution switch -> converter -> TV
    
    
    

    Note: Apparently, there is a great temptation to connect the converted box to the cable leading directly from the antenna. In most cases, not only will this not work it could damage the converter box. This cable carries power to the built-in amplifier.

    
    
    Do you see the problem, if the converter box doesn't have analog pass-through? There is only one cable that runs from the TV to the distribution switch. How does the VCR or DVD signal reach the television? There are workarounds, but the analog pass through feature simplifies the connections.
    
    
  • Multiple Televisions
    Unless you want to watch the same channel on all TVs, you need a converter box for each television. The setup for each TV would be the same as described above.
    
    
  
  
• Comparison of Analog and Digital Coverage Areas
  The FCC has issued a report showing the coverage maps for all full-service TV facilities, including 1,749 stations that have both an analog and DTV facility and 69 stations having only DTV facilities. The maps show each station's digital TV coverage as compared to its analog TV coverage (except for the 69 DTV-only stations) within each Nielson Designated Market Area.
  
  Map Book of All Full-Power Digital Television Stations Authorized by the FCC
  
  
• Links to existing threads
  
  TV Converter Box Review
  
  HD Converter Boxes
  
  DTV conversion
  
  Home built HD antenna
  

[hotrod4x5]

Triathelete, new thread means a new topic, near the top of the page, actually about 1/3 down, you'll see "post new topic" click that to start a new topic.

Make sure your title is accurate and as descriptive as possible.

[Triathlete]

Sorry if I posted in the wrong area. Not sure what a "new thread" means. We have a 2004 Sunline Sole'. There is no switch box. One cable is at the booster and the other in the "living room" section. Thought the LR one might be an add on of somw kind but it is listed in the manual. Have a cable hookup on the outside of the trailer and the coax goes into it from the campground cable box. Antenna we use the aforementioned cables inside the trailer. Have tried the converter at both places with same results. Thought maybe the stations in the area we would be in hadn't converted yet but when I try the old tv with just analog, the results are the same. Occasionally we get TV, but rarely and sometimes better on the old one with converter box than the brand new set.

[pulsar]

I suggest that you start a new thread, instead of posting in the FAQ thread. Tell us more about your setup. What rig do you have? Tell us about these two cables; is there a switch box? How do you switch between cable and antenna? Where do you have the converter hooked up?

Tom

[Triathlete]

OK, we have an older tv (maybe 4 years) which worked fine w/analog and occasionally with the converter box. We have a brand new TV which is digital. We have two coax cables from the antenna which we can hook up one or both tv's to. I bought the little thing that you put on the antenna. We have tried every possible combination of hookups and receive, in most places, NO TV; not even on the new TV. If we nhook up to cable in a campground which provides same, everything is fine. This is making my hair hurt and there is not enough left to hurt!! HELP!!

[Rex_Nancy]

Just want to thank all of you ~ have had no concern re: the transition at home because we subscribe to cable service, but this is something I'll have to deal with when we get back up to Montana and our fifth wheel in June. This RV-specific forum has been most useful.

Thanks again. This is the BEST forum ever!

[Born2RV]

Thanks for clairfying this matter. I noted on the first page the sequence of installation is antenna distribution box converter tv and there is a temptation to hook the converter box directly to the antenna but that is bad. If I do not have a distribtion box, wouldn't I have to do that?

Also, I understand now that it is the TV not the atenna that determines if a converter box is needed. I was going to ask if they make a batwing that will receive the digital signal but it doesn't matter if my TV won't receive it. Thanks !!

[SCVJeff]

Dennis Bham wrote:
This link is a list of stations that have notified the FCC of their intent to turn off analog transmitters on Feb 17th as originally planned:

http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2009-02-10-stations-planning-switch-to-all-digital_N.htm

And that's by far not complete

[Dennis_Bham]

This link is a list of stations that have notified the FCC of their intent to turn off analog transmitters on Feb 17th as originally planned:

http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2009-02-10-stations-planning-switch-to-all-digital_N.htm

[pulsar]

VE3ESN wrote:
The transition to DTV in the US will be delayed, according to THIS ARTICLE

The possible delay is noted in the first post of the thread. The article you link to doesn't provide much about the disadvantages of a delay.

Tom

[VE3ESN]

The transition to DTV in the US will be delayed, according to THIS ARTICLE

[wsdepa]

Some of you may want to look at my tv converter installation project in this thread.Analogue to digital conversion thread

[hotrod4x5]

There was another thread from last year talking about the Insignia brand converter box. It had a feature that was extremely useful to RVers, the ability to ADD new channels to already memorized channels, which is great, since we need to turn our antenna for different channels.

Can anyone report on models they have bought in the past month if they have this feature? And what brand you got?

I have a coupon and need one box, and am hoping to get the right one!

[pulsar]

Here is an example of a distribution switch.



It accepts inputs from various sources and distributes the signals to the various devices in the system.

Tom

[dennislanier]

The original post mentioned the connection to the "distribution switch". Sorry to be so ignorant, but I am not sure what the distribution switch is. Is it the thing with the push button and green light on it that the tv cable connects to? Please elaborate.

[pulsar]

You don't have to change antennas, if your current one will receive channels 2-83.

However if your TV does not have a digital tuner, you will need a converter.

Tom