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
  

[SCVJeff]

tplife wrote:

tazmangk wrote:
just wondered if anyone knows if they make a 12 volt digital tv?..I camp out in the woods at times and still would like to catch the news, weather etc without the noise of a gen set.

Good luck, digital transmission distances are rated at 20 miles max from the transmitter, and that's with a good-sized antenna. It's not like analog VHF.

Huh?
If you really live in So. Cal you should know better than that. WELL over 50% of the Los Angeles DMA is in excess of 20 miles from Mt. Wilson. I'm 26 miles from the hill and I can see ALL of Mt. Wilson UHF on a spike in the office.

[tplife]

tazmangk wrote:
just wondered if anyone knows if they make a 12 volt digital tv?..I camp out in the woods at times and still would like to catch the news, weather etc without the noise of a gen set.

Good luck, digital reception distances are not as far as analog, and that's with a good-sized antenna.

[hotrod4x5]

Jeff, not sure, I will take a look. I know it is sandwiched between my AC and the fridge vent, not sure how close it is to the other for flipping.

[SCVJeff]

hotrod4x5 wrote:
The problem I have with the wingman is that when my antenna is stowed, a vent would be impacted by the wingman. The batwing works pretty well for digital without it, but I am sure the wingman helps, I just wish I could mount it on mine.

Some folks with this problem have managed to flip the antenna 180 degrees on the mast. Any chance of that?

[hotrod4x5]

The problem I have with the wingman is that when my antenna is stowed, a vent would be impacted by the wingman. The batwing works pretty well for digital without it, but I am sure the wingman helps, I just wish I could mount it on mine.

[SCVJeff]

jwill5046@aol wrote:
Pulsar, Thanks for the post, I had questions about the bat wing and was told it wouldn't work for the digital. I tried it out yesterday and it works great. Thanks again for the info. Jerry

People that don't understand RF shouldn't render opinions... Oh well. If you don't have one already, add a Wingman to the antenna. It will really help the UHF.

[jwill5046]

Pulsar, Thanks for the post, I had questions about the bat wing and was told it wouldn't work for the digital. I tried it out yesterday and it works great. Thanks again for the info. Jerry

[pulsar]

Most functions will be handled by the converter box; it is what has the digital tuner.

How many TVs do you have? If two, your output must be going to a splitter somewhere. If two, then you will need to converters or both TVs will have to watch the same channel.

If you can trace the cable from the TV back to its first connection, that is where you would insert the converter, if it is only to control that TV. Cable from TV to the converter's output. A new cable between the converter's input and wherever the cable form the TV was previously connected.

Tom

[georgibush]

Just now getting around too installing the box. My question is I only have a single cable on the outlet of the junction box in the
mh. It appears that I need to hook the box to the inlet side of the junction box where the antenna box. If I hook to the outlet side all functions would be going through the converter box. Please advise. Thanks for any help you can give me.

[Homer1]

SCVJeff: Thanks for the response. I wondered about that, but didn't know that it was possible to over amplify. There are some powerful stations about 50 miles from my home, I used to be able to pull one of them in before digital, I will see if I can still do it with the amp on. I know the converter will not pull them in by itself.

[SCVJeff]

Homer wrote:
I have no distribution box, (here we go again), I hooked the converter to the exterior center jack on the power supply,(per instructions from Cust Serv Winnebago. I have the wingman installed. I can get 4 digital channels relatively near by, nice and clear, as long as I do not turn the amplifier on. Turn it on and the screen turns full snow. I also have the RCA F cables hooked to the converter. I am sure I am hooked up incorrectly, but I swear I have tried every conceivable process. Any one have any suggestions. I also use satellite TV remote dish, no problem with it at all. It would be a major undertaking to take the TV out to get to the back of it. Can anything be worked out with the power supply cabling? I am about to give it all up. PM's are welcome

It is entirely possible that you are "too" close (if it's not one thing it's another). I have noticed the same thing when camping at our favorite spot on the beach that I actually get better reception when the amp is off since there is a major radio site 2-3 miles away overloading the pre-amp. If I'm careful I can null out the offending site with the batwing, but I get the same results just killing the amp.

[Homer1]

I have no distribution box, (here we go again), I hooked the converter to the exterior center jack on the power supply,(per instructions from Cust Serv Winnebago. I have the wingman installed. I can get 4 digital channels relatively near by, nice and clear, as long as I do not turn the amplifier on. Turn it on and the screen turns full snow. I also have the RCA F cables hooked to the converter. I am sure I am hooked up incorrectly, but I swear I have tried every conceivable process. Any one have any suggestions. I also use satellite TV remote dish, no problem with it at all. It would be a major undertaking to take the TV out to get to the back of it. Can anything be worked out with the power supply cabling? I am about to give it all up. PM's are welcome

[MrWizard]

that is correct..

[dave49]

I am very late to this subject,only recently realized I was not getting OTA but in reading all the other posts it appears that I can convert by buying two converter boxes(for two TV) with analog pass through so I can get reception OTA and from campground connections. Is this accurate or have I oversimplified the subject and need more info

[MrWizard]

moving the antenna, may not change anything,

signal reception is stronger, in the night time damp air,

doing a scan during the day time warm dry air, will not help, it will just clear the channel list because nothing is being picked up

you need some way of improving reception, more sensitive or taller antenna, a new UHF 'bow tie' array, maybe a wingman extension attached to the batwing

TV & radio reception has ALWAYS been better at night than during the day

but with digital transmission on UHF band it can mean NO picture, when you used to get a weak analog signal on the VHF band

many people are finding out what TV was like in the 50's & 60's before there were so many stations and before 'cable' existed

the NEW digital OTA reception has a great may similarities
the best signal is gained with a NEW antenna on a taller pole.
NOT very helpful for RV'ers out camping

might be more of us, giving up on the 'boob tube' while camping