FAQ: Digital TV

By Lisa Phifer

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As the deadline approaches for the nationwide conversion of analog television to digital TV, you may be wondering: Am I impacted? What do I need to do if I don't subscribe to a cable service? What's the difference between HDTV and DTV? The answers to those and other  frequently asked questions are below. For even more information, check out our beginner's guide to HDTV.

Q: What is Digital TV?

Television stations have been broadcasting programs over the airwaves throughout the US since 1940. Until recently, all did so using an old analog technology defined by the National Television System Committee (NTSC). But the picture quality and size that seemed fine 60 years ago is far from the best we can do today.

A few years ago, some TV stations started to broadcast programs using a new digital technology developed by the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC). It is commonly called Digital TV (DTV) because it uses digital innovations to make more efficient and effective use of the airwaves.

On February 17, 2009, Americans will enter the age of digital television -- ready or not.

Q: What improvements can I expect to see with Digital TV?

When analog (NTSC) TV transmissions encounter signal interference, picture quality is degraded. Noise (snow), multiple images (ghosting), color variations (tinting), and audible static are all quite common. Digital ATSC transmissions can overcome all of these problems, producing pictures and sounds that are always clear.

Behind the scenes, efficiency improvements also make it possible to send video, high-quality audio and extra program information on each DTV channel. The net result: DTV increases the number of free TV channels and improves your viewing experience.
 
Q: What's the difference between high-definition TV and digital TV?

Quality aside, DTV programs may be no different in size and shape than those you watched 60 years ago. Standard definition analog TV consisted of 525 lines of information, displayed on a screen with a 4:3 aspect ratio. Standard definition digital TV pictures contain at least 480 x 640 pixels (tiny dots of colored light), which corresponds to roughly the same resolution and aspect ratio.

However, high-definition (HD) TV programs are recorded at much better resolution, frequently in wide-screen. For example, most HD televisions can display programs in 1080p format – that's 1920 x 1080 pixels (a 16:9 wide-screen picture.) Those HD images are noticeably crisper – especially on large screen TVs. In short, DTV improves signal reception, while HD uses richer content to deliver a "home theater" experience.
 
Q: Why can't I just continue to use analog TV?

The channels used to deliver analog TV will be retired and made available for public safety communication (police, fire). To facilitate transition, many broadcasters now deliver the same programs simultaneously over an old analog TV channel and a new DTV channel. But to recycle those old channels, those analog broadcasts must end.
 
Q: When will analog TV signals disappear?

The FCC has mandated that all high-power TV broadcasters in the U.S. stop transmitting on analog channels and switch to all-digital channels at midnight on February 17, 2009.  After that date, the only free over-the-air TV programming available within the U.S. will be broadcasted using digital ATSC technology.

Q: How will this DTV transition impact me?

If you receive TV programs over the air – for example, using an older television set equipped with an analog (NTSC) tuner and "rabbit ear" antennas – you may no longer be able to do so after February 2009. (See below.)

However, if you have a digital television set – that's a TV with an ATSC tuner – or you currently receive TV programs through a commercial cable or satellite TV provider, then you will not be affected by this transition. (See below).
 
Q: Will my old TV still work with DTV?

There are two ways to make an old TV with an analog (NTSC) tuner work with DTV.

First, you could subscribe to paid TV service, delivered by a commercial cable or satellite TV provider. In this case, your provider will supply analog TV signals that can be processed by your existing NTSC tuner.

Alternatively, you could use a DTV converter box to receive free over-the-air DTV broadcasts and turn them into signals expected by your old analog TV. (See below.)
 
Q: How do I know if my TV set supports DTV?

Terms like "DTV" and "HDTV" are easily confused and related techno-babble like "1080p" can be over-whelming. However, the term to look for is "ATSC."

TVs made before 1998 do not have ATSC tuners. TVs sold since then may have ATSC tuners, but don't assume that an "HD-Ready" set has an ATSC tuner. An HD-Ready set can display high-resolution programs, but may or may not be able to receive those programs in digital ATSC format.

When purchasing a new TV, look for "ATSC" on the price tag or carton. For existing TVs, look for "ATSC" on the back of the TV set (wherever you connect a cable or antenna), in your owner's manual, or on the manufacturer's Web site.
 
Q: What is a DTV converter?

A DTV converter is a paperback-sized digital-to-analog-converter box. Converters may look a bit like cable TV set-top-boxes, but they are simple devices that do just one job:  receive over-the-air digital (ATSC) signals and output them in analog (NTSC) format. For more information, check out, "Converting to digital TV: All you need to know."

Q: How do I install a DTV converter?

DTV signals are received through an external TV antenna, like a rooftop antenna or rabbit ears, attached to your DTV converter box. Analog output is fed from the DTV converter to your old TV through a coaxial cable or a composite video (red-white-yellow) cable.

In most cases, you can simply unscrew your existing antenna cable from the back of your old TV and screw it into the DTV converter box. The DTV converter may or may not come with a cable to connect it to your TV. Consult your converter's setup guide to determine what kind of video cable (if any) you should purchase for that purpose.

Q: Where can I get a DTV converter?

Some DTV converters have extra features such aas "smart antennas" that improve reception on each channel. But don't let enthusiastic sales people talk you into buying more than you need or want. DTV converters do not have to be fancy to feed those free over-the-air DTV programs to your old analog TV. A basic DTV converter retails for $50 to $70.

A list of approved DTV converter boxes is maintained at the National Telecommunication and Information Administration Web site. A searchable list of retailers that sell DTV converter boxes can also be found at the DTV2009 Web site.

Q: How can I get DTV converter coupons?

Households most likely to be impacted by DTV transition include those on tight budgets. To offset the financial burden, the U.S. Congress created a "TV Converter Box Coupon Program" to assist those who wish to continue watching free over-the-air TV using an old analog set.

Every U.S. household can apply to receive two (2) $40 coupons that can each be applied toward the purchase of an approved DTV converter box. To receive those coupons, you must apply online, or print out and mail in a form, or call the Coupon Program 24-hour hotline at 1-888-DTV-2009. Coupons are only available through March 31, 2009 (while supplies last) and expire after 90 days.

Q: Do cable or satellite customers need DTV converters?

Despite what you may have heard from someone trying to sell you a new TV, older analog TV sets that are connected to cable, satellite, or other pay services do not require a DTV converter box to receive DTV programs. (See DTV2009, the US Department of Commerce website regarding DTV conversion.)

Cable and satellite providers can continue to support analog TVs indefinitely because they do not send programs over-the-air on the old analog channels that are being retired. Precisely how your provider supports your old TV may vary – for example, most set-top-boxes have analog coaxial outputs for this purpose. Note that DTV conversion does NOT require you to upgrade your cable service to High-Definition (HD) TV.
 
Q: What other home video devices will DTV impact?

DTV transition will impact any video device that contains an analog (NSTC) TV tuner. This includes portable "walkman" TVs, TVs installed in cars and campers, digital video recorders (DVRs), and video recorders (VCRs) with built-in TV tuners.

If you have an old portable TV with an NTSC tuner, cable service may not be an option and a DTV converter may not be convenient. However, if you have an old VCR with a built-in NTSC tuner, options are essentially the same as those for older TV sets. Similarly, if your DVR is supplied by your cable provider, or receives its input via cable, it will not be affected by DTV transition.

Q: How should I get my household ready for DTV?

Start by considering every TV receiver in your household. Ignore all devices that receive input from a cable or satellite TV provider, and focus on those that only receive over-the-air TV transmissions. For those devices only, decide whether you would like to replace them, upgrade to cable/satellite service, or equip them with a DTV converter. If you're not sure, take an online quiz sponsored by the DTV Transition Coalition.

Although TV replacement may not be required by DTV transition, it can offer benefits. New TVs not only have digital (ATSC) tuners – but they also are often capable of displaying High-Definition (HD) programs with larger, higher resolution pictures. DTV delivers clearer pictures, but will not by itself produce the big crisp pictures offered by HD.

Have a question that we didn’t answer? It maybe that someone else had the same question and it has already been answered. Check out our Q&A section to find out!