When all TV stations broadcast digitally, will viewers be able to pick up local channels over the air?

Question

When all TV stations broadcast digitally, will viewers be able to pick up local channels over the air?

Answer 1

YUP.



but your TV needs to have a digital tuner. If it doesn't, then you have to buy a converter box. You can request $40 coupons from the government.



So you either have to buy a new TV with a digital tuner, or keep your old one and buy a converter box.

Answer 2

i wish they under no circumstances flow out of style.. wish this new era had a huge gamble to computer screen them. They have been a fav or mine as a newborn. first factor i could do when I have been given living house from college grew to become into to computer screen the Stooges.

Answer 3

US broadcasters have been required to have digital signals in the air since about 2002. ALL full power TV stations are REQUIRED to convert to digital to remain on the air after February 17, 2009, regardless of network affiliation, ownership or programming. This is the law. Low power TV stations may remain in analog for the time being. Dusty's comments reflect the view of the low power TV operators and his numbers are a bit misleading.



The coverage of the digital stations should be very similar to that of the analog stations after the transition is complete in late 2009. The FCC went to great lengths to try to replicate analog coverage in for DTV. (Sorry, Mike Two). There are currently some lower power DTV transmitters on the air because some broadcasters will change channels after the analog transmitters are turned off and the channels are freed up. Then they will be full power on their final channel.



You should be able to pick up free, Over The Air (OTA) signals now. You will need a good quality, properly installed antenna and a digital TV or converter box to take advantage of the free OTA signals. There is no such thing as a digital antenna either, a TV antenna is pretty much a TV antenna.



I hope this helps clear up the confusion . . .

Answer 4

Yes, the transition applies to full power station broadcast freely over the airwaves in the United States. In other countries the transition applies to broadcast signals as well (where legal reception of such signals either does or does not come with a fee on one's television devices).



If Cable only stations and Satellite only stations had never used the term broadcast to apply to the signals they generate there would be less confusion. To "broadcast" means to send one's signal out over the air for all the public to see. Since not all of the public has cable or satellite their signals are not really broadcast signals. Yet they mistakenly use the term to apply to their programming.

Answer 5

The TV stations have started broadcasting digitally in most markets in the US .

All you need is a digital converter box which costs $40 - $70 at retailers like Wal-marts or Sears .

Answer 6

You will need a converter box which installs between your antenna or cable and your tv...

Answer 7

In most areas that already get analog signal (the old rabbit ears), you should be able to get HDTV signal (with the proper TV or adapter box).



What is not well known is you may need a new antenna, or even upgrade to an outdoor antenna because HDTV obviously needs a stronger signal to operate properly.



This is not the same in Canada it seems where many analog towers will NOT be converted to digital, therefore plunging poor people into darkness by 2011ish (our date is further). In the States, it seems that "where there are analog towers", there are digital towers (hdtv). I'm sure there will be some that won't be convertered, but I have not heard of any.

Answer 8

There is so much misinformation on the net re this problem that it isn't even funny. The Facts are: A - Only about 1/3 (most major network owned stations) are going digital. B - 2/3 of them are not. This includes all low power stations, religious, local information, education, etc. C - Even some of the so called low power stations have been transmitting both digital and analog signals for over a year or so and will continue to do so. D - You will only need a converter if you don't have cable, dish or sat. system. Some dish systems already have a separate antenna for the local channels along with the dish. Last but by no means least: If you do need a converter, get one that passes both analog as well as digital signals.