If you subscribe to cable or satellite services will you need a converter box to comply analog/digital?

Question

conversion? I have an analog T.V. but have satellite service through direct tv

On February 17, 2009, all US TV broadcasters are required to turn off their older analog transmitters and be exclusively digital. .

Answer 1

Once you subscribe to any services you will be fine. With cable or satellite your tvs will work after February 17.

Answer 2

no

Answer 3

nope

Answer 4

If you get your local channels through DirecTV, then no, you won't need the converter box. If you have to switch over to basic tv to watch your local channels, then yes, you will need one since your tv doesn't have a digital tuner. DirecTV does not support local channels in all areas, my parents are in a spot where they don't, it stinks!

Answer 5

If you have direct tv, you already have the sattelite box... so that won't be an issue, if you don't already have the service for local stations, I'd upgrade the service to include that.   If you have cable, you should be fine with the cable... without the box.

Answer 6

No, you will not need a converter box.  The change in February only affects over the air (OTA) signals one would watch with an antenna.  If you have satellite or cable, you will not be affected.  Your DirecTV receiver is already delivering an analog signal to your TV, that will not change.

I hope this helps.  Please return and select a Best Answer from all of those submitted.

Answer 7

>From all those submitted? Do you know something I don't?

Apparently.

The TV signals that Direct TV sends to you have always been digital. Their satellite receivers have a digital to analog converter built in to them. So people who  get all of their TV signals from the satellite don't need a separate converter box.

But some Direct TV users get their local TV channels through an antenna. The satellite TV converter does not work with over the air (OTA) digital broadcasts.

In North America, you need an ATSC digital tuner to pick up local digital OTA broadcasts. The coupon type converter boxes have this kind of tuner.

If you get your local channels through an antenna, then you need one of the following:

An OTA converter box   or

A satellite receiver with an ATSC tuner built into it    or

A recorder with an ATSC tuner built into it   or

A new TV with an ATSC digital tuner built into it