Is antennae TV really going out on February 2009?

Question

ive seen that commercial about switching to "the box" because TV wont work. is that really going to happen, or is that all propoganda?

Answer 1

Your antenna is still good if it has UHF built on it.   Yes, Analog is going out completely on Feb. 17, 2009.   You will have to have  a converter box in order to receive the digital UHF signals plus a UHF antenna.  But if you purchase a new HD/TV that has a built in tuner you will not need the converter box.   If you live over 20 miles from your local transmitters it would be best to purchase a UHF outside antenna  and be sure to use RG 6 Cable for high frequency.  Your picture quality will be fantastic.   No antenna ghost no snow.   But if the signal is weak it could cause no picture and intermittent pixel etc.  Don't pay full price for  a converter box because the federal Gov is giving us  $40.00 coupons up to two converter boxes on the price of a new converter.   That web site is:  https://www.dtv2009.gov/ApplyCoupon.aspx

Answer 2

Who's Affected?

If you use an antenna to watch TV on a set that has an analog tuner – and don't subscribe to cable, satellite or other pay TV service – you will need to upgrade to digital television by February 17, 2009.

At least 19.6 million households receive over-the-air signals exclusively in their homes, and 14.9 million households have secondary over-the-air TV sets in their bedrooms or kitchens. Overall, nearly 70 million television sets are at risk of losing their signals.

Consumers have three options to continue getting television reception:

Purchase a DTV converter box for your existing TV set

Purchase a TV set with a built-in digital tuner

Subscribe to cable, satellite or other pay TV service, if that carrier offers the local broadcast stations you want

Note that the transition only applies to full-power TV stations. Some low-power stations will remain in analog, so you may need specific equipment to watch analog and digital broadcasting after the transition. "Pass-through" converter boxes allow your TV set to receive both analog and digital signals

DTV technology is more flexible and efficient than the current analog system. The switch to digital broadcasting will allow television stations to offer crystal-clear pictures and sound, plus more channels and programming – all for free. The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 requires full-power television stations to turn off their analog channels by February 17, 2009 and begin broadcasting exclusively in a digital format.

Going all-digital will free up parts of the airwaves for future innovative services by entrepreneurs. TV stations can also improve their services with enhanced closed captioning, better pictures and sound, and offer several channels of programmming at the same time, known as "multicasting."

Today, 1,624 out of 1,760 full-power television stations nationwide already offer digital programming in every market in America

Answer 3

It's true...here's an excerpt from the main site...

Why the Switch?

DTV technology is more flexible and efficient than the current analog system. The switch to digital broadcasting will allow television stations to offer crystal-clear pictures and sound, plus more channels and programming – all for free. The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 requires full-power television stations to turn off their analog channels by February 17, 2009 and begin broadcasting exclusively in a digital format.

Going all-digital will free up parts of the airwaves for future innovative services by entrepreneurs. TV stations can also improve their services with enhanced closed captioning, better pictures and sound, and offer several channels of programmming at the same time, known as "multicasting."

Today, 1,624 out of 1,760 full-power television stations nationwide already offer digital programming in every market in America

Who's Affected?

If you use an antenna to watch TV on a set that has an analog tuner – and don't subscribe to cable, satellite or other pay TV service – you will need to upgrade to digital television by February 17, 2009.

At least 19.6 million households receive over-the-air signals exclusively in their homes, and 14.9 million households have secondary over-the-air TV sets in their bedrooms or kitchens. Overall, nearly 70 million television sets are at risk of losing their signals.

Consumers have three options to continue getting television reception:

Purchase a DTV converter box for your existing TV set

Purchase a TV set with a built-in digital tuner

Subscribe to cable, satellite or other pay TV service, if that carrier offers the local broadcast stations you want

Note that the transition only applies to full-power TV stations. Some low-power stations will remain in analog, so you may need specific equipment to watch analog and digital broadcasting after the transition. "Pass-through" converter boxes allow your TV set to receive both analog and digital signals

I hope this helps....

Answer 4

Yes, no, and maybe. Over-the-air TV is switching from an analog signal to a digital signal in February. If your TV has a digital (ATSC) tuner, you can receive the digital signals, otherwise you need a converter box. Many stations are already transmitting a digital signal. They have not yet set a cutoff date for low-power and repeater stations, many of them will still be transmitting in analog after February. If you live in the boonies and receive a lot of repeater channels, you'll want to look into a converter box that can pass through the analog signals, many of the low end boxes don't.