Are you ready for DTV?
DTV 2009 Countdown - On June 12, 2009, All over-the-air television stations have been mandated by the U.S. government to broadcast digital only television signals.
U.S. households may be eligible to request up to two converter box coupons, worth $40 each, which can be applied toward the purchase of up to two, digital-to-analog converter boxes.
DTV Coupon Elgibility And Applying to the Coupon Program
(Click Here)
Browse or search our site to begin learning about DTV and the digital transition .
(Over 350 answered DTV questions)
Search for your DTV answers here
Digital Transition: What’s it costing you?
The Digital Transition is less than 11 days away, and we want to here from you! The switch to digital television signals will cause old analog TV sets that are unprepared to “go dark”. To prepare, you will need to purchase a converter box (Don’t forget to apply for a coupon), buy a TV with a digital tuner, or subscribe to cable or satellite TV service. What are you doing to prepare?
How much have you spent or do you plan on spending?
Do you plan on purchasing a new DTV Antenna?
How many TVs in your house do you plan on upgrading with a converter box?
Share your thoughts by going to the bottom of this page and submitting a comment.
DTV Walk-in Help Centers for April
Some of the latest DTV News to hit the wire:
A round up of DTV awareness meetings, workshops, and help centers are scheduled in April.
What: DTV Day of Action (DTV Assistance Center)
Where: Seattle, WA Housing Authority’s Center Park facility
When: Friday, April 17th
Who: MAG-Net partner organizations, Reclaim the Media, Youth Media Institute, and the Seattle Housing Authority
More information Here
What: Walk-in Help Center at Rimrock Mall
Where: Billings, MT Rimrock Mall (300 S 24th Street W)
When: Friday, April 17th and April 18th, 2009 (10am - 9pm)
Who: FCC Staff
More Information Here
What: DTV Day of Action (DTV Assistance Center)
Where: St, Minneapolis, MN Midtown Global Market
When: Friday, April 17th
Who: Media Action Grassroots Network
More Information Here
Expired DTV Coupon? Reapply today!
The TV Converter Box Coupon Program has now begun accepting replacement applications from consumers who have allowed their coupons to expire without being redeemed. This marks a change in policy for expired coupon holder’s who were originally denied by the coupon program after their DTV Coupons had expired.
Congress made changes to the coupon program when it passed a recent act to postpone the digital transition date from February 17th to June 12th. The same act also included a change to the wording on how the NTIA (National Telecommunications and Information Agency) could mail out coupons to households.
Changed From: No more than two coupons should be sent to any one household.
Changed To: No more than two coupons per household can be redeemed.
Though the changes seem small, consumers can now request up to (2) new coupons to replace your old expired converter box coupons. The Government’s website also points out that you will not need the old expired coupons to reapply, so if you’ve lost or had them stolen, there’s no need to worry.
How to Reapply: Consumers can apply for replacement coupons by visiting www.dtv2009.gov
DTV Coupon Program Extended to 7/31/09
Just in case anyone has not applied for a DTV Coupon yet, the Government TV Converter Box Coupon Program has been extended to July 31st, 2009 to help procrastinators consumers get ready for the digital transition.
Coupon Backlog Cleared
The NTIA has announced that it has eliminated the coupon application backlog which had caused consumer applicants to be put on a waiting list for DTV Coupons. At the beginning of March, there were over 4.1 million applications waiting to be processed, but after today’s announcement by the NTIA, there are 0 applicants on the waiting list.
Converter Box Contest at DTVUSAForum.com
DTVUSAForum.com is having a contest giveaway for two digital-to-analog converter boxes. Two lucky winners will be selected on June 20th, 2009 (that’s less than 2 months away). For complete contest details and how to enter visit: Converter Box Contest at DTVUSAForum.com
To enter the contest, contestants must complete two tasks.
Task #1: Register for free to DTV USA Forum (If you’ve alreay done so, great, you can skip step #1.)
Task #2: Give your thoughts (Minimum 50 words) on DTV at this post: What are your thoughts on the digital transition? All written words must be original, not copied and pasted from other websites on the web! Your entry will be disqualified if you copy and paste from another user or website.
TV Stations still planning for the Digital Transition on Feb. 17th, 2009
Although the digital transition has been postponed by Congress, television stations have been given the option to shut off their analog signals any time before 6-12-09. With millions of consumers still on a waiting list for DTV coupons, 491 television have asked the FCC for permission to transition to digital only broadcast signals on 2-17-2009. That’s less than 5 days away.
The FCC website has given permission to all but 123 TV stations to make the transition on 2-17-2009 citing the following reason:
…the primary concern of the Commission is to ensure that viewers relying on over-the-air television do not lose access to local news, public affairs and emergency information before they are ready for the full power television transition to all-digital television service.
How do I know which stations are still switching to DTV on February 17th, 2009?
You can reference the FCC’s list of 491 stations intending to transition on February 17th, 2009:
FCC List: Part A
FCC List: Part B
For a list of the 123 stations who must meet additional guidlines requested by the FCC before they proceed with their digital transition on February 17th, 2009:
FCC List: Click Here
These Lists are too confusing, how else can I tell if I need to upgrade my television before June 12th, 2009?
A simple Google search using your city name, state name, and channel number (or channel affiliate call sign, ie: ABC, NBC, or Fox) will provide you with links to the respective websites broadcasting television signals in your area.
Stations like KSPR - ABC in Springfield, MO are providing viewers with a “Countdown to Digital Television” timer and information about their plans to transition to DTV on February 17th, 2009.
Indoor DTV Antenna Reviews
What is the best DTV antenna for my house, apartment, or condo?
It’s one of the most common questions we receive here at tvconversionhelp.com and at our forum www.dtvusaforum.com. One of the most important factors in determining which type of antenna you’ll need for receiving dtv signals, is by figuring out how far TV broadcast towers are from your house or dwelling. Estimating this distance might be difficult to do on your own, but we’ve found a useful website that’ll calculate the distance for you (free). www.tvfool.com - Just click on the “Start Here” at tvfool and enter your zip code for detailed broadcast tower distance results from your location.
Indoor antennas
A good indoor antenna can receive digital television signals approximately 15-20 miles away from broadcast towers depending on your area topography. Your results may vary depending on objets like hills, mountains, or trees that can deflect signals from reaching your antenna.
On to the reviews…
Terk HDTVa Indoor Amplified High-Definition Antenna
Positive:
Easy Setup
UHF and VHF Elements (Recommended by most news channels for indoor reception)
Preassembled
Amplified and optimized to receive both UHF and VHF channels
High-gain antenna array can be oriented horizontally or vertically for optimum reception
Strong fit and finish
Negative:
Slightly directional design may require adjustment for some channels depending on location from broadcast towers
The bottom line:
One of the most visually appealing DTV antennas to hit the market this last year. #1 seller at Amazon for indoor antennas, and highly regaured at HDTV and DTV forums as the goto antenna for indoor digital television reception.
Product Description:
Product Dimensions: 5.4 pounds
Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
ASIN: B0007MXZB2
Item model number: HDTVA
Antennas Direct DB2 Multi Directional HDTV Antenna
Positive:
Easy setup!
Preassembled
11.4 dB Gain, Strong performance across entire UHF band (Channels 14-69)
Fit and finish is good
Negative:
Not the prettiest looking anenna on the market
The bottom line:
Performance designed antenna that may go the extra distance over the Terk HDTVa antenna with receiving digital signals. The author of this article uses this antenna, and has it situated behind the TV cabinet out of view from anyone in the living room.
Product Description:
Product Dimensions: 4 x 19 x 12 inches ; 5 pounds
Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
ASIN: B000EHUE7I
Item model number: DB2
Winegard SS-3000 Amplified Indoor UHF/VHF Antenna
Positive:
Easy Setup and minimal adjustment needed with mounting
Preassembled
Scatter Plane Technology To Receive Indoor Direct and Reflected Signals
Negative:
long profile design may not be suitable for placing this antenna on a small table or on top of an equipment cabinet
The bottom line:
This antenna is a close tie with the Antennas Direct DB2, but offers better VHF performance and may provide better performance across the UHF band too.
Product Description:
Product Dimensions: 27 x 4.5 x 5 inches ; 3.3 pounds
Shipping Weight: 4 pounds
ASIN: B001DFZ5II
Item model number: SS-3000
WINEGARD SS-3000 AMPLIFIED INDOOR U/V ANTENNAHIGH-PERFORMANCE INDOOR ANTENNA; SCATTER PLANE TECHNOLOGY TO RECEIVE INDOOR DIRECT and REFLECTED SIGNALS; PRECISION-MOUNTED ELECTRONICS FOR ULTRA EFFICIENT TRANSFER OF DIGITAL SIGNAL; COMPACT DESIGN FOR ANY HOME DCOR; RANGE UP TO 30 MILESZONE 1 (YELLOW/GREEN) ;