I inherited an older Sony color TV from my folks, a really good Trinitron, and it works pretty well with the rabbit ears I’ve hooked up, but I’m anxious that it’s going to become obsolete when TV signals go all-digital. Legitimate worry, or will my TV work just fine over the next few years until it dies?
It’s been creeping up on us for a couple of years here in the United States, but you’re right, in February of 2009, all television broadcasts will officially switch over to all-digital signals. Specifically, February 18, 2009 (why they didn’t pick January 1 or even February 1 is unclear, but that’s the gov’t for ya).
Once that happens, your rabbit ears antenna and older Sony analog TV are going to cease receiving anything that’ll be viewable. You can switch to cable (because cable converter boxes can output analog signals to your TV from a digital source) or satellite (for the same reason), but if you don’t change anything you’ll be in trouble.
The good news is that the government is offering a $40 coupon that you can apply to the cost of a converter box: a digital to analog TV converter box is your third option, and they’ll cost approximately $50 each. The net difference of $10 is well worth letting your Sony continue to work in the next few years.
Now, how do you get that snazzy coupon? You can call and request a coupon at 888-388-2009 or you can visit the DTV 2009.gov Web site.
The first 22 million requests received will get a coupon (if you’re keeping track, that represents a potential liability of $88 million to ensure people can keep getting their soap operas and crime drama) then the remaining coupons in the program will be allocated to people that don’t have a pay service (e.g., cable or satellite).
This program is all administered by the Department of Commerce, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, by the way.
Godo luck to you. I used to have a Sony Trinitron, actually, but now I have a Sony LCD digital HDTV and, well, it’s an upgrade. 🙂
I have an older Sharp TV with cable and a cable box. If I get a new LCD/LED digital TV do I still need the cable box? I’m in Canada and we’re doing the same switch on Aug 31st as the US did.
thank you for responing to me
Our Trinitron does! I have a KV32HS420
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/news-item.pl?news_id=256&mdl=KV32HS420
Dave.
I live in an apartment building that is serviced by Austar and of course we also receive the free to air stations. Both pay & FTA channels are received via what would be, given its age, an analog cabling system and an Austar dish. We have just installed new digital TV sets in most of the apartments.
Given that analog is to be turned off soon is it necessary to recable our building with digital cable? Should Austar be installing a new dish?What would be the bensfits of recabling with digital even if it wasn’t entirely necessary. What would be the downside to doing nothing? Does the fact that there is a pay TV provider involved have any effect?
I apologise in advance for the multiple questions but your assistance will be much appreciated. It is very difficult to get most techs to talk in terms that the layman can understand.
Thanks
Mike
Dear Dave,
I installed a converter box on a TV in my home last year. It works great on all channels except for a single channel. The signal comes in distorted. Any suggestions?
im really stuck my 42″ plasma tv (LG) wont switch off ive tried the remote and also the manual button on the set???? I’m really confused i switch it off and after a few seconds it powers back up on its own. Any help would be greatly appretiated. ta
Michael, hmmm…. there are some digital-ready TVs on the market that can 1. pull digital content off the air directly, and 2. work with cable services without using a cable box, so it is possible that your friend is telling you the truth. Surprised? You seem very skeptical of her. 🙂
Jack, since TV stations switched to digital broadcast, there are a surprising number of digital channels you can pull out of the ether with an antenna, so I’d try that first before you go any further. Modern TVs also have a “scan for channels” feature: use that and let it step through the thousands of possibilities to see what it can find for your lodge, and good luck!
Question: I have just purchased a new Flat Screen Digital TV for my Masonic Lodge. I have not hooked it up yet or taken it out of the box. Do I need a digital antenna of some type to receive local stations? Being a Masonic Lodge, we have no need for Cable TV unless we have to.
I have a friend that states comcast service is
different in the city of chicago than the suburbs..says she does not need the adaptor box
when comcast changes its digital channels..Is this
so…………Also claims she bought a digital ready tv and has rabbit ears on it….gets all local channels except for channel 2 which is a local channel…told her she needs a digital box
Right or wrong ?????
Thank You
i have a analog tv w/ rabbit ears. got a converter box and i can not get any signal to any tv stations. what else do i need to watch tv? i’m on a limited income, but i do like to watch tv. haven’t been able to watch anything since they did away with analog.
I have a question for you, I picked AT&T U200, and the salesman told me I needed a AT&T digital converter box for each TV, and be billed $7 dollars each month. Will any Digital converter box work, or do I have to use only AT&T boxes?
Joe
Hi Dave,
Can you help me with a vcr recording problem? Since the digital tv conversion, I have not been able to get a signal or record anything with my vcr. I bought a new digital tv (Samsung model LN32B360 C5D 32″) (TV works fine) The hookup I have is Coax coming into the house to the the vcr input and av cables from the vcr (Panasonic PV4022 purchased in June of 2002) to the tv output (also have coax from the vcr to the tv). The cable company is MDU which has a dish on top of each of our buildings and an antenna on the individual units.
When I try and program the vcr it only gives me a choice of L1,L2, and ch 38 for channels. When I hit the VCR/TV button to switch to vcr, I get this message on the screen “weak or no signal”.
Is the problem that the vcr is too old or is it the cable company, or do you have an suggestions as to how i can set this up to record – preferrably recording one channel while watching another.
Thanks in advance,
Joe Thomas
I too bought a converter box but it won’t work with Comcast cable. They said I should be able to use it, but that the model is not on their list. Are there only certain DTV converters that will work with Comcast cable. Basic cable has a few digital channels I would like to get but it doesn’t work with the converter I got. Sansonic FT-300A. Do I need a different box or does Comcast only work with their own 9rented) boxes?
Thanks.
I see a lot of questions, but no answers . Are there any answers?
I have a Sony Analog TV with a converter box and an outdoor antenna easily 30 feet up on the roof. I am told online that I an supposed to receive 13 channels in my area Tacoma, WA (98444)according to signal. I only receive 6 channels, -the major networks are not picked up. Therefore, channel 2,4,6 9 are not picked up. I do receive 11-13×2 and a few other channels. Why? Thanks.
Marilou, the retailer is out of line. Coupon or not, they were reimbursed for the purchase (they cash in the coupons and get the $$ to offset inventory costs and overhead) and they should stand behind the sale. They also know that the FCC is not set up to handle defective product returns. I’d go back and talk with the store manager. Good luck!
Hi Dave,
I have an RCA DTA800B converter box and I believe there is something wrong with it. When I plug in the power cord, the yellow light comes on although I did not press the standby button. The manual says the green light will come on when power is turned on but it does not. So my TV is not working since the box is not on.l There is no phone number at RCA to call for tech support and the retailer won’t take back the box. They said that since it was bought with the coupon, I should call the FCC. I am at my wits end now and don’t know where to turn for help.
Kathy and Sam, it’s not about your TV. It’s about the signal you feed into the television. If you’re grabbing that off an antenna, you probably have a problem now that the switchover has happened. If you have cable TV, Dish or DirecTV you’re good to go.
If i have a hd dolby digital tv, will i need to buy a converter box?
If so please email me! halosamr@aol.com or at my yahoo bacon43936@yahoo.com
I JUST BOUGHT ANEW TV, DO I NEED TO GET CABLE OR DIRECT. CAN’T I JUST PLUG IT IN AND WATCH TV.
THANK YOU, KATHY
Mike, yes you will, or you’ll need some other way to split the signal from the converter box to your multiple TVs.
Will I have to have a separate converter box for each tv in my home?
Bob, I would call up the retailer from whom you bought the converter box. The channel 3 issue is an interesting one because so many consumer electronic devices use channel 3 on the TV as the input frequency, I wonder if there’s a collision there? Check the back of the converter for a small slide-switch that lets you choose between channels 3 and 4 for the TV input frequency (or maybe it’s part of the setup). And you’re right, the new channels should look better than the old on-air ones, so perhaps you can call your cable provider to find out what’s going on? Good luck!!
Hi Dave,
I need your help? I purchased a Sansonic Converter box FT-300A and I have connected it properly. I recieve all of the local Cleveland, Ohio channels accept for one local channel which is ch3. When I try to use the romote to enter ch3 on the screen shows me no channel and no signal.
So my question is why am I recieving all the local channels but not this certain channel 3. Please let me know if I have to switch to a digital attenna from rabbit ears? What can be done to get this local ch3 to be activated.
Also I have noticed that some of the local channels have a break up picture or stand still picture in place just like when a picture on satalite does.
It seems to me that if digital pictures and signals are going to be broken up by bad weather and lose its signal then digital is not the right system. Please advise me what can I do to get this one local ch3 problem solved.
I hooked up the converter box, was working fine. But then I decided to unhook it, because I was unable to get some of the channels I previously got. Anyway, I hooked it up again & now I’m getting “no signal” message. What could be the problem since it worked before. Did the signal change, so perhaps I need to buy a new rabbit ears?
I have dish network satellite but cannot get local channels through dish. I get local channels through antennae. How do I hook up converter box to tv, anntenae and satellite without having to disconnect and reconnect when I chose to watch local channels or satellite.
do i or can i use zinwell converter box on digital ready hd tv
I have DISH Network and will be disconnecting. Do I need to reset my two TV’s?
So, one still needs a box even though I subscribe to cable? And, I won’t be able to tape different programs on different channels at different times without being home to set the tuner on the box?
If I have hdtv will I need a converter box if I still use tv antanna
if i do not get a very good signal with a antenna to begin with, will my signal improve with the box. i can only get one fuzzy station (we all have to get cable out here)
so is someone out there going to answer these questions for us???? before feb 17 Please
Thanks Shannon
I have hooked up my converter box, however when it did the scan it said no data no channels. what does that mean. why does the box not work??
Thank you for you time
shannon
i bought two the gov’t converter boxes but neigher get a signal with a rabbit ears. my new tv uses rabbit ears and I get free hd channels but I am told to buy a smart antenna for the analog tv I think the gov’t should give use rebates on outside antennas also. what is a smart antenna?
I have a common antenne for 4 tv is there an out side cionverter box that will work for all tv’s? Or do I have to have a converter for each tv
if you live in hilly country with a poor signal already, will you need to purchase a “special” antenna to receive a good signal?
HAVE A TV THAT DONT HAVE A VIDEO|AUDIO INPUT JACK, CAN A CONVERTER BOX BE CONNECTED TO THIS TV?
Will I get a digital signal if I connect the converter box before feb. 17?
Do these boxes work with Comcast signals?
I lost a couple of channels on my older TV and didn’t want to rent yet another box from Comcast
They chose that date because it’s after the superbowl, to ensure that there isn’t a panic to get converter boxes all of a sudden. Read up…
Have 2 analog TV’s connected to Comcast cable. The comcast person with whom I spoke said the Magnavox converts I got with the coupons from the gov. will not work with comcast – I will need to (apparently lease) a comcast converter, costs which will mean I pay for a converter every 7-9 months. Can this be? Why would a Magnavox converter not work? Would I not then be able to access digital stations? I’m thinking of getting rid of cable and going satellite, although some say weather affects satellite frequently. True?
It is really easy to work the converter boxes. All you have to do is hook it into the back of your TV and follow the directions in the manual. It should take just a few minutes to get it all done.
how you work the box i don’t know how
I HAVE A TV THAT DONT HAVE A VIDEO|AUDIO INPUT JACK, CAN A CONVERTER BOX BE CONNECTED TO THIS TV?
I purchased a 10″ RCA under cabinet crt color tv just 2 years ago. This tv has no video/audio input jacks. Is there any way i can adapt a converter box to this tv?
In the information on the digital conversion boxes for TV, many brands are listed as needing one, but not Sony. I have not found a cite of the Sony company to which I can direct a question on whether my Sony TV needs a box. I have Sony model KV27546
serial 4101786 SML Dec. 1999, Chassis type BA40.
Dave,
Will two or more TV,s connected to one converter box work propertly?? OR do I have to get a converter box for each TV. My home has an common outside antenta that is shared by three TV,s.
Thanks
Tom
What D to A Converter TV boxes MUST HAVE:
————————————————-
Jump BACK- back and forth between 2 stations not in order
RECALL BUTTON
———————————————————-
LOW SIGNAL – defeat ??
so a marginal station can still be received.
———————————————————-
STEREO in composite video on ch 3/4?
NOT using captured stereo available at RCA jacks on back??
———————————————————-
TURN ON AND OFF TV button – this button can be programmed to send the code to the TV, if the TV is near the Converter box.
———————————————————-
DISPLAYS STATION AS COMMANDED by entering station number, even when the station was NOT detected during auto-search
———————————————————-
TURN ON / OFF TIMER in converter box? And does it keep the time for 7 days in the week? How is control sent to TV?
Melinda, try this page:
http://www.dtv.gov/consumercorner.html
It’s not quite what you seek, but should help you out nonetheless.
is there a website where you can type in your
tv make model and see if you need a converter and
which type to get?