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Dec 17, 2008 6:31 pm US/Central
How To Get Prepared For The Digital TV Conversion
(WCCO)
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Snow and static is what you'll see and hear on your analog set come Feb. 17, 2009.
CBS
Update: On Feb. 4, 2009, congress voted to delay the scheduled Feb. 17, 2009 transition to digital television and decided to push it back four months to June 12, 2009. Lawmakers were worried that millions of Americans wouldn't be ready in time for the February date.
The switch to digital only broadcast is just a couple of months away.
If you have an analog television set there are some things you need to know if you want to pick up a digital signal.
Snow and static is what you'll see and hear on your analog set come Feb. 17, 2009.
If you have cable or satellite hooked up to your television set you will be OK, but if you don't, you're going to want to get a digital converter box.
"A converter box and a proper antenna are absolutely essential if you intend to still get the signal from over the air," said Jim du Bois, the President of Broadcasters Association.
You can apply to the government to get two coupons per household -- each worth $40 -- to cover most of the cost of a box.
"It won't be a full digital TV, nor will it be high definition," said du Bois.
If your signal isn't all that good on your analog set now, chances are you'll also need an amplified antenna.
"Basically what that does -- it's still an indoor antenna. It still can sit on top of your TV, but it takes the signal and boosts it," said du Bois.
Jerris Miller has six television sets, but cable runs to all of them. She said wants the crisp picture that comes with digital high definition.
"I don't know if we can afford to get six new TVs, but maybe we'll get one," said Miller.
If you're like Miller and you're in the market for a new TV, remember this: just because it's digital, does not mean it's a high definition TV.
"It's very important when you make that purchase that you ask the salesperson and confirm with them that this is a TV capable of receiving high definition," said du Bois.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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