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OTA Television
If you watch OTA broadcast television it's likely you will be affected by the DTV transition in February. However, it's also possible you already have everything you need to be prepared. It depends primarily on the type and age of your TV. The first thing you need to know is whether you have a TV with a digital tuner, a digital-ready TV, or a purely analog TV.
Built-in ATSC Tuners
ATSC tuners, also referred to as digital tuners, are what you'll need to receive the new DTV broadcasts. Even if you have an analog TV, if it's new enough it may have a built in ATSC tuner. You may have to check the owners manual or the back of the TV to find out if it has an ATSC tuner. If it does you won't need a converter box or external tuner.
Digital-Ready TVs
Many early digital displays don't have ATSC tuners, but are digital-ready instead. Digital-ready is a fancy way of saying you need to provide your own ATSC tuner in the form of an external box of some kind. It also means you don't need to use a DTV converter.
Identifying a Digital-Ready Display
There are two parts to determining if what you have is a digital-ready TV. The first is to make sure you don't actually have an ATSC tuner. Assuming you're sure about that you need to look at what kind of connections are on your TV. There are three connectors used to connect a DTV tuner to a digital-ready TV. You should see at least one Component Video, DVI, or HDMI connection - generally on the back of the TV. See the images below for examples of each. Make sure you don't confuse Composite video, which uses just a single yellow plug, with Component Video, which uses 3 plugs (red, green, and blue).
If you have a Digital-ready TV you can still use a DTV converter purchased with a government voucher, but the quality will be significantly lower than you'd get from a DTV receiver (tuner) with no conversion.
Pure Analog TVs
If your TV doesn't have an ATSC tuner and isn't digital-ready it will require a DTV converter. These are the boxes you can use government vouchers for. Although the vouchers will cover $40 of the cost you'll be hard pressed to find one for less than $50, so be prepared to spend some of your own money.
The Voucher Program
For anyone not already familiar with the voucher plan, it's intended to subsidize the cost of converters by providing you with a voucher which can be redeemed at a variety of retailers. Each US household is eligible to receive 2 vouchers. You can request yours by visiting the program's website or by calling 1-888-388-2009. Vouchers are good for 90 days from the date they're issued.
DTV Converter Prices
The government issued vouchers won't pay the entire cost of your converter. While the vouchers are good for $40, even the most basic converter box has to be sold for around $50 for everyone involved in manufacturing and distribution to break even. For better boxes the total is usually around $50.
Where To Buy Converters
Sadly, it may not be easy to actually find a DTV converter for sale. Although national chains like Walmart, Target, Kmart, and Sears are selling them, shipments have been somewhat erratic. Among traditional retailers Best Buy, Circuit City, and Radio Shack seem to be your best bet.
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Next we'll talk about what options are available in DTV Converters and how to pick the right one for you.
