What Happens if Television Goes Digital?

Question

if televisions go digital what does that mean for the ones with basic non SD/HD tvs. If they can no longer be used, will there be a way we can make a trade for a digital tv. Also will the antennas that are used for the basic local channels, will they have to be replaced with a different type of antenna, or will antennas be eliminated all together, since there probably will no longer be any need for them.

Right now, we have 3 basic cable ready tvs, you know the ones where the antennas hook into the back like VCRs do. And we have only 1 SDTV, which is basically a cross between HD and Basic television.

By the way, are electronic antennas that have a dish on them and you have to turn the knobs to get a signal basically the same as a rabbit ear antenna.

I'm basically wanting to know exactly what is suppose to happen when all televisions go digital.

Answer 1

(This answer assumes you are located in the US)

TV broadcasts are changing to digital, most analog broadcasts will end on 2/17/09.

For people using antennas, this means you will need to buy a converter box (or a recorder with an ATSC tuner included) for each non-digital TV to keep watching broadcasts. Starting on 2/17/08, the government will start handing out coupons that will let each household buy a couple of them for about $20 each. Without the coupon they will be more like $60.

The converter goes between the TV's antenna and the TV.

Both digital and analog TV use the same antennas. If you get good analog reception, you should be able to use your old antennas. Dispite marketing hype, there is no difference between analog and digital TV antennas. But digital broadcasts are more fussy about signal quality. In some areas all the digital broadcasts will be in UHF (analog channels 14-69). UHF only antennas are smaller then VHF/UHF antennas.

(Hint: Usually digital & analog transmissions are from the same approximant location and its easier to adjust your antennas using the analog signals.)

If your SDTV is marked "DTV" or the specs say it has an ATSC (digital) tuner, then it can already receive all the digital broadcasts. including "HD" ones. Just go into the menu and tell it to scan for digital channels.

I'm guessing that by "electronic antennas that have a dish on them " you mean a set top antenna with a dish about 10" in diameter that you hook power to. These are similar to rabbit ears except that they have an amplifier built in. The "dishes" contain something similar to the UHF wire loop found on cheaper antennas. Most of the "dish" tends to be cosmetic in nature.

Answer 2

If the country you live in goes digital (most major countries are) you need a converter box and possibly a new antenna for any TV not connected to cable or satellite.

The antennas are reusable in the United States because the signals are on the same channel frequencies. The reason you might need a new antenna or an amplifier added to the antenna you have is because digital needs a strong signal to lock onto. An antenna that makes a snowy picture on an analog TV with analog channels is not going to have enough gain to bring in a digital signal.

If you read this Wikipedia article from the point linked you will find out when your country has its analog shut off and so on. You can also scroll back up to read the whole article if you want to do that as well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_TV#Analog_switch-off

Link to a PDF file which explains what you need for the United States:

http://www.ceretailers.org/CERC%20Consumer%20Guide%20on%20DTV%20Transition%204.5.07.pdf

Federal Communications Commission sites:

http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/digitaltv.html

http://www.dtv.gov

National Association of Broadcasters DTV Answers Web Site (as advertised in their public information spots on US TV channels):

http://dtvanswers.com/

US Government Commerce Department Converter Box Coupon program administered by the NTIA:

http://www.ntia.doc.gov/otiahome/dtv/

RCA (America) web site showing their converter box:

http://www.keepmytv.com/

BBC Digital Web Site (for those in the UK):

http://www.bbc.co.uk/digital/

Answer 3

In the U.S. this is scheduled for February 2009. If you have a digital (doesn't have to be HD) tuner, you will receive the broadcasts. If you have one of the two satellite providers or any cable company, any tv can receive the new signals. Old tvs will have to have a converter box to receive over the air digital broadcasts starting then and the U.S. government will help you pay for the new converter boxes with vouchers.