Digital Transition

What You Should Know About Digital Television

COMPLETE INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRANSITION TO DTV MAY BE FOUND BELOW BUT IF YOU ARE HAVING TROUBLE VIEWING CBS 2 HD OVER THE AIR, FOLLOW THESE STEPS:

1. Disconnect the antenna wire from the back of your converter box.
2. From the "menu" button on your converter box remote control rescan the channels.
3. Disconnect the power cord of your converter box from the AC outlet. Wait 5 minutes.
4. Hook it all back up.
5. Manually enter 33 you should see CBS 2 HD (WCBS-TV)
5. Do another rescan.
6. Call the CBS 2 HD DTV Hotline at 212.975.1101. (NOTE: Please try steps 1-5 before you call the hotline. Thank you.)

COMPLETE INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRASITION TO DTV:

Television as we know it has changed.

By law, television stations nationwide had to switch from the old method of transmitting TV signals known as analog to digital television (DTV) on June 12, 2009. DTV is a new type of broadcasting technology that delivers movie-quality pictures and sound, more channels and even high definition television (HDTV) to consumers with HD television sets.

For more information about DTV, click on the links below or visit DTVAnswers.com from the National Association of Broadcasters. Information is also available from aarp.org.

What is DTV?
What was analog television?
What is the DTV transition?
What equipment do I need?
What is a DTV converter box?
Why the switch?
What are the benefits of DTV?
When was it?
When can I obtain a DTV converter box?
Who's affected?
How do I switch?
Converter Box Details
Choosing An Antenna
How Can I Tell If My Building's Antenna Is VHF Or UHF?
Can I recycle my analog TV?
Notice Of DTV-Related Service Losses
WCBS FCC Reports on DTV Education


What is DTV?

Digital television (DTV) is an innovative new type of over-the-air broadcasting technology that enables TV stations to provide dramatically clearer pictures and better sound quality.

DTV is more efficient and more flexible than the traditional broadcast technology known as analog. For example, DTV makes it possible for stations to broadcast multiple channels of free programming simultaneously (called multicasting), instead of broadcasting only one channel at a time. DTV technology can also be used to provide future interactive video and data services that are not possible with analog technology.


What was analog television?

Analog television service was the traditional method of transmitting television signals prior to June 12. Analog transmission had been the standard broadcast technology since the inception of television. Analog was not as efficient as digital television: it used up much more of the valuable spectrum than digital, and TV stations could only transmit one channel of programming with an analog signal versus up to four or more programs with a digital signal in the same amount of spectrum. Analog was also susceptible to interference and "snow" that made a picture less clear.


What is the DTV transition?

The DTV transition is the switchover from analog (the traditional method of transmitting television signals) to exclusively digital broadcasting of free television programming. The transition from analog to digital television represents the most significant advancement of television technology since color TV was introduced. Television stations have been preparing for the transition from analog to DTV since the late 1990s, when they began building digital facilities and airing digital channels alongside regular analog broadcasts.


What equipment do I need?

If you currently receive free over-the-air television programming on an analog television set, you will need a DTV converter box to continue to receive television service. DTV converter boxes are available for purchase from retailers or online. To help consumers cover the cost of the converter box, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is issuing up to two converter box coupons valued at $40 each to households. Find out where to obtain a DTV converter box by visiting www.dtv2009.gov/VendorSearch.aspx. You may apply for a coupon by visiting www.dtv2009.gov/ApplyCoupon.aspx.


What is a DTV converter box?

A DTV converter box is an easy-to-install electronic device that hooks up to your analog television set and over-the-air antenna and converts the digital television signal into analog, making it viewable on your analog TV. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will issue up to two converter box coupons valued at $40 each to households to help defray the cost of the converter box. You may apply for a coupon by visiting www.dtv2009.gov/ApplyCoupon.aspx.


Why the switch?

DTV is a more flexible and efficient technology than the analog system. The switch to digital broadcasting enabled television stations to offer dramatically clearer pictures, better sound quality and more programming choices. Under legislation passed by Congress – the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 – over-the-air broadcast television stations were required to turn off their analog channels on June 12, 2009, and continue broadcasting exclusively in the digital format.

Since digital television is more efficient than analog television, the analog turn-off also freed up parts of the airwaves to provide wireless spectrum for future innovative services by entrepreneurs.


What are the benefits of DTV?

Digital television allows TV stations to offer a number of new and better services. In addition to providing dramatically better pictures and sound quality, DTV also enables TV stations to provide several channels of television programming at once. This is known as "multicasting." DTV can also be used to provide data services (such as significantly enhanced closed captioning) that are not possible with analog technology.


When was it?

The switchover from analog to digital broadcasting was completed on June 12, 2009, as set by Congress. However, television stations had been preparing for the transition since the late 1990s, when they began building new facilities and airing digital channels alongside their regular analog broadcasts.


When and where can I obtain a DTV converter box?

DTV converter boxes that transform digital television signals to analog are available for purchase at electronics retailers or online. These converter boxes allow consumers to maintain their free, over-the-air television service even on older analog TVs. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will issue up to two converter box coupons valued at $40 each to households to help defray the cost of the converter box. Find out where to obtain a DTV converter box by visiting www.dtv2009.gov/VendorSearch.aspx. You may apply for a coupon by visiting www.dtv2009.gov/ApplyCoupon.aspx.


Who's affected?

Consumers who receive over-the-air television signals through antennas on television sets that are equipped with analog tuners – and who do not subscribe to cable, satellite or a telephone company television service provider – are affected by the transition.

Consumers who receive free, over-the-air broadcasting on analog sets will have three options for continuing their television service:

* Purchase a DTV converter box that will convert the digital signal into analog for an existing television set;
* Purchase a new television set with a built-in digital tuner; or
* Subscribe to cable, satellite or a telephone company television service provider if all desired local broadcast stations are carried by that service.


How do I switch?

You can follow one of three simple steps:

* Purchase a DTV converter box that will convert the digital signal into analog for an existing television set.
* Purchase a new television set with a built-in digital tuner.
* Subscribe to cable, satellite or a telephone company television service provider.


Converter Box Details

A DTV converter box is an easy-to-install electronic device that hooks up to your analog television set and over-the-air antenna and converts the digital television signal into analog, making it viewable on your analog TV. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will issue up to two converter box coupons valued at $40 each to households to help defray the cost of the converter box. You may apply for a coupon by visiting www.dtv2009.gov/ApplyCoupon.aspx.


Choosing An Antenna

Do I need a special antenna to receive digital television (DTV) over-the-air?

With a good indoor or outdoor antenna, you will maximize your DTV reception. In general, dependable reception of DTV will require the same type of antenna that currently works to provide good quality reception of analog TV signals. For help choosing an antenna in order to receive your free, local broadcast TV channels, visit www.antennaweb.org.


How can I tell whether my building's antenna is VHF or UHF?

Look at the following images.




Can I recycle my analog TV?

Yes. For more information about how to recycle your television and other electronics, visit mygreenelectronics.com.

NOTICE OF DTV-RELATED SERVICE LOSSES: Some WCBS-TV viewers on Long Island may have lost service due to interference from WFSB, a CBS affiliate in Connecticut, which has been authorized on channel 33, the same channel to which WCBS-TV was assigned for its digital signal. An outdoor antenna pointed at WCBS-TV's digital transmitting tower atop the Empire State Building may help these Long Island viewers receive WCBS instead of WFSB. Some WCBS-TV viewers to the north of New York City may have lost service due to the hilly terrain, which blocks UHF signals. (Channel 33 is a UHF signal.) An outdoor antenna with an amplifier may help to increase the strength of the signal and restore lost service.

For more information about DTV-Related Service Losses: Coverage Change Map For New York, N.Y. (Requires a free Adobe Reader.) | FCC Digital Reception Mapping Tool