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Analog TVs can receive digital television (DTV) signals by
using a “Digital-to-Analog Converter Box” that can be
purchased at retail stores. If you wish to watch over-the-air
programming with an antenna (such as “rabbit ears” on your TV
or an antenna on your roof) from stations that broadcast in
digital (such as full-power stations) and stations that
broadcast in analog (such as low-power, Class A, or TV
translator stations), you should choose one of the following
options:
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Option 1) |
Purchase a Converter Box that has
“analog pass-through” capability and install it using
our “Basic Set-Up” Fact Sheet. A current list of
coupon-eligible converter boxes is available at
https://www.ntiadtv.gov/cecb_list.cfm. Those with
analog pass-through capability are marked with an
asterisk. The FCC’s Basic Set-Up guide is available at
www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/setup-converterbox.html.
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Option 2) |
Purchase any Converter Box and use
either of the following set-ups. |
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Set-up #1: Your TV has “Audio/Video In” (A/V In)
ports:
Supplies: You will need your
analog TV, the antenna you have been using (indoor or
outdoor), and the coaxial wire that currently connects your
antenna to your TV (as pictured on the far right). Your new
Converter box will come with a second coaxial wire, a set of
A/V cables (three wires with red, white and yellow plugs),
and a remote control. If you do not already have them, you
will also need to purchase a third coaxial wire and a 2-way
splitter. Before you begin you should unplug your TV.
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Step 
Unplug the coaxial antenna wire (wire #1) from your TV “Antenna In (RF)” port.
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Step
Plug wire #1 into the “In” port on your 2-way splitter. Step
Using a second coaxial wire (wire #2), plug one end into one
of the “Out” ports on the 2-way splitter. Plug the other end
into the “Antenna In (RF)” port on your TV set. Step
Using a third coaxial wire (wire #3), plug one end into the
other “Out” port on the 2-way splitter. Plug the other end
into the “Antenna In (RF)” port on your Converter Box. |
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Step
Using a set of A/V cables, plug one end of the cables into the
“A/V Out” ports on the Converter Box. Match the colors of the
plugs to the colors of the ports, so that red plugs into red,
white into white, and yellow into yellow. Plug the other end
of the cables into the “A/V In” port on your TV set in the
same way. If your TV does not have a red port, leave that
cable unplugged on both ends. |
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Step
Plug the power cords on your Converter Box and TV into a power
outlet, and turn on your TV and Converter Box. To watch
digital broadcasts, set your TV to "Video In.” Using the
remote control that came with your Converter Box, follow the
on-screen set-up guide to scan for available DTV channels, and
begin enjoying the benefits of Digital Television! You will be
able to access all available digital broadcasts through your
converter box and its remote control. To watch analog
broadcasts, set your TV to "TV In." You will be able to access
all available analog broadcasts through your TV's remote
control. |
Set-up #2: Your TV has only an “Antenna In” port:
Supplies: You will need your
analog TV, the antenna you have been using (indoor or
outdoor), and the coaxial wire that currently connects your
antenna to your TV (as pictured on the right). Your new
Converter box will come with a second coaxial wire and a
remote control. If you do not already have them, you will
also need to purchase three additional coaxial wires (for a
total of five), a 2-way splitter, and an A/B switch. Before
you begin you should unplug your TV.
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If your Converter Box includes a
“universal remote control” or you already have your own
universal remote control, follow the instructions that come
with your Converter Box to program the remote to work for both
the TV and the Converter Box.
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For instructions on connecting your
converter box to other components such as a VCR or a DVD
player, go to www.dtv.gov or
contact the FCC by e-mailing
dtvinfo@fcc.gov, or calling 1-888-CALL-FCC
(1-888-225-5322) voice or 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322) TTY.
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Federal Communications Commission · Consumer
& Governmental Affairs Bureau · 445 12th St. S.W. ·
Washington, DC 20554 |
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1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) ·
TTY: 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322) · Fax: 1-866-418-0232 · www.fcc.gov/cgb/
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Federal Communications Commission
Plug the power cords on your Converter Box and TV into a power
outlet, and turn on your TV and Converter Box. Set the A/B
switch to position “A” and tune your TV to channel 3 (or 4) to
watch digital TV. Using the remote control that came with your
Converter Box, follow the on-screen set-up guide to scan for
available DTV channels, and begin enjoying the benefits of
Digital Television! To watch analog TV, set the A/B switch to
position “B” and change the channel on your TV set.