Federal law requires that all full-power
television broadcast stations stop broadcasting in analog format
and broadcast only in digital format after February 17, 2009.
Broadcast stations in all U.S. markets are currently
broadcasting in both analog and digital. If you have one or more
analog televisions that receive free over-the-air television
programming with an outdoor antenna or “rabbit ears” on the TV,
you will either need a digital television (a TV with a built in
digital tuner) or an analog television connected to a
“digital-to-analog converter box” (which converts digital
signals to analog signals for viewing on your analog set) in
order to continue to watch programming from full-power broadcast
stations. This Fact Sheet provides information on antennas and
on what is needed for good quality reception of digital
broadcasts.
Try Using Your Existing Antenna First
First, it is important to know that if your
television currently receives good quality reception on analog
channels 2-51 with a broadcast antenna, it should be able to
receive digital television (DTV) signals, including high
definition television (HDTV) signals, with the same broadcast
antenna. You do not need to purchase a "DTV antenna" or an “HDTV
antenna” to receive DTV or HDTV signals. However, consumers
should be aware that if they use a digital-to-analog converter
box, they will still need to use an antenna to receive DTV
signals.
Prior to making any changes to your current
antenna or antenna system, you should check to see if it will
receive the digital signals being broadcast in your area.
Connect your existing antenna to either a digital television or
a digital-to-analog converter box connected to an analog TV.
Make sure your TV is set up to receive over-the-air broadcasts
(as opposed to being connected to a paid provider such as a
cable or satellite TV company). It may also be helpful to
perform a “channel scan,” in which your TV will automatically
check to see which stations it can receive. In many cases, this
is all you will need to do to watch digital television
broadcasts.
For Help With Reception Problems
If you experience reception problems, the
following information and tips may help to improve your
reception for digital broadcasts.
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During the transition to digital TV,
many stations are temporarily operating at reduced power
levels. If you are not receiving certain digital TV
stations, this does not necessarily mean there is a problem
with your antenna or receiver. Check with the TV station to
find out whether they are planning changes that will improve
reception.
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When an analog TV signal is weak or
receives interference, static, snow, and distortion will
often appear on the screen, but you can watch the picture
through the noise. Digital broadcasting will provide a clear
picture even with a weak signal and in the presence of
interference. However, if the digital signal falls below a
certain minimum strength, the picture can suddenly
disappear. This “cliff effect” means that if you typically
watch analog TV stations that have a lot of static and
distortion, you may have to adjust or upgrade your antenna
system to get a reliably good signal for digital broadcasts.
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TV reception can be affected by factors
such as terrain, trees, buildings, the weather (rain, wind,
humidity), and damaged/deteriorated equipment. Often digital
reception can be improved just by changing the location of
your current antenna. Moving it away from other objects and
structures, or placing it higher can often improve
reception.
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Many antennas need to be oriented or
aimed to get the best signal from the desired station. For
indoor antennas, you may need to do this manually by trial
and error. For outdoor antennas, a rotor that re-orients the
antenna can improve performance, particularly when trying to
receive stations that transmit from different locations.
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Television stations broadcasting in
digital use both the VHF band (channels 2-13) and UHF band
(channels 14-51). Many indoor antennas use “rabbit ears” for
the VHF band and a “loop” or “bow-tie” antenna for the UHF
band. Make sure you are using an antenna that covers both
the VHF and UHF bands and have connected it properly.
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Simple indoor antennas, such as rabbit
ears, provide minimal performance that may or may not be
suitable for your location. If you are unable to obtain
satisfactory reception with your current indoor antenna, you
may wish to obtain an indoor antenna that includes features
for better reception of UHF signals and/or an amplifier to
boost the received signal (often referred to as an active
indoor antenna).
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Generally, an outdoor antenna will get
better reception than an indoor antenna. If you already have
an outdoor antenna and are getting good quality reception
from VHF and UHF channels, your antenna should work fine for
digital television.
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The performance of outdoor antennas can
degrade over time due to exposure to the weather. If you are
having problems, check for loose or corroded wiring, broken
antenna elements and that the antenna is pointed in the
right direction.
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Try to keep the length of wire between
your antenna and digital receiver as short as possible for
best reception.
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You can use a single antenna to provide
digital broadcasts to multiple TVs in your home. Remember,
however, that each analog TV connected to your antenna will
need its own digital-to-analog converter box to view digital
broadcast programming.
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“Splitters” that are used to connect a
single antenna to multiple receivers reduce the amount of
signal available to each receiver. If you are having
problems, check to see whether reception is improved without
the splitter. In some cases an “active” splitter that
includes an amplifier can solve the problem.
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If you are near a station’s broadcast
tower, reception of that station, as well as other stations,
can be impeded by signal “overload”. Consider using an
“attenuator” or removing amplifiers to improve your
reception.
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If you decide to replace or upgrade
your outdoor antenna, websites such as
www.antennaweb.org provide information on the locations
of broadcast towers and the types of outdoor antennas
appropriate for the stations you wish to receive. If you
need assistance with upgrading your antenna system, check
with a local antenna retailer or antenna installer.
For more information about the DTV
transition, go to www.dtv.gov
or contact the FCC by e-mailing
dtvinfo@fcc.gov; calling 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322)
voice or 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322) TTY; faxing
1-866-418-0232; or writing to:
Federal Communications Commission
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau
Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Division
445 12th Street, SW Washington, DC 20554
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