Learn About DTV
Frequently Asked Questions
Please note that the June 12, 2009 DTV transition deadline does not apply to low-power television (LPTV) stations. The FCC will determine a deadline for these stations to transition to digital at a future date. Learn more about LPTV.
- Digital Transition
- Your Television
- Cable and Satellite
- Converter Box
- General Questions
- Top FAQs
Your Television
- Why Do I Have Poor Reception with DTV?
- How Do I Improve DTV Signal Strength?
- Do I Have to Buy an HDTV to View Digital Television?
- How Do I Know if I am Buying a DTV set? Are They Labeled?
- How Much Do DTV Sets Cost?
- What Are My Screen Choices for DTV Sets?
- What are the Differences Between DTV/HDTV Sets and DTV/HDTV "Monitors"?
- Will Stores Still Sell Analog TV Sets? If So, Are There Labeling Requirements?
- What Is "Plug-and-Play" Compatibility?
- What Is High Definition TV (HDTV)?
- Is My TV Digital?
- Can I Still Use My Old Analog TV Set? How?
- Can I Recycle My Old Analog TV Set?
Why Do I Have Poor Reception with DTV?
Your DTV reception can be affected by terrain, trees, buildings, the weather, damaged equipment, as well as antenna type, location, and orientation. It can be improved just by changing the location of the antenna you’re using now. Moving your antenna away from other objects and structures, or placing it higher, can often improve reception. The performance of outdoor antennas can degrade over time due to exposure to the weather. Also, you may consider installing a signal booster, which should improve reception. If you are having trouble receiving a broadcast:
- Check your connections.
- Perform a channel scan.
- Adjust your antenna.
The FCC Consumer Facts sheet “Troubleshooting Guide For Digital-to-Analog Converter Boxes and Digital Televisions” at http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/troubleshootguide.html should help you diagnosis and correct your problem.
Stations may make changes to their coverage between now and June 12, 2009. To find DTV signals that are available at your location, go to DTV Reception Maps.
For more information on antennas, see the Antenna Guide.
How Do I Improve DTV Signal Strength?
Your DTV reception can be affected by terrain, trees, buildings, the weather, damaged equipment, as well as antenna type, location, and orientation. It can be improved just by changing the location of the antenna you’re using now. Moving your antenna away from other objects and structures, or placing it higher, can often improve reception. The performance of outdoor antennas can degrade over time due to exposure to the weather. Also, you may consider installing a signal booster, which should improve reception. If you are having trouble receiving a broadcast:
- Check your connections.
- Perform a channel scan.
- Adjust your antenna.
The FCC Consumer Facts sheet “Troubleshooting Guide For Digital-to-Analog Converter Boxes and Digital Televisions” at http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/troubleshootguide.html should help you diagnosis and correct your problem.
Stations may make changes to their coverage between now and June 12, 2009. To find DTV signals that are available at your location, go to DTV Reception Maps.
For more information on antennas, see the Antenna Guide.
Do I Have to Buy an HDTV to View Digital Television?
No. It is not necessary to buy an HDTV to view broadcast digital television. A Standard Definition TV (SDTV) or a digital-to-analog converter box hooked up to an analog TV is all that is required.
The DTV Transition is a change from analog broadcasting to digital broadcasting; not from analog to High Definition (HD). A digital TV can also receive and process an HDTV signal, but the picture displayed will be of standard quality, not HD quality. Digital broadcast television includes both HD and SD formats. You can watch HD programming on a non-HDTV set, but it will not be in full HD quality.
Note that SDTV sets are comparably priced to similar-sized analog sets.
How Do I Know if I am Buying a DTV set? Are They Labeled?
Many DTV sets and other digital television equipment have labels, markings, or statements in the informational materials that come with them to indicate that they contain digital tuners. These labels or markings may contain the words “Integrated Digital Tuner,” “Digital Tuner Built-In,” “Digital Receiver,” “Digital Tuner,” “DTV,” “ATSC,” or “HDTV” (High Definition TV). If your television equipment contains any of these labels or markings, you are able to view digital over-the-air programming without the need for a digital-to-analog converter box.
Retailers may continue to sell analog-only devices from existing inventory. However, if it is not digital, the retailer is required to identify analog-only devices at the point-of-sale by prominently displaying a Consumer Alert label on or near the analog-only device. Applicable devices include TVs, VCRs, DVRs, etc.
CONSUMER ALERT
This television receiver has only an analog broadcast tuner and will require a converter box after June 12, 2009*, to receive over-the-air broadcasts with an antenna because of the Nation's transition to digital broadcasting. Analog-only TVs should continue to work as before with cable and satellite TV services, gaming consoles, VCRs, DVD players, and similar products. For more information, call the Federal Communications Commission at 1-888-225-5322 (TTY: 1-888-835-5322) or visit the Commission's digital television website at: www.DTV.gov.
Applicable devices include TVs, VCRs, DVRs, etc.
As with any new consumer electronics technology, DTV sets have become less expensive since their introduction. Prices vary depending on screen size, display technology, whether a DTV tuner is built-in, and other features. DTV set sizes range from very small to quite large.
What Are My Screen Choices for DTV Sets?
Your choices are: Flat Panel, Rear Projection, Cathode Ray Tube (CRT), or Front Projector. Most digital TV sets are wider, but not as tall, as analog sets of the same diagonal screen size (Note that all TV sizes are measured diagonally across the screen). Most digital sets have an aspect ratio of 16x9, while analog sets have an aspect ratio of 4x3.
- Flat Panel TV Sets - Flat Panels are very thin (thin enough to hang on a wall) and relatively light weight. Flat panel LCDs and Plasmas are very thin and produce extremely clear pictures.
- Rear Projection TV Sets - Rear projections can be much larger than standard CRT sets. They create the image on a small display, but then enlarge it onto the back of the screen.
- Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) TV Sets - These are traditional color television screens updated for digital. Their resolution and color capabilities vary from model to model. These screens have a very bright picture, but are limited in size, and the larger units are typically quite heavy.
- Front Projector TV Sets - Front Projectors are sets that create an image by projecting it onto a wall or standalone screen (much like a movie theater).
What are the Differences Between DTV/HDTV Sets and DTV/HDTV "Monitors"?
Integrated DTV sets and HDTV sets are televisions with a built-in digital tuner. DTV and HDTV monitors are simply display devices. This means that they are unable to receive digital broadcasts without additional equipment.
A DTV monitor is not capable of receiving digital broadcast programming without a digital or HD set-top box connected between the antenna and the monitor to receive and display over-the-air digital or HD programming.
A digital TV can also receive and process an HDTV signal, but the picture displayed will be of standard quality, not HD quality.
Will Stores Still Sell Analog TV Sets? If So, Are There Labeling Requirements?
Yes. Stores are permitted to continue to sell TV sets with analog tuners; however, these retailers are required to identify analog-only devices at the point-of-sale by prominently displaying a Consumer Alert label on or near the analog-only device.
By law, the import or interstate shipment of any TV device containing an analog tuner is now prohibited, unless it also contains a digital tuner.
CONSUMER ALERT
This television receiver has only an analog broadcast tuner and will require a converter box after June 12, 2009*, to receive over-the-air broadcasts with an antenna because of the Nation's transition to digital broadcasting. Analog-only TVs should continue to work as before with cable and satellite TV services, gaming consoles, VCRs, DVD players, and similar products. For more information, call the Federal Communications Commission at 1-888-225-5322 (TTY: 1-888-835-5322) or visit the Commission's digital television website at: www.DTV.gov.
DTVs and digital television equipment will have one or more of the following labels. These labels or markings may contain the words “Integrated Digital Tuner,” “Digital Tuner Built-In,” “Digital Receiver,” or “Digital Tuner,” “DTV,” “ATSC,” or “HDTV” (High Definition television).
*Please note that Congress has delayed the final transition until June 12, 2009. However, some local stations will be transitioning earlier, so it is wise to prepare now.
What Is "Plug-and-Play" Compatibility?
Digital Cable Ready TV (DCR). The FCC’s “plug-and-play” rules ensure that most cable systems are compatible with DTV receivers and related consumer electronics equipment.
Analog auxiliary equipment will work on digital TV sets. Video will only be displayed in the maximum resolution that is available with each analog product.
Manufacturers produce a variety of connectors for hooking together existing analog equipment to use with digital TV sets. Check with your retailer to determine the types of connectors that will work with your equipment.
What Is High Definition TV (HDTV)?
HDTV is a digital broadcast format that provides the highest resolution and picture quality of all digital broadcast formats. HDTV is a true widescreen format (16:9). “Digital cable” is not the same as HDTV, nor is it the same as HD programming on cable. Check with your cable provider to find out what kinds of programming you can receive and what equipment you need to receive it.
If you have HD programming on cable, but do not have an HDTV, your picture will not be in true high definition. Likewise, if you do not have HD programming on cable but you have an HDTV, your picture will not be in true high definition. If you want to watch HDTV programming on cable, you will need to subscribe to your cable provider’s HDTV package and view the programming on an HDTV set. You may also need a set-top box or other equipment to view HDTV programming
All DTV sets have labels or markings that may contain the words “Integrated Digital Tuner,” “Digital Tuner Built-In,” “Digital Receiver,” “Digital Tuner,” “DTV,” “ATSC,” or “HDTV.”
If you cannot determine whether your TV set or other TV equipment contains a digital tuner by checking the label, contact your consumer electronics retailer or the manufacturer. This information also may be available online through the manufacturer’s website.
The Commission's digital tuner rule specifies that as of March 1, 2007, all new TV sets must include digital tuners. This rule prohibits the manufacture, import, or interstate shipment of any device containing an analog tuner, unless it also contains a digital tuner.
However, despite this prohibition on manufacture and shipment, retailers may continue to sell analog-only devices from existing inventory. As a result, at the point-of-sale, many consumers may not be aware that this equipment will not be able to receive over-the-air-television signals after June 12, 2009.
To address this issue, the FCC has adopted a rule requiring sellers to display the following text if they are selling TV equipment with an analog-only broadcast tuner:
CONSUMER ALERT
This television receiver has only an analog broadcast tuner and will require a converter box after June 12, 2009*, to receive over-the-air broadcasts with an antenna because of the Nation's transition to digital broadcasting. Analog-only TVs should continue to work as before with cable and satellite TV services, gaming consoles, VCRs, DVD players, and similar products. For more information, call the Federal Communications Commission at 1-888-225-5322 (TTY: 1-888-835-5322) or visit the Commission's digital television website at: www.DTV.gov.
*Please note that Congress delayed the final transition deadline from February 17, 2009 until June 12, 2009. However, some local stations will be transitioning earlier, so it is wise to prepare now.
Can I Still Use My Old Analog TV Set? How?
Your analog TV set will not be obsolete once the transition to DTV is completed, but there are some steps you must take to be able to continue to use it. To ensure continued use of your analog set, you must do one of the following:
- Use a digital-to-analog converter box.
- Connect to a subscription service such as cable or satellite TV.
In addition, analog sets should continue to work with gaming consoles, VCRs, DVD players, and similar products that you use now.
This converter box, much like your cable box, will allow you to receive a picture, but it won't be able to show high-definition pictures or give you access to other digital services.
Analog TV sets will need additional equipment to receive over-the-air television when the DTV Transition is completed. All broadcast TV stations in the country have temporary use of a second, separate channel so that they can transition from analog broadcasting to digital.
Congress has set June 12, 2009 as the final deadline for terminating analog broadcasts. Under the law, on February 17, some full-power broadcast television stations in the United States have already stopped broadcasting on analog airwaves and have begun broadcasting only in digital. The remaining stations will stop broadcasting analog sometime between April 16 and June 12. Analog sets equipped with a converter box will display the digital broadcasts, but not in full digital quality.
For more information on antennas, see the Antenna Guide.
Can I Recycle My Old Analog TV Set?
For those who choose to discard old analog TV sets or other old electronic equipment, there are recycling programs available. But remember -- you can continue to use your analog TV set!
One such program is myGreenElectronics. Through this program, you can learn about disposal options and locate recycling programs near you. Go to http://www.mygreenelectronics.org 
for more information.