1. What
is a television translator or low-power television
station?
A TV translator station rebroadcasts the programs of
a full-power TV broadcast station. Translator stations
typically serve communities that cannot receive the signals
of free over-the-air TV stations because they are too
far away from a full-power TV station or because of geography
(such as uneven terrain or mountains). Many translator
stations operate in mountainous or more remote areas
of the country.
Low-power television (LPTV) stations usually provide
a locally-oriented or specialized television service
in the communities they serve. These communities may
be in rural areas or may be individual communities within
larger urban areas.
2. How
do I know if I am watching a translator or low-power
station?
If you are watching a full-power station (such as channel
13) but tune your TV to another channel (such as channel
23) to receive it, you are watching a translator. A
translator also has its channel number in the middle
of its call letters (such as K37ZZ).
An LPTV station identifies itself on-the-air with the
name of its community of license. The call letters
of low-power stations usually end in -CA or -LP (for
example, WUYX-CA, KQTY-LP), although sometimes
the call letters are in the same format as a translator
station (such as W37AA).
3. Will
translators and low-power stations convert to digital
by February 17, 2009?
Currently there is no requirement for translators and
low-power stations to convert to digital. While
some LPTV and translator stations will convert to digital
by February 17, 2009, others will transition after February
2009, and many will continue to broadcast in analog until
required to change by the FCC.
4. How
can I find a list of translators and low-power stations
in my area?
Click here for a
listing of the translators and low-power stations in
your state.
5. How
can I find out when my local translator or low-power
station will broadcast in digital?
LPTV stations broadcast a locally-oriented program service,
and many will be notifying viewers of their digital conversion
plans.
Because translators rebroadcast the programming of a
full-service station, they will broadcast many messages
regarding the conversion of the full-power station. These
messages may be confusing to viewers if the translator
does not also plan to convert to digital by February
17, 2009.
Check information sources in your local community regarding
the digital conversion plans of the translators and/or
low-power stations you watch. NTIA will work with
translators and LPTV stations to help them inform the
public of their digital conversion plans through local
newspapers and other media, civic organizations, schools
and community groups.
6. How
can I continue to watch analog translators and LPTV
stations after February 17, 2009?
Review the following options and determine which is
best for your household:
A. Keep an analog TV connected to an antenna
to view an analog station.
B. Purchase a digital-to-analog converter
box which has analog pass-through capability. For
an updated listing of coupon eligible approved converters
with analog pass-through, click
here and look for the boxes
with the asterisk (*).
Analog pass-through allows you to watch analog
television stations as well as digital television through
the converter box.
C. Purchase a digital-to-analog converter
box without analog pass-through, and then add a splitter
or A/B switch to receive both analog and digital signals.
D. Purchase a digital television set. All
new television sets on the market can receive both analog
and digital stations.
E Subscribe to a local cable television
or other pay service which carries the analog station,
if any.
Since many translators and low-power stations will convert
to digital after February 17, 2009, you may want to consider
applying for TV converter box coupons between now and
March 31, 2009, because after that date, coupons will
no longer be available.
7. Which
converter boxes have analog pass-through?
For an updated listing of coupon eligible approved converters
with analog pass-through, click here and
look for the boxes with the asterisk (*).
8. How
do I use a converter box with analog pass-though?
You should consult your converter box’s instruction
manual to determine how to connect the box for viewing
analog stations.
9. Will
I need a special antenna to receive analog stations?
You should be able to continue to receive analog stations
with your existing antenna. However, because many digital stations
will change their broadcast channel (for example, from
Ch. 5 to Ch. 25), you may need a new antenna to receive
some digital stations.
If you need a new antenna, the following Consumer Electronics
Association website provides information to help you choose
an antenna to receive the stations you want: www.antennaweb.org |