ARE YOU READY FOR THE DIGITAL TELEVISION TRANSITION? 

DTV FAQs

Q: What is digital television?
A: Digital television (DTV) is a broadcast TV signal transmitted as a series of binary numbers -- ones and zeros. Digital signals allow greatly increased quality and the ability to send additional information. This new technology is capable of transmitting a limited number of High Definition Television (HDTV) programs or multiple Standard Definition Television (SDTV) programs.

Q: What should I do with my old TVs?
A: Don’t throw them away as they contain some hazardous materials and we don’t want to fill our landfills with them. You can recycle them locally. Click here for details.

Q: What’s the talk about losing my "existing" TV signal?
A: The government has mandated that on June 12, 2009, all TV stations in the country must give up their analog channel and solely broadcast their digital signal. If you do not own a television set that receives digital signals, you will need to purchase a separate digital-to-analog converter box (similar to an existing cable or satellite receiver box) in order to watch TV after the changeover date.

Starting January 1, 2008, each household in America can request up to two coupons from the government to use toward the purchase of certain converters. Each coupon is worth $40. Coupons will expire 90 days after they are issued. Currently The National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA) is putting new DTV-to-analog converter box coupon applications on a waiting list, having already run up against its statutory maximum of $1.34 billion funding limit for the program. Anyone requesting a coupon now will probably not receive them before June 12, 2009. Requestors on the waiting list will be mailed coupons on a first come- first served basis after money is freed up from expired coupons or more funds are allocated to the program.

For details about the DTV Converter Coupon Program: click here, click here or call 888-DTV-2009.

Q: Is digital television the same as HDTV?
A: No. HDTV (the HD stands for High Definition) utilizes the digital broadcast signal to send wide screen, super sharp, version of digital TV. HDTV is transmitted with a lot more picture information and six channels of digital audio. It's an incredible difference -- even more noticeable than the difference between DVD movies and VHS movies.

Q: When can I get digital broadcast TV?
A: Right now! WCMH has been broadcasting a digital channel since September 2002. In order to receive WCMH’s free digital signal, you will need an over-the-air antenna and a TV set capable of receiving digital broadcast signals. If you have not replaced your TV set in the last few years, chances are your set is not made to receive digital signals. You can also receive the digital signal of WCMH as part of the digital cable package from local cable companies, and with direct broadcast (satellite) providers.

Q: Is WCMH broadcasting a digital channel?
A. Yes! WCMH's digital channel is Channel 14, yet you will see it on your tuner and program guide as 4.1. If you are digital ready, you can select either Channel 4 or 4.1 to receive WCMH. WCMH has a second digital channel, Retro Television Network, and it is on channel 4.2.

Q: What differences will I notice between digital TV and what I have now?
A: With digital reception, you will see sharper images and more vivid color. With high definition television, the first noticeable difference of HDTV from the current television system is that the screen is much wider. In our current television system when the width of the picture is divided by the height of the picture it will always produces a 4/3 ratio. High Definition Television, on the other hand, has a width to height ratio of 16/9, which closely approximates that of the movie screen. The second key feature is that High Definition has over six times the sharpness and clarity of the current television system. The HDTV picture contains 1080 vertical picture elements (pixels) by 1920 horizontal pixels for a total of over 2.0 million pixels. The current standard definition picture contains only 480 vertical pixels by 720 pixels for a total of 345,600 pixels. Third, the color resolution of HDTV is also more than twice the current system. High Definition television also has six channels of CD-quality surround sound (left, right, center, left rear, right rear, and low frequency effects). Finally, the signal is digitally transmitted, which eliminates all of the current imperfections, which include snow (weak signal), double images (ghosting or multi-path) and picture sparkles (impulse noise). As a result, the picture is perfect whether you are one mile or fifty-five miles from the transmitter. If you watch a digital signal on a 4/3 set, you will not notice the change in aspect ratio.

Q: Great! How can I get my shows in HD?
A: You can receive programs in HD in three ways: with an over the air antenna, with a direct broadcast home satellite service, and with digital cable service. Keep in mind that HD-specific channels are usually an additional cost with satellite and cable services beyond their regular monthly fees. If you have an over the air antenna and a TV set that receives digital signals, you can receive local channels that broadcast HD signals. Local news, syndicated programs, and network programs not sent in HDTV are upconverted to standard DTV. Any program in HD can be seen in HD on the WCMH digital signal.

Q:   How do I receive NBC programming in HD from WCMH if I subscribe to a home satellite service such as DirecTV?
A: WCMH digital channel is available on DirecTV at an additional cost. In order to receive WCMH and NBC programming in HD for free, you could plug a separate over-the-air antenna into either your digital TV or into your satellite receiver box. If the antenna is plugged into your satellite receiver box, you will need to use the “Scan” mode to have the receiver recognize the new signal. You will then see three channels of WCMH; the analog signal; the digital channel that airs HD programs when available; and a third channel which is Retro Television Network. The satellite and cable companies may offer to add a separate antenna to receive WCMH in HD at the time of service installation, or you can hook up an antenna to your service at any time.

Q: Are all of NBC's programs going to be in high definition?
A: Eventually yes. NBC provides its Today, NBC Nightly News, and most of its primetime evening schedule in high definition and broadcasts many live sporting events in HD.

Q: Does getting an antenna mean I need to get "rabbit ears"?
A: Some people may be able to use a "bowtie" antenna on top of your TV set. But an inexpensive outside UHF antenna may be your best choice. It does not have to be outside. Many people simply put them in their attic. You will need to properly position your antenna in order to receive digital signals. Consult a TV retailer, or click here www.checkhd.com to find out your specific needs based on where you live.  

Q: I live outside Columbus. Will the digital signal reach me?
A: People who live as far as 70 miles away from the television station should be able to pick up a good digital TV signal if they use a properly installed, properly oriented quality outside antenna located at least 25 feet in the air and in a clear area.

Q: I bought an HDTV monitor last year, but can't find your new channel.
A: In order to see the new HDTV broadcast channels, you will need a digital tuner (set-top box). Many new digital televisions come with the tuner built in. Some do not, and require a set-top box in order to receive a digital signal. Typically, if a TV set is sold as a “monitor”, you will need to purchase a separate tuner. Your TV retailer should be able to help you find the right equipment.

Q: What’s EDTV?
A: This stands for “Enhanced Definition Television.” An EDTV picture is noticeably better than a “regular” digital, but it does not offer the clarity and outstanding color of a true HDTV picture. Consequently, an EDTV set is generally less expensive than a true HDTV set.

Q: What about my existing VCR? Will it be able to play back and record the new digital television?
A: Your existing VCR will be able to play back your library of VHS tapes on the new digital television receivers. However, your VHS VCR will not be able to record the widescreen high definition signal. If you want to record and playback the digital HDTV signal, you will need to purchase a new D-VHS VCR or another recording device like DVD recorder or DVR.

Q: What about DVDs? Would they be in HD on an HDTV set?
A: DVD is a digital format. However, the vast majority of DVDs are not in HD. Only recently have DVDs started being released in HD quality. There are currently two different formats: HD-DVD and BlueRay DVD. Just as the public had to choose between VHS and Betamax formats when videotape was first introduced in the 1970s, HD-DVD and BlueRay DVDs are incompatible with each other. Time will tell which format becomes more popular.

Q: What do the numbers 720 and 1080 mean when I look at buying an HDTV set?
A: These numbers refer to the number of lines your TV set shows. The higher the number, the more crisp and detailed your picture will be because it’s showing more information. Some people say that they cannot tell a real difference between HD shows they watch in 720 and others they watch in 1080. It’s purely a personal preference.

For a video and more click here: www.dtvanswers.com

To read Ben Gelber's easy-to-understand report on the transition to digital television, please click here.

To view FCC388 DTV Education Report for 2nd Quarter 2009, click here | 1st Quarter
2008 Reports:1st Quarter | 2nd Quarter | 3rd Quarter | 4th Quarter

The FCC has recently posted the following new DTV publications. Please click on the links to view:

- Basic Guide to Setting UP Your Digital to Analog Converter Box: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/converterbox-analog-digital.pdf
- Setting up your Digital-to-Analog Converter Box with a VCR: http://www.dtv.gov/factsheets/converterbox_vcr.pdf
- Video Descriptions & the DTV transition. http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/dtvvideodescription.pdf
- Setting up your Digital-to-Analog Converter Box (basic with twin-lead antenna wire) http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/setup-converterbox-balun.pdf