Are You Ready For The DTV Conversion? - By: Aydan Corkern

There are many important and not so important discoveries and advancements in technology everyday. One of the most recent advancements in television has left quite a stir, as consumers are now forced to switch from using their basic antenna that received signals from the television stations' satellites to going all out digital. While some people like buying the newest gadgets, including the most up to date TVs, some prefer a simpler way of living without the aid of more advanced technologies. How is this going to affect people? To start off, the reason for this digital television broadcasting is because the majority of stations are making the switch to digital and will broadcast only through that medium. This switch will not only offer better picture quality, but it will offer better sound quality as well. This affects those who own analog televisions, those who are not subscribed to a service through their local cable company, and those who are not satellite subscribers. Both cable and satellite companies broadcast through digital means, so their customers do not need to make the digital conversion unless they cease to receive their service. The digital television, or DTV, conversion begins on February 17, 2009. If you are unsure whether or not you will be affected, there are some things you can do to find out. Like previously stated, if you are subscribed to either cable or satellite service, then you are most likely not affected. Contacting your service provider should clear up any uncertainties. If you purchased your TV after March 1 of 2007, then you do not need to do anything because it has a built-in digital receiver and will continue to work once the conversion takes place. If, however, you purchased your TV before March 1, 2007, then look in either the TV manual or on the TV itself for certain keywords. The keywords to look out for are digital receiver built-in, digital tuner built-in, integrated digital tuner, or integrated digital receiver. If your TV has DTV, HDTV, or ATSC capabilities, then you are also not affected. If you are still unsure or cannot find this information on your TV, then you can contact the manufacturer directly by visiting their website and contacting customer service. If your TV does not have any of those aforementioned attributes, then you will need to purchase a DTV converter box to receive signal or purchase a new TV. A DTV converter box will connect to your analog TV and your current antenna and will begin transmitting. These are available at most electronic stores, national retailers, and also online. The prices for a converter box usually cost anywhere from $20 - $50 for a standard box, so they are pretty affordable. If, however, you cannot afford them, then you can type in TV converter box coupon program into your browser and find more information on getting a coupon to purchase a DTV converter box.