Is your RV TV ready for the digital transition?

Are the analog televisions in your motorhome ready for the digital transition?

After Feb. 17, 2009, all television stations must stop broadcasting in analog format, and instead transmit their signals exclusively over the more modern digital spectrum. Federal law requires it.

All televisions receiving over-the-air programming through an antenna will need to be plugged into a digital-to-analog converter box to receive digital broadcasts. If you use the V-shaped rabbit ears or a rooftop antenna for TV reception, you probably need a converter.

According to government figures, nearly 20 million homes still use antennas on their roofs or atop their TV sets.

The switch to 100 percent digital broadcasting is expected to free up the airwaves for public safety agencies such as police and fire departments. And if you hook up a converter box to your analog set, you should get better picture clarity and additional local channels.

Converter boxes cost from $50 to $75. On Jan. 1 the federal government began offering coupons for $40 off eligible converters. The coupons are available while supplies last or until the $1.5 billion earmarked for the coupon program runs out, so you might want to submit your request now.

Do you need a converter?

Televisions connected to cable, satellite or other pay TV services do not require converters. Satellite TV broadcasts and all modern satellite TV antennas already use digital technology. So if you have satellite television in your motorhome, the change should not affect you. But if you have questions, call your provider.

TVs equipped with digital tuners also do not need converters. According to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), the government agency responsible for the converter box program, TVs purchased five or more years ago probably do not include a digital tuner. So older sets not connected to cable or satellite are good candidates for a converter.

To determine whether your TV set has a digital tuner built in:

• Consult the owners manual.
• Check the manufacturer’s Web site.
• On your TV set, look for an input connection labeled “digital input” or “ATSC” (for Advanced Television Systems Committee, which sets standards for digital television).

So, here are your options to prepare for the digital transition, before Feb. 18, 2009:

• Keep your TV and buy a converter, which hooks up to your conventional analog TV set, allowing it to receive digital broadcasts. After you install the converter, you will still need to use an antenna to receive over-the-air programming.
• Connect your television to cable, satellite or another pay service.
• Buy a digital television, making sure it has a built-in digital tuner.

A short quiz at the Digital Television transition Web site, www.dtv.gov, can help you determine whether the converter box is the best option for you.

Requesting coupons

The NTIA established the TV Converter Box Coupon Program to ensure that uninterrupted access to free, over-the-air television does not pose a financial hardship for viewers.

U.S. households may request up to two coupons, worth $40 each, that can be applied to the purchase of a converter box. Coupons expire 90 days after issuance.

To request coupons:

• Call 1-888-388-2009. This is the 24-hour Coupon Program hotline.
• Apply online at https://www.dtv2009.gov/ApplyCoupon.aspx.
• Download a coupon application at https://www.dtv2009.gov/ApplyCoupon.aspx. Mail it to: P.O. Box 2000, Portland, OR 97208-2000. Or, fax the application to 1-877-388-4632.

The coupons resemble gift cards widely used in the retail industry, but they can be used only for the purchase of eligible converter boxes.

Where to buy converter boxes

Convert boxes are available from retailers including Wal-Mart, Circuit City, RadioShack and Best Buy. In late March, Wal-Mart was offering a Magnavox converter for $49.87, in-store purchase only. It received mostly favorable online reviews.

You may want to call ahead to make sure coupon-eligible converter boxes are available from a particular store at the time you plan to shop.

Basic converter boxes come with a digital tuner, a remote control and a cable for connecting the converter to an analog TV. Typical features of the converter include inputs for a VHF/UHF antenna; outputs for video and audio; a built-in, onscreen electronic program guide (EPG); and support for closed captioning.

Converter boxes with enhanced features, such as one with a DVD recorder, are not certified for the coupon program. Participating retailers can tell you whether a particular model they stock is eligible.

Note: While digital-to-analog converter boxes may improve picture and sound quality, analog televisions cannot display high-definition resolution. For high-definition television, you need one of the newer TV sets rated for “high-definition” resolution.

For more information about the coupon program or transition to digital television, call 1-888-388-2009.

TV Converter Box Coupon Program
https://www.dtv2009.gov/

NTIA: Digital TV Transition and Public Safety
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/dtvcoupon