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The Digital Transition Is Here!
The final day of analog broadcasting for full power TV stations was Friday, June 12, 2009. Television stations throughout Michigan and the nation will be turned off their older, analog signals for the final time and are now broadcasting exclusively in the digital format. Your free over-the-air local stations have not gone away. To continue to receive your favorite programs you will need to have taken steps to preserve your TV reception.
If you receive your TV over-the-air with rabbit ears or an outside antenna and have not taken steps to secure your continued service here are the steps you should take to continue enjoying free television:
1. Find out if you're affected.
2. Get a converter box at a local retailer.
3. Follow the instructions that come with the box to connect it.
4. Rescan your converter box on June 12 and again June 13.
5. If you have trouble, call the Michigan DTV Helpline, sponsored by
Don-Lors Electronics: 1-888-643-8809.
Take this online quiz to find out if you need a converter box for your television to continue watching free over-the-air television: click here.
If you have chosen to get a converter box and have not ordered your coupon or have ordered a coupon but have not received it, you will need to purchase a converter box at full price and get it hooked up to continue receiving your full-power television stations.
If you are willing to go without television reception for a few weeks, you can still order a coupon.
It takes 3 to 4 weeks to arrive.
If you can afford to pay full price for your converter box, you can get one without using a government coupon.
Click here for coupon information.
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TV stations in the United States are complying with a Federal mandate to discontinue airing all programming in the analog format consumers have been watching since commercial television first began in 1941. The transition date was originally set for February 17, 2009, but this has been extended until June 12, 2009. Some television stations have already made the transition to 100% digital; others will transition between now and June 12.
 TV stations in Michigan and throughout the country will transition to a digital format that will not be compatible with the majority of television sets, VCRs and similar products purchased prior to 1998.
Why the switch to digital? Aside from better quality and more choices for viewing (stations can "multi-cast" in digital and transmit multiple programs simultaneously), the digital transition is opening up spectrum for public safety and other uses. What's spectrum? Read here.
How do I know if I already have a digital TV (DTV)? Click
here.
What this means to the typical television viewer will vary. If a consumer views local television signals through a cable or satellite provider, he or she will be unaffacted by the digital conversion and may continue to use their older, existing "analog" television.
However: If a consumer receives all or part of his or her television programming (primarily "local" channels) through use of an indoor or outdoor antenna, there are several options available in order to continue viewing these local television signals: |
- Purchase a new digital television set that includes a digital tuner;
- Subscribe to a cable or satellite provider that includes a local television package;
- Purchase a "converter box" that will allow continued use of an older television set with the new digital broadcast format. You will still need an over-the-air antenna in addition to the converter box to receive a digital signal on your analog television set; your current antenna may be adequate, depending on your reception conditions.
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 Still confused? Take the online quiz and find out how the DTV Transition will affect you.
Click here.
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Viewers using an existing analog receiver with an indoor or outdoor antenna may purchase a "set-top converter box". This box - installed between the antenna and TV set - will convert the new digital signals to the longtime analog format and allow continued use of an older television set.
These new converter boxes typically retail between $40 and $70 and are available for purchase at many retail locations.
The US Government is offering a converter box coupon program -and all households in the country will be eligible to request up to two coupons, worth $40 each - to be used toward the purchase of up to two (2) digital-to-analog converter boxes.
UPDATE: The Government has caught up on its waiting list and is now issuing new coupons - plus will re-issue coupons that have expired or have been lost or stolen.
Converter Boxes may be freely purchased without a coupon at regular retail price $40-$70 each.
Consumers may request coupons by visiting this site - or by calling:
1-888-DTV-2009.
Hearing-impaired individuals can can use the NTIA's TTY service by calling: 1-877-530-2634 (English/TTY)
or 1-866-495-1161 (Spanish/TTY).
You can also download a coupon application here and mail it to:
PO BOX 2000, Portland, OR 97208-2000.
Coupon applications may be faxed to:
1-877-DTV-4ME2 (1-877-388-4632).
See the most recent list of Michigan Approved Retailers who are authorized to accept the converter box coupons here.
NOTE: Coupons are only valid for a 90-day period from the time they were mailed to consumers. It is important to use the coupon within the 90-day window.
UPDATE:
As of October 20, 2008 - consumers who have been denied converter box coupons because they use a post office box for their mail delivery; or those who live in licensed assisted-care facilities are now eligible for the coupon program.
Coupon applicants residing in licensed nursing homes, intermediate care facilities, and assisted living facilities must use a special application available here.
Having Trouble Finding Converter Boxes?
We've received reports that consumers in some parts of the
state find that the converter boxes are temporarily
unavailable in their area.
Converter boxes can be purchased through the internet or via toll-free numbers. For a list of retailers offering online and telephone purchase, click here. |
Important: Do you watch Low Power Television Stations or Translator Stations? Find out if you do here. Many low-power television stations and translators will not be converting to digital and not all DTV converter boxes will pass the signals of these stations.
Viewers of low-power television stations and translators will need to purchase a converter box that offers "analog pass-through" - or install a splitter and possibly an A/B switch to receive both the new digital and older analog television signals.
A complete list of approved converter box models - noting those providing "analog pass-through" is available here.
For more information on analog pass-through converter boxes as well as splitter-A/B switch options, click here.
Need 12 Volts for the RV? We've only seen one converter box with a 12 VDC power input. There may be others. This converter also offers analog pass-through. Here.
Installation of the set-top converter boxes can typically be performed by consumers with basic wiring skills - and is similar to the installation of a VCR or other video component. For a "help to" diagram to assist consumers click here.
Remember that you will still need an over-the-air antenna in addition to the converter box to receive a digital signal on your analog television set; your current antenna may be adequate, depending on your reception conditions.
 Need assistance? Community Action Agencies (CAAs) affiliated with The Michigan Community Action Agency Association (MCAAA) is assisting those who need extra help with the digital television conversion.
Click here to for a statewide map to locate a participating agency in your area.
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Past antenna performance is no guarantee of reliable reception of new digital television signals! |
Consumers who elect to continue to receive their local television service with an over-the-air (non-cable/satellite) antenna may find it neccessary to upgrade their existing indoor or outdoor antenna.
 Digital television receivers, including the set-top converter boxes - require a strong, consistent signal from an antenna.
Depending on the distance from your local digital television station towers, it may be necessary to replace an indoor "rabbit ear" antenna with a suitable outdoor roof-mounted antenna to receive the local channels you desire.
In some cases - consumers with an existing outdoor roof-mounted antenna may find the need to upgrade to a larger, more powerful antenna - or may need to re-aim their current antenna as some local broadcasters may have had to relocate their towers for the digital transmissions.
For detailed information on specific antenna requirements at your address, visit the FCC DTV website here.
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Questions? Need Help?
Call Michigan's DTV
Helpline:
1-888-643-8809
Live operators will assist!
Sponsored by
Don-Lors Electronics
See Informational DTV Videos From Don-Lors Electronics HERE
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Don't Throw Away Your Old Television.
Get Recycling Information from Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
HERE
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Retailer Information on Coupon
Program Participation
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View number of coupons ordered in
Michigan and natiowide here. |
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