Q. What is DTV (or Digital TV conversion)?
A. DTV is also known as digital television. The good news about DTV is that it offers more channels with movie-quality pictures and sound than through an antenna or analog TV.
Q. What does Digital TV conversion mean for me?
A. After June 2009, the Federal Communications Commission will require TV stations to transmit their signal in a digital format. If you have an analog TV and receive your TV signal in analog format, you may need a converter box to receive the digital TV broadcast.
Q. How do I know if I have an analog or a digital TV?
A. It’s pretty easy to find. Simply check the owner’s manual for your TV, or contact the TV manufacturer or store where it was purchased. If it states that your TV is analog, you may need a converter box.
Q. How do I know if I need a converter box?
A. Do you receive your TV signal only through antennas (also known as “rabbit ears”) without cable or a satellite dish attached to the TV? If the answer is yes, then you will need a converter box by June 2009.
Q. How do I buy a converter box?
A. You will be able to buy a converter box in early 2008. The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is offering a $40 coupon to help pay for the upgrade. Up to two $40 coupons will be provided per each household by the NTIA. To order the coupons, check with the NTIA’s website at: https://www.dtv2009.gov/ , or call 1-888-388-2009 (voice) or 1-877-530-2634 (TTY) beginning in January 2008.
Q. If I receive my TV channels through my local cable company or through a satellite dish, do I need this converter box even if my TV is an analog set?
A. No. TVs that receive their signal through cable or satellite are OK.
Q. If I am shopping for a new TV, how do I know if it is analog or digital? What do I need to look for?
A. If you are looking for a TV on Target.com, there will be a consumer alert on the page that will let you know if it requires a converter box. You can find this information right above the Features, Description, Additional Info and Shipping Info tabs when viewing an item.
If you are looking for a TV in a Target store, signage should identify if it is analog or digital. If you’re not sure, please ask a Target team member for assistance.
Q: Do I need a converter box with “analog pass-through” capabilities?
A. If you receive over-the-air TV signals from a low-power television station that does not have to switch to all digital in June 2009, you will still be able to receive those analog signals after the digital-to-analog transition. However, if you also receive television signals from a full-power station that is switching to all digital, you should consider what type of converter box to purchase. If you want to watch channels from analog and digital television stations you may want to consider a converter box that will allow the analog signal to pass through to your TV set. If you do not purchase a converter box with an analog pass-through feature, you may need to physically disconnect the box every time you change from a digital channel to an analog channel. Special note: for RV owners, a converter box with the analog pass-through feature comes in handy while traveling. It will allow the television set to receive signals from various stations whether they are transmitting in analog or digital. Additional information about low-powered stations is available at https://www.dtv2009.gov/ . |
