February 17, 2009 - TV viewers take note

[Ccook50]

February 17, 2009 - 413 days from this typing, terrestrial TV, which is television not using cable or satellite (using indoor or outdoor antennas), will switch from analog broadcasts to all digital in the U.S. Some countries have already made the transition or are in transitional progress.

Digital compresses the signals and allows stations to operate one or more sub-carriers (our NBC affiliate, for example, has a sub-carrier that broadcasts weather conditions). Just about all full-power stations are broadcasting on their current analog position and their digital positions. The digital channel positions for the widest part are different than their analog spot.* As of the target date, analog will be discontinued. Channels 52 to 69 will no longer be operated as TV frequencies and will be used for emergency radio transmissions. ** Channels 2 through 6 will be discontinued at a later date.

Current analog TV sets won't necessarily be obsolete. They will merely require a special converter box (available in late winter) to receive the digital broadcasts. The FCC is offering $40 vouchers towards the purchase of the converter boxes. Those that have cable or satellite will have to do nothing for the switchover as the cable and satellite companies will make the adjustments at their ends.

*--At present, stations are broadcasting their digital signals on what's known as a "virtual channel." It is their current analog channel number suffixed by .1 The sub-carriers go by .2, .3, etc.

**--Stations in this channel range are currently transmitting their digital signals on channel positions below channel 51. Stations whose digital designation currently fall within the 52-69 range will be relocated below channel 51 or have the option to relocate to their analog channel number.