Last Minute DTV Tips

It’s been 13 years since the Telecommunications Act of 1996 mandated the DTV transition that’s taking place today. However, that doesn’t mean there won’t be some growing pains for viewers of over-the-air television. Here’s some last minute DTV tips for those still working on their own transition:

The DTV transition only affects over-the-air broadcasts received through a regular rooftop or set-top (“rabbit ears”) antennas. If you get your television service through satellite or cable providers, you will not be affected. If your TV lists itself as having a DTV (or ATSC) tuner, you are ready, on the other hand, just because the TV says “digital” somewhere on the front does not mean the system is ready.

If none of the above applies, you will need a converter box available at your local Best Buy. If you’re setting your converter box up today, one of the first things it will do as part of the setup is scan for digital channels. Do not interrupt or turn the unit off until the scan is complete. If you setup your converter box prior to today, it’s a good idea to access the setup menu on the box and re-run the scan as some channels may change during the transition.

If your converter box coupons have expired, or you never received your coupons, you can contact the FCC a 1-888 CALL FCC (1-888-225-5322) for replacements, as well as general DTV questions or concerns. In most cases the coupon will cover most, if not all, of the cost of the converter boxes, and generally take 7 to 14 days for arrival.

You may also qualify for free Geek Squad service to help with your DTV questions. To learn more, check out my previous blog post.