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Digital Television Conversion Questions and Answers
When Will TV Switch from Analog to Digital Broadcasting?
The switch from analog to digital broadcasting will be completed on June 12, 2009. The US Congress started this process in the early 1990s, and television stations have been preparing for this change since the mid 1990s by purchasing new equipment and rebuilding their plants to accommodate the new signals. There is still plenty of time to get you up to speed on all the changes, and help simplify your transition to DTV.
What If I Don't Have a High Definition Television? Will I Still be Able to Watch TV?
Yes, absolutely. If you currently have an HDTV, you are already enjoying digital television. If you don't plan on buying an HD set, there's still a pretty good chance that you won't need to do anything. If you get your TV programming from a cable company such as GCI or MTA, you don't need anything. Or if you receive your TV signals through a satellite delivery service such as Dish or DirecTV, you don't need to do anything. And finally, if you receive your TV through a translator (distant from Anchorage and may be on a different channel than the station's channel) you don't need to do anything right now. So that leaves Over The Air (OTA) where you receive your TV signals through an antenna system in the Anchorage area. The antenna may be something as simple as rabbit ears or could be an Outside antenna on a mast. If this is how you receive your signals you'll need to do one of two things - either buy a new TV (all the new ones come ready to receive DTV signals) or get a DTV "converter box" that transforms digital television signals to analog so that you can still watch stations. The converter boxes will allow consumers to maintain their free, over-the-air television service on older analog television sets. You can purchase the boxes at a several electronics retailers in the area.
Where Can I Get a Converter Box and How Much Will it Cost?
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will issue up to two converter box coupons (valued at $40 each) to US households to help defray the cost of the converter box. Your household will be able to apply for up to two coupons, which must be redeemed within three months of receipt. The coupons cannot be combined to purchase a single converter box, and can't be used toward the purchase of other products. Consumers can download a coupon application at www.dtv2009.gov or call 888-388-2009. The hearing impaired can call 877-530-2634 for English or 866-495-1161 for Spanish. When your coupons arrive they include a list of local retailers who sell the converter boxes. In addition the boxes are available through several online vendors. All the boxes available locally cost a little more than the $40 coupon so expect to still have to pay a small amount.
I live in Kenai/Soldotna/Kasilof/Ninilchik/Homer/Seldovia. What Do I Need To Do To Still Watch TV After February?
If you live in those communities on the Kenai Peninsula and receive your TV signals through an antenna, your current TV will continue to work just fine in February after the Anchorage analog stations are shut down. The FCC has not yet set a date when translator and Low-Power TV stations must convert to digital. The stations will be modifying the delivery method to the translators to be a digital signal, but until the translators themselves are converted, the transmitted signals will remain analog. While we don't really know when this might happen, it's probable that it will occur sometime in the next few years.
If you receive your TV signals through either a cable system or satellite provider, no changes are necessary. The analog shutoff will not affect your signal delivery and it will not change from what you have today.
Should I Go Ahead And Purchase A New Digital TV?
If you have the means to do so, purchasing a new Digital TV will ensure that none of the issues surrounding the analog shutoff will affect you or your TV viewing. Even if you live in an area that will continue to have analog signals for a time, there are advantages to upgrading your set now. You will be positioned to utilize the new technology immediately when it becomes available. You may get a better picture with the new set than you have today. The DTV sets often enhance the experience of TV viewing because they are sharper than the older set you've been watching.You will also see immediate picture and sound enhancement if you view DVDs or connect your computer the the DTV screen.
DTV Links for more information about the DTV conversion:
If you still have questions please feel free to contact the Engineering staff at KTUU. There are idiosyncrasies of reception is some areas of our viewing area we can help you with. Pleas feel free to contact Lance Hankins, KTUU's Director of Engineering, via email at lhankins@ktuu.com or by phone at 907-762-9528.
KTUU DTV Technical Help Line x281 762-9281
FCC Help Lines
For Converter Coupons
Other Area Stations Converting Today:
*-KTUU is not actually turning off. We will switch the analog signal to a NightLight Service which will provide viewers with information on what to do (videos in English and Spanish) as well as the phone numbers listed above. This programming will loop about every 20 minutes for the next 30 days. At that time we will turn the analog service off permanently.
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