If your television has a digital tuner -- the component that helps you tune into TV stations -- already built in, you don't need a new TV. However, if you're still using an older TV with an analog tuner built in, like millions of people, the switch didn't make your TV obsolete.
In fact, it should clean up your reception, but it won't make your television show look like high-definition programming.
The difference in analog and digital is pretty simple. Unlike digital broadcasting, which is either off or on, an analog signal can waver in relation to factors such as the strength of the signal.
If you've ever had to get up to play with the antenna on your TV to get a better picture, you'll appreciate digital broadcasting. If your digital TV is getting a signal at all, you're getting clear audio and video.
You need a converter for every tuner you have, whether it's for a TV or for the videocassette recorder or digital video recorder you use to record shows. So if you have a second TV in another room, you need a box for that one, as long as it has an analog tuner built in. Televisions with digital tuners built in will probably be labeled as such. If you aren't sure about yours, check your owner's manual or contact the manufacturer for more information.
The Web is a good place to look; many companies keep information on older models online for reference. Do you subscribe to digital cable or satellite TV? If you do, the box that goes on your TV handles the conversion for you.
In fact, the analog-to-digital switch really affected just local broadcasters. Satellite and cable stations don't use the same frequencies that your local network affiliates do. So if you're not using an antenna to watch TV, the switch didn't affect you. Are you an analog cable subscriber?
Here's a clue: If you plug the cable directly into the back of your television, your cable company might be offering you analog service. The FCC requires cable companies to provide analog signals for local stations that have switched to digital signals as long as they offer analog feeds for any other channel.
You may be fine for now, but if you're concerned that your TV will go dark in the future, you should contact your cable provider. There are a few exceptions to the conversion rule, though.
Low-power , Class A and TV translator stations don't have to make the switch to digital just yet. These stations are usually rural or local community stations, and while they didn't have to switch in June , they'll be required to switch over in the future [source: FCC ]. If you watch one of these stations regularly, make sure to get a converter box that has analog pass-through capability, and you can continue to receive those channels.
Otherwise, you'll have to get a signal splitter and divide the signal from your antenna for digital and analog stations. If you have a television with a digital tuner or coaxial cable and subscribe to a TV service, you will not need the box, and your cable or satellite service should continue as usual. Only if you rely on antennas to receive analog broadcast signals and are not connected to a cable or satellite TV service will you need to purchase a separate converter box, available at local electronic stores.
Pair arrested in violent Medford robbery. Sports Crater finds late spark, pulls away for win over Thurston. The major difference between then and now is the size of the cable operators and the media company's, and the power they have bought in Washington. Doesn't help when all their competitors, for technical reasons, must use a box at every TV. A rented Box at every TV? Not for me CBS looks to be a victim of the digital transition where I live, and I might, for a short time, miss the 2 hours of CBS programming that I watch a week when it's actually on.
And don't forget all the shows and movies that many of us bought and all the recorded stuff too! I've seen the Comcast boxes for sale at the Flea market, not in big numbers, but one here and one there.
I'm sure the newer models will continue to show up after the digital transition. Perhaps it's a waste of money because each box would need to be associated with a "valid" account on the network to decrypt the QAM signals?
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I lost my remote controller for my converter box. If not, look online for your GE universal remote and find the most recent manual as it may have the codes listed for your converter box brand. If you cannot find the codes, tell us the make and model of your Converter box and GE remote and we can assist from there.
Our Ematic TV Converter box remote keeps messing up. Is there a universal Code for it so that we can replace it with a universal remote? LP, Is the code being erased on the box and therefore the converter box does not respond? Or is it the remote control having the issue? Is the remote code saving on the remote? Have you replaced the batteries on the remote?
Daniel Gonzalez, DigitalStream DTX remote control codes: , , , , , , , , , or If one exists! I realize that my equipment may be old but it still works. I need a program code for an Ematic digital converter box that will work for an RCA universal remote control it has to be 4 digits long. I have a Iview stb multimedia digital converter box. I tried the and the device light blinks 3x but no functions operate. I have an RCA digital converter box and none of the codes are working. I have the book to my remotes and no codes in the books are working either.
I had no problem setting up everything else to my remote just cannot get the digital converter box to work. Jose rivera, There are no remote codes in the database just yet for the Iview converter box. Here is a link to buy the exact universal remote for the It is only 15 US dollars. I have a Zinwell converter box and the remote is lost. Bought a Phillips universal remote. How can I program it to the convert box? I have a GE universal remote. I can not get the universal to control the box.
Also is this the button for cable or satellite? Some Magnavox Digital Converter Boxes have no power buttons… If there is no power button, the converter box is in standby mode when plugged in. We use a very Big Button remote to see the functions and numbers.
Thanks for your help!
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