Digital television test at 5:45 p.m. Wednesday
It's coming ... the transition from analog to digital broadcast television signals.
Maybe you have cable television or have a satellite and won't be affected by the digital television transition. But, if you rely on over-the-air signals to watch your favorite shows, you might want to tune in at 5:45 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17 to see whether your television is DTV-ready.
Those who will need to take additional steps will see a message at 5:45 p.m. instructing them to take action.
Most televisions sold after 2004 have digital tuners, but some do not. The on-air test will help you figure out which one you have.
But even if your set is older than that, don't feel pressured to trade it in for a newer model. You can apply for a $40 coupon (two per household) to purchase a digital converter that will translate the signals for your TV.
UPDATE: WBAL and WJZ say the test will only last one minute, so tell your friends and neighbors (particularly seniors or others who aren't as tech-savvy but really like their TV).
(photo: Glenn Fawcett/Baltimore Sun)
Comments
Most televisions sold after 2004 have digital tuners, but some do not. The on-air test will help you figure out which one you have.
The on-air test can't automatically switch someone's television from analog mode to digital. All it will tell the viewer is whether or not their television is currently in analog or digital mode.
I question how helpful this "test" will be for anyone who would actually need it.
Hal, you're right --- the test won't switch TVs automatically at all. At 5:45 p.m. people who need to upgrade before the Feb. 17 transition will get a reminder to take action.
Posted by: Hal Laurent | December 17, 2008 9:26 AM
I bought a HD TV with the digital tuner for my mother, she watched the test on channel regular non-digital 11 and it failed the test. If it was on channel 11-1 would it pass the test??
Why keep the old channel on - you ask? I try to tell her but she hates to keep changing the picture ratio all the time as you lose it when you switch channels. It would be nice to have a solution for that also.
Ed
Posted by: Ed Thrush | December 17, 2008 9:18 PM
The test on TV said to contact my cable provider -- whose web site says, in essence -- not to worry. Who's right?
Ron E, the cable folks say if you were connected to cable you wouldn't have seen any interruption in your broadcast. Lemme follow up with you. --- lfk
Posted by: Ron E | December 17, 2008 9:51 PM
I have a question. I have an old-fashioned videotape recorder whose channels are only 2-99. If I want to keep on recording programs thru my cable TV hooked to my VCR, after the date of 2/17/09, will I be able to do so? If I want to tape "Cable Channel 4," for example, will I get a signal and be able to tape the program? Or will there not be a Channel 4 any more for TV viewers? Will my videotape machine become a player only?
Amy, I think that if you have cable you will continue to receive analog signals that you'll be able to record on your VCR as you have in the past, but if you wanted to record *broadcast* channels you'd need a converter. Let me throw this question to the Comcast folks as well. --- lfk
Posted by: Amy Lowenstein | December 22, 2008 11:40 AM