Conversion to digital television

Talk about digital television might seem daunting, and you might even feel helpless.  However, there are ways to make sure you're ahead of the game when analog signals are turned off on February 17, 2009.

When analog signals are turned off next year, most viewers who get local stations like TV6 with cable won't have to worry.  It's those who watch us with an antenna who will no longer be able to get local broadcasts when stations convert to only digital signals.

So to make sure you'll be able to watch your favorite show, antenna users have a few options.  They can get cable, buy a digital television, or purchase a converter box.  You can get a coupon for a converter box from the federal government.  Click here to apply. 

"What they want to do is get a coupon from the government,” said TV6 Chief Engineer Sonny Reschka.  “It's free to sign up for it, and each coupon is worth $40 toward the purchase of a converter box."

Standard converter boxes can range in price from $40 to $70.

On top of that, you might consider purchasing a UHF antenna, because TV6 is dropping its current VHF channel when we turn off our analog signal.

"You may have to change your antenna to a UHF antenna, or a UHF-VHF; many antennas are both,” Reschka said.  “You might have to add an amplifier on your antenna line, and you certainly will have to have a converter box or a digital TV."

Here are other ways to get a coupon for a converter box:

Phone:  1-888-DTV-2009
Mail:      PO BOX 2000
              Portland, OR 97208
Fax:      1-877-DTV-4ME2

Get more information on the switch here, and watch for the next part of this series. 

If you have a question you would like to ask, go to our Ask Our Expert page to get an answer.