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America's switch from analog to digital TV broadcasting is nearing completion. A decade-long government mandate requires all full-power TV stations stop broadcasting analog signals and switch to 100% digital broadcasting. Compared to analog, digital broadcasts provide a sharper picture and more programming options — but you need the right equipment to watch them.

Congress and President Obama have approved a measure to push back the analog shut-off deadline from Feb. 17 to June 12, 2009. While the delay gives viewers nearly four extra months to prepare, it also adds to the confusion about the transition because TV stations may still switch to digital-only broadcasts anytime after Feb. 17, if they choose to.

For information and assistance, visit the government's DTV transition website.
Who is affected?
The digital transition will primarily affect the 15-20 million TV viewers who rely on local over-the-air broadcasts received via antenna. If you have an old TV connected to an antenna and you are still receiving analog broadcasts, you should call your local stations to find out when they plan to switch to digital broadcasts. After the transition, all old-fashioned TVs (those with an analog-only tuner) will need to be connected to a digital-to-analog converter box, or replaced by a new TV with a built-in digital tuner in order to receive over-the-air broadcasts. Cable and satellite TV subscribers shouldn't experience any interruption in service.



Digital converter boxes
You'll need a converter box for each old (analog) TV that is connected to an antenna. Converter boxes sell for $40 - $80. You can reduce the cost significantly by taking advantage of the government's coupon program.

How to sign up for the government's $40 converter box coupons
You may apply for up to two $40 coupons per household. The government has a website set up that lets you apply for the coupons. You can also apply by phone by calling 1-888-DTV-2009. The coupons expire after 90 days.

Unfortunately, Crutchfield does not sell DTV converters and cannot redeem the government coupons. However, we've assembled some tips to help you find the right converter box for your needs, plus some pointers and diagrams to help you hook it up.

What should I look for in a DTV converter?
Most stores offer only one or two models. But if you have a choice of boxes, here are some things you may want to look for:

Analog pass-through
To watch channels from both analog and digital TV stations, you'll need a converter box that will allow the analog signal to pass through to your TV set. This feature will come in handy prior to the analog broadcast cutoff date (and beyond that date for people who can receive smaller, local low-power stations that won't be changing to digital).

Other considerations


Does it have a signal strength indicator? This will help you aim your antenna to get the best possible signal from each station.
Does it have the video and audio outputs you need to connect it to your TV?
What cables are included?
Will it be easy to use? For example, elderly people will probably prefer a remote control that has large, well-spaced buttons.
Can it run on batteries? If you use a battery powered TV for information during emergencies, you'll need a DTV converter that can be powered by batteries or you'll have to buy a separate portable powerpack.

What to expect from a converter
Compared to analog, DTV broadcasts provide a sharper picture (and more program options). However, DTV tuners require a strong signal. You won't see a "snowy" but watchable picture from a weak signal. If you don't get a good picture, you'll get a badly distorted one or none at all.

You may need a new antenna
Because weak signals may not be picked at all up by the tuner in your DTV converter, you may need to aim your antenna toward the transmitter or get a better antenna.
The DTV picture is a different shape
Many digital TV shows are broadcast in widescreen mode. To fit the wider image on your old TV, the converter box has to squash the picture and put black bars above and below it. People in the picture will appear smaller. If this bothers you, you can zoom in and fill your entire screen, but that chops off the sides of the picture. Or you can select a mode that squeezes the wider picture into the narrower screen, but this distorts the images.

You may lose some of the benefits of your VCR
Unless you have separate converter boxes for your TV and your VCR, you won't be able to watch one program while recording another. Unless your converter has an event timer built-in, and few do, you can only do timed recordings on one channel

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