How do I know if my TV is digital? I just bought it last month. If it's not digital, should I take it back?

I spect all those I Love Lucy episodes that we beamed out to space are still out there bouncing around.  I'll just watch those.

Confused: You can look at your owners manual for that information. If you do not have the manual, find the model number on the TV and try to google for information.

Garfield: I guess that would be possible. Of course you are going to have to find a way to get out ahead of those signals first

Do I need to buy a digital TV I thought all you needed was to get a digital box, know I'm confused

If digital means those giant flat tvs that cost three thousand dollars I will just buy one of the convert boxes.  I can't afford that much for next Febuary.

JR: If you are currently watching TV with an antenna (No cable or Satellite) then yes you can purchase a converter box and be good to go for the trasition. You can go to www.dtv2009.gov and apply for the $40 coupons being offered by the government. The costs of the converter boxes range from $40 to $70 dollars.

Rollins: No need to purchase a giant flat TV, you can purchase a converter box and be good to go for the transition. visit www.dtv2009.gov for more information on the coupon program, it will help defray the costs of the converter box.

Who voted on this change? Why are they saying you can get 67 channels and I can only get 4 and they break up so bad that it's ridiculous?

Who do you complain to about the converter boxes not working?

benavides46@sbcglobal.net

If i used an antenna and switch to the coverter box, how many channels do i receive?

I live out a ways, between Boerne And Comfort, and WOAI comes in kinda snowy and fuzzy.  Will I be able to recieve Digital broadcasts?  I hear it's more all-or-nothing than current analog.

Thanks

R. Benavides: I am not sure where you got your information on 67 channels. The digital transition applies to local broadcasters in your viewing area. True with the digital transition some stations will be able to broadcast multiple channels (e.g. WOAI currently has on the air 4.1 and 4.2)

R Benavides: If you are having troubles with your converter box please consult your manual.

Is WOAI broadcasting Digital at this time alongside analog?

Patrick: If you live in the San Antonio vieweing area and you switch to a converter box you will still receive the same stations that you've always had. What you may notice though is each station has sub channels that you can view. (e.g. with WOAI we currently have 4.1 which is WOAi-TV and 4.2 our 24 weather plus channel)

I currently have a 1080i upgradeable TV that is about 5 years old that does not have an HDMI input.  I also have an OTA Antenna that was provided to me by Voom several years ago.  We do not have any cable or sat service.  All we have is OTA coax going into a HD Mitzu box with RGB lines going directly into the TV.  Would I have any issues?  BTW, anything HD, we get in HD because of the Antenna.  Thanks.

A salesperson at Best Buy told me that, come next February, cable providers will be required by law to furnish converter boxes for TVs connected to their service, because they are needed to make the cable service available to subscribers without digital-ready TVs.  Is this accurate?  Will they have to provide a converter for each TV that is connected to their service?

If I have regular TW Cable...I hook in through the cable....do I need a converter box?

What is the Government link to get the coupon for the "box"?
Thanks

Polyphemus: yes WOAI is broadcasting both digital and analog right now. As for your question about reception: true with digital it is all or nothing in most cases (no more snowy pictures) PLease email me monday with your exact address and I will look it up and see where you fall in our digital signal contour. You can email me at robertdodd@woai.com

I still do not understand.  I have an old vcr and old tv, connected to time warner cable.  I record some programs on tape to view later.  What will I need to do?
rufusj@airmail.net

I currently has Basic Cable, no boxes and of course my TVs (4ea) are old.  They work great.  Will I need to get digital boxes for each?  How many coupons can I get?   Time Warner claims my TVs will work when we convert to digital???  

BrokerinSA: It sounds like you are good to go? Question I have for you is can you currently receive and watch an OTA digitla channel like 4.1 or 4.2?

Does this mean WOAI will be broadcasting in HD

Grant: Depends on the cable provider. I have spoken with Time warner and they are doing all the conversions on their end and sending it down the wire to you. So in short, if you are on TWC then you are good to go

Debbi: You are good to go..

Sally: www.dtv2009.gov

I understand some converter boxes are better than others, e.g. more " bells and whistles". Can you give a list of models/brands and their differences?

I already have Time Warner Cable.  I also have one digital box (for the past several years) so get hundreds of stations and the other TVs get through station 99.  In February can I drop the convertor box and all will get digital - or will TW require me to have the old digital box or something new?

 R Johnston : If you are on TWC you will not need to do anything, you are good to go.

Jane C Perez: If you are connected to TWC now, you are good to go for the transition

  Jess : the digital transiiton will allow WOAI to broadcast in HD.

Yes, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2 9.1,2,3 & 4 12.1 but I have issues with 29.1 and 35.1 which messes me up when trying to catch spurs games when they are on my35.  Any help in boosting the signal?

 PJ : Yes there are different models of converter boxes, Your best bet would be to visit your favorite retailer and ask them to show you the differences

 JB: you should consult TWC on this question. My guess would be No, the tiers will remain the same. So if you need a cable box to receive channel 245 now you will need one after the transition

 BrokerinSA; there are antenna options available from various retailers. this could be in the form of an inline amplifier or different antenna all together. You might try to google digital antenna amplifiers and see what comes up.

I understand that my TV's max image is 720p. The question I seem to never get answered is when I have my carriers HD "Box", what signal output should my TV show in when I am not on a "HD" channel, such as channel 4. Should I still get all channels at least in 720, or should my TV alway show 480 unless I am on a "HD" channel. Let me also say that my Tv automatically detects the best image.

I thought if you had cable TV you didn't need a converter box?

Thanks, I also have a terk 100 but never used it because I didn't want to climb up my roof to do it.  :)  Thanks again.

  Chris: you should give your cable provider a call next week.

Evelyn Householder: True

i saw the segment on tv when the guy went to conn's. i would never go to that place, just look at the name.

I have and what ever techy I spoke to didn't seem to understand what I was asking. Does it just depend on each specific Broadcaster, ie abc vs cbs vs tnt ect?

Yes, but you bring up a good question. I will call my contacts at TWC monday and see if I can get some answers ( I can get a hold of those engineer types that work directly with this technology). drop me an email monday at robertdodd@woai.com so I can follow up with you.

Do all HD TV'S have digital?  How do you know yours is okay????

 Esther: Yes all HD Tv's are digital. The best way to find out if your HD Tv is ready is to make sure it has a built in tuner. Of course if you are hooked to cable or satellite now then you are good to as well.

I hope this chat session helpful. You can get more information from www.dtv2009.gov including how to apply for the converter box coupons being offered through the government.

Live help is no longer online..

Please feel free to leave any other questions you may have and we will answer them as soon as possible.

Thank you so much!!

How many tv's can you hook up to the converter box?I have two tv's do I need two boxes?

I have 5 tv sets, all connected to Time Warner Cable. All 5 are analog.  Will I need to use a converter box on each set to be able to see he picture on each set after the stations go digital?  I still don't understand.

I am also able to get (get being used very lightly) the following channels 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2 9.1,2,3 & 4 12.1, 29.1, 35.1 using the insignia box and an rca amplified antenna.

However I am going to switch back to the old Rabbit ears until the cut off.

Reason the reception and signals are terrible. The signal is always breaking up and I spend more time hunting with the antennas than I ever did with the old method.

I made the change 2 mos or so ago it has been virtually useless. Ill take my  old analog 4,5,9,12,26,29,35 over this digital change.

A question would be, is there a map or directional guide, pin pointing where the digital signal is coming from? That way I can just place markings on my amplified antenna to make the hunt easier. Hunting with the signal meter is to much hit and miss.

FYI...I was told by a friend if you want to pick up lower powered stations, buy a box with PASS THROUGH ANALOG capabilities.

From your news story, I think retailers who don't have the boxes out yet are doing that so they can sell more higher priced TV's to people.  Everything always comes down to the almighty dollar these days...easy to see for those of us who don't have it.

If you have cable do you still need a converter box for an older TV.

If you have a digital tv, will you need a converter box when the switch is made, or can you still watch tv through roof antenna or rabbit ears with a converter box..Tks

When will the broadcasting will start? I hope is soon coz february 17 2009 is when the will shut down analog but is there any digital TV testing right now? If I get a box right now will I get any signal at all? Or should a wait for the Anchorman to say "Push the DTV switch on right about now" in february 17 2009? I don't have any paid service right now.

If we have satellite, do we need a converter box?

 retired chuck: One Tv per converter box.

 Alfred: You are good to go for the transition as you are now. You do not need to do anything. The reason is that Time Warner Cable will be doing all the conversion for you and sending it down the cable to your sets. In short, If you're hooked to TWC you are good to go for the digital transition.

 Patrick: you can request a tower location from each TV station if you wish, from that you can determine where to point your antenna.

  cheryl holmes: True some low power TV stations may not be digital after the transition and you would need an analog pass through box to pick these stations up.

missmillie: No if you have cable you are good to go.

  JT: Does your digital TV have a tuner in it? Are you watching the digital channels that are on the air today? If so then you are good to go.

  Fer Gee: Yes, you can receive many Digital channels over the air right now in San Antonio

  Marina: No, if you have satellite or cable you are good to go for the transition.

i have Time Warner Digital cable. Will this affect me?

 roseann: No, you are good to go for the digital transition.