Digital television and TV Antenna (1)

Federal law requires that all full-power television stations stop broadcasting in analog format and broadcast only in digital format after February 17, 2009. Stations in all U.S. markets are currently broadcasting in both analog and digital. If you have one or more analog televisions that free over-the-air television programming with an outdoor antenna or "rabbit ears" on the TV, you will either need a digital television (a TV with a built-in digital tuner) or an analog TV connected to a digital-to-analog converter box (which converts the digital signals to analog signals for display on your analog set) in order to continue watching the programming of full-power stations. This fact sheet provides information on antennas and on what is necessary for good quality reception of digital broadcasts.

Try your existing antenna first
First, it is important to know that if your television currently receives good quality reception on analog channels 2-51 with a broadcast antenna, must be able to receive digital television (DTV) signals, including high definition television ( HDTV) signals, with the same broadcast antenna. You do not need to purchase a "DTV antenna" or an "HDTV antenna" to receive DTV or HDTV signals. However, consumers should know that if they use a digital-to-analog converter box, they will still need to use an antenna to receive DTV signals.
Prior to making any changes to your current antenna or antenna system, check to see if they will receive the digital signals are broadcast in your area. Connect your existing antenna to a digital television or a digital-to-analog converter box connected to an analog television. Make sure your TV is set to receive over-the-air broadcasts (as opposed to connected to a paid provider such as cable or satellite TV Company). It may also be useful to perform a channel scan, "which your TV will automatically check to see which stations can receive. In many cases this is all you need to do to watch digital television broadcasts.

For help with Reception possibilities Problems

If you have reception problems, the following information and tips help your reception for digital broadcasts.
During the transition to digital television, many stations are temporarily operating at reduced capacity. If you are not certain digital TV stations, this does not necessarily mean that there is a problem with your antenna or receiver. Check the TV station to find out whether they are planning changes that will improve the reception.
If an analog TV signal is weak or receives interference, static, snow, and distortion will often appear on the screen, but you can look at the photo by the noise. Digital broadcasting will provide a clear picture, even with a weak signal and in the presence of interference. However, if the digital signal falls below a specified minimum strength, the picture can suddenly disappear. This "cliff effect" means that if you normally watch analog TV stations that a lot of static and distortion, you may need to adjust or upgrade your antenna system for a reliable good signal for digital broadcasts.