/ Source: The Associated Press
Here's a checklist to make sure you'll have TV reception after local stations cut their analog broadcasts. Some stations shut down analog transmissions Feb. 17, and the rest of the full-powered stations will end analog after June 12.
- Are all your TVs hooked up to satellite or cable feeds? If so, you're OK.
- Do all your TVs have built-in digital tuners? Most TVs bought in the last few years, including flat panels, have these. If they do, you're probably OK. But you might need to force your TV to scan the airwaves to find all channels, because some are moving to new frequencies. Also see antenna issues below.
- If you have digital converter boxes hooked up and you get some but not all the channels you expect, you should first force the box to re-scan the airwaves, since some channels may have moved to new frequencies. Some converter boxes don't scan well, so you may have to key in the channel number manually. Check the box's directions, and look at www.antennaweb.org to figure out which channels should be available in your area. Re-scan periodically until after June 12 to make sure you pick up stations that switch late.
- If rescanning doesn't help, the problem may be your antenna. Outdoor antennas properly pointed toward a TV tower are preferable, but indoor antennas work if you're reasonably close to the tower. Note that antennas should be capable of receiving both VHF and UHF signals — some older ones are VHF-only. Modern indoor antennas are available from $40 to $100.
For more information, the FCC offers a troubleshooting guide on its Web site.
