DTV Is Here; Did You Switch?

MYFOX NATIONAL - Local television stations have stopped broadcasting in analog and are now transmitting in digital. Over the past few months, the government has been spreading the word about the June 12 digital TV switchover. But according to a May poll by Nielsen Media Research, 3.5 million televisions aren't ready for the big day.

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If you're among those who hasn't made the necessary updgrade to receive digital signals, here are a few tips you can follow to make sure you get your TV stations back.

Find out if your TV already has a digital tuner: If your TV has a built-in digital tuner, you're good to go. To check to see if you have one, you can check your brand and model using this database . If you purchased your TV in 2005 or after, chances are your TV does have a digital tuner. But if it was purchased before that, you may want to double-check. Even if the TV is marked as "HD-ready" or an "HD monitor" doesn't guarantee that they will be able to accept the digital signals. It only means that they can display the signals, but may need some help in getting them.

If you find out your TV is analog: Those with cable or satellite service will be OK. But if you only use rabbit ears, you'll need to perform an upgrade to make sure you keep receiving the signals. If you don't want to subscribe to cable or buy a TV with a digital tuner, the easiest thing to do is to buy a digital-to-analog converter box. The government has provided consumers with coupons to subsidize the cost of the boxes, which usually run from $40 to $70. Visit the DTV Web site to submit a request for a coupon . Coupons will be mailed out until July 31 or until supplies run out.

To install a converter box: Follow the instructions that come with the box carefully. The DTV transition Web site provides detailed instructions on how to install the box . After connecting the box to the TV, the one step that many people forget to do is scan for channels . This allows you to search for digital channels available in your area.

If you need help troubleshooting problems: Visit DTV.gov where you can get many commonly asked questions answered.

>DTV CONVERSION GUIDE