Still watching free TV with an old TV?Get a coupon for a digital converter.

At midnight on February 17, 2009, all full-power television stations in the US will stop broadcasting in analog and switch to digital, which should provide a clearer picture and more programming options, and will free up capacity for use by emergency responders.

If you use "rabbit ears" or a rooftop antenna with your analog television, you must take action to continue receiving television broadcasts.

Congress created the TV Converter Box Coupon Program for households wishing to keep using their analog TV sets after February 17, 2009. The program allows households to obtain up to two coupons, each worth $40, that can be applied to the cost of eligible converter boxes. Converters will sell for about $60 - $80 at electronic products dealers.

A TV connected to cable, satellite or other pay TV service does not require a TV converter box from this program.

You have a variety of options, including:

Keep your existing analog TV and purchase a TV converter box, or

Connect to cable, satellite or other pay service, or

Purchase a television with a digital tuner. As of March 1, 2007, all television receivers shipped in interstate commerce or imported into the United States must contain a digital tuner.

As for how to determine whether your television equipment purchased prior to May 25, 2007 is a DTV, many DTVs and digital television equipment will have labels or markings on them, or statements in the informational materials that came with them, to indicate that they contain digital tuners.

These labels or markings may contain the words “Integrated Digital Tuner” or “Digital Tuner Built-In.” “Receiver” may be substituted for “Tuner,” and “DTV,” “ATSC,” or “HDTV” (high definition television) may be substituted for “Digital.”

If your television equipment contains any of these labels or markings, you should be able to view digital over-the-air programming without the need for a digital-to-analog converter box. (Remember, you do not need an HDTV to view free over-the-air digital programming. As long as your television equipment contains a digital tuner, you can view over-the-air digital. An HDTV is only necessary if you want to view digital programming in “high definition.”)

You should also check the manual or any other materials that came with your television equipment in order to determine whether it contains a digital tuner.

If your television set is labeled as a “Digital Monitor” or “HDTV Monitor,” or as “Digital Ready” or “HDTV Ready,” this does not mean it actually contains a digital tuner. You will still likely need a separate set-top box which contains a tuner in order to view programs in the new digital TV transmission standard (which includes HDTV formats) on such a set.

A special antenna generally is not needed to receive digital signals. You may have antenna issues, however, if your current antenna does not receive UHF signals (channels 14 and above), because most DTV stations are on UHF channels. In such a case, you may need a new antenna or to add a UHF section to your existing antenna system.

VCRs, DVD players, camcorders and video games will continue to work, even if they are only analog-capable. Such equipment, however, may not provide digital-quality picture and sound. Manufacturers are producing a number of different connectors to hook equipment together and improve picture and sound quality. Check with your equipment retailer to determine the types of connectors that will work with your equipment.

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