RSS![[Masthead]](http://www.cassville-democrat.com/images/nameplate.png)
RSS
Print
Email link
Respond to editor
Read comments (2)
In response to numerous inquiries regarding the conversion of televisions to digital transmission mode, Rep. David Sater, R-Cassville, has issued the following information provided by the Missouri Cable Telecommunications Association (MCTA).
As of Feb. 17, 2009, all analog televisions that are not connected to cable, satellite or a converter box will be unable to receive a digital broadcast signal. In Missouri, one in five households do not have cable or satellite and rely on over-the-air television.
The government is offering two $40 coupons per household to help families purchase converter boxes for their televisions. A total of 33.5 million coupons will be made available to consumers.
The National Tele-communications and Information Administration (NTIA) has approved over 30 converter box models for the TC Converter Box Coupon Program. Retailers estimate costs of the boxes range from $40 to $70. NTIA has enlisted over 250 retailers to stock these approved converter box models.
For more information or to learn where TV converter boxes can be purchased, visit www.dtv2009.gov or the NTIA official website at www.ntia.doc.gov.
Consumers can receive their coupons on-line at www.dtv2009.gov, by phone at 1-888-DTV-2009, by mail at P.O. Box 2000, Portland, OR 97208 or by fax at 1-877-388-4632.TV conversion
info is offered
Comments
TV reception starts with the right antenna.
Viewers should certainly try their old antenna first. It's true that any of these older antennas will pick up some signals, maybe all the broadcast signals a viewer wants to receive, depending on their location. If they're getting all the OTA channels they want and almost completely uncompressed DTV and HDTV, unlike cable or satellite, than they're good to go.
While Antennas can't tell the difference between analog and digital signals, there are definitely certain models which have higher DTV batting averages than others. Not all antennas are equally suited for DTV. A percentage of viewers will require something a little more tailored for DTV reception.
Cable and satellite program providers will continue to serve the great majority of homes as the primary signal source, missing HD local reception, compression issues, higher costs, billing add-ons, service outages, contact difficulties, in-home service waits and no shows have left many of these subscribers looking to OTA antennas as a good, alternative.
With one of the newer and smaller OTA antennas, with greatly improved performance, power and aesthetics, viewers may also be able to receive out-of-town channels, carrying blacked out sports programs, several additional sub-channels or network broadcasts not originally available with analogue. And for those with an HDTV, almost completely uncompressed HD broadcasts.
OTA viewers can go to antennapoint.com to see quickly what stations are available to them, the distance, and compass heading to help in choosing and aiming their antenna. And if they decide to buy a newer antenna, they should buy it from a source that will completely refund their purchase price, no questions asked, if it doesn't do the job.
If they're getting all the OTA channels they want and almost completely uncompressed DTV and HDTV, unlike cable or satellite, than they're good to go.
----------
http://www.couponsmarter.com