OPB IS YOUR SOURCE FOR FACTS ABOUT DIGITAL TV

Digital TV means What is the switch to made by your service provider. Depending on digital television? your cable or satellite package, delivery of all you’ll have… OPB digital channels may not be available, The television broadcast system we’ve all grown or may involve additional fees. Over-the-air up with uses “analog” technology to reach the • More OPB channels, antenna reception will always remain free. free as always TV sets in your home. A new technology called “digital” is replacing it. Most stations, including How do I tell if my TV is analog • More viewing choices OPB, already broadcast a digital signal along or digital? with the traditional analog signal. Legislation and times If your TV is more than a couple of years old, now requires all full-power TV stations in the it’s probably not digital. Even a TV marked • Better picture and sound United States to end analog broadcasts and “digital ready” or “HD ready” is ready only if it become digital-only on June 12. Many countries contains an ATSC digital tuner. Check your around the world, from Britain to Nigeria to owner’s manual or the manufacturer’s web site China, are engaged in similar transitions. Need more help? to see if your TV has an ATSC tuner. If it does, Why is the switch happening? it can receive digital broadcasts, and you are prepared for the switch. Call our Member Center Digital TV provides a more efficient use of our 1.800.241.8123 public airwaves. More than one digital channel Do I need to buy a new digital TV? can be broadcast using the same space needed There’s no reason to buy a new TV unless you Email us for just one analog channel. This allows stations choose to. A small and inexpensive set-top [email protected] like OPB to provide more programs for the digital converter box hooked to your analog benefit of the community. It also frees up extra TV will fully prepare you for the digital switch. Find out more bandwidth for public agencies, emergency first When you hook up your converter box, your opb.org/digital responders and new data and communication viewing will continue as before, except you’ll services. Digital TV offers improved pictures, have more OPB channels and programs to sound and reception. Digital signals are less choose from. Not only will it all still be free, prone to interference, and pictures are free of you’ll probably experience improved reception, snow and “ghost” images. picture and sound. Who is affected? Do I need to subscribe to a cable If you watch a traditional analog TV set, using or satellite service to get digital? an indoor or outdoor antenna, with no cable or satellite service, you need to act to continue No. Digital TV broadcasts are available for free watching free, over-the-air TV after June 12. over the air using an antenna, as long as you At the end of that day, analog signals will no live within range of the signal. In fact, because longer be broadcast by any full-power TV some cable and satellite services compress TV station. Your analog TV will no longer receive signals during transmission, the highest quality any channels unless you take action. OPB’s digital picture is often received via antenna. full-power stations are: Channel 10 in Portland, Satellite services do not offer all OPB digital 7 in Corvallis, 28 in Eugene, 13 in La Grande channels, and currently do not plan to do so and 3 in Bend. If you live in a rural community in the future. If you subscribe to a cable and watch OPB via one of our rural translators service, you may need to pay higher fees to – on any channel other than those above – receive all OPB digital channels. It’s also your digital switch will happen on a later possible to add antenna reception to schedule. But you still must be prepared. supplement your paid service. Who is not affected? What about high definition (HD) TV? If you have a new digital TV with an “ATSC” tuner, you are already prepared. If you subscribe HDTV is simply the high end of digital TV. to a cable or satellite service, you are also It produces the most detailed and beautiful prepared. Any necessary changes will be Please continue. . . TV picture. Imagine the difference between How to choose the right newspaper photos and those in a glossy converter box magazine. To see HD broadcasts in full HD Every converter box will switch your TV from quality, you need an HDTV set. On any other analog to digital. Coupon-eligible boxes all BE A WISE TV set, you will still see the picture, but you will contain the same basic features: display see it in “standard definition.” A standard CONSUMER options, on-screen program guides, parental definition digital signal is still better than an controls, closed captioning and a remote analog signal. As with any other product, control, among others. The most important switching to the high end is entirely optional. feature to look for is ANALOG PASS- To start, check the TV sets in THROUGH, which allows reception of both your home analog and digital channels now and after  Be prepared before you shop the switch. Analog pass-through will allow Use the TV Planner provided on the back you to continue to receive low-power signals of this flyer  Ask about service and or translator signals that remain analog after support before you buy You’ll need one converter box for: the digital switch. • Each analog TV in your home that receives  Ask for a demonstration of over-the-air broadcasts via an antenna of Analog pass-through boxes are now any new equipment before any kind, including rabbit ears widely available and offer greater you leave the store viewing flexibility. OPB recommends You’ll need two converter boxes for a that everyone purchase a converter single set if:  Test your converter box with box with analog pass-through. • Your VCR or DVD recorder is used to record your current antenna before one channel while you watch another at the Consumer Reports has reviewed some you buy a new one same time — one box for the recorder, which converter boxes. You can find information at is also analog, and one for the TV consumerreports.org and hearusnow.org,  Don’t be afraid to visit another or check their magazines at your local library. You will not need a converter box for: store if the information you OPB engineers and staff are also testing • Any TV that is hooked up to cable or receive is insufficient boxes. Contact the OPB Member Center satellite service for current recommendations. • Any TV that includes a digital ATSC tuner • Any TV that is used only to view DVDs or tapes or to play video games Will I need a new antenna? • Any new DVD/VCR recorder that includes Probably not. If your current set-top, roof-top How to apply for $40 a digital ATSC tuner or attic antenna provides good reception for discount converter all local stations, it should work with your box coupons from How to get a digital converter box or new digital TV. However, converter box analog and digital TV signals behave the government differently, so some households may need to Converter boxes are widely available in most upgrade to a better antenna. If you live in an stores selling TVs or electronics. They are area of fringe reception, have hills around your also available from online vendors. The federal house, live at some distance from transmitters, $ government is offering each household up 40 or have large buildings, trees or other objects to two $40 discount coupons. Request your nearby, you may have problems getting a coupons online at www.dtv2009.gov or by stable digital signal. Since digital reception is phone at 1.888.388.2009. “all or nothing,” a weak signal may translate How to use your coupon to seeing nothing on the screen. Your coupons will arrive in the mail several Antenna tips weeks after you apply for them. A list of • For best reception, you should have a Request Online: nearby stores that accept coupons will be combination antenna, designed for www.dtv2009.gov included. Coupons can also be used online reception of both VHF (2-13) and UHF with certified vendors. Your coupons will look (14-51) channels. Digital broadcasts in Request by Phone: like a credit card or gift card. They expire 90 most areas use both ranges. 1.888.DTV.2009 days after issue. Once expired, they cannot be replaced. When you use your coupon, • If your home receives TV signals from Your coupons will arrive different directions, you may need a several weeks after you make your cost per converter box should be only $10 - $30. Coupons are only valid toward multi-directional antenna. your request. purchase of government certified boxes. • An amplified antenna may help boost a Coupons expire 90 days after Packaging on these boxes will be clearly weak signal, but since it’s possible to have issue and cannot be replaced. marked. Coupons cannot be combined and bad reception due to too much signal, try do not cover sales tax or shipping charges. an unamplified antenna first. • While a good indoor antenna should be All OPB digital channels are better than older rabbit ears, any outdoor available to everyone for free antenna is likely to be better than an indoor over-the-air one. Higher and closer to transmitters is PASS IT ON usually best. Basic indoor antennas start at If you’re within range of an OPB transmitter, about $10, outdoor models at about $50. you’ll have immediate access to the full range of digital TV as soon as you hook up your • A neighbor’s antenna solution may be a converter box or purchase a new digital TV. good guide to yours. You’ll get new channels, see an improved • Buy from a store with a good return policy, picture and hear better sound. You’ll have in case your first choice of antenna doesn’t new viewing options that are possible only produce the signal you need. You can then with digital TV. upgrade in stages. Share these digital TV tips OPB is already broadcasting three digital • Antennaweb.org is an excellent Web site channels: OPB, OPB HD and OPB-Plus. with family and friends for antenna information and advice. Enter your home address and you’ll find the If you choose to buy a new TV Check on your neighbors – distance and precise direction to local TV especially seniors and people broadcasts, as well as a customized report There’s nothing about the digital switch that who might need some with antenna recommendations. If you don’t requires you to purchase a new TV set. If you extra help. have access to a computer or the Internet, do choose to upgrade to the higher quality of your local library can help you visit the site a digital TV, here are some consumer tips. Help make sure that everyone and print out your report, or you can call • Digital sets come in both standard definition continues to have access to our Member Center and we can run the (SD) and high definition (HD). OPB for free for years to come. report and mail it to you. • While HD will provide the most beautiful TV Where you live matters! picture you’ve ever watched, HD sets are significantly more expensive than standard The national switch to digital TV on June 12 definition. is not universal. Many low-power broadcasters and rural translators will continue analog • An SD TV receives the same channels and broadcasts beyond that day. Most of them programs as an HD set, though HD programs will switch later, on a schedule that is still will display in standard definition only. to be determined. If you live in an area • Be certain that any set you buy contains an served by translators or low-power stations, ATSC digital tuner. Stores are required by and if you need a converter box to make law to clearly label any set that is not digital. the switch, it is essential that you get a converter box with the ANALOG PASS- • There are many features and options to THROUGH feature. OPB recommends this consider, and prices vary widely. It’s best to feature for all people purchasing converter educate yourself first and to take time to boxes. Analog pass-through will leave you shop around and compare. Consumer prepared for any switch schedule in your area. Reports has offered extensive coverage of digital TVs over the last year. You can find You’ll love the new If you elect to purchase a new TV, all information online at consumerreports.org, digital OPB! currently manufactured TVs are required to or in magazines at your local library. have both an analog and digital tuner, so Call our Member Center you’ll be all set. Will my VCR or DVD 1.800.241.8123 How you receive OPB player/recorder work with a digital converter box? Email us The OPB transmitters making the full digital [email protected] switch at midnight on June 12 are: Channel It depends on how you use your VCR or DVD 10 from Portland, 7 from Corvallis, 28 from device. It will continue to work if you use it Find out more Eugene, 3 from Bend and 13 from La Grande. only to: opb.org/digital • play tapes or DVDs If you watch OPB on any channel other • record the same channel you are currently than those listed above, you watch an watching, or analog translator and must get a converter • record a single channel in your absence. box with analog pass-through. Also note that while OPB is fully digital in La Grande Unless you have a new DVD recorder with and soon will be in Baker City (on channel its own ATSC digital tuner, you will need a 20), other stations in these cities are still separate converter box for your VCR or DVD analog, making analog pass-through device if you record one channel while necessary in these areas too. watching another.

ARE YOU DIGITAL READY? YOUR TV PLANNER It’s time to take action. Make sure every TV in your home Choose from one of these options: is ready

OPTION • Purchase a digital converter TV Location Solution box to add to each of your TVs • One-time cost: $10-$30 with coupon Get Replace Cable/ Digital provided by the federal government converter TV Satellite Already A • Ongoing cost: None box Living room I I I I OPTION • Purchase a new digital or high definition (HD) TV Family room I I I I • One-time cost: $150-$5000+ Kitchen I I I I • Ongoing cost: None B Bedroom I I I I OPTION Garage I I I I • Subscribe to a cable or satellite service DVD/VCR I I I I • Ongoing cost: $20-150/month I I I I C I I I I

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OPB is your source for the Are you facts about digital TV ready?