The switch to digital television: What kind of antenna do I need, and if I have Comcast cable or a satellite dish what do I need to do?

by Kirk Mason (mason@wsbt.com)

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Television switches from analog to digital signal in 2009

If you use an antenna to take a television signal over the air you may need to upgrade the antenna when signals switch from analog to digital in 2009. (WSBT photo)

By Beth Boehne

SOUTH BEND — We've been helping you get ready for the transition to digital television by answering your Good Questions.

Two of the most-asked questions about the switch to digital are: What kind of antenna do I need, and if I have Comcast cable or a satellite dish what do I need to do?

WSBT's Kirk Mason explains.

Do you think much about how you receive a television signal into your home? Because of digital television it's time to start thinking about it.

If you have cable or a satellite dish there is no impact. A Comcast spokesperson says all TVs that you have connected to Comcast cable will continue to work with no change, and Comcast adds any price increases will not be related to digital television.

“The experience will be the same and there will be nothing different about the price related to this,” said Rich Ruggiero, Vice President of Communications for Comcast.

If you use an antenna to take a signal like WSBT’s over the air you have a little more to consider. If your current antenna provides a strong signal you have nothing to worry about. But if your rabbit ears are a little erratic …

“If your signal is marginal, if you're seeing snow or ghosts or fading in and out of your signal, then you will probably have to upgrade your antenna a little bit,” explained WSBT’s Scott Leiter.

That's because digital television is an all-or-nothing signal. And remember with an over-the-air antenna, if your TV is not digital ready then you need a converter box.

“If you do not subscribe to cable, you do not subscribe to satellite on every TV in your home, those TVs that are not hooked up to that, you'll need a converter box for your older sets,” Leiter said. “Now some of the newer sets that are out there that are HDTV- or SDTV-ready, you don't need a converter box for those.”

If you need a converter box, vouchers are now available that will knock $40 off the price.

You can call 1-888-DTV-2009 to get one of those coupons, or go to the DTV: Ready, Set, Know section of our website.

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