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The U.S. Congress approved an extension of the DTV transition deadline from February 17 to June 12. This means all full-power television stations must complete their switch from analog to digital broadcasting by June 12. Stations have the option to end their analog broadcasts early. In San Diego, KGTV, KFMB, XETV and KSWB terminated their analog broadcasts at approximately 11:59 p.m. on February 17th, 2009.

You will be required to have your digital converter box or tuner "rescanned or retuned" to acquire the digital signal following your manufacturer's instructions.

For more information, please go to www.dtv2009.gov or contact KGTV at (619) 237-1010.

DTV Transition – February 17th, 2009 through June 12th, 2009
San Diego Market
Frequently Asked Questions

If you still have questions after reading this FAQ, Please call 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) to speak with someone

About the DTV Transition

What is digital television (DTV)?

Digital TV offers a better viewing experience with vastly improved picture and sound quality. DTV is also more efficient than analog TV technology, so broadcasters will be able to produce additional channels of programming using digital broadcasting technology. In San Diego, as of February 18th, all stations will be operating on their full power digital channels. This means viewers do not have to wait until June to start receiving the benefits of DTV. They can change today.

How do I know whether my TV set is analog or digital?

Every TV set made before 1998 was a traditional "analog" television. If you bought a big-screen, projection TV between 1998 and 2004, there is a chance it has a built-in digital tuner inside. Before 2004, only a limited percentage of projection TV sets (generally sets that are 42 inches in diameter or larger) included digital tuners. In 2004, popular electronics stores started selling many TV sets with built-in digital tuners that will work after June 12, 2009.

If you bought a new TV set since 2004, there is a high likelihood that it has a built-in digital tuner.

Why can't I see your digital signal?

The first thing to always try is a re-scan or re-tune on your tv tuner or digital converter box. If that doesn't work, reposition the antenna and try another rescan. With a digital signal, you will not see the "snow" as with old analog signals. Digital signals will provide a very clear picture or if the digital signal isn’t strong enough, no picture.

What do I need to do to be ready for the end of analog TV broadcasting?

Preparing for the DTV transition is easy and requires you to take one of three steps by June 12, 2009:

Purchase a digital-to-analog converter box that plugs into your existing TV set. The boxes, which cost between $40-70, are now available for purchase at electronics retailers nationwide. Households can request up to two $40 coupons towards the purchase of converter boxes that will allow you to continue watching free "over-the-air" television on an analog set. You can apply for coupons at www.DTV2009.gov or call 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322).
Purchase a new television set with a built-in digital tuner.
Subscribe to cable, satellite or other pay TV service that carries the local broadcast stations you want.

Taking one of these steps ensures that "over-the-air" television consumers will continue to receive programming.

In San Diego – viewers will need to take one of these steps by February 17th, 2009 to continue to receive KGTV, KFMB, XETV and KSWB.

I'm a cable customer. Will I be affected by the transition?

Television sets connected to cable, satellite or other pay TV service will not require a converter box.

Do cable customers with analog TV sets have to buy or rent a set-top box (converter box) from their cable company? If so, how much will it cost?

First, it's important to know that the June 12, 2009 deadline for the digital television transition only applies to full-power broadcast stations. The government does not require cable companies to transition their systems to digital. They can continue to deliver channels to their customers using analog signals. Actually, cable companies are required under FCC rules to offer local broadcast stations to their customers in analog, as long as they offer any analog service. This requirement will continue for at least three years after June 12, 2009. The FCC will decide in 2011 whether the requirement should be extended beyond June 12, 2012. This means that customers who receive analog cable service (without a cable set-top box) will be able to continue doing so.

Can I keep my older analog TV set after June 12, 2009?

Yes. A digital-to-analog converter box will allow you to continue using your existing analog TV set to watch over-the-air digital programming. If your analog set is hooked up to a subscription service, such as cable or satellite TV, it should continue to function as before. Analog sets should also continue working with gaming consoles, VCRs, DVD players and similar products that you use now.

Converter Boxes

What is a DTV converter box?

A DTV converter box is a stand-alone device that allows your antenna to receive and convert digital signals into a format analog television sets can display. This newly designed product is now available in stores nationwide. A TV converter box is a one-time purchase and costs between $40 and $70.

How do I install a TV converter box?

Depending on your TV, converter boxes plug into either the back or front of the set. You will still need an antenna, which works with the TV converter box. Each TV converter box comes with installation instructions from the manufacturer. A generic "Quick Start Guide" and installation video are available at www.digitaltips.org.

How much do I have to pay for a TV converter box?

TV converter boxes are now available in retail stores nationwide. They cost between $40 and $70. The federal government is giving every U.S. household up to two $40 coupons to help pay for the cost of the converter box. Coupon information can be found at www.dtv2009.gov or by calling 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322).

Where can I purchase a converter box?

Electronics retailers nationwide are selling TV converter boxes in their stores, online and by telephone. Once the coupons arrive by mail, consumers will be provided a list of nearby participating retailers. You do not need a coupon to buy a DTV converter box.

Does someone have to come to my home to install the converter box?

No, you should be able to install the converter box yourself using the instructions provided by the manufacturer. For specific questions, call the manufacturer's technical support hotline or ask your local retailer.

Can I hook up more than one TV set and video recorder to a single digital-to-analog converter box?

No, you will need one digital-to-analog converter box for each TV set or other device (such as a VCR) that only has an analog tuner.

Will I receive closed captioning through a converter box?

Yes. Coupon-eligible converter box manufacturers are required to provide closed captioning for display on your television.

After plugging in my converter box, I see black or gray bars on the sides or all the way around my picture. Why doesn't the picture fill up the TV screen?

Simply put, your converter box may be having trouble determining the shape of the picture and how to best display it on your existing TV set. Traditional analog TV sets have a square-shaped screen, and some digital programming is still being produced in this shape, which should fill the screen on your TV. However, many digital programs are now produced with widescreen pictures intended for viewing on digital TV sets with wider screens. It is due to these differences in picture shape that creates bars around your picture.

You can remove or reduce the size of the bars by using a button on the converter box remote control that changes the way a picture is displayed. Find the button marked "zoom" or "aspect ratio," and keep pressing it until the picture looks right. You may need to change the setting for different programs. Please note that widescreen programs are meant to have bars on the top and bottom when viewed on a square-shaped screen, but no programs should have bars all the way around the picture.

After installing my converter box, I lost some of the channels I used to get. What should I do?

After hooking up a converter box to your TV set, or installing a new digital TV set, you will need to scan (also known as "auto-tune") for new channels to make sure you receive all of the digital stations broadcasting in your area. While some boxes do this automatically, you may need to select scan manually.

In San Diego, viewers will need to rescan for channels on February 18th. This includes people who already had a digital TV or DTV converter box setup. You can find the channel scan option in the setup menu of your TV or DTV converter.

Coupon Program

How do I get my coupons?

Consumers can apply for up to two $40 coupons per household by calling 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322), by applying online at www.DTV2009.gov or by mailing an application to P.O. Box 2000, Portland, OR 97208-2000. Applicants will receive their coupons in the mail.

The government currently is has a back log of coupon requests. Coupons may not arrive by February 17th.

Where can I use my coupons?

When your coupon comes in the mail, it will include an insert that lists nearby participating retailers. These retailers are likely to be stores where you commonly go to buy electronics products. You can also order TV converter boxes online and by telephone.

How many coupons can I request?

Each household can request a maximum of two coupons. Each coupon may be applied towards the purchase of a single converter box. The coupons can be ordered one at a time or both at the same time.

Can I apply for people who are unable to apply for themselves, such as an elderly parent?

Yes, but you will need to use that person's home address, which will be validated for eligibility. Only two coupons will be issued per U.S. household address, and the coupons are intended for the resident of that household.

Can I use my coupons to purchase any TV converter box on the market?

No, your coupons can only be used toward the purchase of converter boxes deemed coupon-eligible by the federal government. You may also ask participating retailers whether the TV converter boxes sold in their stores can be purchased with the $40 government coupon.

Can I replace a lost or stolen coupon?

No, coupons cannot be reissued. If you have requested one coupon, you may be eligible to receive another. However, if both coupons were lost or stolen, or you requested both coupons, used one, and the other coupon is lost or stolen, by law the government is unable to issue coupon replacements.

Can coupons be used by other members of a household?

Yes. Coupons can be redeemed by anyone in your household. However, only two coupons will be issued per household regardless of the number of occupants or families.

How long are coupons active?

Coupons expire 90 days after they are mailed. An expiration date is printed on each coupon.

If my coupon expires before I use it, can I apply for another one?

If you applied for just one coupon and it expires before you use it, then you may apply for a second coupon. However, once two coupons have been issued to your household, you are no longer eligible to request any more coupons.

Antennas

Will I still need an antenna to receive DTV over-the-air?

Yes, you will still need an antenna to continue watching free, over-the-air television after the digital transition. In general, the same type of antenna that gives you good quality analog TV signals now will also provide reliable DTV reception.

In San Diego, on February 18th, viewers will need to rescan their channels in order to receive KGTV and KFMB.

I don't have an antenna. Will I still get reception after the transition?

Antennas can be either indoor or outdoor. If you live in a home or apartment building, there may be an antenna on the roof or a master antenna distribution system to the building residents. If you subscribe to a cable or satellite service, then nothing will change after June 12, 2009, and you will continue getting reception as usual. However, if you don't subscribe to a pay TV service, then you are actually using an antenna but may not know it.

Do I need to buy a new antenna?

After June 12, 2009, some television stations will be moving to a different channel in a different frequency band, which may require you to get another type of antenna from the one you use now. For example, some channels in the VHF band (Channels 2-13) may move to the UHF band (Channels 14-51) and vice versa. Receiving VHF and UHF signals require different types of antenna elements. Many antennas are designed as combo units and will receive both VHF and UHF signals.

In San Diego, on February 18th, KGTV and KFMB will be changing frequencies, therefore viewers may need to adjust their antennas to receive all of the digital channels.

After plugging in the converter box, I lost my reception. Why did this happen?

If you hook up the box and lose signals from full-power stations, the problem is most likely with your antenna. Because some stations broadcast in analog in the VHF band, a simple VHF antenna—like rabbit ears—can pick up the signals. However, if the stations' digital signals are in the UHF band, then rabbit-ear antennas won't be able to pick them up. You will need a VHF/UHF antenna (rabbit ears plus a loop antenna) to pick up both digital and analog signals. Depending on where you live and where your TV set is in your house, you may need an outdoor antenna. Check www.antennaweb.org to find out how far the local stations are from your house.

What's the difference between indoor and outdoor antennas?

There are several types of antennas ranging from the common indoor "rabbit ears" to large outdoor antennas. While the antenna you are using for analog reception may work satisfactorily for DTV, newer designs may work better in some situations. Outdoor antennas, which are usually mounted on a rooftop, are preferable in areas with difficult reception. The best antenna type for you depends on how far you are from the transmitting station, whether you live in a house or an apartment, and whether there are hills, tall buildings or large trees near your home.

How much does an antenna cost?

Depending on the selected features, antennas can cost anywhere between $10 and $100 (plus the installation charge for an outdoor antenna) and are sold at electronics retailers nationwide.

Where can I get help determining which antenna is right for me?

Consumers can find suggestions for appropriate outdoor antennas by entering their street address at www.AntennaWeb.org. Using geographical maps and signal strengths, the site's database predicts which stations are available at a particular location, the type of antenna needed and which direction the antenna needs to be pointed.

After installing my converter box, some stations come in well while others don't. How come?

Due to your geographic location or an individual station's signal strength, there may be some stations that are easier to receive in digital than others. Besides choosing the right type of antenna, you also need to adjust its position and the direction it is pointing to get the best reception.

I've correctly installed my converter box, but am still having reception trouble. Is there anything else I should do?

If you are having trouble receiving stations after hooking up a converter box with an indoor antenna, try moving the antenna around and changing its angle. If that doesn't work, you may need to get a different indoor antenna design or consider changing to an outdoor antenna. In general, mounting an antenna higher gets better reception and an outdoor antenna needs to be pointed carefully in the right direction. Remember to check whether you have the right UHF or combination UHF/VHF antenna for all of the stations you want to watch.