WHAT IS IT?
Starting in February 2009, all television signals will be transmitted digitally. That means your TV has to be able to receive digital signals instead of the analog signals that have been in use since the 1950s. Digital will allow a clearer picture to be sent to your TV more efficiently, and it will free up the old analog signals to be used for other purposes in this high-tech world.

  WHY THE CHANGE?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR ME?
The digital conversion will affect different people in different ways, depending on how your TVs are set up.  People with cable and satellite will be affected the least, but everyone should take a few seconds to assess their setup.  Click on your connection below for more information, or click on over to the government's website for your converter box coupon.

OFF-AIR ANTENNA

CABLE TV

SATELLITE TV

EMERGENCY / STORM TV

DTV VS. HDTV
You've heard a lot about HDTV, but that is not the same as DTV.  DTV stands for 'digital television' while HDTV stands for 'high definition television.'  HDTV sets are wider than the traditional TV sets, and they have a better picture.  All HDTV sets are DTV-compatible, but not all DTV sets are HD.  Even if you get a DTV converter for your old set, you won't get HDTV.

  MORE ABOUT QUALITY LEVELS | VIDEO: FOX 13'S MIKE HOWEY EXPLAINS THE DIFFERENCE | VIDEO: FOX 13'S MIKE HOWEY TALKS HDTV DETAILS

DTV INTERACTIVE
Got questions about this conversion? Does all this high-def talk sound a little high-tech for you? The experts from FOX 13's Engineering Department are here to help.  Mike Howey, our vice president of engineering, explains the conversion in several videos on this site and blogs his answers to your questions.

  MIKE'S DTV TRANSITION BLOG | VIDEO: HOW TO INSTALL YOUR CONVERTER BOX