Posted by madcityradio.com on February 06, 2009 at 15:53:53:
In Reply to: Re: The Final word: Bill to delay digital TV switch passes posted by 4DFM on February 05, 2009 at 08:46:43:
UPDATED Thursday, February 5, 2009 --- 3:15 p.m.
from NBC 15
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NBC 15 is shutting off its analog signal at the end of the day on February 17th, along with the other major broadcast stations in Madison. This, even though congress voted yesterday to extend the digital transition to June 12th. And as NBC 15's Michelle Riell reports, There are still hundreds of digital converter boxes available in town that are simple to install.
The digital transition is just 13 days away. After February 17th, if you have an analog TV or rooftop antenna, you will need a converter box to continue watching this station and many others. Mike McWilliams says, "Everything is labeled, they give you pretty easy instructions, the menu just pops out right at you, so it's pretty easy to follow." McWilliams is with Best Buy and takes some of the fear and confusion out of setting up a digital converter box. McWilliams says, "With the converter box, you'll get the cables and the remote control and you'll get the instruction guide."
First things first, plug in the converter box. Then, McWilliams says, "Hook up your coax cable. to the back, where it says to TV... then in the back of the TV, right where you plug in coax cable or your regular antenna, just hook that coax cable to it."
After that, take the color coated cables and hook them into their appropriate spots in the digital converter box and in the back of your TV. McWilliams says, "If you do have an existing antenna, you want to make sure it has this end on it, which is a coaxial cable... so you just hook this, into the back of the converter box and it's labeled antenna in." McWilliams also recommends you use an antenna with your converter box for best quality.
Next, power on your TV. Select input on the remote control, follow the menu set-up and then wait as the converter box searches for the channels. McWilliams says, "Overall it tends to be a pretty simple process."
Within about five minutes, you'll have a crisper picture, cleaner sound and still be able to catch all your favorite NBC 15 programming.
You can request a government coupon for 40 dollars off a digital converter box through March 31st by calling 1-888-DTV-2009 or by logging onto www.dtv2009.gov. Many coupons that have already been issued expire soon, so check the date. Best Buy says it has a lot of converters in stock, but will not take coupons after the expiration date.