UPDATE: Recent legislation has changed the national transition date for digital television. KSNW and KSNG made the switch on June 12th.
Having trouble with your digital cable television? Click here for some tips that may get you back online.
Most Kansans know they needed a converter, some do not know they needed antennas.
Antennas being used are not always appropriate. For example, KSNC formerly operated on CH 2, and now operates on CH 22. You need an antenna that maximizes reception for UHF as well as VHF channels. Click here for help choosing the right DTV antenna.
Many do not know how to hook up the converter and antenna; some do not know how to operate the converter. (Carefully ready and follow the instructions. You will be hooking your converter to your TV set and to an outside antenna, then you'll have the converter scan for digital channels. Once it finds them, it will convert them so you can see them on an analog TV set.)
One concern we have is for viewers using portable sets, especially during tornado season. Portable digital TVs and converters that run on batteries are nearly non-existent. You can purchase a USB DTV adaptor that fits into a laptop computer. It will allow you to receive DTV broadcasts as long as your laptop battery holds out. These USB adaptors are readily available at many of the major electronics stores in Kansas. The down side is a fairly powerful laptop is needed to support the hardware and software applications.
- The United States government has mandated the current (analog) system of transmitting television be shut down and replaced with a digital transmission system.
- Over-the-air digital television does not behave like the analog system which is prone to interference from things like car ignitions, electrical devices and storms.
- You will either get a good over-the-air digital picture or no picture at all.
- Digital signals can be received well with rabbit ears or UHF loop if you are within about 10 miles from a full power transmitter. With an outside antenna, you should get good pictures up to 50 miles from a transmitter.
- There are two forms of digital television: Standard Definition and High Definition.
- The Standard Definition digital picture will be commonly seen in the old-style aspect ratio: Four (4) units wide by three (3) high (4x3).
- The High Definition digital picture will be commonly seen in the new-style aspect ratio: 16 units wide by 9 units high (16x9). The high definition signal carries the most "data" and therefore will display incredible detail on a High Definition TV set.
- Most new TV sets can convert the Standard Definition (3x4) picture to 16x9. That ability, however, does not make an HD picture. It’s simply a standard definition picture that’s been electronically "enhanced".
- There is more than one way to receive a digital TV station.
- Over-the-air with a TV set equipped with a digital tuner.
- Over-the-air with a converter box connected to your analog TV set.
- Cable or Satellite service. Those services do the converting and deliver a standard definition picture to your old style analog set.
- You will need a 16x9 digital TV set to get the full benefit of digital television which is the high definition picture, no matter how you receive the digital signals.
- The best quality digital picture you can get will most likely be by using the off-air signal and displaying it on a digital TV set.
- Click here for lots of information about digital television from the FCC.
- Not all boxes are created equal. Before you buy one you need to take inventory of the features you need to make sure you make the right selection. Boxes vary in their ability to pass through analog signals, how they handle secondary audio channels and closed captioning.
- The converter boxes CANNOT be used to receive digital cable on your "cable ready analog" TV set.
- If you want to record digital television, the best thing to do is buy a DVD recorder with its own digital tuner.
- Don’t just "throw away" your old TV sets. The tubes and parts carry an unhealthy amount of lead and other toxic chemicals. For Sedgwick County, call: 316-660-7464. In Reno County, call 620-694-2587. Elsewhere, contact your nearest county commission office for guidance on hazardous waste disposal in your area.
Still have questions? Send them to us at dtv@ksn.com and we’ll get back to you. If you have questions about HDTV on KSN, visit our HDTV page.
Or leave a message at 316-292-1114.
DTV Quarterly Activation Station Reports (Acrobat PDF format):
