Digital Converter Boxes For The Long Island Area
On June 12th 2009 all broadcasts across the the Long Island area are required to switch over from analog to digital-only transmission by federal law. If you own an analog TV then you will not be able to see any images on the TV screen anymore because it won't be able to translate digital signals into a picture.
So what can you do as a user? The easiest option is to buy a new television that has a digital tuner but it's also the most expensive. For those who want to keep their old analog TV's and still be able to use them, they'll either have to go in for a cable or satellite subscription or consider getting a digital converter box.
How do you know if your TV is an analog TV? If it was made before 1998 then it's considered to be an analog set. A few big-screen TV's made after 1998 and before 2004 possessed an inbuilt digital tuner. While most TV's made after 2004 have built-in digital tuners, it's not a sure thing. So if you own old analog TV's or old high definition televisions (HDTV's) with standard tuners and receive broadcasts with an antenna then you are most definitely going to have to go in for a pay TV service or get a converter box.
A digital converter box will convert digital signals into analog ones that your TV will be able to utilize. The Government is switching over to digital only transmissions because it gives clearer pictures and frees up vital air wave space that can now be used for emergency communications.
There are a few critical things you need to keep in mind when choosing a Long Island digital converter box aside of the price. You'll have to choose a model that gives you both good picture and audio quality and includes what's known as the 'analog pass-through' feature. There will be some low power stations that serve rural communities and some free channels that will still broadcast in analog after the June 12th deadline. It's crucial to choose a digital converter box that offers the 'analog pass-through' for several other reasons too.
