If you have not heard about the switch from analog-to-digital television broadcasting, you might as well have been living under a rock for the last year. On February 17, 2009, all analog broadcasts in the country will cease airing and the digital TV transition will be complete. This means that if you do not prepare your home for the switch, you may find yourself without a digital TV signal that day. What does that mean for the average television viewer? Instead of watching reruns of Scrubs or the latest episode of Oprah, you may be staring at a pitch black screen if your TV is not digital-capable.

Congress mandated last year the switch to digital television. While analog TV has been the forefront of broadcasting since the device was introduced, it has quickly become obsolete in the era of HD television. Consumers, now more than ever, are upgrading to HD services and this eliminates the use of analog broadcasting in their homes. However, for those who are not interested in the upgrade, they may find themselves in the dark come February of next year.

There are still a lot of consumers out there who have not heard about the digital television transition or who have simply ignored the news about the switch. If you are one of them, this will be your one stop guide to the who, what, when and why the transition to digital television is taking place. The first step to being prepared is being educated about the transition to digital TV. Once you understand how the transition will take place, you will also know what steps to take to keep your television broadcasting into the future.

Why the change?

The first question on everyone's mind is why the change to digital TV? If analog TV works so well, why is a digital television transition necessary? First and foremost, analog broadcasting has been utilized since the dawn of the television age. Over the last two years, HD television has begun to take over the world of TV broadcasting. While HDTV can be broadcast over analog signals and filtered through you cable box or television, you cannot take full advantage of high-definition in some cases without digital television broadcasting.

Some disadvantages of analog broadcasting include the inability of a station to send more than one program per channel signal. With the use of a digital television signal, a station can send three to four programs per signal which allows for a greater use of station resources. Since digital TV signals are more efficient than their analog counterpart, this allows for a clearer, crisper signal to be transmitted and delivered to your television. This means you can take full advantage of the TV, cable box or cable package you have invested in. Digital TV signals also eliminated snow, static and other signal interruptions analog broadcasting is susceptible to.

The transition to digital television will allow stations to broadcast free HDTV over-the-air as opposed to viewers have to subscribe to a package to watch it. This does not mean all HD channels will be free, but they will become more widely available to viewers who may not have taken the time to see what HD television is all about. The transition to digital TV will also allow service providers to offer broadband Internet service over the same broadcast channels. Other types of data-related services may be available, too, depending on the area and network involved. The transition to digital television will enable a whole new realm of possibilities when it comes to television broadcasting.

When will it be done?

Now, that you know a little about the differences between analog and digital signals, you can circle February 17, 2009 on your calendar. That is the day the transition to digital TV will take place. Congress set a firm deadline for the switch, cementing the digital TV transition during a legislative package. The digital television transition was worked into the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. Congress even included provisions for a voucher program to help those who may not have the budget take advantage of digital TV.Who will it affect? So, the question remains: Does the digital TV transition affect me? Not every household will be affected, some will not have to prepare at all. However, if you are not sure if you are affected or not, there are some simple questions to ask to find out what to do next. See the following examples and see if the transition to digital television will affect you or not.

Who will it affect?

Do you currently use an antenna to get your TV programming? If so, then you will need an analog-to-digital converter box to get a digital TV signal. If you do not use an antenna, but instead plug your TV directly into the cable in the wall, you may need a convertor box but only if your television does not have a digital tuner card built-in. Check the manual that came with your TV, chances are if you bought the television within the last two years, it did come with a built-in digital tuner. If you cannot find the information in the manual, either call the manufacturer or check out their web site to be sure. If the TV does not come with a built-in tuner, you will need to purchase a convertor box to ensure digital television after the switchover.

If you do not plug your TV into the cable directly or use an antenna, you might be subscribed to a cable or satellite provider. If so, and you are utilizing a cable box from the company, then that box will convert the digital TV signal either into a standard picture of HD television picture. It does not matter what type of cable box it is as long as it is filtering the signal from the wall through the box to the TV itself. If you are concerned about the type of cable box you are using, call your cable or satellite provider, and they can give you all the details on how their products are ready for the transition to digital TV.

What do you need to do?

If you need to upgrade your equipment to get a digital TV signal, there are several ways to go about doing it. Each will fit within any budget you may set, and even the government is there to help you out. Congress made sure when they set the digital TV transition date in stone that those who could not afford the more expensive methods of switching to digital TV would not get left behind.

If you do not want to purchase a new TV or use a digital television or HD television cable package, you can purchase an analog-to-digital converter box. Most boxes will be around $40 to $50, and the government is providing two vouchers per household worth $40 each for those in need. You can apply for these at a government-based web site, and they will be mailed to you to use at various electronic stores around the country.

If you are in the mindset to make the jump to HDTV, you may begin looking into a new television or cable package. Since most TVs have included a digital tuner over the last two years, you will be good to go out of the box if you bring home a new TV. If you subscribe to a cable box that requires either a digital TV cable box or HD television box, these will also prepare you for the transition to digital television.

If you still are not sure if you should purchase an analog-to-digital converter box or prepare yourself by indulging in other options, do a little bit of research on your particular situation and TV set-up. Do not wait until the last minute to find out if you are actually ready for the digital TV transition. Otherwise, you may find yourself in the dark come February 17, 2009 when the digital television transition takes place.

As you can see, the digital television transition is fast approaching. There is a wealth of information of the switch out there, but it does not have to be out of reach for the average television viewer. Whether you subscribe to HD television service or not, the digital TV transition will affect you in one way or another. Hopefully, you have been able to determine what you need to do to be prepared for the transition to digital TV.

If not, you now have the resources to go about getting ready for digital TV in your home. No matter what your situation, the transition to digital television has never been simpler. Congress has taken the steps to prepare households for the switch, your local consumer electronics stores will be stocked with analog-to-digital boxes and your cable providers will be able to answer any other questions you may have about the change. The switch to digital television does not have to be complicated; it just has to be something you are ready for.

By now, hopefully you understand how the transition to digital TV will affect you. The switch to digital TV is not meant to be painful. It is meant to be change the way we watch television and take advantage of evolving technology. Take advantage of the transition to digital TV in your own home and make sure you are prepared for February 17, 2009. Just remember: If you are not prepared, there is a good chance you will miss out on your favorite TV programs come next year. Do not let that happen to you; prepare yourself for the digital TV transition today.