Take steps to prepare for coming digital TV switch

In less than three months, TV stations across South Carolina and across the country will switch to all-digital broadcasting. 

The government sponsored an ad campaign to make us aware of this change, and many people have been proactive in taking the proper steps to prepare.

First, if you have a new digital television or your TV set is connected to cable or satellite, the Federal Communications Commission says you shouldn’t experience any disruption in your service. 

If you have an analog TV, they say you’ll need to hook it up to a converter box and you may also need to get a new antenna.

But, here’s the problem, some people have connected the converter box and antenna to an analog TV, but they’re still not receiving all their local channels. 

Dave and Lucille Grabda live in Socastee. They’ve taken those steps, but they still have trouble getting some stations to come in at times, and they can’t pick up News13 at all. 

“I expect little by little, they should fix the problem, I hope,” Dave Grabda said.

FCC Commissioner Michael Copps said there is no guarantee everyone will receive the digital signal on the switch-over date of February 17. 

“If you’ve done all of those things, you can still have a problem,” Copps told News 13.

Copps said there are some things to take into consideration when it comes to the digital transition. 

He said many stations, including WBTW, are broadcasting digital signals now, but will not switch to full power until analog broadcasting is ceased. 

Copps said when that happens reception should improve, but again, he said there’s no guarantee. 

That means right now, there’s no way to make sure that every TV will receive every signal on February 17.  Copps blames the problem on a lack of preparation by those in charge of handling the transition

“I think the government response has basically been inadequate,” Copp said.

Copps said the FCC is looking into these issues and he’s also urging community groups to get involved in order to help anyone who is having trouble with the technology. You can also ask your local electronics retailer for help.