DTV transition hits Friday: Are you ready?

After 10 years of planning and a four-month delay imposed by Congress, the long-awaited shutoff of analog TV signals in the U.S. is finally upon us—yet according to a recent survey, more than 2.8 million households still aren't ready. Find out if your TV will go dark come Friday.

We've been hearing about the impending transition to digital TV for months—nay, years now, and I'm sure regular Yahoo! Tech readers can't wait for it to hurry up and happen so we can move on to a new topic.

But clearly, millions of Americans still haven't gotten the message. Are you one of them? If so, read on. (And if you're sick of hearing about the DTV transition, by all means—feel free to head next door to argue over the iPhone vs. the Palm Pre.)

Still here? Good. So, what does the DTV transition entail, exactly? Simple: The nation's 1,800-odd television stations, in cooperation with (and after pressure from) the FCC, have agreed to abandon their analog UHF and VHF channels for new, digital frequencies. Indeed, hundreds of TV stations have already made the switch.

And why, you ask? Well, for one thing, digital take up far less bandwidth than analog to transmit (basically) the same- or better-quality signal, opening up large swaths of wireless spectrum for exciting new technologies, such as ultra-speedy 4G broadband and more robust channels of communication for rescue workers. (Of course, wireless communication giants such as AT&T and Verizon Wireless also stand to benefit.)

What does all mean to you, in the short term? On the one hand, you can expect sharper TV signals—even HD, if you have an HDTV—and more channels, provided you have the right equipment.

On the other hand, older analog TVs with over-the-air antennas won't pick up the new digital signals—and if you haven't taken steps by this Friday, no more TV shows for you.

Congress already delayed the original DTV transition date from Feb. 17 to Friday, June 12, over concerns that too many people weren't ready for the changeover, but that grace period is rapidly drawing to a close. Meanwhile, about 2.8 million households still aren't prepared for the switch, according to Nielsen.

OK, so how do you know if you're ready for the DTV transition? Follow along with this checklist to find out.

Do you subscribe to a satellite TV service, like DirecTV and EchoStar, or cable—and in the case of cable, are you using a set-top box?
If your answer is "yes," relax. The DTV transition applies only to over-the-air TV signals, not satellite or cable services. That said …

Are you a basic-cable subscriber who doesn't have a cable box?
If so, then listen up. Most of the big cable companies are busy migrating all their old analog channels to digital (a process that, strictly speaking, has nothing to do with the FCC's DTV transition program), which means that if you're watching cable on an older, analog TV and you're not using a cable set-top box provided by your carrier, the tuner in your TV might become useless if your carrier decides to go all digital.

That's the bad news; the good news is that cable carriers have agreed to rent digital converter boxes for free, for one year, if you still want to watch basic cable on your analog TV. (Note that these cable boxes are different from the ones needed to receiver over-the-air digital TV signals.) Also, cable operators have agreed to give subscribers 30 days notice before shutting off analog service. Not sure what your carrier's plans are? Then call customer service and ask.

Are you getting your TV signals from an over-the-air antenna?
If so, then the DTV transition may well affect you; read on.

If you are using an over-the-air antenna, does your TV have a digital tuner?
The vast majority of TV sets built after July 1, 2007, come with digital (ATSC) tuners, which are capable of receiving digital over-the-air TV signals. If you bought your TV after June 1, 2007, and it's larger than 13 inches, most likely it has an ATSC tuner installed—and that means you're good to go. The FCC mandate for built-in ATSC tuners stretches back even further for bigger TVs; for example, sets larger than 25 inches were required to come with digital tuners as of July 1, 2006, while the magic date for TVs 36 inches or bigger was July 1, 2005.

OK, but what if you have an older, analog-only TV and an over-the-air antenna?
If so, then your TV will go dark on Friday—that is, unless you have a digital converter box. Dozens of makes and models are available at retailers such as Best Buy, Kmart, Radio Shack, Sears, Target, and Wal-Mart (you can find a nearby retailer here), and they generally cost in the $40-60 range. Setting up the box is relatively easy; just plug it in, attached your antenna leads to the box, and the connect a coaxial cable from the box to your TV. (More help is here.)

Can't afford a digital converter box?
The FCC has set up a coupon program for anyone who needs help paying for a box; you can apply online, and each household is eligible for two $40 coupons. Keep in mind, however, that it'll take a week or longer for the coupons to arrive in the mail, so if you haven’t applied yet, you won't get your coupons before Friday.

What about older antennas—will they receive digital signals?
Theoretically, yes—although if your antenna is aligned improperly or you're not getting a strong signal, you might not get a picture. For help aligning your antenna and other invaluable tips, check out AntennaWeb.org.

Related:
The FCC's DTV transition information site