It’s here. Well, it’s almost here. Are you ready? No, I’m not talking about summer vacation or the first day of summer school. I’m not talking about that trip you might be taking to Hawaii or that cruise that circles the Caribbean. I’m talking about the DTV transition.

The DTV transition is underway in just a matter of a few days. What was originally supposed to take place on January 17, 2009 was postponed until Friday, June 12, 2009 because a few million people were not ready to make the transition. Analog broadcasting will be out for good in the majority of the cities across the United States, and digital is replacing network broadcasting for good.

With the switch to digital, there are quite a few advantages that many will benefit from. Digital broadcasting means better audio and video quality that many viewers will appreciate. Aside from the entertainment factor, switching to digital also means freed up frequencies. Emergency services received from rescue squads and the police and fire departments will have better access to these frequencies. Any of the left over space will be sold to companies that can provide broadband services to individuals and businesses. In an age where technology makes advancements everyday, this is especially helpful.

The first thing you can check to see if your household is ready is your television. Do you know if it is labeled as an “HDTV” or does it have a built-in digital receiver or tuner of some sort? If you purchased your flat panel television after March 1, 2007, then there is a very good chance that your TV is ready to go, but consult your manual or contact the manufacturer to find out for sure.

If you are a subscriber to cable TV or satellite TV service, then you are most likely covered. Depending on which service you are subscribed to, you might receive a notification to upgrade your current hardware at no additional cost. These cable and satellite companies will ensure that they keep their customers by doing as much as they can on their end to minimize the hassle on your end.

Televisions that do not have a built-in tuner or are not receiving transmission through paid TV service will have to rely on a digital converter box. Your TV cannot recognize the digital format because it is formatted for analog, so the digital converter box will take the data that it receives from your external antenna and converts it to analog. A typical converter box costs about $40-60 and can be purchased at your local electronics or retail store. There is also a coupon program, which entitles each household up to two vouchers worth $40. The program is first-come, first-served, so applications must be sent in as soon as possible.

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[tags]television, HD, high definition, TV, HDTV, digital, antenna, DTV, transition[/tags]