Please accept my deep appreciation for sharing your commitment for quality public broadcasting through your generous gifts to WOSU. A total of $ 609,321 was raised during our year-end campaign. Thanks to you we can continue making a difference in central Ohio!
Tom Rieland, General Manager
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Download this PDF if you need to know how to setup a coverter box.
Download this PDF if you need to know how to troubleshoot your converter box.
Download this PDF if you want to know where to recycle your old TVs.
Download this PDF if you want to know how to hook up your VCR with a converter box.
Download this PDF if you want to read a large-print FAQ sheet.
Download this PDF if you want to know more about antennas
WOSU DIGITAL TELEVISION SPECIAL
Taped February 11, 2009, at the Columbus Metropolitan Club. Featuring: Tom Rieland (WOSU), Chris Merritt (OAB), Don Flournoy (Ohio University), and Tom Griesdorn (WBNS). Running time: 26 minutes.
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NTIA is accepting coupon applications over the phone (1-888-DTV-2009) and on the Internet (https://www.dtv2009.gov) Coupons expire after 90 days. You can use these coupons to help buy your converter box. Keep reading...
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Converter Box Coupon Donations
Help your neighbor be ready!
We are asking Central Ohio residents who have no need of the converter box coupons to go ahead and request those coupons from the NTIA. We are collecting unused coupons and then purchasing converter boxes from local electronic companies that we will then distribute to the elderly and shut-in community through two social service agencies: the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging (COAAA) and LifeCare Alliance (a nonprofit home care service that provides health care at home for senior citizens, disabled and the homebound). Our goal is to get these converter boxes into the hands of the most at-risk population who may not be able to secure the boxes themselves. Please send any unused coupons to Paula May, WOSU Public Media, 2400 Olentangy River Rd., Columbus, Oho, 43210.
May 18, 2009
WOSU Public Media to receive Outstanding Service to Seniors Award. Keep reading (PDF)
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Volunteer Opportunity
DTV Converter Box In-Home Installer
WOSU Public Media is seeking mechanically-oriented volunteers to assist with the basic in-home installation of digital television converter boxes now through June 30. This "Connect the Community" last-push project is being sponsored by the Federal Communications Commission. Volunteers will be assigned, preferably in pairs, to travel to the homes of individuals who, for physical disability or other reasons, are at risk of losing television service. Transportation is not provided.
Services will be offered within Franklin County and the surrounding six counties, with all efforts to assign volunteers who live near the residence being served. We are focusing on two dates for installations: June 6 and June 12. In addition, service will be provided between 10am and 8pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and from 10am to 4pm on Saturday and some Sundays as volunteers indicate they are available. Volunteers will be trained in the basic installation of converter boxes, scanning for digital channels and manipulation of indoor antennas. Volunteers will not be required to perform complex installs, attach VCRs, or work with outdoor antennas.
Individuals interested in serving should call Carl Higginbotham at the WOSU DTV Help-line at 1-866-723-4626.
Coupon Wait List:
The coupon program has processed all the names on their waiting list. The coupon program is now accepting applications for replacement coupons (if a consumer’s coupons expired without being redeemed, they can now reapply).
Consumers may apply for coupons through 7/31/09, however, if the funds run out, no more will be added.
The stimulus bill gave NTIA $650 million for 12 million new coupons. They also received $90 million for consumer education which they’re transferring to the FCC since most of the consumer issues were around reception, not the coupon program. The FCC will decide how to spend or distribute that money.
- Coupons still expire after 90 days.
You may apply for a coupon by going to this Web site.
Coupon Expiration Policy:
Coupons expire 90 days after they have been mailed. Coupons are being mailed via Standard mail (not First-class mail), with delivery expected approximately 9 days from the date mailed. If you would like to re-apply for a coupon today and are eligible, you will receive coupons on a first-come-first-served basis.
Antenna Issues:
If you receive over-the-air programming by rabbit ears or another type of indoor or outdoor antenna and want to continue using your antenna, you will need either a digital television set or a digital converter box connected to each analog television set you use.
 If you have an old antenna that attaches to your TV with two wires, you can still use a converter box with this antenna. You will need to get two adapters (also called "baluns" or "matching transformers," which are pictured below). Unscrew the existing twin-lead antenna wire from your TV “Antenna In” twin-lead terminals. Attach the existing twin-lead antenna wire to the twin-lead terminals on the twin-lead adaptor (pictured on the right). Then plug the twin-lead adaptor’s coaxial  connector into the “Antenna In (RF)” port on the Converter Box. Using coaxial wire, plug one end into the “Out To TV (RF)” port on the Converter Box. Plug the other end into a coaxial adaptor (second picture below). Then attach the coaxial adaptor to your TV “Antenna In” twin-lead terminals.
Signal Problems
The FCC has released charts outlining the changes in TV coverage areas from analog to digital service for all 1,749 full-power TV staions in the U.S. They show that 89% of stations (1,533) will see a net gain of viewers in the switch to digital, while 11% (196 stations) will have a net loss. They are net gains and losses, so even the net gains could have some viewers who lose historically-viewed signals, with those offset by ones who now get the digital signals but didn't get them before.
Click here to view the Central Ohio map (PDF)
Click here to see the Portsmouth map (PDF)
TVs with digital tuners:
If you have a television set with a digital tuner, your television reception will continue uninterrupted.
Not sure if you have a digital or analog television set?
If your television is several years old, chances are it’s not digital. If in doubt, check the owner’s manual to see if it mentions a digital tuner or look on the set to for an indication of an ATSC or QAM tuner. If your set has one, your set can process the digital signal and you’ve already made the switch. If there is no mention of digital, ATSC, or QAM, then you have an analog set and will need to either purchase a digital television set or digital converter box.
What is a digital converter box?
Also called a “set-top” box, it’s an easy-to-install electronic device that hooks up to your analog television set and over-the-air antenna and converts the digital television signal into analog, making it viewable on your analog TV. Consumers should be aware that even with a converter box, analog televisions are not capable of displaying the full picture quality of digital television. The picture will be better, just not of quality of digital or high definition.
How Much It Will Cost
These boxes are available from electronics retainers in stores and online and cost approximately $40 to $75 each. U.S. households may request up to two coupons worth $40 each to use toward the purchase of up to two converter boxes (one coupon per box). The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has certified 250 retail outlets where you can purchase these boxes with your coupon including Best Buy, Sears, Circuit City, RadioShack, and Kmart, to name a few. Here's a list of what boxes are eligible for coupon use.
Here's a list of retailers
What You Need To Know And Do
To receive your coupons, you must do one of two things; either apply for the coupons online at www.mydtv2009.gov or call (888) 388-2009.
Cable and Satellite:
If you use your analog set with a multi-channel pay service such as satellite (DirecTV or DISH Network) or cable, you will continue to get local stations. (The only exception would be if your satellite service would go down for a period of time.)
VCR Installation
VCRs, DVD players, camcorders and video games will continue to work, even if they are only analog-capable. Such equipment, however, may not provide digital-quality picture and sound. Check with your equipment retailer to determine the types of connectors that will work with your equipment. If you’re recording from high-definition digital, the result will only be in standard definition.
VCRS will record only from the "line in" input, such as from the output of a digital converter box. That's because VCR tuners are analog. Download this PDF if you want to know how to hook up your VCR with a convertor box.
Should you have any questions about this transition, please visit any of the online resources listed below:
Questions and answers to DTV
The FCC's web site devoted to DTV issues
Home page for National Telecommunications and Information Administration
An overview of the technical issues behind DTV
en Espanol:
Somali:
на русском языке/Russian:
Recent News about the DTV Transition:
from Tom Rieland:
A new ruling announced by the FCC has given public television stations an opportunity to shutdown their analog signals between March 27 and March 31. Given this ruling, WOSU has shut down its analog transmitters for WOSU Columbus and WPBO Portsmouth on March 31st. WOSU analog will have been on the air for slightly over 53 years.
WOSU will continue to assist folks with the transition well into June and continue our relationship with COAAA and LifeCare Alliance to assist those most in need. If you haven’t applied for a DTV Coupon, please do so and contribute it to WOSU upon arrival. It will help us help the most in need in Columbus. Go to: https://www.dtv2009.gov to apply
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  SymphonyCast is a two-hour weekly radio program featuring a full-length concert by a national or international symphony orchestra. Concerts are drawn from Europe's leading ensembles, along with U.S. orchestras, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, The Philadelphia Orchestra and The Cleveland Orchestra. SymphonyCast airs on WOSU 89.7 weekly on Sunday evenings at 8pm through September. more... |
