In the US ONLY:

The change to all digital TV broadcasting for MAJOR BROADCASTERS won't happen for nearly a year, although some stations are already broadcasting digital on separate "channels." The "Fed" has promised that "converters" will be available very soon, and they may be in some stores now.

IF YOU HAVE CABLE TV nothing will change in most places. Your "cable converter" already converts what comes out of their wire to what your TV set needs, and thus far I've seen no indication that cable services are changing their signals.

I've seen little comment on Satellite TV, but since you already need/have a "converter" for them, it would be reasonable to assume that their signals will not change and no additional equipment will be required. Check directly with your Satellite provider if in doubt.

If you receive TV programs from another source, such as a bent coathanger nailed to an elm tree in the back yard like I do, and if you do not already have a "digital capable TV set," you will need a "converter" to receive the digital signal and convert it to an analog signal. (If you have a "digital capable" TV on an antenna, you may not need a separate converter; but you may have to switch - or add - connections to be sure your digital signals go into the digital connectors on the TV.)

The converter will simply receive the digital signal and convert it to an analog signal like what you are receiving now. Except for some possible improvement in signal stability you will see NO CHANGE IN THE PERFORMANCE OF YOUR TV.

If your existing TV/VCR/DVD equipement does not have HD capability, converting to digital will not change anything. The signal your TV receives from the converter will be exactly the same signal as what your TV previously received from the antenna. All HD signals, whether digital or analog and whether from an antenna, cable, satellite or DVD, are required to default to display in "reduced quality" on existing sets. "Reduced quality" means "just like always."

The slight "clinker" in all this is that NOT ALL STATIONS are required to "go digital." If you convert your TV using the most common converters you will no longer be able to receive stations that are NOT DIGITAL, except by disconnecting your TV from the converter and connecting it directly to the antenna (through the analog input terminals).

The stations that are not required to "go digital" are generally low-power local/community channels. In my area that means that if I "go digital" I won't be able to recieve about four "independent fundy religious channels" and possibly a couple of "ethnic interest" channels. Most such channels are in the UHF range in my area, but could be in the "lower 12" in some places.

It may be very difficult to determine if a low-power "indy" channel intends to switch to digital. They can switch if they want to, but aren't required to change if their broadcast power is low enough.

If you need access to a channel that will remain analog, you need a converter that is - - (trumpet chorus, and drum roll) - - PASSTHROUGH CAPABLE. This means that the converter must be able to convert the digital signal to analog if you want a digital channel, but simply lets the analog signal "pass through" to the TV if you want an analog channel.

VERY FEW PASSTHROUGH CAPABLE CONVERTERS ARE LIKELY TO BE FOUND except in areas where there is expected to be lots of demand for them. They probably will be somewhat more expensive than the basic converters likely to be pushed by retailers. If you don't need one, you'll probalby just want one of the "ordinary" converters.

An "official announcement" has been made by the FCC that converters "will go on sale" this month. The rebate coupons from the gov to "assist the public" will not be available until later. I've seen NO INFORMATION on whether the retailer is supposed to redeem the coupon, or if it's a mail-in with "proof of purchase" or some other "method." Since this is a Federal program, I'm not making any assumptions.

If you plan to use a coupon, you will want a written assurance from your seller that the coupon will be honored when/if you come back in with one later, and specific instructions for what receipts or other documentation you'll need to keep handy.(?)

Claims are being made that the digital signal, through the converter, will eliminate "noise" in your TV's image. In most cases this likely will be true to some extent. In some remote areas, where the antenna signal is at noise level it may mean that you will receive NOTHING. If you suspect this might apply, let your stupid/rich neighbor get his converter first, and then go watch a football game at his place before deciding whether you need a better antenna, signal amplifiers, filters, antenna rotator, and a tall tower - or need to do some minor deforestation to get clear line-of-sight to the transmitter antenna for the channels that are wanted.

John