Ready or not: the big digital television test is coming to the Tri-State Wednesday night.
That's when you'll be able to see, for yourself, if your televisions are ready for the big switch to digital TV in February.
Wednesday night at 7:31 p.m., you'll get a chance to find out if your televisions are digital ready, exactly two months before the switch to digital only television on February 17.
Channel 9, and all other Tri-State TV stations will interrupt regular programming on old analog channels, with a five minute digital TV switch message.
Channel 9 and all of american broadcast television are making the switch to digital TV signals for a couple of reasons.
Since the digital TV frequency takes up less space, we can actually program multiple TV channels into the Channel 9 space.
With digital, that means you can always watch our Tri-State weather information on channel 9.2; without needing to buy cable.
Also, the digital TV signal looks sharper and crisper, even on older televisions. WCPO Engineering Director Joe Martinelli says, "Once you see high definition and you go back to the old style of broadcast television, it looks like it's out of focus and it really does. If you like at a ball game for a while, and go back to look at it on analog television, it looks out of focus."
If you don't have a digital TV and are getting Channel 9 without cable or satellite, you'll need to get a new digital tuner. These will convert the digital signals into ones your older TV can pick up.
But that's not all you will need to do. Martinelli adds, "You almost have to have an antenna like you did in the 50s and 60s, on top of your house to get a signal. Once you get the antenna up, the signal is very easy to get,... ours goes from Cincinnati to Dayton."
Whether you buy a rooftop antenna or rabbit ears antenna make sure you get one that picks up both UHF and VHF frequencies, so you can get all the available local channels.
Remember, if you don't see a digital TV message at 7:31 p.m. Wednesday, you're fine and don't need to make any changes.
If you do see the message, make a note to get a digital converter or tuner. Just go to our DTV section here at WCPO.com for all the details.
