Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Are all digital television broadcasts going to be in High Definition?

A: No, broadcasters are not required to offer any programming in High Definition at this time. However, many broadcasters have decided to offer a significant amount of their programming in High Definition. The government has only mandated that all full-power broadcasters broadcast a DIGITAL signal which would only have to be of Standard Definition quality.

Q: Will a Coupon Eligble Converter Box (CECB) allow me to watch High Definition programming?

A: Yes, you will be able to view High Definition programming via a CECB. However, CECBs will not output a High Definition signal to your TV. They are limited to outputting Standard Definition quality signals (480i) only. In most cases, an older TV that would need a CECB hooked up to it to receive OTA Digital TV programming would not be able to display a high definition picture in any case.

Q: Do I need to buy an "HD" or "Digital" antenna in order to receive the digital broadcast signals?

A: No, absolutely not!
An antenna is simply a device designed to receive radio waves and is optimized for the frequency bands it is designed to receive.
Digital TV broadcasts are using the same broadcast frequencies as analog TV does (or did, after 02/17/2009). An antenna that is in good condition today and is able to receive analog TV signals with minimal interference should be able to be used to receive digital TV.