As most people know, the deadline for the conversion of Analog Television transmission has been extended to June 12, 2009.
As it happened before the last deadline, this date is now rapidly approaching and once TV goes digital, unless you have cable, satellite or a digital converter box, your old analog TV set will stop working.
So, I have put together the ten of the most important things you need to know about DTV, so you won't be left out in the cold without a TV picture.

1. If you don't have a cable or satelliteTV provider, you will absolutely need to have a Digital Converter Box.
   This little box will pull in the digital transmission signal and convertit so that you can watch it on an analog TV set.
   If you don't know what ananalog TV set is, then you probably have one.
   These sets have a picturetube inside which makes the TV very deep from the front of the screen tothe back of the set.
   So even a small 13" screen size analog TV can beabout 16" deep.
   Digital TV's are about 2" - 3" deep in comparison.
   
2. If you have a satellite TV provideryou will not need a Digital Converter Box.
   This is true and false.
   As longas you have a satellite receiver hooked up to you analog TV, you will getthe signal because the receiver will convert it.
   However, if you haveextra TV's in the house with no receivers, you will either need to getanother satellite receiver for that TV or you will need to get a digitalconverter box.
   Some satellite companies will limit the number of receiversyou are allowed to have, so you may need the digital converter boxes forthe TV's you have over and above the allowed number of receivers.
   
3. You will need an antenna to run to thedigital convert box in order to get a signal.
   You will need to have anantenna that picks up both UHF and VHF signals, since stations will bebroadcasting on both frequencies.
   So, this means, you will need both therabbit ears and the loop or bowtie type antennas if you are using an indooror set mounted antenna.
   You may also use and outdoor or attic mountantenna and you can even make your own digital reception antenna but goingonto one of the video websites and following the instructions.
   I actuallymade one out of a piece of wood and coat hangers and it works great.
   Inyour internet browser, type in "how to make a digital TV antenna" and youwill find the video you need.
   Of course, many companies are sellingantennas for this purpose, but first check to see if you existing antennawill work and if you do need to buy an antenna, be sure to check out somewebsites for comments by users on how well they work.
   
4. You can receive an HDTV signal overthe air with DTV.
   Yes, it is true and it works great, depending of courseon the antenna and the antenna location and that you have an HDTV set.
   Wetalked about the antenna above, but before I go any further, you need toknow that if you are using any type of indoor antenna, location may becritical to getting the best signal and the most stations.
   You will needto experiment with that.
   Getting back to the HDTV signal, if you have anolder HDTV that is digital ready that means you will need a digitalconverter box, to receive the signal.
   However, if you have an HDTV withthe built in digital tuner, you will not need the converter box.
   Thismeans that you can hook the antenna directly to the TV and you will pickup the digital broadcast and you will receive the high definition signalfrom any station that is broadcasting it.
   
5. Because the FCC has made it arequirement, you will receive Closed Captioning on the digital TVconverter box which will display on analog TVs.
   
6. Your new digital converter boxes willcome with a remote control.
   This remote control with have special menufeatures that will let you scroll though programs showing the times theywill be on and it will act as your own personal TV guide.
   Since you willbe receiving multiple channels, this is a real handy feature that works ina similar way as a cable or satellite TV menu guide.
   One of the mostimportant features the remote will have is a Channel Scan.
   This means thatthe converter box, when hooked up to an antenna, will scan your area forall the digital broadcasting stations available.
   You may receive signalsfrom stations from as far away a 60 miles depending on the terrain of theland, buildings and other obstacles etc.
   Once the box receives thesignals, it will remember the stations.
   You will need to run the scanperiodically as more stations are added or when stations change channellocations.
   
7. As already mentioned, you will receivemore stations then before and another reason for this is because somestations that you received in the past may have one or two additionalsub-channels.
   So for example you may have a channel 5, 5.
   1 and 5.
   2 all broadcastingdifferent programming.
   Plus, as already mentioned you will pick upstations from other cities that you did not get before as long as they arein the range of your antenna and depending on the terrain.
   
8. Connecting the converter box, antennaand TV is easy.
   First unplug your TV from the wall, and disconnect theantenna wire from the back of the set.
   Next you will take the coaxialcable (Supplied with the box) and connect to the back of the converter boxthat says "Out" or "Out to TV".
   Connect the other end of this cable to the"Antenna In" on the TV set.
   Connectthe coaxial wire coming from your antenna to the "Antenna In" on theconverter box.
   If you have a twin lead antenna, you will simply need a"Twin Lead Adapter", that may come supplied with the converter box, orthat you can get at any home improvement store.
   Once you have made all ofthese connections, you will be able to turn on the converter box and TVset and run the channel scan mentioned above, from your remote control topick up stations in your area.
   
9. Although you don't need a converterbox to be able to watch pre-recorded video tapes from your VCR, you willneed a converter box if you want to record new shows onto the VCR.
   Youwill simply connect the VCR to the converter box bringing the signal fromthe box into the VCR and then outputting the VCR to the TV for viewing.
   So, instead of the signal coming directly from your antenna, which wouldbe the way you have it hooked up now, it would come from the converter boxinstead.
   The connections are basically the same.
   If you have a DVD player,then you would hook that up directly to the TV for viewing.
   You can alsobuy a simple "A/B" switcher from your local home improvement store orelectronic store, which will allow you to switch back and forth from theconverter box to the DVD player by simply pressing a button.
   
10. Government Coupons are available tohelp offset the cost of the converter boxes.
    These coupons are valued at$40.
    00 and each household is allowed two coupons.
    The coupons are availableuntil July 31, 2009 and will be valid for 90 days.
    You will need thecoupons to present at the place you purchase the converter boxes, so youwill have to get them prior to your purchase.
    Plus, the store mustparticipate in the program, so make sure you check in advance prior toyour purchase.
    The coupons can be obtained by going to the governmentwebsite, www.
    dtv2009.
    gov or bycalling 1-888-388-2009 (voice) or 1-877-530-2634 (TTY).
    Most converterboxes cost between $40.
    00 and $70.
    00, so this is a very generous savings.
    You can also go to this site or call these numbers for general questionsor information pertaining to Digital Television Transmission.
    

Hopefully, the Digital TV Conversion doesn't sound as scary now that you know a little bit more about it.
Actually, what you will find is, you will get more channels, have an easy to use channel guide and menu, better reception and picture quality and you will even be able to get free HDTV without the need of cable or satellite TV providers.
For just the small cost of the converter boxes and possibly an antenna, all the broadcasting is free.
Now you can't beat that.