What You Need to Know About Digital TV
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Download Our DTV Newsletter (108k PDF file - updated October 2008)
Our DTV newsletter (PDF file) is a printable compilation of
information that you need to know about the digital television conversion. Please share this newsletter with your friends and neighbors and help us keep Public TV 13 on your television in 2009.
The North American switch from analog to digital broadcasting (DTV) is to be completed by February 17, 2009, according
to Federal mandate. Public TV 13 will be installing a new digital transmitter and turning off our old analog transmitter
by that date. With the switch to DTV, Public TV 13 will be able to offer high-definition pictures, better sound quality
and more free programming choices. In order to prepare our viewers for the analog shut-off, we’re providing monthly
updates in our FanFare program guide and on the DTV Web pages linked above. Our DTV newsletter (PDF file) is a printable compilation of
information that you need to know about the conversion.
What is digital television?
Digital Television is a new digital broadcast standard where images and sound are captured using the same digital code found in computers. Dramatically improving the picture and sound quality in comparison to the current analog television technology, DTV will eventually replace analog television, as it provides broadcasters the ability to send more varied information over the airwaves, cable and satellite.
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What is high definition television (HDTV)?
Digital television will allow stations to broadcast programs in much higher resolution or clarity than standard analog television. This is called high definition television or HDTV. Viewers at home will be able to receive high-quality, crystal-clear pictures. These visually stunning pictures, with more than twice the resolution and clarity of standard television, will be displayed in a wide-screen format with a 16 by 9 width-to-height ratio compared to today's 4 by 3 format. And because HDTV is digital, audiences will have the benefit of six-channel CD-quality "surround sound." In other words, viewers will be able to enjoy a true home theater experience.
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Will I be able to watch digital television on my existing set?
Not without a set-top convertor box. Because DTV information is encoded in a different way than the analog signal, it requires a different kind of receiver; thus, digital programs can only be seen on a digital television set or by "down-converting" to your current analog set with a set-top converter box or digital cable box. Down-converting will not give you the full benefit of HD programming, but the video may still look better than analog broadcasts.
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What programs are available on Public TV 13’s digital channels?
WNMU-DT (TV13/HD) now features the PBS/HD Channel broadcast in high definition throughout the day. The programming on TV13/HD includes some familiar PBS series' like Nature, NOVA, Frontline and Austin City Limits, plus a variety of how-to, kids and documentary programs that you will not have seen on Public TV 13. Complete program listings for TV13/HD are available on our Schedule page.
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Will digital programs be listed in FanFare?
Not until more of our Partners have digital sets! You can see our complete DTV schedule, along with our analog Channel 13 schedule, on our Schedule page.
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Is Public TV13's digital channel available on cable?
TV13/HD is now available to Charter Digital Cable subscribers in select U.P. areas on digital channel 783, 24 hours a day. (Read an article about TV13/HD on Charter here.) If you have questions about receiving TV13/HD on cable, please contact Charter's Customer Support Center at 800-545-0994. If you have questions about our online schedule or digital broadcasts, please email us.
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A note to early adopters:
If you are watching WNMU-DT on a digital TV receiver, we'd like to hear from you! Please give us a call at 227-9668 or send an email and let us know where you are and what you think of our digital TV lineup.
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How can I get converter box coupons?
You can apply for the coupons
over the phone (1-888-DTV-2009) or on the Web at www.dtv2009.gov.
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After the digital conversion, will I have to pay a monthly fee for TV?
No. Local broadcasters, including Public TV 13, will continue to provide free, over the air service as mandated by our broadcasting license. You will need to purchase some new equipment, such as a DTV converter box or a new digital television set, in order to receive our signal over the air after February 17, 2009.
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What are WNMU-TV's plans for conversion?
Construction of our new digital control room at Public TV 13's studios on the Northern Michigan University campus is now complete. The next phase of conversion will be to install a new digital transmitter and antenna at our transmitter/tower site in Ely Township. We anticipate being off the air for a short time around February 17, 2009 for transmitter installation. You will hear more about this interruption in our over-the-air broadcasts. After February 17, 2009, we will be broadcasting in digital only, but that won't be the end of construction. There will still be some additional work done to install a new antenna and transmission lines. That outdoor construction work will have to wait until spring, and at that time we will again be off the air for a brief period. During this period (February 17 through early June), we expect to broadcast to about the same coverage area as we do currently. These plans are tentative at this stage and may change. We will keep you informed.
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How can I continue to receive Public TV 13 over the air?
1. Purchase a converter box;
2. Purchase a new television set with a built-in digital tuner;
3. Subscribe to cable. (Note that popular satellite systems like DirectTV and Dish Network do not yet offer Public TV 13 or other local stations in the U.P.)
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