How Does One Know If a TV Is Digital?

Since television stations have stopped broadcasting in analog signal and converted to digital, it is important to know if your television is digital or not. This is because analog TVs are not capable of receiving a digital signal. There are several different ways to go about determining this. However, even if your television is an analog set, there are ways to continue viewing television without purchasing a brand new TV.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Television

1. Look at your television set. If there is a set of rabbit ear antennas on or connected to the TV, your set is analog and not digital.

2. Think about when you purchased your television. If it was in the last few years, then it has a digital tuner built into it, which means your television is digital. However, if you purchased the TV before the turn of this century, chances are the device is analog.

3. Open up the user manual that came with the television when you purchased it. If the manual states that a digital tuner is present, you are fine. However, if it says the set is "digital ready," then it means your television is analog.

4. Determine how you receive your television broadcasts. If it is through a cable or satellite provider that uses a receiver box, you will be fine to watch digital broadcasts, even if your television is analog. However, if you don't and the television is analog, you will not be able to watch the digital television by itself.

5. Purchase a converter box for your analog television if you don't use a cable or satellite provider. This converter box will function the same as the cable receiver. It will convert the digital signal into analog and allow you to continue using your analog TV. These converter boxes can be purchased at stores like Walmart, Target and Best Buy.

References

• Digital television information
• Converter questions