It's true! A basic antenna can receive your favorite ABC shows in crystal-clear DTV plus Local News and Weather on KSAX Eyewitness News “Serving Greater Minnesota”. Depending on your location analog or standard definition TV may be all that is available (plain old TV).
Here's all you need to enjoy FREE Digital TV:
1.) - A television with a digital TV tuner
Most new televisions now come with digital TV tuners (also called ATSC tuners) included. If you have an older TV, you can purchase a set-top converter box that will allow you to view digital TV signals.
Starting in 2008, the federal government will offer a $40 coupon to purchase a digital-to-analog converter box for your TV. Click here to learn about the coupon program.
2.) - A clear view of our digital TV transmitter
Currently, ABC DTV programming is available from KSAX Eyewitness News on digital TV channel 36 Broadcast antenna located at Westport MN and on KRWF channel 27 Broadcast antenna located at Vesta MN. Click here to see if you can receive KSAX or KRWF at your home.
3.) - A basic antenna
Don't be fooled into buying a fancy antenna to get digital TV. Your grandfather's old rabbit ears in the attic may do the trick. This site can help you choose a rooftop antenna.
Here's what you need to enjoy FREE analog or standard definition TV (plain old TV):
1.) - A television with a TV tuner and antenna
If you have a Satellite Dish system, you can connect an antenna that will allow you to view free TV signals. On your Satellite Receiver Rear Panel OFF AIR IN Connector you connect a standard TV antenna to the (Direct TV or Dish network) Receiver using this jack. You can then switch between the Satellite Dish system Receiver’s signal and the free TV signals. If you have a monitor, you can purchase a set-top tuner box or VCR that will allow you to view free over the air local TV signals.
2.) - A clear view of our TV transmitter or translator
Currently, ABC programming is available from KSAX Eyewitness News transmitted on our Full Power transmitters as well as Low Power translators. At this time only the Full Power systems will be converting to Digital.
The Low Power systems will remain Analog for the time being.
The tower sites are as follows;
Channel 42 Westport, MN (Full Power)
Channel 43 Vesta, MN (Full Power)
Channel 30 Willmar, MN (Low Power)
Channel 14 Garfield, MN (Low Power)
Channel 17 Wadena, MN (Low Power)
Channel 16 Brainerd, MN (Low Power)
Channel 32 Park Rapids, MN (Low Power)
Channel 69 Walker, MN (Low Power)
Channel 28 Bemidji, MN (Low Power)
Click here to see if you can receive KSAX or KRWF at your home.
3.) - A basic antenna
Don't be fooled into buying a fancy antenna to get TV and if getting a Satellite Dish system make sure the installers hook up the free over the air antenna to the Satellite Dish system receiver. This site can help you choose a rooftop antenna.
June 12, 2009 – The DTV deadline is coming!
If you receive any TV signals in your home by an antenna, you will need to convert to digital TV before June 2009. Congress has ordered all Full Power TV stations to turn off their analog signals on this date and only broadcast in digital TV afterwards. Learn more about the federal deadline here.
Links http://www.dtv.gov/ http://www.dtvanswers.com/
What is HDTV?
High Definition Television is a TV broadcast digital signal delivering a high resolution, wide-screen picture with 6 channels of digital sound. A true HDTV set is capable of receiving these all-digital signals and displaying them at full resolution. You can also purchase a set-top box that will allow normal analog TV sets to receive these signals and display them in normal resolution, not high definition.
What are the key features?
The first noticeable difference of High Definition Television from the current television system is that the screen is much wider. In our current television system when the width of the picture is divided by the height of the picture it will always produce a 4/3 ratio. High Definition Television, on the other hand, has a width to height ratio of 16/9, which closely approximates that of the cinema.
The second key feature is that High Definition has over twice the sharpness and clarity of the current television system. The color resolution is also more than twice the current system.
High Definition television also has the capability for six channels of CD-quality surround sound when fully implemented. For now, stereo sound is synthesized to produce 6-channel surround.
Finally, the signal is digitally transmitted, which eliminates all of the current imperfections we have lived with for the past thirty-plus years, which include snow (weak signal), double images (ghosting or multi-path) and picture sparkles (impulse noise). As a result, the picture is perfect whether you are one mile or fifty-five miles from the transmitter.
Will I be able to receive High Definition Television over cable?
It is technically possible for digital High Definition Television to be transmitted over a cable system; there is no guarantee that your local cable operator will carry the signal. Most industry analysts believe that the FCC will require cable companies to carry the new digital channels in the future.
Want to learn more about HDTV? Click here to learn more about High Definition TV.
For more information about low power/translator stations go to https://www.dtv2009.gov/lowpower/
