Bob_Grip's Blog

As Tropical Storm Fay approaches the Gulf Coast, Fox 10 News is ready to provide the information you need to keep you and your family safe, whether it's through Fox 10 or this website, fox10tv.com.

Next year could be more challenging, after analog television goes away and television stations across the country switch to digital transmission.

I've brought up the issue before, here on this blog.  What happens to the family with a battery-powered analog TV that can't pick up a signal?  Or the portable radio that can no longer pick up television audio?

Here's the response to those questions I just received from the Federal Communications Commission.

A battery-powered analog television will not receive local broadcast station transmissions after the February 17, 2009 transition deadline unless it is connected to a digital-to-analog converter box.  Like televisions, digital-to-analog converter boxes require electrical power to operate. 

There are currently no battery-powered digital-to-analog converter boxes on the market.  We understand that a company called Winegard plans to offer a battery adaptor for their DTV converter, and they are targeting the end of August.

In addition, new battery-powered digital televisions are currently available in retail stores and online.  These televisions can receive digital broadcasts without additional equipment.  They are marked with words such as “Integrated Digital Tuner,” “Digital Tuner Built-In,” “Digital Receiver,” “DTV,” “ATSC,” or “HDTV.”  A few models are currently on the market, and manufacturers are developing additional models.

Bottom line?  If that old, battery powered TV or portable radio that currently picks up TV audio is your only lifeline to emergency information, start looking for a replacement before the 2009 hurricane season.