Making the switch to digital TV—will your school be ready?

DTV image

Here's what you need to know:

  • If your school currently receives television programming via cable or satellite, your provider will address any necessary modifications. You shouldn’t need to do anything unless contacted by your provider.  (For more information see this Cable in the Classroom DTV Fact Sheet.)

  • If your school already has digital television sets with digital tuners, or a digital tuner at the head end of your distribution system, you don’t need to do anything.

  • If your school receives television programming over the air, using one or more antennas
    and analog television sets or tuners, read on!

How to convert your analog system to receive free over-the-air broadcast digital television:

    • If your school has a video distribution network fed by one antenna, install a digital-to-analog converter box (also known as a set-top box) at the head end of your system. Converters are available for $40 - $70. All televisions on the system must be tuned to the same channel. To locate the proper outdoor antenna to receive your local television broadcast channels, check AntennaWeb.

    • If your school has televisions that access programming individually over the air, install
      a converter box for each television that tunes individually to broadcast programming. Whether you have one or more antennas, each television that tunes to a different channel will need a converter box.

    • If your school would like to receive digital television programming on a school computer or server rather than a TV set, you can use a DTV tuner and antenna. You can watch programs live or record for later use. DTV tuner cards or USB devices are available for Macintosh and PC systems for $50 - $200.

    • If your school would like to receive instructional programs from the Educational Communications Board via datacasting, you can install datacast receiving equipment and create your own video library on a school server; for more information go to http://www.datacastwisconsin.org/

Note: Schools are not eligible for coupons under the FCC’s converter box coupon program.

 

For more information on DTV for schools in Wisconsin, contact our Interactive Media Specialist.

 

On February 18, 2009, all television broadcast in the United States will become digital. The benefits of this transition will bring improved sound and picture quality, and ultimately a more efficient use of broadcast ‘space’. For you and your school district, this means better quality, more choices, and more control. For more information, go to www.dtv.gov,  www.dtvtransition.org, http://dtvanswers.com or www.ecb.org/dtv.

 


wis.gov link