With 60 days left before the digital television transition, the nation’s broadcasters are about to do a dry run.
The test will start on Wednesday at 6:25 p.m. and will run for five minutes, as broadcasters temporarily halt their analog transmissions and go all-digital.
Viewers who don’t notice anything have nothing to worry about.
But any television not equipped to deal with the Feb. 17 transition will receive both an audio and visual alert.
“It will flash on the screen, saying your television is not ready,” said Rebekah Bina, an outreach coordinator for the Federal Communications Commission. “We just want people to recognize they need to do something, and it’s better to do it sooner rather than later.”
The vast majority of televisions won’t be affected by the government-mandated digital switch because they already get signals through cable and satellite.
Those televisions that use rabbit ears or roof-top antennas can still function in a digital world, but not without the help of a digital converter box.
The boxes generally cost $40 to $75 and can be found at a variety of stores. Those prices can be offset through a government-sponsored program offering two $40 coupons to each household.
The coupons are available through March, but Bina is urging people not to wait.
“We don’t everyone going out to get a converter box in the last two weeks. All of the stores will run out,” she said.
Wednesday’s test won’t be the last before the Feb. 17 switch. Tests are also being planned on Jan. 14, Jan. 23 and Jan. 25, with a pair of tests each day, one in the morning and one in the night.
Households can apply for converter coupons online at www.dtv2009.gov or by phone at 888-388-2009.