Free DTV is free digital television. It is the next step in broadcast television. As of midnight on June 12th, 2009, all high-powered television stations in the United States started broadcasting in a digital format. It's as revolutionary as color TV was in the 60s, but unlike the transition to color, your standard analog TV cannot receive the signal without the assistance of a converter box. To help with this transition, the federal government authorized the National Telelcommunications & Information Administration (NTIA) to distribute coupons, up to 2 per household, worth $40 each towards the purchase of approved digital TV converter boxes. These coupons were only available until July 31st, 2009 and can no longer be requested. All coupons issued have now expired. All of the converter boxes for sale at FreeDTVShop.com are approved for the coupon program, and Mosquito Productions, the owner and operator of FreeDTVShop.com, is an authorized retailer for the program. The coupon program goes a long way towards making your converter box very affordable!

You may be asking why the government mandated the transition to DTV. There are a number of factors. First, as with many new digital devices, DTV holds the promise of offering improved services. That means more channels, better quality picture and sound, and new features from your local television broadcasters. Many broadcasters have already started to enhance their digital service with additional channels and services like 24-hour weather. Many also broadcast in high definition (HD). This does not mean that you need to buy a new HDTV to receive those signals! High definition is simply a portion of the digital broadcast specification, and any converter box that you purchase from FreeDTVShop.com will be able to receive high definition signals and convert them for display on your standard analog TV.

In addition to the improved television services for the public, the government has mandated the digital transition so that it can reclaim much of the VHF and UHF bandwidth for public safety and emergency communications. Other portions of the broadcast spectrum will be auctioned off for other new wireless services as well.

The DTV trasition occured on June 12th, 2009. If your TV does not receive your local channels, then you are affected by the transition to digital TV. To view your local channels on your analog TV, you will need a DTV converter box*. You can view and purchase coupon eligible converter boxes by CLICKING HERE.

* There are other options for receiving DTV. You may purchase a new TV or VCR with a digital tuner built into the unit. However, a DTV converter box from FreeDTVShop.com is typically the cheapest option.

DTV signals are already being broadcast by the telelvision stations that are required to convert to digital. You can enjoy the enhanced quality and services that DTV has to offer by purchasing a DTV converter box. A converter box is a relatively small box designed to sit on top of your TV. It uses a standard indoor or outdoor antenna or aerial to receive the DTV signal and connects to your TV in a similar way as your VCR or DVD player. A helpful guide for connecting a typical converter box can be found here:

DTV Converter Box Installation Guide

Choosing an antenna can be a difficult process. The effectiveness of an antenna depends on a number of factors including distance from the transmitter, altitude, terrain, and placement of the antenna on the property. FreeDTVShop.com offers a number of antennas for a variety of situations, but we cannot guarantee that all antennas will work for all situations. It is recommended that if you require an antenna, take some time to visit AntennaWeb.org. It is a website provided by the Consumer Electronics Association and national Association of Broadcasters and can help guide your antenna buying decision. After inputting your address, you will be provided with a recommended rating for your antenna. At FreeDTVShop.com, you can see the color-coded rating of each antenna listed under the "Specifications" section.