February 2009 was the original date that all USA TV stations were to make the shift from analog to digital; now the deadline is June 12th, but many stations have already made the shift or will do so soon.

Antenna reception – If you have an older analog TV and still receive your TV signal over the air with an antenna (not cable or a satellite dish) you will need to hook up an analog to digital converter box available at electronics stores.  After the conversion of all stations on June 12, 2009, all users of set-top DTV converter boxes must re-scan their boxes on Saturday, June 13, to reacquire the signals of any stations that moved frequencies overnight.

Cable TV - If you are on cable, the process is different.  Comcast has the contract to provide cable TV to Saratoga, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Campbell and other Silicon Valley communities.If you currently receive cable TV through Comcast and only have “limited basic” service (without a box) you will not need anything else to continue to receive the new digital signals on your older analog TV, but you will only receive channels lower than 34.  The rate for “limited basic” is $15.35/mo.  For $3.40/month more you can add a cable box to receive “limited basic digital”; you won’t get On Demand, but you will get some additional channels such as PBS Create and World.

If you want to receive cable channels 34 to 99 and other premium programing Comcast says you need a cable box and adapter(s) (free for the first 2 TV sets) for every non-HDTV you own; you can pick them up at the Comcast store in Los Gatos at 761 University Ave.  Call 800-945-2288 for more information or call 877-634-4434 to have them delivered to your home.  The monthly charge for this “starter package is $59.95 if you are already a subscriber, but make sure you ask for a 12 month promotional rate to save $20/mo.