In 1998, the Federal Communications Commission mandated that all television stations convert to the new digital broadcasting standard. This is one of the most significant developments in television since the advent of color TV in the 1950s. The entire country is scheduled to be broadcasting digital signals by 2006.

In Northwest Arkansas, our DTV/HDTV signal is on KHOG-DT channel 29-1. In the River Valley our DTV/HDTV signal is on KHBS-DT channel 40-1.

Most commonly asked questions:

1. What is HDTV?
HDTV stands for High Definition Television and is exactly what the name implies: It is television with substantially increased video and audio performance beyond our current broadcast medium. The new DTV format includes 18 different ways for a broadcaster to send its signal to viewers with varying levels of quality, but only a few of which are classified as "High Definition." All currently manufactured set-top boxes and televisions with built-in decoders can handle the 18 formats. True HDTV provides highly detailed, widescreen images and six channels of sound.

2. Are all of KHBS/KHOG's programs available in HDTV?
We currently broadcast all of our programming on KHBS-DT and KHOG-DT. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. But not all programming is provided to us in true high definition. Most of the true high-definition programming we transmit is provided to us by the ABC network during "prime time" (7 p.m. - 10 p.m.). An increasing number of sports programs and special events are being broadcast in HDTV and that amount will increase each year.

3. What channel will I need to tune in for KHBS/KHOG's HDTV signal?
In the River Valley, our HDTV signal is on KHBS-DT Channel 40-1. In Northwest Arkansas, our HDTV signal is on KHOG-DT Channel 29-1. These channels are completely separate from our current analog signal.

4. Do I need to buy a new TV right now?
No. We will be broadcasting both the new digital signal and our current analog signal for a few years to come. However, in order to view our digital signal, you will need to at least buy a set-top box to decode the signal and view it on your current TV. In order to experience HDTV fully, you will need an HDTV specific TV/monitor. Although you can see the digital signal from a set top converter box on your regular TV, it isn’t HDTV. A regular TV just isn’t capable of displaying video with as much resolution as HDTV requires. The picture does look better because it is digital, but it still isn’t HDTV.

5. Is there a difference between Digital TV and HDTV?
Yes. There are many flavors of Digital TV -- the most common being what people watch via providers like Digital Cable, Dish Network and DirecTV. Those are transmitted digitally using various methods and look superior to analog transmissions. However, the signal is decoded in the home set-top box to our current analog format for viewing on your average TV. True HDTV signals are incompatible with current televisions and require a specifically designed TV or monitor with special video connections in order to display the high resolution images.

6. Will I be able to get HDTV on cable or satellite?
Yes. Cox Communications has launched a limited HDTV tier of channels that include KHBS/KHOG-DT. Please contact Cox Communications to see if the HDTV tier is available in your area. Both satellite services are offering HD programming at an additional charge. They have plans to offer KHBS/KHOG HDTV later this year or early next year. You can always use an outdoor antenna to pick up our transmitted HDTV signals from your local stations for free, and feed that into your HDTV set-top box or HDTV monitor.

7. Do I need a special antenna to receive DTV/HDTV?
No. DTV was designed to work with regular antennas. You do need to use an outside antenna. Rabbit ears or other indoor antennas almost never work with DTV.

8. I have a set top box or DTV or HDTV and I cannot pick up your station. Are you having problems with your transmitter?
Probably not. Our transmitters are very new, completely computerized, and have many layers of redundancy. For example the channel 29-1 transmitter consists of 24 individual solid state modules. All 24 would have to fail at the same time for us to be completely off the air. Neither transmitter has been completely off the air except for maintenance since they were turned on in 2002. I’m not saying it can’t happen, but I don’t think you have to tell us a transmitter is off. When the computer detects the slightest problem, it sounds like red alert on Star Trek around here. We are aware of most problems way before you can even notice anything is wrong. The most likely cause of no reception is your antenna is not giving you a good signal. Remember these pointers:

1.These channels are really line of sight. They will not bend around mountains, water towers, or other objects. They do not travel through trees very well.

2.All the stations DTV transmitters are not located in the same place. That means you can’t just point it at one place and expect to receive them all. You need to point your antenna towards the transmitter site. Our 29-1 transmitter is located on top of Robinson Mountain, near Elkins AR. Our 40-1 transmitter is located on top of Cavanal Hill near Poteau OK. As of this writing, all the other stations transmitters are located near Winslow AR. If you are picking them up, chances are you won’t pick us up.

3.Digital signals don’t get snowy as they get weak like regular television signals. You either have a perfect picture, a picture that gets blocky and freezes if you are right on the edge, or no picture at all. The only way to adjust the antenna for the strongest signal is to use the signal meter in your DTV or converter box.

9. Does channel 40/29 sell antennas?
No. We have not sold antennas since 1995. We recommend a good outside antenna. They are available at Radio Shack, Best Buy, Wal-Mart, many home improvement stores, and most places that sell television sets.

10. Are you transmitting at full power on your DTV transmitters?
Yes. We put our transmitters on the air at full authorized power in 2002. We were the only local television station to do so.

11. How far away should we be able to pick up the DTV channels?
It’s hard to say. See question 8. We have reports from viewers as far away as St. Louis MO and Tulsa OK that have reported they are watching 29-1 with no problems.

12. When will 40/29 begin broadcasting local news in HDTV?
Not for a long time. HDTV equipment is very, very expensive. It will be many years before it will make sense for us to broadcast local news in HDTV. However, we will most likely convert to lower resolution digital systems within the next few years.

13. Is it true that regular channels are going to be turned off and we will have to get digital TV’s?
Yes. That is an act of congress. The cutoff date keeps changing, but as of now it is set for February 17, 2009. At that time all analog transmitters are to be turned off. It is possible that some television stations may ask the FCC if they my shut theirs off before then. Many analog transmitters are getting too old to keep running. We can’t get parts and they are becoming very expensive if we can find them. If the digital audience is large enough (counting cable and satellite viewers) a station might shut down early. All of the analog PBS stations in western Kansas have already shut down. The cut off date could also be extended again, but I doubt it. It has already been extended several times. When DTV was purposed in the 1980’s, analog was supposed to be shut down by 1998!

14. How can I make sure I am buying an HDTV set?
ASK the salesman. The current array of offerings is very confusing. If it says “analog” or “NTSC” tuner it is probably analog. If it says DTV it can pick up digital channels but does not display HD. If it says HD ready or Digital ready, it means you have to buy a separate tuner to receive digital or HD pictures. The HDTV label is supposed to mean that it can pick up digital channels and display them in true HD format. I can’t stress how easy it is to get burned by all the confusing HD labels. I almost did myself and I consider myself more informed than the average consumer. Sometimes a monitor will be labeled as HDTV even though it doesn’t have a tuner! The only way to be sure is to ask and make sure you can bring it back if it turns out to be less than you thought you were buying.

15. Does 40/29 transmit 5.1 surround sound with it’s HD programs?
Not at this time. We only have plain old stereo. It wasn’t available when we bought our equipment a few years ago. We hope to be able to purchase the encoders within the next few years.

16. Why is the on screen program guide and internet program guide often wrong?
Boy is that a darn good question. We send the TV guide services a schedule weeks in advance and it seems like they promptly throw them in the trash and put up what they want to. Please send them a complaint. They don’t seem to listen to ours.

Interesting Fact: A recent consumer poll showed that 69% of the public thought they were receiving HDTV on their regular TV sets even though they weren’t because they could see the HD logo on the screen.

Important Links:

• FCC
• Digital TV Facts
• Advanced Television Systems Committee
• Antenna selector page from the Consumer Electronics Association

Questions? E-mail lfriddle@hearst.com.