Background - The DTV Transition
All full power television stations in the U.S. are now broadcasting in digital only. A consumer has three options for watching a digital broadcast: 1. get a digital to analog converter box to connect to an existing older analog set along with your antenna; 2. subscribe to cable, satellite, or other pay TV service; 3. have a digital television set with an antenna.
What is a Channel Scan?
Installing a converter box or setting up a DTV-ready television is only the first part of the process. After hooking up a converter box to your TV set or installing a new digital television, you will need to scan for new channels to ensure you receive all the digital stations broadcasting in your area. While some boxes do this automatically, you may need to select “scan” manually.
You should rescan on a periodic basis to get all of the digital programming available.
How do I Perform a Channel Scan?
- Run the “scan” function on your converter box or digital television set, usually on the remote control, labeled “set-up” or “menu” or some similar term. Consult the owner’s manual for more detailed instructions on how to run a channel scan.
- Once the scan is complete, you should be receiving digital channels through your antenna.
Perform a channel scan periodically to check for new digital channels in your area.
If you run a channel scan and are still having difficulty, we recommend you use our dtv.gov tool to see what stations you should be receiving in your area.
For More Information
For more information about the DTV transition visit the FCC's DTV website, visit the FCC's Consumer website, or contact the FCC’s Consumer Center by calling 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) voice or 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322) TTY; faxing 1-866-418-0232; or writing to:
Federal Communications Commission
Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau
Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Division
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20554
