FREQUENTLY ASKED QUSTIONS
Q.1
   What is the digital television transition?
A:
   At midnight on February 17, 2009, all full-power television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting in analog and switch to 100% digital broadcasting. Digital broadcasting promises to provide a clearer picture and more programming options and will free up airwaves for use by emergency responders.
Q.2
   Will my television work after February 17, 2009?
A:
   Analog television sets receiving free TV using an antenna will not work after February 17, 2009. Television viewers with these sets that are not connected to a pay TV service will need to take action before February 17, 2009, to ensure their TV sets continue to work.
Q.3
   What are my options so I can continue to get TV after February 17, 2009?
A:
   Consumers have a variety of options. If you're not sure what to do, take a quick quiz to help you figure out what to do at www.DTVTransition.org. Options to explore include:
ˇ@ˇ@(a.) Keep your existing analog TV and purchase a TV converter box. A converter box plugs into your TV and will keep it working after Feb. 17, 2009, or
ˇ@ˇ@(b.) Connect to cable, satellite or other pay service, or
ˇ@ˇ@(c.) Purchase a television with a digital tuner.
Q.4
   What is a TV converter box?
A:
   A TV converter box is a new product available in early 2008 that plugs into your analog TV and, along with your antenna, will keep your analog set working after February 17, 2009. A TV converter box is a one-time purchase and is expected to cost between $40 and $70. A TV connected to cable, satellite or other pay TV service does not require a TV converter box from this program. For a list of TV converter boxes that can be purchased with $40 government coupons, please visit www.dtv2009.gov
Q.5
   What is the TV Converter Box Coupon Program?
A:
   Congress created the TV Converter Box Coupon Program for households wishing to keep using their analog TV sets after February 17, 2009. The Program allows U.S. households to obtain up to two coupons, each worth $40 that can be applied toward the cost of eligible converter boxes.
Q.6
   How do I get my coupons?
A:
   Between January 1, 2008 and March 31, 2009, consumers can apply for up to two $40 coupons per household by calling 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009), by going online at www.dtv2009.gov or by mailing their application to PO Box 2000, Portland, OR 97208-2000. Coupons will be mailed to requesters..
Q.7
   Where can I use my coupons?
A:
   When the coupon is mailed to you, it will include an insert with a list of nearby participating retailers.
You can expect to buy TV converter boxes and use your coupons at retail stores where you would normally buy consumer electronics products. You can also go online at www.dtv2009.gov, enter your zip code, and locate participating retailers on a map.
Q.8
   Will I need a special antenna to receive DTV over the air?
A:
   If you currently use an indoor or rooftop antenna to receive over-the-air analog broadcast television signals and you already get good or excellent reception quality, you should be able to get reception of digital television broadcast signals with the same antenna. For more information about using an antenna to receive local television broadcast channels, visit http://www.antennaweb.org/.
After the analog to digital broadcasting transition, in most cases, the same antenna that currently gives you good quality reception as before. However, some television stations may move to another channel in a different frequency band, which would require you to get another type of antenna than the one you use now. For example, a station in the"VHF band"(channels 2-13) could move to a channel in the "UHF band"(channels 14-51) and vice versa. Receiving VHF and UHF signals require different antenna types, although some antennas are designed to get both VHF and UHF signals.
To determine which antenna you need no matter where in the country you live, visit www.antennaweb.org. Just type in your address and zip code to find an antenna that will continue giving you free local broadcast programming.
The Very High Frequency (VHF) band is the segment of the television broadcast band covering channels 2 through 13. The Ultra High Frequency (UHF) band is the segment of the television broadcast band covering channels 14 through 83. Currently, the vast majority of TV stations broadcasting in digital are using UHF (14 and up) channels to do so. This is not due to any technical requirement of digital broadcasting, however. It is mostly because the UHF channels were more likely to be available in most markets. Eventually, after the digital transition is complete and TV stations no longer need to broadcast in analog, they may switch and use their current analog VHF channels for digital instead. Antennas that receive UHF stations only and ones that receive both VHF and UHF are a vailable. If you are fairly certain you won't want to get any lower channels in the VHF 2-13 range, you could purchase one that is UHF only.
Q.9
   How do I install a TV converter box?
A:
   Please refer to the quick installation guide in the package.
Be notice that we only supply the RF coaxial cable. Please purchase the rest necessary cables at your local store. (Ex. Audio/ Video cables?) The difference between ZAT-857 and ZAT-970/ZAT-970A is the CH3/ CH4 hardware switch. If users want to watch CH3 or CH4, users need to change CH3/ CH4 switch in the rear panel of ZAT-857. But CH3/CH4 selection of ZAT-970/ZAT-970A is processed by software (On-Screen Display). Please refer to the page 6 of ZAT-970/ZAT-970A user's manual to see the navigate steps in the Setup menu.
Q.10
   Can I continue using my existing VCR, DVD recorder with a coupon box for timed recording?
A:
   The analog equipment you currently use will continue to work with (output to) your analog TV set just as before, but they will not be able to receive over-the-air digital programming without the TV converter box. The converter box will down convert the digital signals and then you can record onto your VCR.
Therefore, the input to the VCR must be connected to the output of the coupon box and VCRs will only record whatever channel the converter box is already set on.
Attach the converter to your VCR, TiVo, DVD Recorder, etc. instead of hooking it directly to your TV. Connection procedures:
VCR and converter box connection via RF coaxial cables:
Ex. ZAT-970
1.
ˇ@ˇ@(a.) Connect the box's "RF OUT" to VCR's "RF IN" by a coaxial cable.
ˇ@ˇ@(b.) Connect the coaxial cable from the "RF OUT" jack of the VCR to the TV's "RF IN".
ˇ@ˇ@(c.) You can also use A/ V cables if the connections jacks are available on the VCR and TV.
(d.) Connect the Antenna to the Coupon Box RF IN.

2. Tuned your VCR to channel 3 or channels 4. (Some VCR have CH3/CH4 switch on the rear panel, some needs to switch channel 3 or channel 4 via On-Screen menu.)
3. Tune the converter to the channel you want to record prior to recording.
4. If you want to use the timed record function on the VCR, you need to take notice of your Sleep Timer default is 4 hrs that will cause the box to shut off automatically. You can change your Sleep Timer to Off directly. (Press the MENU button on the remote control -> select Setup -> Timer Setting -> Sleep Timer.
 
Q.11
   So many consumers have complained that after connecting why they can scan less channel than current their channels.
A:
  

Most coupon box only support to receive digital signals instead of analog TV signals. But some TV stations (Low-power TV stations, TV translator stations, and so-called Calss A stations) don't switch completely to digital broadcasts and continue broadcasting analog TV signals well. So, users feel the current coupon box scan fewer channels.
Without pass thru featured converter box, channel scanning is very varied by locations. Some area is same channel but other area is fewer channels and other area is more channels. If you're in an area served by such a station, you'll want a DTV converter box with analog pass through function that can handle both digital and analog signals. (We recommend ZAT-970A that allows analog TV signals to pass through the box without being converted to digital so the TV's analog tuner can receive and display them.)

[Note]: Analog broadcasting station judging ways:

There are a few ways to determine if you're being served by one of these types of stations.
(1.) Most low-power stations typically have call letters that end in ˇVLP (such as WAOH-LP); some have five characters starting with the letters K or W, followed by two numbers and two additional letters (W35AX, for example).
(2.) A translator station uses a similar designation, with its channel number in the middle of its call letters. You're viewing a translator station if you're watching a full-power station but have to tune to another channel to watch it.
(3.) And Class A stations can typically be identified by the use of a ˇVCA suffix. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), the agency administering the DTV converter box coupon program, has online a complete list of low-power and translator stations.
Reference website: http://www.ntia.doc.gov/dtvcoupon/LPTVmap.html
[Note]: Today, 1,624 out of 1,760 full-power television stations nationwide already offer digital programming in every market in America.
   
 

This Q&A provides the most commonly asked questions from users about the coupon box. If these gathered Q&A collections are not enough to solve your problems, please contact us at service@zinnetusa.com