Probably nothing.

I get this question all the time. People went to Wal-Mart and saw a DTV converter box and wonder if they are going to have to get it to continue watching TV. They know I’m a geek so instead of buying it they ask me. Those are the smart ones. I know of several people who purchased these already thinking that they would not be able to watch TV after a certain date if they did not.

The reason most people won’t be affected is that this only affects people who receive their TV with an old fashioned over the air antenna (not satellite antenna). In my area that means you can get one station if you buy a huge antenna and stick it way high in the air and are willing to watch a lot of snow with your picture. I realize that some people, in fact probably many people, still get over the air television, but not in this area. Wal-Mart is either irresponsible for selling them, or is being forced to sell them by the government.

I would be negligent if I didn’t point out that you really should look at the DTV Transition site. This does affect many people or they wouldn’t have gone to such an effort to publicise this.

The best way to tell if you need a converter box or not is this: If there is an old wire antenna on the top of your house and you don’t pay any money for your television then you need to buy a converter box. If you pay money monthly for your television, then you have nothing to do.