How do I get the new over-the-air digital channels?
Because the digital channels use different technology than the current analog channels, you will need a new set-top box with your existing analog TV or digital TV with DVB-T logo to get the digital channels.
Why should I want to get the over-the-air digital channels?
The migration from analog TV to digital TV has delivered many benefits to countries all around the world, and RAC is also preparing a transition program for the local broadcasters and television viewers.
Digital TV offers much sharper pictures and sound than is possible with analog TV. Because more picture and sound “information” can be squeezed into a single channel, the TV set displays the picture in a higher resolution resulting in clearer pictures similar to that of DVDs. When broadcasters use all of their capacity to transmit a digital program, viewers with high-definition receivers and displays get the highest-resolution sound and picture available.
With digital, a broadcaster may also choose to broadcast more than one channel in the same amount of space that it is now broadcasting its analog channel. Viewers can get more channels than they do today with analog. Also, as more and more programs are available on the Internet and mobile phones, digital helps prepare your local broadcasters to provide programs through different streams and to different devices.
Which local channels are available in digital?
There are some important differences between how the TV receives a digital signal and how it receives an analog signal. With analog TV, you may receive some channels that don’t display as clear of a picture as others, but you can still watch these channels if you don’t mind some picture degradation (snowy picture, ghosting and noisy audio).
You will not see or hear these things when you receive a digital channel. However, if your antenna is not powerful enough, or you are far away from the TV transmitter, you may experience a “cliff effect”. Because digital TV speaks the precise language of ones and zeros, your TV/set-top box will not tune into the station if the signal is not strong enough. In other words, in those cases, there will be no picture, or there may be a picture but it may eventually “fall off the cliff” if the signal fades. In most cases, this problem can be solved with a more robust antenna. Antennas are available at your local retailer.
Will I be able to watch all of my favorite local TV programs?
Yes. TV stations that transmit a digital channel are showing all the same programs simultaneously on their analog channel. For TV stations that haven’t started a new digital channel, nothing has changed and their programs and program schedules remain the same. If you have a new digital receiver the only difference you will notice is that some channels will have improved pictures and sound.
You may continue to enjoy watching TV from Venezuela stations. The new local digital TV system will not interfere with you watching Venezuelan TV for now. That will change, however, in the future when Venezuela plans to turn off all its analog channels (not until 2020). Because Venezuela and Curaçao are using different Over-the-air digital TV systems, TVs compatible with the standard Curaçao uses will not be compatible with the standard adopted by Venezuela. At that point, Venezuelan channels may be received in Curaçao via satellite TV or cable-TV providers. In addition, RAC may decide to rebroadcast/repeat Venezuelan channels on one or more digital TV channels.
How much will a digital set-top box, TV or other receivers cost?
A digital set-top box that connects to your existing TV will cost anywhere from about NAF. 80 to NAF. 150 for a box with extra features. Digital TV costs will vary based on the size and type of the display, the brand, and other features such as HD or 3D capability. Prices can be as low as about NAF. 500 and as high as NAF. 10,000.
There are also aftermarket PC tuners that will work with RAC system and cost as little as NAF. 40 and as much as NAF. 400. They can be connected to a PC and used to watch Digital broadcasts with a USB port and sufficient processing power.
What do I do if I want to watch the digital channels and the analog channels?
You have two choices. You can purchase a set-top box that receives the digital channels and connect it to your existing TV, which already receives all the analog channels. Or, you can buy a new digital TV that can receive the analog (NTSC) and digital (DVB-T) channels. For this option, no set-top box is required.
How do I hook up my digital set-top box?
Connecting your digital set-top box is relatively simple but each hook up will be different depending upon which kind of set-top box you buy. All will come with instructions on how to connect the box to your TV and retail store personnel can also advise you on installation.
Do I have to buy an High Definition TV (HDTV) to get the new channels?
No, but you may want to buy an HDTV to prepare for a time when local stations do broadcast high-definition signals. Currently the digital channels are being broadcast in standard-definition, which is still a vast quality improvement over analog.
How do I know if I can watch both analog and digital channels when I buy a new TV?
By making sure that the TV is compatible with the digital DVB-T standard and the analog NTSC standard. The analog standard is the kind of TV signals you’ve been getting for years for over-the-air local TV channels and these channels will continue to be transmitted in this format until the entire broadcast system is changed over to digital. Your new TV will also need to receive the new DVB-T signals, so remember NTSC for analog channels and DVB-T for new digital channels. In the near future, all channels will be viewed with the DVB-T technology.
But if you want to get ALL local TV channels (analog and digital) before the entire broadcast system is all digital, your TV will need to receive both kinds of signals. All the digital TVs sold in the local stores will work with NTSC, but it’s a good idea to confirm this with the seller when buying your new TV.
Will TVs that use the ATSC (American system) standard be able to receive the new digital TV channels?
No, they will not. This is the Over-the-air digital TV standard used in the United States and it is a different standard than the one used in Curaçao (DVB-T). The DVB-T standard is the most widely used over-the-air digital TV format in the world. There are many different types of set-top boxes and televisions available that work with this format. You may see some of the ATSC TVs being sold in Curaçao stores, but if you buy one of them you will not be able to receive the over-the-air digital TV signals. So make sure you buy a set-top box or a TV that is compatible with the DVB-T format. Read more about Digital TV receivers.
