Got an older TV? Read this.(Have You Heard?)

If you get TV reception through an antenna, as roughly 42 million U.S. homes do, things will change for you in February 2009. That's when television broadcasters will stop sending analog signals and will switch to all-digital broadcasting. Unless your TV has a digital ATSC tuner--older sets don't--you'll have a box that sits in the corner and hisses at you when you try to watch your shows. Might as well get a cat.

Newer, digital TVs have their advantages, including sharper pictures, better sound, and more channels. But don't be pushed to buy one unless you want a TV anyway. Your existing set will still play DVDs, video games, and videotapes. And you can get a converter box that will let it pick up the new digital TV signals.

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COUPON CLIPPING

Along with the federally mandated conversion to digital broadcasting comes a federally sponsored coupon to defray the cost to consumers of retrofitting their televisions to receive digital signals. A provision passed by Congress at the urging of Consumers Union and other groups allows every household to get two $40 coupons to apply toward the cost of two converter boxes. The boxes will probably cost $50 to $70, so consumers will still have to ...