Maybe a new TV?

"In some cases, that might technically be accurate. that's not true for most people."

Bill Phillips with Sound Advice in Altamonte Springs says that's because most recent TV's already have a digital receiver built in.

If yours doesn't, you'll need a converter box.

"They'll take the digital signals or the high definition digital signals and relay it to your TV. You'll get what amounts to DVD quality," Phillips said.

Cox Television's John Demshock says the move to digital TV lets broadcasters offer you more programming on subchannels.

"We're already seeing some creative uses of these subchannels and I think as more and more viewers get comfortable with digital they'll become just a commonplace as regular TV is now," he adds.

Digital TV is perhaps the most misunderstood change in technology since the introduction of HDTV.

Phillips has been watching d-t-v for quite a while and likes the picture and variety offered by digital subchannels.

"So there's actually two channel 2s, and two channel 9s and four channel 15s and each of those channels carries program content."

Unless you live way out in the country, it doesn't require a large antenna and you can even keep it indoors. Phillips did, especially since the hurricanes hit a few years back.

"I lost no reception whatsoever and it's been in the attic ever since."

At Channel 9, engineer John Demshock says the new antennas designed for DTV work very well.

"We have a couple of inexpensive ones that we looked at and we're just amazed by how they perform."

• PART I: Broadcasters and Consumers Must Convert
• What You Need To Know: Digital TV Basics
• Confused? Frequently Asked Questions