The end of analog TV broadcasts per federal government mandate is still two years away, but RCA is already getting ready for the transition. The company says it is readying the DTA800, a low-cost and energy-efficient converter that will ensure reception of favorite broadcast TV programs even when analog TV signals are turned off.

At midnight at the end of Feb. 17, 2009, analog TV broadcasts are scheduled to cease in the United States in favor of digital over-the-air broadcasting. Millions of consumers rely on terrestrial broadcast TV for news, information, and entertainment, and each will need a digital TV receiver or converter in preparation for the end of analog broadcasting. The ideal answer for the end of the transition, says RCA, is the DTA800, designed to be an affordable, high-quality set-top receiver for terrestrial digital TV broadcasts that will be fully compliant with the consumer coupon requirements of the U.S. government.

Designed for consumers who have a favorite analog TV, or perhaps one built into a custom-made cabinet, the DTA800 receives terrestrially broadcast digital TV signals and converts them for display on a conventional analog TV, according to RCA. With the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) estimating that more than 20 million analog televisions rely on terrestrial signals for local channel reception, the RCA DTA800 Digital TV Adapter should play an important role in the completion of the digital TV transition.

With an antenna input, digital reception and analog conversion electronics, and analog outputs, the DTA800 will easily receive over-the-air ATSC standard-definition and high-definition terrestrial broadcasts and comes equipped with a remote control unit. Analog viewers will have several new features with the RCA DTA800, including on-screen program information sent by broadcasters, digital parental control options, closed captioning, and a SmartAntenna interface for use with specialty antenna products that optimize reception in hard-to-reach areas, RCA says.

Pricing and availability is to be determined. Visit www.rca.com for more.

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Arlen Schweiger - Managing editor of Electronic House Magazine

Arlen contributes product news items to electronichouse.com along with his role on the print publication. Got a tip? Send it along!