In less than 45 minutes I am going to hit the air for Chicago Tonight talking about yet another Digital Television story. I am going to briefly mention portable TVs, which will be greatly affected by the transition (check out my story on portable TVs, which is already on this blog).

While doing an internet search I found a converter box that is portable, and is sanctioned by the Federal Government's $40 Coupon Program. It is made by a company called Winegard. The model number is RDCT09A. You can order a $15 battery pack that you can use only with this converter box. Check it out at http://www.winegarddirect.com/viewitem.asp?p=WDRC-DT09A. If I can get permission to order one these boxes, I will try to test it out. This could save you from having to throw out your portable TVs.

I wanted to update folks about the Town Hall Meetings that the FCC is going to hold on Friday November 21st. Check the info out below:

DTV Workshops

Town Hall with FCC Commissioner Deborah Tate

Friday, November 21st 2008

9:30am to 10:30am
Northwest (Copernicus) Senior Center
3160 N. Milwuakee Avenue, Chicago, IL 60618
Call 312-744-6681 for more information

2pm to 3pm
Kennedy-King College
The Black Box Theater
740 West 63rd Street, Chicago, IL 60621
The U Building (between Halsted and Green Streets)
Call 773-602-5544 for more information

Today I am going to interview FCC Commissioner Deborah Tate. She has been assigned to the Midwest Region. She will hold a series of town hall meetings on Friday November 21st. I will have more details later today, and I post this info to this blog.

I plan to ask some of questions viewers have been e-mailing me. There is one in particular I will ask the Commissioner: Why switch to Digital TV with the economic downturn? For some people this has become expensive.

We will see what the answer is, along the others.

DTV Blog/Soft Test is coming Nov. 12th

Welcome to my Digital TV/Tech/Whatever I am doing this week Blog. This is just another way to let our viewers know what is going on.

For the next few months I will mainly focus on the DTV transition. If you have questions, comments (and even answers to questions I can't answer) please let me know.

Okay lets move on: tomorrow on Chicago Tonight at 7pm on Channel 11 we will be talking about the "soft" test that is going to take place the next day, November 12th at 6:58am and 5:23pm. During those time (for 5 minutes each time) most stations in the Chicago Area (including Channel 11) will shut off their analog signal. In place of the picture you will see a graphic that will tell you that your "Over the Air Analog" TV is not compliant.  So please tune in to check out the story, and fine out what you need to do.

Next week we will tackle the DTV transition again when we sit down and speak FCC Commissioner Deborah Tate, who will visit Chicago next week to hold a series of town hall meeting on the issue.