Unhappiness is a staticky TV.

The switch from analog to digital has many TV viewers suffering through some unanticipated pain
this week. Check out these articles on antenna and power supply problems at UNC-TV and also at WTVD (ABC), the two local stations who seem to be having the most trouble right now.

If the information there doesn't help you, try some of the numbers listed below. Or if you have information that might help other readers, leave it in the comment section.

Oh yeah, and double-rescan!

TV sets in the Triangle are still struggling with digital conversion, days after the nationally-mandated switchover on June 12.

UNC-TV is currently working to fix an antenna and power supply problem which will keep some sets Elmo-free throughout the summer. But many local viewers are also having trouble receiving a signal from WTVD, the local ABC affiliate.

ABC's problem appears to be nationwide. Some ABC affiliates, including WTVD, are broadcasting their digital signal on VHF, whereas most other stations broadcast on UHF. The power level assigned by the FCC for these VHF stations is lower, and that is causing the majority of reception problems.

Since digital conversion was completed on Friday, June 12, some local UNC-TV viewers have still had problems picking up the public television channels, even with the requisite digital televisions and converter boxes.

Because of problems with a tower in Chatham County, the problems have been bad throughout the Triangle. Here's what happened.

It's just about our worst Happiness nightmare: no TV signal. 

But if you're not digital-ready on Friday, June 12, all you're gonna be viewing is a weekend marathon of static. 

As everyone should know by now, digital-ready means you have a digital television, cable or satellite, or a digital conversion box. If you don't have one of those things, get thee to a Best Buy. 

Get more details on conversion and disposing of unwanted television sets by clicking "Read More."

Staff writer and Tennessee alum Aaron Moody, shows Eastern Wake how to Hook-up a Converter Box.

Congress has set June 12 2009 as the final date to convert to digital. However, two stations in the area will stick with the original date February 17 2009; those stations are CW22 and MYRDC.  The change for both of the stations will go in effect at 11:59 pm on February 17. For more information on CW22: http://www.raleighcw.com/dtv/index.shtml  and for MYRDC: http://www.wrdc28.com/dtv/index.shtml.

Stations that will be converting June 12 2009:

UNC TV
WRAL
ABC 11
NBC 17
ION
Fox 50

These stations will be holding off, because the Government ran out of money for the Converter Box coupons. They are hoping to solve this issue between now and June 12.  For more information about the new date visit http://dtv.gov/.

The FCC has just released a list of that want to drop analog before or on Feb. 17, despite the new June 12 date.

Unfortunately for viewers not ready, local stations are on the list, including WUNC, WTVD, WNCN, WRAL, and WRAZ. Here's the story. Here's the list. (List is a pdf.)

Update:  As some smart and observant posters pointed out, I overstated the local stations going digital before June. It looks like only watchers of MyRDC, The CW and WRAY will be affected. Sorry about that. And thanks to those who posted.

In response to my pleas that UNC Television air certain locally-oriented programs on their main channel (UNC-TV instead of digital channel UNC-NC) so that more people could watch them, a knowledgeable reader has pointed out that I don't understand non-digital television viewing. He's right.

So here's the deal on watching the UNC-NC channel:

• If you have digital cable, you can watch it on channel 204.
• If you have a digital television and no cable, you can watch on channel 4.3.
• If you have an analog television (rabbit ears, no cable) and a converter box, channel 4.3.
• If you have basic cable (for which you'd have no converter box), you can't watch it.
• If you have an analog television and no converter box, you can't watch it.

If I've left out any other possible viewing combinations, please let me know. The same theories apply for viewing the extra digital channels offered by WRAL, WTVD, WNCN, etc. But my point stands that regular ole Channel 4 is accessible to a lot more people.

If not, you might want to hurry. The government might be running out.

It looks like all those commercials reminding us about the February changeover are more effective than expected. Read this.