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Analog TVs can still be operational today, but you'll require either a converter box or a new subscription service. onurdongel / Getty ImagesOn June 12, 2009, U.S. full-power television stations transitioned from broadcasting analog signals to digital signals. If you're using a digital portable TV, you're all set. However, for those with analog TVs, the situation is a bit more complex. The answer is both yes and no. Yes, an analog portable TV can still work if you acquire a digital-to-analog converter box or subscribe to services like cable or satellite TV. If neither of these options is followed, unfortunately, your analog portable TV won't work unless you're in a country where analog TV signals are still broadcast, or you're okay with only receiving transmissions from low-power TV stations or translator TV stations.
Whether your portable TV can still receive TV signals or not, you should still be able to connect it to devices like DVD players, gaming consoles, VCRs, and other such products. Let's also discuss the digital-to-analog converter box. After the shift to digital TV broadcasting, U.S. households were offered two $40-off coupons to purchase digital-to-analog converter boxes, with approximately 34.7 million households taking up this offer. With the coupon, these converters were either free or nearly free, while without the coupon, each converter could cost anywhere from $46 to $114. Although you can still receive digital broadcasts on an analog TV with the help of a converter, you may notice a dip in digital quality.
To connect your portable analog TV to a battery-powered digital-to-analog converter box, the first step is to identify the manufacturer and model of your TV. Your portable TV needs to have an "Antenna In" port for the connection to the converter box. Additionally, you will require a separate antenna so the converter box can receive sufficient digital signals.
