•May 11, 2016•

Some customers will need digital adapters to continue receiving TV signals as Mediacom Communications continues to upgrade its video network with an upcoming change that primarily affects the way subscribers view local broadcast television channels on analog TVs. Beginning Wednesday, June 15, 2016, analog signals will no longer be used to deliver lower-numbered channels, including local television stations based out of the Champaign-Springfield and Decatur areas.

While placing an emphasis on digital and high-definition (HD) channels, Mediacom has continued to support customers using older, non-digital TVs by also delivering analog signals for a subset of channels. Those channels will now convert to a digital-only signal and older-model TVs will need to connect to a digital adapter for continued reception.

Mediacom is aiding this conversion by making Digital Tuner Adapters (DTAs) widely available in both standard (SD) and high-definition (HD) formats. The HD version has HDMI ports, and all DTAs include a remote control and newly-released on-screen program guide.

Subscribers who already use a Mediacom DTA or digital converter box (cable set-top box) will not be affected; nor will viewers who connect a newer-model digital-ready TV directly to cable. But by using an adapter, Mediacom officials explain, customers can access more channels and use an on-screen program listing. Adapters also make it possible for older-model TVs to receive signals for higher-numbered channels such as WUSI-DT2 PBS World (Ch. 116) or WUSI-DT3 PBS Create (Ch. 117). For Family TV subscribers, an adapter or converter box delivers additional digital channels, including CBS Sports Network (Ch. 171), National Geographic (Ch. 250) and others.     Login or Subscribe to read the rest of this story.