Most of us would love to have a dedicated home theater room. A place to call our own when we want to hunker down for the night with a bowl of popcorn, a nice plush leather seat and this week’s latest blockbuster. However, for some of us that’s just not possible – we have to use our home theater space for other purposes when we’re not in movie-mode.

If you’ve found that your house is short on space, or you just want to convert your home theater/family room into a more versatile area, read on. Being economical with your space doesn’t mean that you have to give up any of that great audio or video you’d expect from a dedicated home theater, nor does it mean that you have to give up the stylish elements like a custom frame from HD Envy. It just means you’re going to have to get a little creative.

The most common alter-ego of a home theater is a games room. This usage is pretty consistent with the ethos of a home theater. It requires some additional equipment and media, but most of the hardware, like your flat screen TV and your surround sound system, are left intact – but you can get a flat screen TV for the gamer if you want to upgrade. For a games room, you will need a gaming console, some games, and any of those little extras like special controllers needed to play the game. That’s the basics. From there, you can add a great lounge chair for leaning back and enjoying a few hours of immersing yourself in an interactive world, and you can set up your audio and video to perform better based on the requirements of the game.

So what about something not as simple? Some people use their home theater as a business presentation location. Especially for small business owners, this room is great because it has the multi-media aspect, but it also has the professionalism that one would expect from such a meeting. For this purpose, you might need a large conference table and some additional seating. You can buy stackable chairs and a folding table, if this is just going to be an occasional event. You can also set up your computer, such as your Mac Mini, to connect to your home theater devices and play your Power Point presentations with the click of a mouse.

Other, less common conversions of home theaters include adding a stage for children’s plays, adding some tables and chairs to throw a CD release party, or screening a photo slideshow. The sky’s the limit if you want to convert your home theater for other uses, especially those that use audio/video.

You want the best image quality possible when you collapse into your leather home theater seating after a long day of work. And that means that you will probably want to upscale your DVDs – that is, improve their visuals to match your flat screen TV’s Full HD capabilities. Although a DVD will never look as crisp as a Blu-Ray disc, you can reduce the noise and improve the visuals by using the internal upscaler in your Blu-Ray player or your HDTV.

Many consumers purchase the top-of-the-line Blu-Ray player, only to realize that their HDTV does just as much, or more, when it comes to DVD upscaling. In order for you to watch your DVDs at their peak, you need to understand what upscaling is, and then go through the differences between an upscaler in a flat screen TV and a Blu-Ray player.

DVD players come in two basic varieties – standard and progressive scan. You can learn more about interlaced scan and progressive scan, but all you need to know for now is that DVDs are normally played at 480i or 480p resolution. This indicates that there are 720 pixels horizontally and 480 pixels vertically. When you upscale, you are increasing the resolution.

In technical terms, upscaling uses a mathematical equation to match the number of pixels that your DVD displays naturally with the number of pixels on your flat screen TV. This is usually 1280 by 720 (if your HDTV is a 720p resolution display), or 1920 by 1080 (for those flat screen TVs that are either 1080p or 1080i).

An upscaled DVD image will appear smoother, with more color intensity and a sharper overall visual effect. But before you go out and purchase that super expensive Blu-Ray player that can upscale up to 1080p, check your HDTV.

There are two things you need to consider when you examine your flat screen TV for upscaling purposes. First, what is the resolution of your TV? If it is 720p, you don’t need a Blu-Ray player that can upscale up to 1080p or 1080i, as you won’t get the full effects. Next, see if your HDTV offers its own upscaling technology. A lot of the newer sets out there will allow you to upscale your DVDs without the need for an external upscaler in your Blu-Ray player.

Check with your flat screen TV before going out and purchasing a Blu-Ray player to upscale your DVDs. You might end up saving yourself some money. However, the image quality from a Blu-Ray player will likely be better, but not by much, when compared to that of an HDTV. Just be sure to remember that an upscaled DVD will not be True HD, it can only approximate the resolution of your flat screen TV.

Choices, choices, choices… in our consumer-based economy, we are sometimes inundated with such a large variety of choices that we become overwhelmed and unable to make a confident decision. And this perplexing array of choice is probably most pronounced when it comes to consumer electronics, especially those for your home theater. When it comes to your home theater, the TV will likely be the central aspect of your technology and your design. But which TV to choose?

There are many factors that you can use to decide which TV is right for you. Size (ranging from 19-inches up to 60-inches and more), resolution (1080p, 480i and all the resolutions in-between), video and audio technologies and more. But before you dive into the nitty-gritties of TV choices, you must first make the basic decision: do you want a flat panel TV or a front projector?

First, some descriptions are in order. A flat panel TV is the more common modern TV choice. It includes plasma and LCD display technologies, and all of the big-name manufacturers make them. They are usually high-definition, and can reach as high as 1080p resolution. Video projectors are a bit different. Rather than having the screen and display technologies in one place, you purchase a screen and a projector separately. The projector is usually mounted to the ceiling and pointed at the fabric screen on a far wall.

Projectors do have their purposes. For business conferences, they’re the go-to technology. University classrooms also often feature projectors. And you might’ve seen one of your friends or neighbors with their very own projector in their home theater. However, if you are someone looking for a way to include fashion and functionality in your home theater, you would probably be better off with a flat panel TV.

Projectors can end up with a larger overall screen size than flat panel TVs. On the surface, this sounds like a great thing. However, the larger you get, the blurrier the picture will become. And projectors often have a harder time connecting to cable or television broadcast. Most projectors do not have RF cable or antenna connections, whereas flat panel TVs include these features as standard.

The actual projector screen can be rather difficult to incorporate into the interior design of your home theater. Because it is a soft material that hangs from the ceiling, you can’t add a flat panel TV frame to polish it off. And its white color is usually more glaring and abrasive than the sleek black that most flat panel TVs display.

Blub life is another worry with projectors. While a flat panel TV will last you ten or more years, the projector’s bulb burns out relatively quickly. For instance, if you watch TV or movies for about three or four hours a night, the bulb will burn out after just one year – and it will cost you $300 or more to replace. Add to this the maintenance costs and time-consuming cleaning that a projector requires regularly, and it’s clear that a flat panel TV is the better option for the majority of home theaters.

After a few hours of shopping and installation, you now have your beautiful new flat screen TV, fully decked out with a modern TV picture frame from HD Envy, mounted to the wall of your home theater. It is stunning, pristine, awe-inspiring. But it can’t do too much just yet. Sure, you can get your standard digital cable signals, but you want something really special to bring out all of that top-performing hardware in the back of your set that you spent so long researching. And for this, you’ll need a Blu-Ray player.

When on the hunt for a Blu-Ray player, you should keep a few concerns at the forefront of your mind. Because not all Blu-Ray players are built equal (nor are their prices, which can range from $99 to $999 and more), you want the one that matches your TV and sound system best. In particular, you want to look for the video resolution, audio decoding, the Profile of the Blu-Ray player and the “extras” like online services.

While most people would assume that a Blu-Ray player automatically outputs the coveted 1080p Full HD resolution, this isn’t always so. You need to first make sure that your HDTV can accept a 1080p signal. If it can, you’re in luck – the next time you sit down with popcorn in hand, you will likely be blown away. However, if your flat screen TV can only produce a 1080i or 720p resolution, all is not lost. Paired with a Blu-Ray player and the correct cables, these TVs will likely perform better than they would if a DVD player was attached. This is because a Blu-Ray player not only plays Blu-Ray discs at 1080p resolution, but it can also play DVDs, and in many cases, upscale their resolution to as high as 1080p from the native 720p.

Home theater audio is another consideration when shopping around for your dream Blu-Ray player. All Blu-Ray players must support a minimum standard of sound formats. These are extremely accurate reproductions of theater-grade sound that you’ll notice as an improvement over DVDs right away. The minimum that a Blu-Ray player must support is Dolby Digital, DTS and PCM. If you’re looking for even more oomph, look for a Blu-Ray player that can handle Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD High Resolution and DTS-Master Audio. When examining the sound format compatibilities of your Blu-Ray player, keep your sound system in mind. Can your AV receiver decode these more advanced digital formats? If so, you might not need a more expensive player that does the decoding internally. If not, you might. Also when determining which audio suite is best for you, keep in mind that most Blu-Ray players with internal decoding require an HDMI connection in order to work – so if you have a receiver without HDMI capabilities, look for a player that has multi-channel analog outputs.

Blu-Rays are categorized into several Profiles so you can get a one-glance understanding of some of their capabilities. A Profile 1, Version 1.0 player is the oldest model of Blu-Ray, and covers everything produced in 2007 and earlier. After 2007, Profile 1, Version 1.1 was made possible. This new version added picture-in-picture capabilities (called BonusView) and an increase in internal storage for updates and other hardware and software necessities. The latest and most robust profile is Profile 2.0, also known as BD-Live. This covers everything that Profile 1 players have, upgrades the internal storage to 1 GB, and, probably the most popular feature, includes an Internet connection capability.

Once you know the basics of Blu-Ray, you can begin to check out the extra stuff to fine-tune your selection. Maybe you want to access Internet services like Pandora Radio and YouTube on your TV – get a Profile 2.0 with those capabilities. Or maybe you just want the basics, watching movies in beautiful 1080p quality – a Profile 1 with 1080p and some nice sound decoding would probably do well for you.

Your modern home theater just isn’t complete without a Blu-Ray player (and maybe that nice leather frame from HD Envy to compliment it). As more Blu-Rays hit the market, you can pick and choose the features, price-points and extras that you want, in order to get the perfect experience for your next movie night.

So you’ve set up your flat screen TV to be a wireless entertainment portal. You can access YouTube, check your stock values and even use social networks to chat with your friends, all from your stylish HDTV featuring a TV picture frame. Now you’d no doubt like to use wireless technology to make other areas of your home theater more efficient, right?

Your home network can do much more than just allow your “connected” flat screen TV to connect to Internet widgets. There are so many gadgets out there, from AV receivers to gaming consoles to Blu-Ray players, that utilize network technology as well. Some of these allow you to connect devices without the need for cables, while others allow you to access online information without being hardwired to the Internet. Ready to upgrade your home theater to a truly networked experience?

Next to your flat screen TV, the two most important elements in your home theater are your video and audio inputs – your center and rear speakers, surround sound setup, subwoofer, Blu-Ray player, DVD player, radio receiver, multimedia center and so many others. These are the content-producers, the things that allow you to enjoy high-def videos and high-res audio. And they can all, in one way or another, benefit from that home network that you set up.

Let’s start with video. Blu-Ray players are quickly becoming the favorite for videophiles and movie fans, because of their 1080p output and their internal decoding of the latest audio formats, among other things. Many Blu-Ray players have a Profile 2.0 feature, which in effect is their ability to connect to the Internet and bring you extra content. A Profile 2.0 Blu-Ray player offers access to BD-Live, which has features that are unlocked based on which BD-Live compatible discs display. Some can access behind-the-scenes exclusives, others can access fact sheets on the actors and other members of your film, while still others will give you access to contests and surveys. Newer Blu-Ray players have expanded wireless capabilities, such as photo streaming from your PC or access to movies from your Netflix account.

The audio side of wireless technology is a huge marketplace, and it’s easy to get lost in the offerings. Ranging from wireless satellite speakers that compliment your sound system to whole-house wireless audio integration, your choices for wireless audio are nearly limitless. In particular, a multi-room audio system might offer you the ability to connect to the music stored on your home PC and stream it to several rooms of your house. To take it up a notch, some of these systems are now offering the ability to connect to online music services, such as Pandora Radio or Sirius Satellite Radio.

Other items in your home theater can benefit from your home network as well. Some gaming consoles can connect to the internet, most notably Xbox 360. The Xbox Live feature supports user profiles, multiplayer online gaming and much more. iPods and iPhones can connect to your local network, and many audio systems and all-in-one systems have docks to connect the wireless capabilities of these portable devices to your home audio system.

Enjoy the new connectivity and the new freedom from miles of cable that your home wireless network opens up to you. And remember: A flat screen TV frame from HD Envy is the perfect complement to a crisp and clean wireless system.

The video format wars have been going on for years. You’ve no doubt heard of the mainstays, like VHS and DVDs, but do you remember the brief DVD competitor HD DVD? Or how about the one-time VHS competitor Betamax? A video recording format history isn’t necessary for you to get the most out of your home theater, but you should understand the basics about the up-and-coming format that will likely send DVDs running for their money in the near future. We’re talking, of course, about Blu-Ray Discs.

Blu-Rays fought and won the battle of the next generation video recording format against HD DVDs. They are now the consumer electronics industry’s #1 disc for producing the highest quality audio and video, and by understanding a bit about how they work, you can incorporate Blu-Rays into your home theater with awe-inspiring effects.

Blu-Ray Discs (commonly known as either Blu-Rays or BDs) are optical discs that use a blue-violet laser to read and write data. This allows them to hold more than 5x the amount of data that a regular DVD can hold, and makes them ideal for high definition video – the holy grail of video quality. In fact, high-definition video, or HD, offers 5x more detail and sharpness than standard video. If you’ve seen an in-store display of a Blu-Ray player, playing a Blu-Ray Disc, hooked up to an HDTV, you understand the stunning video quality that we’re talking about. And if you haven’t, do a little window shopping this weekend and see for yourself.

A dual-layer Blu-Ray Disc can hold 50 GB of data, which translates to nine hours of HD video or 23 hours of standard definition video. They can store plenty of HD extras, like behind-the-scenes, bloopers, interviews and more. And not only can Blu-Ray Discs hold tons of stunning video, they have the ability to synch up to your Internet connection and offer you bonus features through BD-Live. Before you get too excited, remember that this requires that you have a Profile 2.0 Blu-Ray Player to access the Internet.

Sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? Speaking of sound, the Blu-Ray offers high-resolution audio to match that beautiful HD video as well. In addition to Linear PCM, Dolby Digital and Dolby Digital Surround, which DVDs currently offer, Blu-Rays can play Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD audio formats. These are types of audio that get as close to the true theater sound as you can get with a disc meant for home theater use – and if your surround sound system is up to the task, you can immerse yourself in the dialog, sound effects and music the way the director would have wanted it.

Blu-Rays are quickly proving to please videophiles, audiophiles and average movie-lovers alike. They offer crisp video quality, superb audio and tons of data storage. If you have an HDTV and you’re still using a DVD player (or, dare we say it, a VHS player), you might want to consider making the upgrade. The Blu-Ray players on the market come in all shapes, sizes and prices, some as low as $99, and the discs can be found at most major video stores and big box stores across the country, not to mention online venues like Amazon.com.

Lauren writes for the HD Envy blog. HD Envy is a leading provider of Flat Screen TV Wall Frame solutions for home theaters. By mounting your HDTV with a flat screen TV wall frame, you will add a unique, sophisticated style to your home theater or family room. HD Envy offers flat screen TV wall frame custom creations, that you can design based on your current décor. And by following VESA industry guidelines in their construction process, HD Envy is able to offer flat screen TV wall frame options that will fit on to any brand or size of TV. Your home theater will be complete once you add a stunning flat screen TV wall frame from HD Envy.

Video quality is something that every home theater enthusiast, whether you’re a videophile or just a huge movie buff, wants to perfect. Seeing a scene from your favorite flick in fluid, crystal-clear motion with no jagged edges or flickering… doesn’t that sound like heaven? So to get this, do you need a 1080p HDTV? Or will a 480i CRT work? Sometimes you’ll find that you can’t quite tell what all of those home theater terms means, especially when it comes to video. Audio-wise, “surround sound” pretty much speaks for itself; but 1080i and 720p are mysterious, offering no information to someone who isn’t on the inside track of the home video market.

In order to get that beautiful, pristine image, you’re going to have to understand what these terms mean, and what you need for your viewing purposes. In this article, we will discuss what those letters at the end of the resolution descriptors you see on HDTV boxes mean: the “i” and the “p”.

There are two standards for broadcasting and recording in most major television markets: Interlaced scan and progressive scan. The picture quality depends on which one of these technologies is used.

Interlaced scan was designed for older CRTs – cathode ray tube televisions. It works by alternatively refreshing about 480 horizontal lines across the television screen, 240 at a time. The even-numbered lines (2, 4, 6, etc) refresh to show the image, followed by the odd lines, at a rate of 30 frames per second. This can create some motion blur and jagged images, as the delay between the rows is particularly noticeable on high-motion scenes.

Progressive scan technology came about at around the same time that the flat panel TV market took off, and it is found on most LCD, plasma and LED TVs out there. It uses the same horizontal lines as interlaced scan, but rather than refreshing them based on odd and even lines, it does them in numerical order (1, 2, 3, etc). The resultant image is much smoother than interlaced scan.

In the United States, when you hear the term Standard definition or Standard TV, it means that the image uses interlaced scan. High definition uses progressive scan technology.

Generally, progressive scan is a more clear and defined picture, especially in the details and in motion scenes. If you compared a 720p (720 horizontal lines drawn all at once, beginning with the first line and going in order) to a 1080i (1080 horizontal lines with 540 being drawn every other line, then the remaining 540 being drawn after), you would notice a visual difference during, say, a run towards the goal for the game’s finishing touchdown. The 720p, despite not having as many lines, would look crisper and have cleaner motion sequences.

Understanding what interlaced and progressive scans mean can help you choose which flat screen TV is right for you. If you are just going to receive standard cable broadcasts, you might not need more than 480i – but you would still be missing some of the crispness that a progressive scan could give you. The be-all-and-end-all of display technology is 1080p, which offers 1080 horizontal lines that refresh progressively. This will give you the best picture possible for movies, sports, television, home videos and anything else you want to enjoy in your home theater.

Lauren writes for the HD Envy blog. HD Envy creates custom TV frame solutions for your home theater. Each TV frame solution is made from high-quality wood, leather or a material that matches your décor, and uses only the best practices in manufacturing. The unique designs of all of the TV frame solutions at HD Envy allow them to easily be incorporated into any décor, whether it is traditional or contemporary. You will be the envy of all of your neighbors when you add a TV frame solution from HD Envy to your home.

It seems like just yesterday the battle between LCD and plasma technology was in full swing. And not long before that, TV display manufacturers were still pumping out CRT TVs and wavering on the edge of diving into the newest display technologies. Well, LCDs and plasmas did indeed take over CRTs, with most of the big names in display technologies not producing this older technology any longer. And although a winner has yet to be declared, LCDs are out-selling plasmas even in the large screen market, traditionally dominated by the ailing PDP technology. So as the industry moves at its typically lightning-fast pace, what’s on the horizon for home theater enthusiasts, videophiles and families looking to make a little entertainment investment?

The latest display technology appears to be Light Emitting Diode, or LED TV technology. Although not yet a prolific force in the market, the big names like Sony and Samsung are investing heavily into this energy-efficient, crisp and clear display technology. It offers many benefits over LCD and plasma displays, such as increased life-span and reduced energy consumption. However, LEDs are still quite expensive and can be a tricky technology due to the more controlled heat and current management that they require. So what’s all the fuss about LEDs anyway?

Those who have been able to visually compare LEDs to their flat panel cousins, LCD and plasma, will tell you that there is a noticeable difference between the displays. And it isn’t necessarily the overall picture quality. LED screens tend to be clearer than others because of the fast switching that each LED is capable of. This means that any camera pan, whether in a high-action sequence or a panoramic mood shot, will appear crystal clear and have no motion blur. The screens themselves are able to be built much thinner than LCD or plasmas, which is another great selling point.

Some manufacturers have been able to produce a hybrid form of LED display by using it in combination with LCD technology. Samsung, for instance, came out with one of the first LED-backlit LCD TVs back in 2004 to resounding accolades from the display industry. The addition of LEDs as backlights means that the life of the display can be extended, motion blur can be reduced and colors can be enhanced. You can read all about the Samsung 40-inch LED-backlit LCD TV and its award-winning technology by visiting GizMag.com. Keep in mind that these TVs still use LCD technology as the main image production, and LEDs as backlight.

Another application of LED technology is in the innovative Organic Light Emitting Diode display technology. This is still in its infancy, with very little consumer products available. A single OLED display measuring just 11-inches across will set you back about $2,500 from Sony, and very few other manufacturers even have them for sale yet. Although this technology has its roadblocks, such as a quick deterioration, if it is developed more fully it might send LCD and plasma running to the hills. OLEDs require far less power than LEDs or LCD technology, and they do not need a backlight so the screen can be ultra-thin. The color from an OLED display will be much brighter and vivid than a similar LCD display, because each little diode is emitting light. This will also make any viewing angle a “sweet spot”.

Keep your eye on the growing research and development put into LED and OLED technology. This appears to be the direction that the industry is moving, and if you plan on upgrading your home theater in a few years, you might be just in time to test drive the latest displays.

Lauren is a contributing author for HD Envy’s blog. If you’ve considered redecorating or adding a touch of sophistication to your home theater, HD Envy’s custom TV frame options might be just what you’re looking for. The custom TV frame solutions at HD Envy can be designed by you to match your home theater. You can choose from any number of styles, materials and colors to produce the custom TV frame that’s right for you. And you can be confident that the experts at HD Envy will create a custom TV frame that is unique, easy to install and affordable for everyone. A custom TV frame from HD Envy is based on industry standards, so each custom TV frame will fit that LCD, plasma or even the OLED display you’ve got in your home.

For those of you just getting the hang of HDMI 1.3, the news of a new HDMI technology, HDMI 1.4, might initially come as an annoyance more than anything. HDMI 1.3 cables have already simplified your home theater setup, so why bother with upgrading to the latest version? Well, the feature that has every audio and video enthusiast excited over this new development is simple: HDMI 1.4 can transmit Internet data.

On the most basic level, this means that each and every one of your devices, from game consoles to set top boxes, needs only a single HDMI 1.4 cable connected to a device that is equipped with Internet connection. No more Cat 5 cables or Wi-Fi connections for every device that you want to hook into the great information highway. If you have, say, a TV that can access the Internet via Wi-Fi or Ethernet, every device that is connected to that TV via HDMI 1.4 will also be connected to the Internet (assuming the device has the proper hardware for this connection).

The technical term for this new capability is the HDMI Enternet Channel, or HEC. Your devices must have certain characteristics to take advantage of this technology. They must all be able to “talk” to each other, and they must all be able to accept HDMI 1.4 cables. The new HEC technology transmits not just video data, but all types of data via the Internet connection. This means that you can transfer photos or other media directly from your TV to a DVD burner, or store them on your hard drive with no additional cable hookups.

While the HEC technology is the most exciting aspect of the new HDMI 1.4, there are several other additions that make this cable unique. It includes Audio Return Channel (ARC) technology, which allows those using the audio tuner inside their TV to ditch extra analog stereo cables and use HDMI 1.4 to transmit the sound from the tuner to their receiver. It also has the ability to transmit most of the 3D data that is currently available. While this is not yet widespread, it appears that the industry is slowly making a shift towards more 3D video for home theater use, and once all of the devices and discs catch up, HDMI 1.4 will come in handy.

Your home theater setup could shed quite a few cables with this new configuration. This will be a welcome addition for anyone just starting to collect the devices and components for their new home theater, but it might be a bit of a financial burden for those who already have their home theater established. HDMI 1.4 has several exciting new features, and if you’re interested in creating a web-enabled hub as part of your home theater, your options have just been simplified.

Lauren is a contributing writer to the HD Envy blog. The picture frame TV mount options at HD Envy will provide your home theater with a boost of sophisticated style. You can choose between the pre-made picture frame TV mount solutions, or work with design and engineer experts at HD Envy to produce your own custom picture frame TV mount. Whether you are looking for a picture TV frame mount made from oak, ash, leather, ceramic or plastic, HD Envy is there. If you want to have an original, unique and stylish home theater, consider the picture frame TV mount options at HD Envy.

By now you’ve heard of, and are perhaps even sick of, the pending DTV transition. The government and consumer electronics industry leaders have been pumping out the ads, coupons and press releases galore in the hopes that confusion and panic will be minimized once analog goes dark. If this has all gone on without you, if you think you might’ve missed a step in the transition, or you’re just curious to see how it will really affect what you see on your TV, read on.

Since the DTV transition date was pushed back from February 17th to June 12th, more coupons have been distributed and more Americans are prepared for the switch. The FCC and other organizations have worked tirelessly to educate the public, getting those converter boxes into as many hands as possible and establishing call centers for support. For the latest news on who is still broadcasting in analog and how to get your hands on a converter box, go to the government website set up for this issue: http://www.dtv.gov/.

The first step you should take to prepare your home theater for the switch to DTV is to see if your TV already has a digital receiver. If so, you’re set. No coupon, no converter box, no tuning necessary. So how do you know if you’re one of the lucky ones spared the headache of additional components, cables and setup? Any TV manufactured after March 1st, 2007 must have a digital tuner. You can check with your TV manufacturer to make sure that yours fits into this category, but if you purchased after March 1st, 2007, you’re likely in the clear. However, manufacturers are able to sell older products that they had in their inventory after this date which may not have had a digital tuner installed. To be safe, do a quick search online for your TV make and model code and “digital tuner”.

If you have an older TV, you must install a converter box in order to receive the new digital broadcast signals. And it must be in place by June 12th, or you’ll be in the dark, with no access to local or national programming on your TV set. A digital-to-analog converter box is a device that will convert the digital broadcast to analog signals that your television set can read and display. These boxes are now selling at most consumer electronics stores for about $40 to $80, and the government coupon program (which can be accessed at http://www.dtv.gov/) will help to greatly offset this cost. Once you have your hands on the box, connecting it to your TV is relatively easy, and there are plenty of guides online (http://www.crutchfield.com/Learn/learningcenter/home/dtv.html).

Remember that this transition is not going to affect you if you currently subscribe to satellite or digital cable services. These will not be interrupted, as they do not rely on over-the-air analog broadcasting. Only local TV stations are currently using this analog broadcasting, and it is those 15 or 20 million consumers who receive local TV broadcasts that will be affected.

The transition date is just a little over a week away, so be sure that you understand the facts surrounding this issue. You will save yourself a lot of hassle and headaches if you move on the transition now, and you’ll thank yourself if you can turn on the local news after work on June 13th without a second thought.

Lauren is a contributor to the HD Envy blog. HD Envy creates custom TV wall frame solutions for your home theater. The design experts at HD Envy will work with you to produce a TV wall frame that perfectly matches your décor. Whether you want a leather upholstered TV wall frame or a traditional wood TV wall frame, you will find what you’re looking for at HD Envy. The affordability and durability of the TV wall frame products at HD Envy makes them stand out from the crowd. By including a TV wall frame in your home theater, you will be the envy of all your guests.