Your tube: Is it ready for digital?

Jennifer Galovich thought she was doing everything right to prepare for Friday, when all of the nation's TV stations are required to switch to digital-only signals. She bought a converter box. She followed the instructions. She adjusted her roof antenna. But Galovich quickly realized that she may have made a critical mistake: She lives in St. Joseph. Rural and small-town residents like Galovich, who lives a few miles from St. Cloud, are worried that TV's new digital age will keep them from getting their favorite free channels.

Experts insist that a bit of tweaking by both broadcasters and consumers should eliminate all of the problems -- but nobody knows for sure.

"It feels like the government did this with only urban markets in mind," said Galovich, a math professor at St. John's University.

Most Minnesotans are ready for Friday's switch -- those homes with cable and satellite service, or with newer, digital-friendly TVs.

Some who have relied on rooftop antennas or rabbit ears have decided to fork over some extra bucks and enter the world of pay TV. Comcast, which has been offering free or discounted basic-cable service, has seen a "noticeable increase" in new customers, said Mary Beth Schubert, the company's vice president of corporate affairs in the Twin Cities.

But those determined to stick to broadcast are mostly making the transition, thanks to government coupons and retailers' well-stocked supply of converter boxes, which cost about $40 to $60.

Patrick Minton, who relies primarily on cable in his Eden Prairie home, picked up a box Tuesday from his local Best Buy to accommodate the compact black-and-white set he watches while shaving.

"I got the television as a promotion years ago, so it's got sentimental value," Minton, said as he stood by a stack of 250 units. "As long as I've got the $40 coupon, it's almost free, so I decided to go ahead and bite the bullet."

Minneapolis-based Target also anticipates it will have an ample supply of converter boxes, and has offered deals in hopes of bringing in customers.

Richfield-based Best Buy is providing free in-home installation in 31 states, including Minnesota, Wisconsin and the Dakotas, under a federally funded program for "at risk" households -- seniors, those in rural areas and on Indian reservations, low-income consumers and non-English speakers.

Digital signal: all or nothing

Even a bargain, however, might not help folks like Galovich who refuse to switch to cable ("I'm not paying for stuff I'm not interested in seeing") but are finding it difficult to get the new digital signals. In most cases, the culprit is an improperly positioned rooftop antenna. In the past, that might have led to fuzzy reception. Now, it could bring darkness.

"There's a 'cliff effect' in digital," said Jim du Bois, president of the Minnesota Broadcasters Association. "A lot of people tolerated marginal signals in the analog world. But in digital, you either get a great picture or you get none at all."

Galovich hired someone to move her antenna and, for a while, that took care of most of her problems. A few months later, more stations were on the blink, and the repairman had to make yet another adjustment. She's still having problems receiving Twin Cities-based ABC affiliate KSTP.

"I'm willing to give it up, although I would miss 'Desperate Housewives,'" she said.

KSTP general manager Rob Hubbard believes Galovich will be able to get her Wisteria Lane fix. Come Friday, KSTP will move to a lower frequency, making it easier for rural residents to get reception. Other stations across the state will soon boost their power and expand their reach, Du Bois said.

Hubbard doesn't think he or others will lose customers. Another general manager who has already gone through the process backs up that prediction.

Jerry Watson, who runs the NBC and Fox affiliates in Rochester and a station in Sioux City, Iowa, went digital in mid-February. For days, the phones rang off the hook as thousands of customers faced difficulties, but the stations' ratings remained stable.

The most common caller demographic: older viewers who are less than technical wizards.

"I talked to one elderly gentleman in Iowa," Watson said. "As I was talking him through it over the phone, he seemed to have the converter box set up properly. Then I told him to point to 'scan channels' on the screen. There was a long silence and he said, 'Nothing happened.' Turns out he was pointing at the screen with his finger."

Broadcasters gird for stormy weekend

There are a number of clinics and hotlines to help consumers, but Watson worries about this weekend.

"I'm a little concerned that this is happening on a Friday," he said. "When we converted, it was in the middle of the week and the stations were manned. I think stations in the Twin Cities will get a lot of phone calls."

WCCO spokesperson Kiki Rosatti said her station plans extra staffing this weekend. Hubbard said KSTP will begin calling back viewers who can't get satisfaction from other sources as soon as Saturday. Best Buy will also beef up staff for its hotline.

"There's going to be a lot of angry people," said Rhoda Senkler, a bookkeeper for Stainbrook Communication in St. Cloud, which helps install and adjust antennas. "I don't want to go to cable. I don't want to spend that money. I'm worried that if I stay with my antenna, I'm going to feel like an orphan."

Staff writer Suzanne Ziegler contributed to this report. njustin@startribune.com • 612-673-7431 jcrosby@startribune.com • 612-673-7335