Just a heads-up to those of you considering the purchase of one of those "Emergency Radios" that receive TV station audio (For example the Red-Cross crank-up radio). You may see such devices going on sale now as gifts for the holidays. Please be advised that in February of 2009, the TV stations will cease transmitting in their current format and switch to a digital format -- which cannot be picked up by any of your radios which currently receive Television audio.
By the way, those of you who watch television over-the-air (via a TV antenna) should also begin considering what steps you need to take if you wish to continue watching television in this manner in February 2009.

For more information on the switchover to digital television please consult the following websites...

The first site gives you an overview... including how to obtain a converter-box so you can continue to use your analog (NTSC tuner) based television.

http://www.dtvanswers.com/

For specifics on selecting an appropriate antenna for getting digital TV signals...

http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.aspx

For a more technically detailed report of what digital
TV stations you can get over the air...

http://www.tvfool.com/

Also beware that while many stations are now running exclusively on the UHF (Ultra-High-Frequency -- channels 14 and up), you should be aware that some will ultimately transmit their digital signals on VHF-HI (Channels 7-13) and a few will be on VHF-LO (Channels 2-5) on February 17, 2009.

A listing of the current channel assignments (and the ultimate ones for use beginning February 19, 2007) please refer
to the site

http://www.fcc.gov/dtv/

Scroll down to announcement dated 8/6/07 which has links to
a document and an Excel spreadsheet showing what channels your area stations will end up on -- this information is useful in selecting an appropriate antenna -- as the antennas which receive channels 2-13 are constructed differently than those that receive channels 14-and-up, as are those which receive channels 2-51 inclusive. A detailed discussion of antenna choices is beyond the scope of this posting...

You will also find extensive discussions of how to receive digital television in your local area on the following website

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=45

Once again, watch out for fire sales on "TV-band" radios, and Good Luck with your transition to digital TV.