What equipment do I need to receive digital and HD signals?
How do I program my TV to be able to see the new channels?
What are the new digital channels and which channels are HD?
What are sub-channels?
Do the HD programs cost me extra money?
Sometimes the broadcast on an HD channel looks more like a standard definition channel. Why is this?
Will Penn State be broadcasting more HD channels in the future?
I don’t have a TV with the required digital or HD tuner. Will I still be able to see these channels in a standard definition format?
I don’t have a TV with the required digital or HD tuner and I can’t seem to receive any signal on channel 6. Is this normal?

What equipment do I need to receive digital and HD signals?
The new signals are being broadcast as “Clear QAM Digital.” To receive and display these signals, your TV needs to have a QAM digital tuner. Your TV instruction manual may indicate this by stating that your TV is “digital cable ready” or “with ATSC/QAM Tuner.” You may need to refer to the manual to determine if it is compatible with the new channels.

How do I program my TV to be able to see the new channels?
The procedure for setting up your TV to recognize the new signals will be different based on your manufacturer and TV model. Please refer to your TV’s manual for instructions. In general the procedure is as follows:

1. Access your TV’s menu
2. Go into setup options
3. Look for the option to automatically scan for all channels be sure the tuner is set to scan for CABLE TV or CABLE input—not antenna)
4. Run the scan The scan may take a few minutes as the TV looks for all available signals. As long as you have the right type of tuner and have selected the correct input source, the TV should now recognize the new digital and HD signals. You can then tune to the channels just like any other channel. Remember the specific procedure may vary by TV manufacturer and model. You may have to refer to your TV’s instruction manual.

What are the new digital channels and which channels are HD?
There are four digital channels, two of which are HD signals

6-3 – WPSU, high definition format
6-4 – WPSU, standard definition format
6-5 – WPSU The World, standard definition format
6-19 – Big Ten Network, high definition format

What are sub-channels?
Multiple digital TV signals can be squeezed into the same bandwidth space as a single analog channel—splitting what was one channel into several. Digital tuners see these extra channels as sub-channels, such as 6-3, 6-4, 6-5, and 6-19.

Do the HD programs cost me extra money?
No, there are no extra charges for the HD service. The new HD signals are a new benefit that is being provided at no extra cost as part of the Basic cable TV service. For residence hall students at University Park, Basic cable TV service is included in room and board rates.

Sometimes the broadcast on an HD channel looks more like a standard definition channel. Why is this?
Channels like the Big Ten Network may show classic games that were originally only recorded in a standard definition format. That means that even though you are watching an HD signal, the original content was only standard definition. All Big Ten Network live sporting events should always show in HD.

Will Penn State be broadcasting more HD channels in the future?
Probably. We will continue to evaluate the most cost effective way to provide HD service.

I don’t have a TV with the required digital or HD tuner. Will I still be able to see these channels in a standard definition format?
Yes. The same channels that broadcast in digital HD are also available in a standard definition analog signal on the following channels.

WPSU – channel 3
WPSU, The World – channel 7
Big Ten Network – channel 20