"Once you talk them through this and they get their picture, voila, they're happy campers," said Gary McNair, general manager of WECT, the local NBC affiliate. The FCC plans to analyze the results of the test and report to lawmakers this month.
Congress ordered broadcasters to give up their analog channels and start broadcasting only in digital to free up more airwaves for public safety and wireless services. The more efficient digital signals offer sharper pictures and allow broadcasters to air several programs at the same time on one channel.
Cable, satellite and phone company TV viewers should not be affected. But the approximately 12% of U.S. households -- 8% in Wilmington -- that rely on rabbit ears or rooftop antennas need to get a new digital TV set or a converter box.
Joe Porter, 66, of Wilmington went to Wal-Mart on Monday afternoon to buy two boxes for older spare TVs in his house. But he found an empty shelf. After selling 434 boxes last week, the store ran out Sunday, electronics manager Chuck Myers said. A shipment of 232 was set to arrive Monday night.
The shortage highlighted another goal of officials before the February conversion -- get people to act early.
Brown didn't wait until the last minute. She bought her converter box three months ago.
"The way they told it on the TV all the time was you just hook it up to your antenna," Brown said. "It's not that simple."
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jim.puzzanghera@latimes.com
