MINOCQUA - House Republicans defeated a bill to postpone the switch to digital.

That means the switch will still happen on February 17th and people here in the Northwoods are preparing.

"Wherever your antenna plugs in."

At Radio Shack in Minocqua, people are taking the opportunity to get their final DTV questions answered before the February 17th deadline.

"I was mainly interested in the antennas that I could use and if there's any changes that I had to have."

Richard Freeman already has his converter box and says he's ready for the switchover. He just hopes it isn't delayed.

Freeman tells Newswatch 12, "I really think why set a date, and change it and keep changing it, they've been advertising this for a whole year now."

Charles Engel is the FCC representative in the Rhinelander/Wausau market, to help with the digital switchover. He says, "If there is a delay perhaps not all stations will actually be involved in the delay, some of them may be able to switch on February 17th."

He adds either way you need to be prepared.

Engel tells Newswatch 12, "People still have to be ready as soon as possible, they should be ready by February 17th if at all possible."

RadioShack employees are doing their part to make sure people are ready.

Deena Butler is an assistant manager at RadioShack. She says, "We have a lot of older people who come in here and just everyday people who have a lot of questions about it that can't get answered and we try our best."

People like Freeman who now have all the answers they need.

There is still a chance that supporters of the delay could schedule another vote in the House--but that is still up in the air.

However, we would like to remind all of our viewers, WJFW will not be delaying our switchover.

Channel 12 will go strictly digital on February 17th.