About 90 per cent have switched over but as the clock counts down it is expected a minority will not be digital ready.

Andy Townend is confident his Digital Switchover Taskforce is doing all it can to help the conversion and said the taskforce could only inform the public about digital TV.

“There’s pretty much universal awareness in Mildura now,” he said yesterday.

“You can’t force people to do anything but you can make damn sure they know something is happening and that those who need help can find it.

“I do recognise a small number of people may not have switched for their own reasons – someone might be on holiday, someone might decide they’ll do it the following week.

“Nine out of 10 homes have converted already; we’re helping and encouraging the rest to make the switch and we’re taking away any last blockages there may be.

“Our job is to help people make that conversion; our target is to get everybody converted.”

Antenna installer Allen Briant has connected hundreds of the 1800 free set-top boxes given out in the Household Assistance Scheme.

He said installations were slowing down but he suspected some households were unaware their TV sets needed upgrades for digital.

“A lot of people are sitting back thinking they’re going to be okay but it’s really not,” he said.

“A lot of people have faulty aerials that need to be fixed up.

For more of this story, purchase your copy of Wednesday’s Sunraysia Daily 14/04/2010.