ROCKHAMPTON businessman Doug Webber has had one of his busiest months keeping people in the picture.

The Rockhampton Webber's Retravision owner has experienced a high volume of customers in the past few weeks as last-minute set-top box and television buyers get in before today's digital switchover.

From today, at 9am, analog television will be switched off in Rockhampton and surrounding areas including Yeppoon and Emerald.

With the benefits of digital television offering more channels and better picture quality, many residents made the switch from analog years ago.

For some that has meant out with the old and in with the new, as they upgrade from the older-style thick and bulky televisions to the newer slimline models.

Others have simply bought set-top boxes.

"We've sold 150 set-top boxes in the last couple of days and we're expecting to sell more today and after the switchover," Doug said.

"It's just been crazy; we've never sold that many set-top boxes before."

He said Webber's had been trying to assist the elderly when it came to approaching the task of buying a new TV or set-top box.

"We offer to install the set-top box for $30 to save the confusion of doing it themselves or being charged a lot more for it," Doug said.

"But you can also get a 32-inch TV now for just $299, so it can be worth paying the extra money and getting a new TV for a good price."

Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy Minister, Senator Stephen Conroy, will be in Rockhampton today for the switchover, which is happening across regional Queensland.

Meanwhile Rockhampton Regional Councillor Tony Williams is urging people upgrading to hold onto their old television until 2013, when a new scheme will be introduced in Rockhampton for recycling computers and televisions.

The National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme aims to lift television and computer recycling from the current low rate of around 17% to 80% by 2021-22.

The scheme is expected to be up and running in regional and remote areas by the end of 2013.

Details of just how many of the region's residents were yet to make the switch were unavailable yesterday.

Digital switch

• No more analog reception in CQ from 9am today
• Set-top boxes give analog TVs digital reception
• Check all equipment for digital compatibility