The old analogue system of television broadcasting will be switched off in the South Island on April 28 and people like Ross Griffiths, who has been installing aerials for 45 years, are busier than ever.
He said there was a lot of confusion about the digital switchover and many people did not know what to do.
''Elderly people just can't fathom it and so many people are getting ripped off. We help out people every day.''
Government agency Going Digital is offering a targeted assistance programme for people 75 and over who have a Community Services Card.
Assistance includes a free set-top box, aerial, training and access to a support line. So far, 6700 South Islanders have taken up that offer.
Mr Griffiths said some elderly people were still having problems.
''They [the installers] go in and spend 10 minutes with them. How are you supposed to learn anything in 10 minutes?''Mr Griffiths said he typically spent 45 minutes installing equipment and another half-an-hour explaining it to people.
''For some people you teach them that you only use the old remote to turn the TV on and off and then use the other remote.''
He said the other problem was that people were being sold equipment that they did not need or that would not work for them.
Going Digital estimates 89% of Otago people have at least one TV that can go digital and 34% of people have a secondary TV that will not work.
Mr Griffiths said many people were taking the opportunity to buy high-definition televisions and then finding the reception was not what they expected.
That was often because UHF aerials more than five years old would receive the digital signal but were not always designed to receive high definition.
''Most people need a new aerial system and everyone is rushing to set up their system by April.''
Going Digital national manager Greg Harford said the main problems with the switch to digital in Hawkes Bay and the West Coast last September was that some people had left it until the last minute to get the right equipment.
He said people should check whether their aerial was already adequate before buying a new one.
