As of this morning, the new TV works on all broadcast channels, and, every bit as important, our old DVD‑VCR works and plays through the TV. This was our minimum goal; we can live without the two missing features for a while: a working connection to the wireless headphones (though they work fine plugged into a stereo we already had) and the ability to record video from the air. I am greatly relieved, and as suggested in the post subject, I believe our frames of mind will be greatly improved.

Samsung 39" DTV

Regarding the optical digital adapter for the wireless headphones: Best Buy, where we bought the headphones, does not carry it; BB online carries it but has been out of stock for a long time, Radio Shack carries one like it but is out of stock, and even the manufacturer cannot sell one to us. I consider it fraud on BB's part to have sold us those headphones for use with that TV, never even mentioning the need for an adapter, but IANAL, and I am in too good a mood to fret about it.