I know there are many folks here who don't use cable or satellite tv. Has anybody bought a converter box yet? Any recommendations? They seem to have allowed so many manufacturers and sellers, that good product reviews are hard to come by.

I'm leaning toward a Zenith, which is Insignia if you buy it at Best Buy, and is manufactured by LG. :-? ::)

Techno geeks, please weigh in! :)

We have cable at home, but my 85 year old aunt needed a converter box.  We bought a Sony or Magnavox at Walmart with her government coupon, installed it for her, and she says it works just fine. $48.97 less $40 coupon = $8.97 out of pocket for Aunt Shirley.

The guy I spoke with at Walmart (consider the source) says other places have them for twice the price and they all just do the same thing.

TV Converter Box Coupon Program Website - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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TV Converter Box Coupon Program Website
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  :)

Thanks Steve, I was going to ask.  Been slackin' at putting off and postponing procrastinating.

We got ours at Radio Shack, a Magnivox for $40, so was out nothing with the coupon.  Haven't hooked it up yet.  Everyone we talked to said they were all the same thing.

Jerry

The cheep converter boxs work but they only output with RF at standard definition. If you have a HDTV with an analog tuner then you will be missing out on a great picture. You can buy better boxes that output with s-video or the better component video.

If you have a standard definition TV, you may want to look into getting a high def, digital tuner TV.

Don't listen to anyone who tells you that to receive digital broadcasts you need a digital antenna. If an old antenna works now it will probably work the same or better with digital stations.

Paul [smiley=smokin.gif]

Opus wrote on Jan 5^th, 2009 at 11:10pm:

Don't listen to anyone who tells you that to receive digital broadcasts you need a digital antenna. If an old antenna works now it will probably work the same or better with digital stations.[smiley=smokin.gif]

Ya don't absolutely need one, but some of them do help.  But if you're gonna only buy a cheap one, you may as well just stick with good old fashioned rabbit ears...  [smiley=twocents.gif]

PFDAN.......................................... Azrael's Kiss

Cable here.

We had several TVs like that from 1949 through the 1950s. Watched Gabby Hayes too.

Charlie

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Paul[ [smiley=smokin.gif]

I just got a Zenith right before Christmas. I really like it. Really easy to set up. Took me all of about 5 minutes.  :)

In regards to the coupons...... I know of at least 8 people that didn't end up even getting them in the mail.(myself included) Very aggravating!  >:( I even went back out on line and they refuse to send out additional even after the appeal process. I am not in a situation to afford $50-$70 so I wouldn't count on getting one in the mail.

I ended up getting one from my dad and now have my channels back!!! Long live the Bachelor  ::)

Gina

I had not applied for the coupon [before now] as I didn't see
the need for the converter but then thought about my TV in the
garage [non-digital, etc.].
Well...just out of curiosity I thought I'd go ahead & apply for the
coupon [today].
I did & this is the result...

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:o

Oops, I guess the early bird truly does gets the worm.
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OK, I bought my boxes today, and hooked them up. I bought two Insignia DXA-APT from Best Buy for $59.00 apiece....so $19.00 apiece after coupon. Hooked them up, and the picture is fantastic! All of the stations here in Indy are already broadcasting in digital, and some have two sub-channels, so I get some new content.

The reason I spent more than the forty dollars was because I am relying on the airwaves for my tv....if you have cable or sattelite, and just want something to use when they go out, by all means find a cheapie. The best web source I found for comparison was:

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The important features for me were: universal remote, box controls for channel selection(in case you lose your remote or it doesn't work), aspect control, which lets you pick the size of your picture, and a signal strength meter, so you can adjust your attenna. Seems like they all should have these features, but they don't.

Bottom line....wow, no more snow....picture is clear as a bell!

Good luck rabbit ear folks! :)

I recently installed a new antenna at my mother’s lake house in Pine City on Cross Lake. The house is 72 miles as the crow flies from the antenna farm in Shoreview on the north side of the cities (Minneapolis-St. Paul). I installed a Winegard 8200U VHF/UHF 75 ohm down feed with a AP8800 mast mount preamplifier at 28’ on a mast pipe.

Antenna:
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Preamplifier:
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The performance at 70 + miles was astounding; I was able to receive all VHF and all but one UHF (CH 17 PBS) station. CH 17 is still waiting for FCC approval of there new DTV transmitter and I expect that when it is up and running that it will be received well enough for lock in. We tried several different brands and the Magnavox RCA-Insignia seems to be the best of the cheep boxes though one did die in the first weeks use, and was replaced by Best Buy.

I anticipate that I will be doing several more installs to come…

Good luck guys,

Roland. ;)

Add; KOP, they are waiting for the recent round of rebates to expire because they are out of money. They will be issuing more in order requested, and when they know how many more can be issued from defaults in the last round.

Kevin_M wrote on Jan 5^th, 2009 at 10:21pm:

Thanks Steve, I was going to ask.  Been slackin' at putting off and postponing procrastinating.

You're welcome.


wrote on Jan 9^th, 2009 at 8:25pm:

Add; KOP, they are waiting for the recent round of rebates to expire because they are out of money. They will be issuing more in order requested, and when they know how many more can be issued from defaults in the last round.

Thank you for the info Roland.
 
  :-)