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Online application for TV Converter Box Coupons

#31
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3/7/08 at 11:35am
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Re: Online application for TV Converter Box Coupons

My coupons arrived last week. The packet included a listing of stores in the area carrying qualifying models. I did a quick online price check and the local Best Buy, Circuit City and Radio Shack had them for $59.99. Walmart had two models for $49.98, so I bought one there (RCA) just to check it out. Out of pocket cost was $9.88 plus tax. I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised. Setup is simple, and on the bedroom TV I tested it out on using an old rabbit-ear antenna, I immediately pulled in 11 stations, where previously I was lucky to get 3 or 4. Right now, the other sets in the house are connected to cable, but at this price, I will buy the other one since we have several other rooms in the house that are not cable-ready, and at some point, we may want to put an older TV in one of them as we upgrade to more digital sets.

Gary

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#32
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3/28/08 at 4:32pm
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Re: Online application for TV Converter Box Coupons

I just received my coupon. (I only asked for one since we only have one TV connected to an antenna - the others are connected to cable or satellite.) Along with the coupon is a list of about 38 different boxes. 3 of them are indicated as saying that you can also get an analog signal to the TV set. They also indicate this website https://www.ntiadtv.gov/cecb_list.cfm which has the current list of eligible boxes. Are there any ratings or reviews of these somewhere?

Thanks,

Neil
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#33
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3/29/08 at 9:41am
  • Joined: September 2001
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Re: Online application for TV Converter Box Coupons

Here is the best reference that I have found so far on boxes.
Converter Box Retailers

The general concensus (?) is that the EchoStar/Sling TR-40 has the best features with it's VCR timer and EPG.
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#34
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3/29/08 at 10:31pm
  • Joined: February 2001
  • Location: Albany, NY
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Re: Online application for TV Converter Box Coupons

The problem with the TR-40 is that it's been delayed until June. I definitely want a box with analog passthrough, so I'm holding on to my second coupon in hopes that it will be on shelves before the 90 days are up.

After reading buzz online from AVS, Google, etc. and checking what was available where at that EZDigitalTV site, I ended up getting the Zenith DTT900 from RadioShack. Only one of the half dozen in my area still had the Zenith model in stock. I'm working up a PDF review now, which I'll post here within the next couple days.
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#35
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3/30/08 at 12:39pm
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  • Location: Albany, NY
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Re: Online application for TV Converter Box Coupons

Okay, for those interested in what comes with the coupon letter, I've compiled scans of everything into a PDF here:
DTV Program Letter, Coupon, and Purchase Receipt
My review of the Zenith DTT900 DTA Converter Box
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#36
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3/30/08 at 1:19pm
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Re: Online application for TV Converter Box Coupons

Quote:
Originally Posted by Adam Lenhardt
Nice review. Thanks
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#37
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4/7/08 at 10:46am
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Re: Online application for TV Converter Box Coupons

What type of plug does the Zenith come with?

My only analog TV that I still use is an old Sony Watchman that, all it has for an antenna is a little ear phone jack like output.

Will the Zenith work with it?
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#38
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4/7/08 at 8:58pm
  • Joined: February 2001
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Re: Online application for TV Converter Box Coupons

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jon Martin
What type of plug does the Zenith come with?

My only analog TV that I still use is an old Sony Watchman that, all it has for an antenna is a little ear phone jack like output.

Will the Zenith work with it?
It accepts coaxial and composite (red, white, yellow) cables. Here's the picture of the back from my review:


So if the jack on your Watchman matches either the coaxial jack or the yellow composite jack, it'll work. The coaxial jack will output both picture and sound. The yellow composite jack will only output the picture.
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#39
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4/8/08 at 5:54am
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Re: Online application for TV Converter Box Coupons

While Sony had a little antenna adapter with impedence matching for the jack, in practice, a couple of simple adapters will work.

The input is a mono miniature phone jack (like a mono earphone). There are adapters to go from mini phone to RCA and adapters to go from RCA to "F" (antenna coax). I'd put the coax to RCA on the box and the RCA to phone on the TV with a simple RCA cable to connect the two.
Female RCA to Male F Adapter - MCM 27-460
RCA ADAPTER INLINE MONO METAL RCA FEMALE TO 3.5MM MALE - MCM 27-315

I've not seen a single adapter that goes from mini phone to coax. You can build one if you have rudimentary soldering skills.
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#40
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4/8/08 at 7:47am
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Re: Online application for TV Converter Box Coupons

Thanks everyone! That looks like it will work!
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#41
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5/5/08 at 5:33pm
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Re: Online application for TV Converter Box Coupons

There are now 82 approved models of converter boxes. My town has three available. (RCA, DigitalStream, Zenith/Insignia) WalMart had the Magnavox but ran out quickly.

Has anyone seen any others in their retail stores?
Or talked to any that were going to get any others to stock?
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#42
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5/7/08 at 6:14am
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Re: Online application for TV Converter Box Coupons

At the Bowie City Hall last night there was a workshop about the transition to digital TV. Someone from the FCC talked about the coupon program. The program runs to March 2009. There is currently a two-week backlog of issuing the coupons from when you apply for them. Everyone can get two coupons. If you do not use your coupons within 90 days (their expiration date) you are out of luck. But if you ordered one early you can still order another one later.

A Dish Network representative said that in mid-June they will have their
converter box available for sale. It is the DTVPal (formerly the Echostar TR-40). If will be $39.99 and so essentially free with the government coupon. They had a flyer for this. It has a digital to analog converter, an analog pass-through, program guide, parental controls, event timer, and is relatively
small. At a minimum, the box will be available at Dish Network retailers and Radio Shack.

The FCC person said most retailers are only selling one or two models.
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#43
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5/28/08 at 3:00pm
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Re: Online application for TV Converter Box Coupons

There has been a problem with silibance in the high frequencies on the left channel with the DTT900 models on programming downconverted to DTT900. Units with an April 2008 manufacturing date on the box label now have a filter built into the left channel to bypass the problem frequencies. The DTT901, which will replace the DTT900 on shelves soon, apparently corrects the problem (as opposed to masking the symptoms) and adds analog passthrough. Just thought I'd let everybody know in case they were looking at the Zenith, which has been great for me in every other way.

My other coupon expires June 13th and the EchoStar model probably won't be available by then, so I'm going to keep an eye out. Hopefully I'll be able to pick up a DTT901; otherwise I'm going to use my last coupon on the April 2008 DTT900.
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#44
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5/31/08 at 8:58pm
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Re: Online application for TV Converter Box Coupons

I'm so glad I bumped into this thread.

I thought I had gotten two coupons months ago. Never even looked at them, just filed them away for possible use in the future, not realizing until I started reading this thread that they expire after 90 days.

Just took a look at the "coupons", and it turns out I only sent off for the application. Guess it helps to actually open your mail. Looks like I'll be going through this thread a little more thoroughly before I apply for the real coupons.

Stan

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#45
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6/21/08 at 2:08pm
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Re: Online application for TV Converter Box Coupons

I work in the electronics dept. of a large Sears store in Fresno, CA. We only sell the Magnavox box and can't even come close to meeting the demand for them. According to our customers this is the case at all the retailers in our area--folks are frantically trying to find a box before their coupons expire and I suspect many will not be succesful.

We have established a waiting list with customers prioritized according to the expiration dates on their coupons. The number of folks on this list whose coupons will expire within the next week is already probably greater than the number of boxes we will be receiving.

There are quite a few folks in this area that just won't be able to afford these boxes after their coupons expire. These already cash-strapped folks are burning up $4.50 a gallon gas and the phonelines desperately trying to get boxes before their expiration dates.

I cannot for the life of me understand why there is an expiration date on these coupons in the first place, and think heads should roll for the decision. It's pointless to have these coupons expiring in June of 08 when the analog turn off isn't until Feb. of 09.

I place the blame squarely on whatever govt. agency is overseeing this program. Obviously they did not communicate with mfgs. and retailers to determine if enough boxes would actually be available before the expiration dates on these coupons.

Steve S.
I prefer not to push the subwoofers until they\'re properly run in.

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#46
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6/21/08 at 4:53pm
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Re: Online application for TV Converter Box Coupons

The boxes are a pretty hot topic over at AVS. They have a whole forum dedicated to them.

The expiration was to allow reallocation of the money if coupons were't used ... but they forgot to get postage $ to send out returned coupon money.

And like most retailers, they assumed that a box is a box is a box and brand and features didn't matter. (they do) Out of about 90 approved boxes, only about 5 are found at retail outlets. Major companies like Sony, Hitachi, etc refused to build them, claiming that ther would be zero demand for them since almost everyone would have purchased a new TV by the cutoff date.

The current crisis of availability is probably due to the mailing pattern - most seem to be expiring in late June.
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#47
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6/21/08 at 9:46pm
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Re: Online application for TV Converter Box Coupons

I bought my second DTT900 (with the audio problem fixed) at Circuit City. They're accepting exchanges with their 30 day return policy just like non-coupon purchases. So if you're coupon is about to expire, buy whatever CC has in stock, and just exchange in once the box you want comes back in. Of course the customer service person I talked to could have been wrong.
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#48
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7/2/08 at 12:10pm
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Re: Online application for TV Converter Box Coupons

Today I returned my original DTT900 with the audio problem to Circuit City in the box for my second DTT900 and exchanged it for the new DTT901 that's just starting to appear on shelves. The process couldn't have been more painless. Yet to get it out of the box, but assuming it starts up fine I now have two working, problem-free DTA boxes.
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#49
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10/8/08 at 9:06pm
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Re: Online application for TV Converter Box Coupons

This is a funny "PSA": Hulu - Talkshow with Spike Feresten: Cable PSA
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#50
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11/24/08 at 6:28am
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Re: Online application for TV Converter Box Coupons

Quote:
Originally Posted by JeremyErwin
But the artifacts are in HD!

That's absolutely hilarious! I laughed out loud.

This has been a great forum. Thanks for the info.
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