Comments on: Ask the Readers: Deals on TV adapters

By: Kellie

Kellie — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 23:26:11 +0000

Just so you all know… the government is out of coupons. Yes, that’s right. We won’t be getting a converter box for a long, loooong time… sigh…

By: Julie

Julie — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 10:20:30 +0000

I got 2 converter boxes and I have cable. Why? My TVs are old ( 14 years and 20 years) and if money gets really tight the FIRST thing to go is the cable. I still would like to watch TV (esp the news!) so these converter boxes will come in very handy.
It might be worth it to have at least on converter box if you have a tv that would not work without cable in case you can’t afford the luxury of cable anymore. Just a thought.

My mom got 2 a while back at Rite Aid. They were on sale for $40 so with her coupon she only paid tax.

I got mine at Target just before Christmas for $4.00

By: Jen

Jen — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 19:37:28 +0000

I bought mine last April at Radio Shack. I thought the personnel seemed to be more informed than other places & they told me if I was completely satisfied I could get a refund. We live in a rural area with a rooftop antenna & a small rabbit ear antenna. We’re thrilled with the better reception & more channels. I love the new PBS Create channel! I’m looking forward to Feb, hoping more stations will come on line then.

They also told us some rural customers were buying stronger rooftop antennas to be able to get more channels, they were so pleased with the reception.
Jen

By: Lea

Lea — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 18:14:40 +0000

Consumer Reports has an article in their November 2008 issue regarding digital converter boxes. (Most libraries have Consumer Reports so you could read it there if you don’t subscribe.) I didn’t read it before purchasing our GE box at Target, but it would be useful to check out if you haven’t purchased yours yet as it gives some online sites where you can purchase some of the best ones.

I must say the digital connection has improved our reception 100%. No need for cable or satellite in our area if you are satisfied with local channels and PBS.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 13:21:15 +0000

We bought ours a couple of months ago at Walmart. They cost $47, so only $7 each after the coupons.

You actually can return the digital converter box, but you must keep the $40 coupon if you think you might want to return it. The store can “re-charge” the coupon with the $40. If you don’t have the coupon anymore, then you cannot return the converter box.

We bought the Magnavox brand at Walmart. It has worked well.

Rachel

By: Lisa

Lisa — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 11:52:27 +0000

I got mine a couple months back at Target for 44.99 – the 40 coupon=$4.99!

By: Chelssya

Chelssya — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 10:11:39 +0000

I heard a news story that the gov’t is considering pushing back the start date on digital tv because the program is bankrupt. I’ve heard no more details on this, however.

By: Tara

Tara — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 09:42:08 +0000

First, to get the coupon you have to apply for it at http://www.dtv2009.gov. However, the program ran out of money in the beginning of the month so there is a waiting list of about 1.5 million people. Either the government is going to have to fund the program again, wait until issued coupons expire, or delay the digital conversion date. Once you are issued the $40 coupon you can use it to buy any conversion box out there and they range in price from $40 and up.

By: Susana

Susana — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 09:29:34 +0000

I have had our government coupons filed away for a while, last week when I pulled them out inorder to purchase a converter I realized there was an expiration date on them and that the date had already past. Does anyone know if retailers will still accept them? Thanks for your help!

By: Annie

Annie — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 09:29:14 +0000

I would check into the coupon thing from the government before you do anything, as I saw on the news last week that the fund for the coupons is depleted already. I also heard stories of President-Elect Obama saying that he wanted to push back the mandatory switch-over date because of this… I suppose the issue of a lot of Americans not having TV is a pressing one, right up there with the other current economic crises he is walking into. We can’t that, now can we?

By: Sherri

Sherri — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 09:22:50 +0000

oh and sams took the coupon even though i dont think they normally accept coupons.

By: Sherri

Sherri — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 09:21:40 +0000

got ours at sams for $44 minus the $40 coupon. We have never had cable and this was a great cheap way to give us a little extra entertainment. We love monday night tv

By: Shellie

Shellie — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 09:12:28 +0000

I heard on my local news that the government has run out of money to provide the $40 coupons. They have lobbied Congress to postpone the switch to digital TV until they can be sure everyone is able to get converter boxes. So, if you are having trouble getting a $40 coupon, keep trying and don’t fret because it very well could be postponed.

Here’s a link to a Washington Post article about the postponement request: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/07/AR2009010703916.html?wprss=rss_business

By: Delia

Delia — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 09:08:44 +0000

Where do you get the information about the gov’t $40 coupons or is it a rebate?

By: Tawra

Tawra — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 08:43:20 +0000

PLEASE NOTE EVERYONE!!!!!

My husband is a producer who works for our local TV station so I have this straight from them.

Please understand that a box may not be all you need!!!!

You may also have to get an antenna for around $60 for the cheap one.

We got rid of the Direct TV so we now have a box but in Feb. we will also have to get a new antenna because the old one will not work with the converter box.

If you it comes Feb. 18 and you don’t have TV and you can’t figure out why your converter box isn’t working, it may be that you need to buy a new antenna also.

For more information you can go to your local TV station’s website and they have all the info. there.

Tawra

By: annie

annie — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 08:39:18 +0000

We got ours from Sam’s Club for $5, after coupon and the Sam’s Club instant coupon deal thing they had. I don’t know if it’s still going on. They only had one brand and I”m not sure if we’re happy with it. It currently says we only get three channels through the converter box, when we get about 15 through the antenna.

By: toia

toia — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 08:37:49 +0000

They will be on sale aat CVS the week of 1/25 for $40 so if you have the coupon all you would pay is tax. It comes with remote.

By: Bethany

Bethany — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 08:37:29 +0000

they aren’t giving out the coupons any more – just putting people on a wait list to re-issue coupons from expired ones. we haven’t gotten ours yet, but I know my inlaws were not at all happy with theirs – they got only half the channels as without it (the radio shack one). they are getting cable so we will likely get their box before the switch.

By: sarah

sarah — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 08:29:46 +0000

I saw the magnavox ones at Sams club for $40.00. That would be free after coupon.

By: Melanie

Melanie — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 08:22:34 +0000

Just wanted everyone to know, the government is not offering any more of the converter box $40 coupons right now. The money for the coupons has run out. Keep your eyes out for news on this. Obama is asking congress to delay the start of the switch to digital TV because of the coupons running out and some other considerations. No decision has been made as of yet on whether they will delay the start of the switch to digital.