Digital Converter Box Coupon Site

magnus · 01-01-2008, 04:13 AM

Happy New Year Everyone!!!

The web site to get coupons for Digital Converter Boxes is now accepting applications for coupons.

For those of you wondering how your Series 2 (or Series 1) Tivo is going to be able to receive OTA after February 17, 2009.... this is the most likely answer.

The next step will be for Tivo to provide support for these types of boxes.

https://www.dtv2009.gov/

Seattle · 01-01-2008, 04:50 AM

Thanks for the link! For some reason it did not work with Safari so I had to use IE and then it worked.

renkablue · 01-01-2008, 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by magnus

Happy New Year Everyone!!!

The web site to get coupons for Digital Converter Boxes is now accepting applications for coupons.

For those of you wondering how your Series 2 (or Series 1) Tivo is going to be able to receive OTA after February 17, 2009.... this is the most likely answer.

The next step will be for Tivo to provide support for these types of boxes.

https://www.dtv2009.gov/

I had trouble on the website "sorry for the inconvenience" - So I am not registered yet.

wmcbrine · 01-01-2008, 05:52 AM

My understanding is that the coupons will expire after a few months (three?), and you won't be able to get replacements. So, I would avoid ordering them until eligible receivers are being sold.

riffjim4069 · 01-01-2008, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by renkablue

I had trouble on the website "sorry for the inconvenience" - So I am not registered yet.

Same problem here...tried it from both work and home.

jrm01 · 01-01-2008, 07:54 AM

The coupons do expire after 3 months, and the approved boxes is a short list right now. I'd suggest waiting until Fall 2008 to make a decision. Who knows, maybe Tivo can convince the gov that the Tivo HD is a digital converter box.

Mikeguy · 01-01-2008, 09:51 AM

An interesting quandry, then, as there is, I understand, a limited "inventory" of coupons:

There are 22.25 million coupons available to all U.S. households. Once those coupons have been used, there are an additional 11.25 million coupons available only to households that solely receive their TV broadcasts over-the-air using an antenna. Households with TVs connected to cable, satellite or other pay TV service are not eligible for this second batch of coupons. Consumers can apply for coupons until March 31, 2009, or until the funds are exhausted.

vman41 · 01-01-2008, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrm01

The coupons do expire after 3 months, and the approved boxes is a short list right now. I'd suggest waiting until Fall 2008 to make a decision. Who knows, maybe Tivo can convince the gov that the Tivo HD is a digital converter box.

Won't happen. Any box that outputs anything besides RF, composite, or S-video is not eligible for the coupon program. It's only to assist people watching TVs on old analog sets.

magnus · 01-01-2008, 12:39 PM

A lot of the questions like these are answered at the link below.

Consumers who apply at the beginning or 2008 will receive their coupons when TV converter boxes are expected to be available in retail stores, probably in late February or early March.

https://www.dtv2009.gov/FAQ.aspx

Quote:

Originally Posted by wmcbrine

My understanding is that the coupons will expire after a few months (three?), and you won't be able to get replacements. So, I would avoid ordering them until eligible receivers are being sold.

magnus · 01-01-2008, 12:44 PM

It looks like it has something to do with the site... more than the browser itself. I tried applying for my sister on Safari, Firefox, and Camino... none of which worked. However, Firefox had worked at 2AM for me to apply for my coupons.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seattle

Thanks for the link! For some reason it did not work with Safari so I had to use IE and then it worked.

Whittaker · 01-01-2008, 02:04 PM

Well, things are looking up.

The MSRP on some of these units is only $69.99, so minus the coupon it would be $30, and nobody will be selling at MSRP, so likely only $20.

Digital STREAM D2A1D10
Digital STREAM D2A1D20
Zenith DTT900
Magnavox TB100MW9
Philco TB150HH9
MicroGEM MG2000
Sansonic FT300RT
MaxMedia MMDTVB03
Apex DT1001
ECHOSTAR TR-40
AMTC AT-2016

Now if we can only get TiVo to cooperate so that the proper program info lines up.

magnus · 01-01-2008, 02:26 PM

I added a poll to this thread. Once more information is available.... I'm curious to know which box others think is the best value/has best features.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Whittaker

Well, things are looking up.

The MSRP on some of these units is only $69.99, so minus the coupon it would be $30, and nobody will be selling at MSRP, so likely only $20.

Digital STREAM D2A1D10
Digital STREAM D2A1D20
Zenith DTT900
Magnavox TB100MW9
Philco TB150HH9
MicroGEM MG2000
Sansonic FT300RT
MaxMedia MMDTVB03
Apex DT1001
ECHOSTAR TR-40
AMTC AT-2016

Now if we can only get TiVo to cooperate so that the proper program info lines up.

gastrof · 01-01-2008, 02:29 PM

Just a thought here, from the mouth of one of the engineers at a local TV station-

Just because a station is using a certain channel to broadcast their digital channel NOW, that doesn't mean they'll continue using that channel once things change over.

For example, say in your area your NBC affiliate is channel 5, and their digital broadcast is on channel 22. On a digital tuner it shows up as channel 5, because that's their "brand name" (his words, not mine). It's actually channel 22, but they've stamped it so people will identify it with the long-known analog channel.

Come the changeover, there's no rule that says they have to give up the ANALOG channel, however, and stick to the existing digital one.

They could very well switch their digital broadcast over to channel 5, and give up channel 22.

This might make a lot of sense, since they'd still be calling themself "channel 5". It'd be a "throwback" situation if they kept using that "brand name", but now had NOTHING to do with the actual channel 5, and if a channel has been on the air for a very long time, I can't see them suddenly starting to call themselves "channel 22".

Set top boxes that are all set up to work on the current digital broadcasts might every well have to go thru setup all over again, antenna positions might have to be figured out all over again, etc.

From the mouth of an engineer at one of our local stations.

scandia101 · 01-01-2008, 03:59 PM

Quote:

When more information is available.... which box would you choose?

I'll be waiting for more information before I choose.

Whittaker · 01-01-2008, 04:25 PM

Looks like at least some of the units (if not all) will be utilizing LG's new 6th generation chip.

mattack · 01-01-2008, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gastrof

Just because a station is using a certain channel to broadcast their digital channel NOW, that doesn't mean they'll continue using that channel once things change over.

For example, say in your area your NBC affiliate is channel 5, and their digital broadcast is on channel 22. On a digital tuner it shows up as channel 5, because that's their "brand name" (his words, not mine). It's actually channel 22, but they've stamped it so people will identify it with the long-known analog channel.

Come the changeover, there's no rule that says they have to give up the ANALOG channel, however, and stick to the existing digital one.

They could very well switch their digital broadcast over to channel 5, and give up channel 22.

I think you are partially right -- I do believe that the current digital channels are temporary assignments.

But I don't think that the station can switch their digital channel back to the spectrum covered by the existing channel 5... because that's the main thrust of this changeover -- to get stations off of the old spectrum so that it can be resold for other uses, and the stations using new digital channels more efficiently.

bicker · 01-01-2008, 07:41 PM

The portion of the spectrum being resold is UHF channel 56 and higher.

ZeoTiVo · 01-01-2008, 07:47 PM

I will go with a tiVo HD and a digital OTA antenna and just skip the whole mess.

magnus · 01-01-2008, 08:52 PM

For those of us with S2 Lifetime Tivos.... that's not an option.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZeoTiVo

I will go with a tiVo HD and a digital OTA antenna and just skip the whole mess.

steve614 · 01-01-2008, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZeoTiVo

I will go with a tiVo HD and a digital OTA antenna and just skip the whole mess.

That's just what I did.

However, I'd still like to be able to use my Lifetimed S2 until it dies completely.

Tobashadow · 01-01-2008, 09:28 PM

I cant find enough info on the box's to decide yet. Hopefully more info will come out soon.

Unless your a Dishnet customer you can just about rule out the EchoStar TR-40.

cowboys2002 · 01-01-2008, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve614

That's just what I did.

However, I'd still like to be able to use my Lifetimed S2 until it dies completely.

If you are only using cable or satellite, do you even need a Digital to Analog converter box? NOOOOOO.

You only need the box if you have an older analog tv using OTA.

My question is: "How many people with HD tv(s) or using satellite (DTV or Dish) or cable (Series 3 or Tivo HD w/ cable cards, or basic cable) who will get coupons "just because".

jsmeeker · 01-01-2008, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by magnus

For those of us with S2 Lifetime Tivos.... that's not an option.

sure it is..

I have a Series 1 TiVo with lifetime, and I won't be picking up a box.

I'll either still have the Series 1, but will still be able to record since I have cable, or I will get a new TiVo (series 3, TiVo HD, some other box??) and upgrade to digital cable.

You can do the same.

magnus · 01-01-2008, 11:36 PM

I only use OTA... so it's not an option for me.

If you have cable then you don't need one of these boxes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsmeeker

sure it is..

I have a Series 1 TiVo with lifetime, and I won't be picking up a box.

I'll either still have the Series 1, but will still be able to record since I have cable, or I will get a new TiVo (series 3, TiVo HD, some other box??) and upgrade to digital cable.

You can do the same.

wmcbrine · 01-02-2008, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZeoTiVo

I will go with a tiVo HD and a digital OTA antenna and just skip the whole mess.

Don't let a salesman tell you that you need a special (i.e., more expensive) antenna. Any antenna intended for NTSC will work just as well with ATSC. Rabbit ears on up.

I'm not saying you shouldn't get a good (i.e., expensive) antenna; I'm just saying that there's no such thing as a "digital OTA antenna", or an "HDTV antenna". Salesmen will try to tell you otherwise. They are lying.

ZeoTiVo · 01-02-2008, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wmcbrine

Don't let a salesman tell you that you need a special (i.e., more expensive) antenna. Any antenna intended for NTSC will work just as well with ATSC. Rabbit ears on up.

I'm not saying you shouldn't get a good (i.e., expensive) antenna; I'm just saying that there's no such thing as a "digital OTA antenna", or an "HDTV antenna". Salesmen will try to tell you otherwise. They are lying.

very true - my "digital" OTA antenna was a 30$ one off the shelf at circuit City. Its only problem is being directional. I am consdiering an attic mounted omni directional rig to get more stations though I have not researched the models yet.

But yes I used "digital" as just a way to distinguish from analog only.

rickyble · 01-02-2008, 12:57 PM

The stations all have to decide which one of the frequencies that they will end up using very soon, if they have not already done so. The ones here already have decided and posted those on a website. The carrier they use has a flag at the beginning, I think its at the beginning at least its embedded somewhere in the stream, that lets the receivers see its "name" as the old channel number no matter which frequency they end up using. I catch all my local OTAs and they have the same channel signature as the ones off Dtv. The tuners or receivers handle the translation for u. I have an old Sony dvr/dvd/pvr and it uses the free OTA guide so I will need one for it in the future. BTW if you are looking for a excellent OTA antenna, Id recommend the Channel Master 4228 with a rotor. It is excellent.

fallingwater · 01-02-2008, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by magnus

The next step will be for Tivo to provide support for these types of boxes.
https://www.dtv2009.gov/

Just as a matter of common decency and customer goodwill.

bicker · 01-02-2008, 01:43 PM

You mean just like they implemented a comprehensive fix for the DST problem on S1s?

BobCamp1 · 01-02-2008, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikeguy

An interesting quandry, then, as there is, I understand, a limited "inventory" of coupons:

There are 22.25 million coupons available to all U.S. households. Once those coupons have been used, there are an additional 11.25 million coupons available only to households that solely receive their TV broadcasts over-the-air using an antenna. Households with TVs connected to cable, satellite or other pay TV service are not eligible for this second batch of coupons. Consumers can apply for coupons until March 31, 2009, or until the funds are exhausted.

Almost one million coupons have already been requested. At this rate, the coupons will almost be gone by the end of this month, though the rate will probably drop before then as people (like us) who are already aware will have already ordered. Remember that over half of the people out there have no clue about the analog shutoff.

The coupons (which look more like gift cards) are only good for three months from the date they are mailed to you, but the government has agreed to delay mailing them until some converter boxes are actually available. (The same government that brought you Katrina, Iraq, etc., so buyer beware)

And no one I know has ordered just one coupon. Watch people either sell the coupon on eBay (illegal) or buy the converter box using the coupon, wait until the coupons are exhausted, and sell the box on eBay (legal and/or impossible to track).

There is also a 1-888-388-2009 number which you should call from your home phone (it uses caller ID) if the website doesn't work.

Without hunting down all these boxes, does anyone know which box is the best? I'm most interested in a tiny size (preferably mountable) followed by good reception. Remote control is optional.