Queue up for a digital set top box coupon for CT-100, etc...

[peverett]

My experience with the used Digital tuners is that the price is still low(but slightly higher than last fall). Last fall, I would be the only bidder, while now, two or three others also bid. This is why I say that these are becoming more popular.

[fsjonsey]

I feel bad for people livng in fringe areas. Sure you get a free converter, but then you have to buy a $400 fringe antenna to be able to use it.

[ChrisW6ATV]

Originally Posted by ChrisW6ATV

I just bought another HD receiver on Ebay, for $35 shipped, after buying one from the same seller for my neighbor. I think this model may even allow converted DTV signals from its channel 3/4 RF output. I will know later tonight for sure. (It has RF output because it is a combo OTA/DirecTV HD receiver.)

I confirmed that the box I bought does have built-in RF NTSC (channel 3) output of tuned digital stations. It is a Hughes HTL-HD. Other near-identical boxes (all made by LG, the buyer of Zenith) are the Sony SAT-HD200 and SAT-HD300, Zenith HD-SAT520, and LG LSS-3200A. These Zenith/LG-designed boxes have superior ATSC performance, possibly better than what will be in the $40 boxes, even though they are 4-5 years old now.

[ChrisW6ATV]

Originally Posted by fsjonsey

I feel bad for people livng in fringe areas. Sure you get a free converter, but then you have to buy a $400 fringe antenna to be able to use it.

How do you spend $400 on a TV antenna? Even Winegard and Channel Master's best, huge antennas are well under US$200. Maybe if you include installation and hardware? Do those hypothetical fringe-area viewers get snow-free pictures from indoor antennas now?

[ChrisW6ATV]

If anyone is interested, there is a box like mine at the same price available now. It does not include the remote control (you can operate all functions from front panel buttons), but there is one of them available as well. Search for the model number I mentioned above.

[bgadow]

I got a quote on a top of the line outdoor antenna with rotator, probably 10 years ago. I think it was well over $400, and that was if I mounted it on the roof or chimney and didn't put it on a pole or tower.

As is I get the 3 local stations (all UHF) with an amplified attic mount UHF-only antenna. To get the more distant stations I have a higher-end Winegard that I picked up at a freight salvage store. Mounted as high up as I could personally get it (on top of a shed) and amplified, I can get about a dozen more stations. None of them are completely snow free; only a couple look really good on a color set. I don't presently have a way to tune ATSC,I don't know what will or will not come in, but my expectations are not high.

[markthefixer]

In today's (1-17-2008) paper:

A government program said Friday that it will begin sending out coupons Tuesday worth $40 each to any U.S. household that requests them to subsidize buying a box. Each household is entitled to two coupons for the boxes, which are just coming into stores now, start at $40 or $50, making this option easy and practically free.

And I found only ONE model at the Best Buy website.

Insignia® - Digital-to-Analog Converter for Analog TVs
Model: NS-DXA1

Once the coupons go out they have a 90 day expiration time.

[radiotvnut]

I saw a spot on ABC national news about the switch to digital. They were stressing that consumers do not need to discard their old sets and that gov't coupons are available towards the purchase of converter boxes. They also mentioned that some sales people are telling people that their old TV will not be of any use once things go digital. Of course, that's just a load of BS to try to get people to buy new, expensive HDTV's.

[ChrisW6ATV]

Wal-marts are already stocking the Magnavox digital TV tuner.

[peverett]

As of two weeks ago, the Wal-mart near me did not have these yet. I have not checked again. I did purchase a brand new equivalent item (with RF output) from Newegg.com, so they are available.

[cbenham]

Walmart still didn't have them today, but next door at Radio Shark I got one made by Digital Stream Technology, about the size of a VHS cassette.
Let me tell you this is one hot receiver! It's hooked to an outdoor antenna.
It receives 18 digital RF channels which produce 38 programs from 35 to 55 miles away. Some are upconverted from NTSC to digital by the broadcaster and look a bit dull, but when you receive a real HD broadcast the detail is astounding, especially since these little boxes only output NTSC. I guess they don't dumb-down the video to fit in a 4.2 mHz bandwidth because the Hockey game looks great.
I'll have to connect it to the Col-R-Tel-Philco to see how it looks that way.
Cliff

[peverett]

There is an article about the converters in the local paper today. I will check Wal-Mart again this weekend.

On the ASTC tuners that I have, I just get the same 6 local channels that I get with analog. The PBS channel and the ABC channel broadast a second channel. Only the PBS channel has had actual programming on the second channel. The ABC second channel is continuous weather at this point.

The picture is as good as high strength NTSC when reception is good.

I have two types of tuners, one from Newegg.com and one a used cable TV tuner from Ebay. The used one has better reception. I believe that this is because it is a commercial unit.

[bgadow]

How much was the RS convertor? Do you just give them the coupon?
Edit: answered my own question:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...entPage=family

[Pete Deksnis]

Just got back from a Walmart in Neptune, NJ, where there were two Magnavox converters on the shelf; unfortunately, a govt. check to offset the $49.00 price is yet to hit my mailbox.

Has anyone received one? has anyone heard of a check being received?

Looking to be the first oldster on the block with a subsidised converter running an ancient CT-100

[radiotvnut]

A friend claims he got his coupons early in the week. I have not received mine yet and we both live in the same town and I applied for mine on 1/1.