Consumer Reports DTV converter box buying guide
June 25, 2008 by admin
Filed under HDTV TV Sets, HDTV Tuners
Consumer Reports as published a six page online buying guide to assist consumers when purchasing a DTV converter box for the coming DTV transition on February 17, 2009. Their buying guide includes ratings of 14 models of set top digital converter boxes for receiving over-the-air (OTA) free television programming. The converters have been evaluated for their picture quality, program guide, configurable closed captioning, compatibility with universal remote controls, ease of adding channels, whether appropriate cables are included and several other factors. Their buying guide covers Coupon Eligible Converter Boxes, those eligible for purchase with the $40 off digital converter box coupons provided by the US government.
Click here to go to Consumer Reports DTV Converter Box Buying Guide .
If you are buying an new HDTV instead of a converter box, you'll want to look at Consumer Reports' testing of new high definition televisions. Consumer Reports has tested 101 LCD, plasma, and rear-projection TVs in sizes up to 65 inches wide. Click here to visit their HDTV buying guide.
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Tivax HiRez 7" Portablle Digital TV | US $74.99 |
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Tivax Digital-to-Analg tv Converter | US $10.50 |
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TIVAX Digital-to-Analog Converter Model STB-T8 New | US $20.50 |
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Tivax STB-T8 Digital to Analog TV Converter NEW in Box | US $20.50 |
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New in Box Tivax STB-T9 Digital Converter | US $12.50 |
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TIVAX HiREZ PORTABLE 7"WIDESCREEN LCD TV BRAND NEW! | US $85.00 |
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TIVAX STB-T8 OR T9 REMOTE CONTROL! FALL $.01 SHIP SALE! | US $7.49 |
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TIVAX DT-01 Amplified Indoor Digital TV Antena hdtv dtv | US $32.99 |
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NEW TIVAX DIGITAL TO ANALOG TV CONVERTER L@@K!!!!!!!! | US $19.99 |
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Tivax STB-T9 Digital TV Converter Box | US $40.00 |
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Company Falsely Promises Free TV and Free DTV Converter Boxes
June 25, 2008 by admin
Filed under The Big Switch
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Consumers should watch out for scams when they are switching over to DTV, as the article below points out.
Chicago, Il –(ENEWSPF)– BBB is alerting consumers to beware of a misleading advertising campaign by an Ohio-based company called Universal TechTronics. Ads are running across the U.S. promising free television channels, services and digital TV converter boxes, but are really a bait and switch tactic that prey on consumers’ lack of knowledge about digital TV conversion requirements.
A BBB investigation found that Universal TechTronics is peddling “five-year warranties” for $59 that must be purchased with their “free” digital TV converter boxes. With shipping and handling fees rolled in, the total cost per box is nearly $100. BBB believes that these are the same boxes consumers can buy...
Read the full article at eNews Park Forest
Consumer Reports also has an article about DTV scams too.
DTV Television Shopping Guides
DTV.gov has provided some helpful educational materials to help you shop for a new DTV TV.
Print this pocket guide and take it with you to the store with you while shopping for a digital TV. The pdf guide is available here in English (download), and is also available in Spanish (download) too.
The following information is excerpted from the FCC's Consumer Advisory - Buying the Right TV: What every consumer should know
What Consumers Considering the Purchase of a TV Set Should Know
When buying television sets and other TV equipment such as DVD players, consumers should know whether or not the equipment includes a digital tuner. (TV equipment that includes a digital tuner is sometimes referred to as a "digital receiver.") Consumers who want to continue to receive their local full-power broadcast television stations after February 17, 2009 must either purchase a TV set equipped with a digital tuner or purchase a digital-to-analog converter box that will convert those over-the-air digital signals into analog so that they can be displayed on an analog device. Analog-only TVs should continue to work as before with cable and satellite TV services.
Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program
Between January 1, 2008, and March 31, 2009, all U.S. households will be eligible to request up to two coupons, worth $40 each, to be used toward the purchase of digital-to-analog converter boxes. As described above, these converter boxes are designed to make over-the-air digital television signals viewable on analog-only TVs, and thus are not intended for analog-only TVs hooked up to cable or satellite service. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is running the coupon program. For more information, visit the NTIA Web Site at www.dtv2009.gov .
Some Sets Being Sold May Have Analog Tuners Only - Look for the Label
Although, by law, the import or interstate shipment of any TV device containing an analog tuner is now prohibited, unless it also contains a digital tuner , some stores may still have in their inventory TV equipment with only analog tuners. A television set or other TV equipment with only an analog tuner will not receive over-the-air local full-power broadcast TV station programming after February 17, 2009, unless it is connected to a digital-to-analog converter box .
The Commission has required that retailers fully inform consumers by prominently displaying the following text if they are selling TV equipment with only an analog tuner:
This television receiver has only an analog broadcast tuner and will require a converter box after February 17, 2009, to receive over-the-air-broadcasts with an antenna because of the Nation's transition to digital broadcasting. Analog-only TVs should continue to work as before with cable and satellite TV services, gaming consoles, VCRs, DVD players, and similar products. For more information, call the Federal Communications Commission at 1-888-225-5322 (TTY: 1-888-835-5322) or visit the Commission's digital television website at: www.dtv2009.gov.
Consumers are urged to look for this label when shopping for a new TV set or other TV equipment and to take into consideration the limitations of analog-only TVs when making purchasing decisions. For more information about the DTV transition, go to www.dtv.gov or contact the FCC's Consumer Center by e-mailing dtvinfo@fcc.gov; calling 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) voice or 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322) TTY; faxing 1-866-418-0232; or writing to:
Federal Communications Commission
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau
Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Division
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20554.
Battery Powered TV’s vs. The Digital Switch
If you have a portable TV, or depend on a battery powered television for emergency information when your electricity is out due to hurricane, tornado, or earthquake, you'll be interested in Jene' Young's article at WKRG news about the DTV transition.
From the article:
During hurricanes or severe weather, you may have used battery powered portable televisions to keep up with our First Alert Storm Team coverage. But after the digital TV switch next year, many of you may be left in the dark.
When a hurricane makes landfall, often times, because of power outages, that means relying on a battery powered TV during the storm. Next February, analog battery powered TVs will no longer work on their own.
Keith Vrazel, a News 5 Engineer says...
Read Ms. Young's full article at WKRG.com
House Subcommittee hearing on Digital TV Transition
June 12, 2008 by admin
Filed under The Big Switch
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DTV transition concerns were aired at a House Telecommunications & Internet Subcommittee hearing on Tuesday, June 10, 2008. The hearing, The Status of the DTV Transition: 252 Days & Counting, was chaired by Rep. John D. Dingell (D-MI). During the hearing the progress of the DTV transition, consumer awareness, and the DTV converter coupon program were discussed.
NTIA’s consumer education campaign was discussed at length. The campaign focuses on educating those who receive over-the-air (OTA) broadcasts on analog television sets about the February 17th, 2009 digital transition and the DTV Coupon Program. There is a special emphasis on vulnerable audiences, such as over-the-air senior, minority, disabled, low-income and rural households who are at a greater risk of losing all television service as a result of the digital transition. Based on the GAO Report – Digital Television Transition, Mark L. Goldstein testified that 45 percent of those households at risk, plan inadequate or no action to prepare for the transition, and only 1/3 of those planning to purchase a converter box using a coupon know how to obtain the coupons.
The NTIA is working with community partners and organizations such as, AARP, the NAACP, Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, Catholic Charities USA, Community Action Partnership, Goodwill Industries, National Congress of American Indians, and the National Grange to reach households at greatest risk of losing TV service. Other recent improvements to the program allow coupons to be sent to P.O. boxes and senior care facilities.
The DTV Converter Box coupons can be applied for in one of seven languages at the DTV Coupon website, or by calling the Coupon Program 24-hour hotline 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009) which can accommodate requests in 150 languages. Deaf, or hard of hearing callers may dial 1-877-530-2634 (English/TTY) or 1-866-495-1161 (Spanish/TTY). TTY Service is available from 9 AM - 9 PM Eastern Time Monday through Friday.
The coupon program has been criticized for issuing vouchers that expire within 90 days, without opportunity for replacement or renewal. Subcommittee chairman Ed Markey (D-MA) noted in his opening remarks, "of the approximately 840,000 coupons that have thus far reached their 90-day expiration date, roughly 42 percent of those coupons were redeemed." According to Dr. Bernadette McGuire-Rivera, Associate Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), only 42 percent of the coupons mailed out were redeemed before their expiration.
As of June 3, 2008, there are 1819 participating retailers in the Coupon Eligible Convert Box Program (CECB), including seven of the largest consumer electronics retailers such as, Best Buy, Circuit City, Kmart, Radio Shack, Sears, Target and Wal-Mart, as well as hundreds of regional retail chains and smaller retailers. These retailers represent 19,440 participating outlets nationwide, including locations in all 50 states, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Additionally, consumers can choose from among 19 online retailers and 7 phone retailers.
The NTIA issued a statement after the hearing stating that it has no plans to ask Congress for any additional funds for the DTV transition.
Store Locator
June 3, 2008 by admin
Filed under HDTV, HDTV Tuners, The Big Switch
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Enter your zip code to find Coupon Eligible Converter Box coupon program participating retailers near you. These retailers accept DTV converter coupons and sell HDTV tuners and over-the-air DTV converter boxes.
Learn more about the DTV converter coupon program.
Approved Coupon Eligible Converter Box models.
Our store locator is temporarily off-line.
Please go to the Locate a Converter Box Retailer page at the U.S. Government TV Converter Box Coupon Program website and use the locator at the bottom of the page.
