Buying a DTV Digital-to-Analog Converter Box

If you have an older TV — one manufactured before March 1, 2007 — in order to pick up over-the-air digital television (DTV) signals, you'll need to purchase and install a digital-to-analog converter box. But don't worry: It won't be as difficult or as expensive as it may sound.

If you get your TV signal from either cable or a satellite dish, you don't need a converter box. The mandate to switch to digital signals involves only the free, over-the-air signals.

Keeping in mind that the forced switch to digital TV signals could be an economic burden on some, the U.S. Department of Commerce and the National Telecommunications and Information Agency (NTIA) have created a coupon program whereby any family can receive up to two $40 coupons good toward the purchase of one converter box per coupon. Getting hold of these coupons is easy:

You can apply for them online.

You can call the Coupon Program 24-hour hotline at 1-888-DTV-2009. Deaf or hard of hearing callers can access TTY services from 9am to 9pm Eastern time at 1-877-530-2634 (English) or 1-866-495-1161 (Spanish).

You can download and print a coupon application. After you've printed and filled out the application, do one of the following:

• Mail it to P.O. Box 2000, Portland, OR 97208-2000

• Fax it to 1-877-DTV-4ME2 (1-877-388-4632)

Not all converter boxes are eligible for purchase with the coupon. Coupon-eligible converter boxes contain no features or functions other than those needed to convert a digital signal to an analog signal (but they can include a remote control). Electronics manufacturers want your business, so they will clearly mark whether a converter box is coupon-eligible right there on the box.

You can buy a converter box at just about any electronics retailer. Converter boxes run from $40 to $70; most of them are around $60. With your $40 coupon, that's only a $20 investment.

Converter boxes attach to your TV with basic coaxial cable, and your converter box package will likely include the necessary cables. Some of them can also connect with red, white, and yellow audio/video (A/V) connectors, which can be useful if you also want to connect your VCR to the converter box.

If your antenna connects to your TV with two flat, U-shaped connectors held down by screws, you'll need a small device that lets you turn that connection into a coaxial connector. They only cost around $5.

Television stations aren't required to start broadcasting a 100% digital signal until June 12, 2009. Most stations have already started their digital broadcasts alongside their analog signals, and a number of them have already made the switch, so there's no reason to wait to buy and install a converter box. Start enjoying digital television today!

Comments (6)

Posted by Jim Arcadia FEBRUARY 14, 2009 | 06:05PM
Is there aconverter box that lets the tv control its channels

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Posted by jakob lin MARCH 13, 2009 | 03:42AM
there is not a coupon elgible tv converter box that lets the tv control its channels . but there is a not eligible converter box that lets the tv control its channels

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Posted by Sandi MARCH 26, 2009 | 02:17AM
We bought two of these 'boxes' and neither one is worth the powder to blow them to 'kingdom come'! I'm in an area that only gets four channels without cable or satellite, the three major ones (CBS, NBC, and ABC ) plus FOX and a local offbreed. On one box, only the ABC channel came through, the other box only the CBS channel. While speaking with one of the 'customer service' numbers, I was informed an additional antenna was needed, in the neighborhood of $400 to $1000 ! Now, I care for an elderly women ( 80 + years) that 'survives ' on Social Security (less than $950 a month ), and we were informed that she needs to either install cable, satellite or buy a new TV ~ guess she is now up the proverbial creek, because the wealthy leaders have decided to limit news and information to those who can 'afford' it. So, what else does she do?

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Posted by 4ndyman MARCH 26, 2009 | 04:49PM
@Sandi: Sounds like you talked to someone in sales, not customer service. You could certainly spend up to $150 (still far less than the $1000 you were quoted) for a long-range outdoor DTV antenna, but before you mess with that, take a trip to Radio Shack and ask questions. Small HDTV antennas can be had for under $30, but you might just need to get a signal booster for even less than that.

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Posted by cindy MARCH 31, 2009 | 09:04AM
Has anyone rated the different converter boxes & show the comparisons so we can make a educated guess of what to buy? My aunt bought a Philco converter. Not all the stations had switched to HD. It was easy to switch to HD but takes several steps to switch back to analog. She's 78 & not tech savvy. So far only 2 stations are HD in her town & her fave isn't. None of the stores have them hooked up so you can try them. We tried Best Buy & Radio Shack. Any info would be appreciated.

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Posted by 4ndyman MARCH 31, 2009 | 04:22PM
There's a decent comparison of six models (and that GE model looks cool!) at CNET.com: http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-tv-converter/ .

If you plug DTV converter reviews into Google, you can find more reviews pretty easily.

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