
Do I need a digital TV converter box?I inherited an older Sony color TV from my folks, a really good Trinitron, and it works pretty well with the rabbit ears I've hooked up, but I'm anxious that it's going to become obsolete when TV signals go all-digital. Legitimate worry, or will my TV work just fine over the next few years until it dies? It's been creeping up on us for a couple of years here in the United States, but you're right, in February of 2009, all television broadcasts will officially switch over to all-digital signals. Specifically, February 18, 2009 (why they didn't pick January 1 or even February 1 is unclear, but that's the gov't for ya). Once that happens, your rabbit ears antenna and older Sony analog TV are going to cease receiving anything that'll be viewable. You can switch to cable (because cable converter boxes can output analog signals to your TV from a digital source) or satellite (for the same reason), but if you don't change anything you'll be in trouble.
Now, how do you get that snazzy coupon? You can call and request a coupon at 888-388-2009 or you can visit the DTV 2009.gov Web site. The first 22 million requests received will get a coupon (if you're keeping track, that represents a potential liability of $88 million to ensure people can keep getting their soap operas and crime drama) then the remaining coupons in the program will be allocated to people that don't have a pay service (e.g., cable or satellite). This program is all administered by the Department of Commerce, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, by the way. Godo luck to you. I used to have a Sony Trinitron, actually, but now I have a Sony LCD digital HDTV and, well, it's an upgrade. :-)
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Never miss another useful Q&A article again! Subscribe to AskDaveTaylor with Google Reader. is there a website where you can type in your Melinda, try this page: http://www.dtv.gov/consumercorner.html It's not quite what you seek, but should help you out nonetheless. Posted by: Dave Taylor at February 22, 2008 1:06 PMWhat D to A Converter TV boxes MUST HAVE: Dave, Will two or more TV,s connected to one converter box work propertly?? OR do I have to get a converter box for each TV. My home has an common outside antenta that is shared by three TV,s. Thanks In the information on the digital conversion boxes for TV, many brands are listed as needing one, but not Sony. I have not found a cite of the Sony company to which I can direct a question on whether my Sony TV needs a box. I have Sony model KV27546 I purchased a 10" RCA under cabinet crt color tv just 2 years ago. This tv has no video/audio input jacks. Is there any way i can adapt a converter box to this tv? Posted by: Randy Hager at May 23, 2008 9:45 PMI HAVE A TV THAT DONT HAVE A VIDEO|AUDIO INPUT JACK, CAN A CONVERTER BOX BE CONNECTED TO THIS TV? Posted by: VIVIAN MURDO at May 27, 2008 2:07 PMhow you work the box i don't know how Posted by: shawn jones at May 28, 2008 10:53 AMIt is really easy to work the converter boxes. All you have to do is hook it into the back of your TV and follow the directions in the manual. It should take just a few minutes to get it all done. Posted by: Jesse at July 21, 2008 11:31 PMHave 2 analog TV's connected to Comcast cable. The comcast person with whom I spoke said the Magnavox converts I got with the coupons from the gov. will not work with comcast - I will need to (apparently lease) a comcast converter, costs which will mean I pay for a converter every 7-9 months. Can this be? Why would a Magnavox converter not work? Would I not then be able to access digital stations? I'm thinking of getting rid of cable and going satellite, although some say weather affects satellite frequently. True? Posted by: SA Ruggles at August 13, 2008 11:48 AMThey chose that date because it's after the superbowl, to ensure that there isn't a panic to get converter boxes all of a sudden. Read up... Posted by: Leroy M. at August 18, 2008 9:58 PMDo these boxes work with Comcast signals? Will I get a digital signal if I connect the converter box before feb. 17? Posted by: Cliff at October 25, 2008 8:45 AM HAVE A TV THAT DONT HAVE A VIDEO|AUDIO INPUT JACK, CAN A CONVERTER BOX BE CONNECTED TO THIS TV? if you live in hilly country with a poor signal already, will you need to purchase a "special" antenna to receive a good signal? Posted by: loretta kelly at November 6, 2008 10:01 AMI have a common antenne for 4 tv is there an out side cionverter box that will work for all tv's? Or do I have to have a converter for each tv Posted by: ray at November 30, 2008 11:05 PMi bought two the gov't converter boxes but neigher get a signal with a rabbit ears. my new tv uses rabbit ears and I get free hd channels but I am told to buy a smart antenna for the analog tv I think the gov't should give use rebates on outside antennas also. what is a smart antenna? Posted by: mira at December 22, 2008 9:00 AMI have hooked up my converter box, however when it did the scan it said no data no channels. what does that mean. why does the box not work?? so is someone out there going to answer these questions for us???? before feb 17 Please if i do not get a very good signal with a antenna to begin with, will my signal improve with the box. i can only get one fuzzy station (we all have to get cable out here) Posted by: mary at January 5, 2009 5:24 PMIf I have hdtv will I need a converter box if I still use tv antanna Posted by: Doug at January 17, 2009 7:45 PMSo, one still needs a box even though I subscribe to cable? And, I won't be able to tape different programs on different channels at different times without being home to set the tuner on the box? Posted by: shadow at February 11, 2009 3:42 PMI have DISH Network and will be disconnecting. Do I need to reset my two TV's? Posted by: Jerry Schumacher at April 26, 2009 11:18 AMdo i or can i use zinwell converter box on digital ready hd tv Posted by: james at April 28, 2009 11:38 PMI have dish network satellite but cannot get local channels through dish. I get local channels through antennae. How do I hook up converter box to tv, anntenae and satellite without having to disconnect and reconnect when I chose to watch local channels or satellite. Posted by: Linda Aultman at May 4, 2009 4:53 PMI hooked up the converter box, was working fine. But then I decided to unhook it, because I was unable to get some of the channels I previously got. Anyway, I hooked it up again & now I'm getting "no signal" message. What could be the problem since it worked before. Did the signal change, so perhaps I need to buy a new rabbit ears? Posted by: Linda at June 3, 2009 3:16 PM Hi Dave, Bob, I would call up the retailer from whom you bought the converter box. The channel 3 issue is an interesting one because so many consumer electronic devices use channel 3 on the TV as the input frequency, I wonder if there's a collision there? Check the back of the converter for a small slide-switch that lets you choose between channels 3 and 4 for the TV input frequency (or maybe it's part of the setup). And you're right, the new channels should look better than the old on-air ones, so perhaps you can call your cable provider to find out what's going on? Good luck!! Posted by: Dave Taylor at June 10, 2009 8:03 AMWill I have to have a separate converter box for each tv in my home? Posted by: Mike at June 12, 2009 5:14 AMMike, yes you will, or you'll need some other way to split the signal from the converter box to your multiple TVs. Posted by: Dave Taylor at June 12, 2009 8:00 AMI JUST BOUGHT ANEW TV, DO I NEED TO GET CABLE OR DIRECT. CAN'T I JUST PLUG IT IN AND WATCH TV. If i have a hd dolby digital tv, will i need to buy a converter box? If so please email me! halosamr@aol.com or at my yahoo bacon43936@yahoo.com Posted by: Sam at June 16, 2009 11:07 PMKathy and Sam, it's not about your TV. It's about the signal you feed into the television. If you're grabbing that off an antenna, you probably have a problem now that the switchover has happened. If you have cable TV, Dish or DirecTV you're good to go. Posted by: Dave Taylor at June 16, 2009 11:20 PMHi Dave, Marilou, the retailer is out of line. Coupon or not, they were reimbursed for the purchase (they cash in the coupons and get the $$ to offset inventory costs and overhead) and they should stand behind the sale. They also know that the FCC is not set up to handle defective product returns. I'd go back and talk with the store manager. Good luck! Posted by: Dave Taylor at June 27, 2009 7:30 PMI have a lot to say, but ...
I do have a comment, now that you mention it!
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