Gov offers $40 coupon to make old TVs digital ready

[Will]

A great tip from our reader Miranda.

Millions of $40 government coupons become available Tuesday to help low-tech television owners buy special converter boxes for older TVs that might not work after the switch to digital broadcasting.

Beginning Feb. 18, 2009, anyone who does not own a digital set and still gets their programming via over-the-air antennas will no longer receive a picture.


That's the day the television industry completes its transition from old-style analog broadcasting to digital.

Yahoo via Miranda

[moneymatters]

signed up for my $40 coupon. thanks!

[rstlne]

One thing I noticed about the coupons: They are only good for a certain period of time (I think it was 90 days) after they're mailed out. However, no retailers near my place sell the converter boxes yet. So could it be possible that the coupon may expire before I can get a converter box? Maybe it's better to wait until it gets a little closer to the time when converter boxes are available.

[purplefdu]

I was just talking to a Radio Shack employee the other day about these as we were looking at a non-digital Tivo. Radio Shack is an approved dealer for the converters so you may be able to pre-order and pre-pay once you get your coupon even if they don't have them in stock yet. We're planning on waiting till its closer as well, but we have basic cable so it won't be an issue for us.

[1littlething]

Great tip, thanks! I applied for my inlaws to get one.

[moneymatters]

just bought my 2 converters a week or two ago using the coupons. In case anyone is interested, they have them on sale at walmart for $50 (which is about the cheapest I could find them anywhere). Net total - $20 for $100 worth of converters.

The converters are pretty cool too because not only do we get great digital reception, we also now have TV guides built into the converters telling you all the shows that are on, as well as what's on next.. very cool.