Digital Converter Boxes allow you to keep your existing analog television after the Digital Television (DTV) Transition on February 17, 2009. As of this date, broadcasts will switch to an all digital signal. If you have an analog television (and some 75% of America does), you’ll need one or more digital converter boxes to allow your analog televisions to continue to receive free, over-the-air digital broadcasts. In a nutshell, a Digital Converter Box receives digital broadcast signals and convertes them to analog, so they can be watched on an analog television.
Who needs a Digital Converter Box?
Anyone that has one or more televisions that are not connected to cable, satellite, or other pay television service. That is, if you receive free, over-the-air broadcasts using just an antenna and a television, you need a digital converter box. If you ever stop paying for satellite or cable service, you will also need a digital converter box to receive free, over-the-air digital television.
When do you need a Digital Converter Box? The mandatory date for the digital transition is 2/17/2009. By this date, you must have one digital converter box per television in your household. You can purchase a digital converter box immediately, as almost all stations at this point are broadcasting both digital and analog signals. However, by 2/17/2009, you must have a digital converter box, or your television will only display static and snow!
How do I get a digital converter box? The US Congress has passed a bill that will allow every household in the US to receive up to 2 (two) $40 coupons good towards the purchase of two eligible digital converter boxes. You can request your coupons and, once you have received them, purchase your digital converter boxes from a variety of vendors, online and in traditional brick and mortar stores (including Radio Shack, Best Buy, Wal Mart, etc.). If you rely on free, over-the-air digital television broadcasts, make sure you apply for your coupons now and, once you receive them, get your digital converter boxes – all bevfore 2/17/2009!
What digital converter boxes are available? As of the time of this article, there are several hundred digital converter boxes either approved and on the market, or approved and not yet in production! While all coupon eligible converter boxes (or CECB’s) perform the basic task of converting digital signals to analog, having so many choices can be overwhelming. The good news is that all of the digital converter boxes will convert the digital signal to analog, and put new life into your existing television.
Of all the digital converter boxes, which is the best? You can spend literally dozens – or hundreds – of hours researching each and every individual digital converter box, or you can take advantage of the hours of research many others have already done. There are three digital converter boxes that are the cream of the crop, and they available right now for purchase.
For specific digital converter box model information see the article Which Digital Converter Box Should I Buy?
