DTV: Converters vs. Buying a TV
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DTV: Converters vs. Buying
We take a look to see which is the better option - convertor boxes or buying a DTV.
In June television signals will become digital rather than analog. That means older TV’s could lose their signal. If you still watch an analog TV set, the kind with the rabbit ears, you’ll either need to get a converter box or buy a digital TV. We did some research for you. We’ll show you what your options are and how much they’ll cost you in this Seven On Your Side Consumer Watch.
If you watch an analog TV with rabbit ear antennas, you’ll see snow on the screen on June 12 if you don’t convert to digital. You can convert a TV by attaching a converter box that simply plugs in.
The government will give you two $40 coupons for two boxes. Go to http://www.ntia.doc.gov/dtvcoupon/ for more information. We found the cheapest converter boxes locally at Walmart for $50. Most stores sell them for $60. But the coupons expire in 90 days and stores run out, so plan to visit several stores.
If you’re going to just buy a whole new TV, you have a wide variety of digital options and they range from as low as $100 on up into the $1000’s.
You can find simple digital tube TV’s for $100 to $300. Though most people spend $500 to $1000 for a flat screen. On the smaller end of flat screens, LCD’s, or Liquid Crystal Displays, are popular. Said Casey Tompkins of Best Buy, “High Definition LCD’s go all the way down to 15 inches and still maintain High Definintion quality. They run around $300.“
For bigger TV’s or playing video games, plasma’s are usually recommended. Said Tompkins, “Like for a 32 inch, you go anywhere from $599 to $1200 or $1300.“
And if you really want the biggest, brightest TV you can buy, said Tompkins, “You’re looking at around $6000 for a 60 inch plasma.“ It’s just a little pocket change to watch your favorite show.
Many major stores offer to recycle your old tv for you. So be sure to ask. That can save you $20 to $30.
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Reader Reactions
Everyone who is having problems getting converter boxes get this. My local Radio Shack guy told me that even though the store was out of stock, I could buy them there at the store, pay for them using my coupons, then they would be delivered to me direct from the Radio Shack Warehouse.
I did that, and in about 10 days my two DTV converter boxes arrived Problem solved.
I have received two coupons for buying the TV converter boxes and they expire 1 August 2008. My problem is that every time I go to WalMart—every weekend—they are out of stock. Why should I have to go on-line and order a more expensive box and why aren’t there enough converter boxes being produced to take care of consumers’ needs. When I called the toll-free number to ask them if I could re-apply for coupons if mine expire before WalMart gets a better supply, I was told I could not.
What is this preoccupation with rabbit ears?? Anyone I have ever known who watches television the old fashioned way…that is to say over the air (OTA), uses a proper outdoor TV antenna. I have four TV’s at my house. They are all in good shape (4 to 10 years old),and like most good for about 20 years. Four converters and were in business. Why would I replace them?? Just because they make the picture and sound better…they haven’t done anything about the quality of the programmimg…which is still mostly crap. Nuff said.
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