Wal-Mart gets dirt cheap on digital-to-analog TV converters
By Joshua Topolsky 
posted Feb 11th 2008 10:05AM
posted Feb 11th 2008 10:05AM
posted Feb 11th 2008 10:05AM
The number of televisions estimated that sit unused in closets.
The EPA estimates that nearly 100 million unused televisions are currently taking up precious, beautiful space. (source: EPA, July 2008)
Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.
Am I the only insensitive bastard who thinks that anyone with an analog TV should be forced to go digital and screw this whole converter box program?
No, I think there are more insensitive bastards like you.
Peace
No but I am sure you are the only bastard whose complaining about getting more channels.
Not sure what you mean, but I might just stop watching OTA broadcast television completely once the analog is shut down. What has TV done for me?
@ FThorn - it hasn't cost you a thing. That's what it has done for you.
I'm an insensitive bastard as well...
Maybe eventually we'll have to run our cars off of this new cheap source of energy.
http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/07/hands-on-with-the-echostar-tr-40-and-tr-50-converter-boxes/
You guys say that one will be $40. Now Wally World has something at $50 and you call them "pretty cheap"? k.
A cheap set-top-box in the UK is £20~, which equates to $40 USD. So yeah, it is cheap.
They've been availible for 2 weeks at one nearby me...
Bought one without coupon for testing.... (Return after I get my coupons, gotta love Walmart's return policy)
Darn thing keeps reception pretty dang well
Only thing I'd change is no zoom or CC button on the remote have to go into the menu to change either) and I'd change the remote to a universal remote.
Hey it's cheap and works awesome!
Been watching this page for info:
http://www.ezdigitaltv.com/Converter_Box_Retailers.html
I hate no edit or preview on this site
Also need to add that it doesn't hang between changing channels or make you wait to change channels. Takes less than a second to lock the channel.
But it happens on every channel change even subchannels.
All in all, If this is the worst box, then it is quite worth getting a box or two
It's silly to buy one now. Wait until the end of the year when there are more out and prices are low. The analog doesn't get shut off until 2009 anyway.
riiiighhttt.....
i work at an un-named family-owned retail chain and we have the LG/Zenith converter selling at $39.97.
So in other words, Free+tax
Thats something we get cheaper in the UK - digital/analog converters! Tesco were doing them for about £10, which is about $20 i think.
Different tech (DVB-T vs. ATSC)
and a nationwide forced switch (for full-power stations) in just over a year.
The UK has already started to switch to digital.
We have had Digi-boxes for about 5 years whats all this digitaltoanalogue crap, its just a set top box to recieve tv like a cable box, you americans are crazy ;)
Hah! Care to share the wealth?
Hey leave gas out of this. Its down to 2.78 in cali, except this one shell that still tries 3.60 for regular.
Dang. It's still 3.15 here.
Where we live it's illegal to have your prices a lot lower than other places. It's basically a law against competition.
This is the reverse of that. Only one place is 3.65 every where else is 2.78-3.05. Its funny to see the suckers filling up there, when down the street its 60cents less.
I'd be careful with these. I bought a Durabrand set-top-box from Asda, owned by Walmart, and it died within hours, the replacement did the same. Apparantly Durabrand is a name they use for Walmart stuff sold in the UK through Asda.
That's my main tv. The old version of this 13" digital one.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?dest=9999999997&product_id=5645596&sourceid=1500000000000003142050
I have a 13" silver one. Wife and kids broke the mono-antenna (unicorn?) off of it twice. I use a coat hanger now. Also my Mom's most-watched TV. But she also has a big 36" sony tube, one, too.
I still use rabbit ears. (not kidding)
Cool, Walmart has two of them.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=8343230
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=8283870
I just realized this weekend that my trusty old 2.5" handheld LCD TV will be absolutely useless next year...
..we had some good times..
Not really. You just need one of these new set top boxes and a long extension cord.
Yeah, we got a little 3-inch portable about 2-3 years ago, and soon it will be worthless. Do they make portable tv's with digital tuners? Do they make portable tvs at all anymore?
I guess your 2.5" TV will have to have A/V inputs in order for my above plan to work.
(Sorry if this posts twice, but it didn't work the first time...)
I guess your 2.5" TV would have to have A/V inputs in order for my suggestion to work.
We just got a 32-inch LCD around Christmas. But the tvs in other rooms are still analog.
We don't have cable or satellite, just a roof antenna that barely works.
Many Obstacles to Digital TV Reception, Study Says:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/11/technology/11analog.html
Does it now?