Wal-Mart gets dirt cheap on digital-to-analog TV converters

Attention Wal-Mart shoppers -- you're about to get a sweet deal on a digital-to-analog TV converter box. According to an excited press release from the company, your local stores are now stocked from floor to ceiling with an ultra-cheap Magnavox converter, selling for the shockingly low price of $49.87. Of course, since households across the US are about to get those succulent $40 coupons for converters, this little puppy won't cost much more than about two gallons of gas. We kid, we kid. But seriously, they're pretty cheap.

[Brodie @ Feb 11th 2008 10:21AM]

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?

[Cris @ Feb 11th 2008 10:24AM]

No, I think there are more insensitive bastards like you.

Peace

[Mr.Tech @ Feb 11th 2008 10:27AM]

No but I am sure you are the only bastard whose complaining about getting more channels.

[FThorn @ Feb 11th 2008 11:57AM]

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?

[Life of Brian @ Feb 11th 2008 2:41PM]

@ FThorn - it hasn't cost you a thing. That's what it has done for you.

[Rocketboy @ Feb 11th 2008 3:44PM]

I'm an insensitive bastard as well...

[Mull @ Feb 11th 2008 10:21AM]

Maybe eventually we'll have to run our cars off of this new cheap source of energy.

[kevin @ Feb 11th 2008 10:23AM]

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.

[ssuk @ Feb 11th 2008 11:04AM]

A cheap set-top-box in the UK is £20~, which equates to $40 USD. So yeah, it is cheap.

[Jacob @ Feb 11th 2008 10:27AM]

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

[Jacob @ Feb 11th 2008 10:35AM]

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

[BeforeISleep.net @ Feb 11th 2008 4:43PM]

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.

[Jordan @ Feb 11th 2008 10:34AM]

riiiighhttt.....

[jaysen @ Feb 11th 2008 10:39AM]

i work at an un-named family-owned retail chain and we have the LG/Zenith converter selling at $39.97.

[System48 @ Feb 11th 2008 10:45AM]

So in other words, Free+tax

[mr.me! @ Feb 11th 2008 10:48AM]

Thats something we get cheaper in the UK - digital/analog converters! Tesco were doing them for about £10, which is about $20 i think.

[Jacob @ Feb 11th 2008 11:02AM]

Different tech (DVB-T vs. ATSC)
and a nationwide forced switch (for full-power stations) in just over a year.

[fourthletter @ Feb 11th 2008 11:18AM]

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 ;)

[byaah @ Feb 11th 2008 10:52AM]

Hah! Care to share the wealth?

[chris @ Feb 11th 2008 11:31AM]

Hey leave gas out of this. Its down to 2.78 in cali, except this one shell that still tries 3.60 for regular.

[KC @ Feb 11th 2008 12:44PM]

Dang. It's still 3.15 here.

[SteveMB @ Feb 11th 2008 1:57PM]

Where we live it's illegal to have your prices a lot lower than other places. It's basically a law against competition.

[chris @ Feb 11th 2008 2:06PM]

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.

[mattclarkie @ Feb 11th 2008 11:40AM]

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.

[FThorn @ Feb 11th 2008 12:02PM]

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.

[FThorn @ Feb 11th 2008 11:59AM]

I still use rabbit ears. (not kidding)

[JJJ @ Feb 11th 2008 12:45PM]

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

[Michael @ Feb 11th 2008 2:27PM]

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..

[Joe @ Feb 11th 2008 2:59PM]

Not really. You just need one of these new set top boxes and a long extension cord.

[Timerider @ Feb 11th 2008 3:54PM]

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?

[Joe @ Feb 11th 2008 3:03PM]

I guess your 2.5" TV will have to have A/V inputs in order for my above plan to work.

[Joe @ Feb 11th 2008 3:05PM]

(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.

[Timerider @ Feb 11th 2008 3:43PM]

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.

[U. Betchya @ Feb 11th 2008 5:37PM]

Many Obstacles to Digital TV Reception, Study Says:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/11/technology/11analog.html

[thethirdmoose @ Feb 11th 2008 6:09PM]

Does it now?