DigitalConverter
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Ask Engadget HD: What's the best digital TV converter box?
As we can tell, not everyone is the type of person that gets ready for things ahead of time, there's always one guy waiting until the very end of the deadline to get things done and for once, it's not us. Enter Sam, owner of an older analog HDTV that isn't currently hooked up to satellite or cable. With a DTV converter coupon burning through his pocket, his question is simple, what's the best DTV tuner out there? "I bought a brand new HDTV before the holidays and moved my old Toshiba down to the basement, right now there's just an antenna and an old DVD player connected to it. I figure a second Blu-ray player wouldn't hurt, and at least until I get another satellite receiver hooked up I'll just use an antenna to watch the game on Sunday. Of course, I didn't think of picking up a digital TV tuner until now and I'm already missing a few local stations, but there's so many to pick from, any suggestions?" Alright, we know a few of you are still kicking it old school with strictly antenna setups and have been ready for the analog shutoff for quite some time, so you probably have plenty of experience with different digital TV converter boxes by now. Give Sam (and everyone else) the benefit of your knowledge before it's too late.Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.
Best Buy wants to annoy you into a converter box, takes the DTV PSAs in-store
For the five percent of you who managed to miss the whole analog TV shutoff debacle, select Best Buy locations will be blaring out hourly PSA-style announcements in-store, just to bring you up to speed. Even if you can't hear the hourly chime of impending analog Armageddon over the din of everyday Best Buy activity, personnel milling about in "DTV Blackout Prevention" tees should clue you in to the fact that something is going on. That's your cue to ask what the big deal is, whereupon your salesperson will encourage you to act without delay to keep the OTA flowing into your eyeballs. If you've put things off this long, though, you'll be able to procrastinate another four months, right? Seriously -- just pick up a new converter box if there's one on the shelf, because we really don't want to postpone the switch again, mkay?
CEA worries DTV delay could cause a converter shortage
In one of what's sure to be many opinions on the now-inevitable DTV deadline shifting from later this month to June, CEA President and CEO Gary Shapiro pledged support for a successful transition, including devoting part of an upcoming event to DTV education, but worries how the change may affect retailers and manufacturers. Since they had planned their reserves and resupplies around a transition this month, he apparently sees a scenario where we could have plenty of DTV converter coupons, and no boxes to buy. Honestly, we think he may be overestimating our initiative, since most (or at least the 39%+ that won't still switch this month anyway) unprepared will hit the snooze button until it becomes entirely mandatory, and the total number of homes that require a digital TV box isn't going to suddenly go up, so there should be plenty to go around, right?
Digital TV switch facing hurdle over...postage stamps?
We expected some potential issues concerning the analog TV shutoff next year, but even we (and apparently the Commerce Department) could not have predicted they'd run low on stamps necessary to send out $40 discount coupons for digital television converters. Apparently nearly 60% of the coupons sent out expired before they were actually used -- maybe people are waiting to see which digital converter to buy -- resulting in n unexpected number of new mailings. Funds from the unused coupons goes back to the program and will still be available for more requests, however the budgeted administrative funds to actually mail the things is limited, and may need to be expanded. According to Reuters, the NTIA should have a clearer picture after July 1, but this could cause some issues for those still waiting to request the discount.
LG readies $60 digital TV converters for 2008 release
You won't find a bunch of happier folks than us when bringing up the (slowly) forthcoming analog-to-digital cutover, but we aren't looking forward to picking up one of these newfangled converter boxes for the grandparent who refuses to swap out that cabinet-based CRT they've had for decades. It shouldn't come as any surprise that these things won't be handed out for free, and since the vast majority of analog TV owners are certainly looking to remedy the imminent issue a full year or so in advance (ahem), we've already got manufacturers lining up to hit the market early. Following in the footsteps of RCA's DTA800, LG is reportedly readying a digital converter of its own for a 2008 release, and while it didn't divulge many specifics, it did note that the selling price would hover around $60 -- or $20 if you manage to snag one of those $40 government issued coupons.
