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Converter Box For Analog TV Available Soon

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By ROB PEGORARO, The Washington Post

Published: January 28, 2008

I know that analog television is going off the air next February and that I can keep using my old analog set with a digital converter box, but I can't find any at a reasonable price. So what good is a $40 coupon from the government for the purchase of a converter?

This part of the digital TV transition is a bit of a mess. Digital-TV reception over the air does work, and converter boxes that add digital tuners (but not high-definition capability) to old sets do exist. But they have yet to make their way into stores at the promised $50 price.

The Web site set up by the Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration to help buyers of these boxes (dtv2009.gov) makes this all too clear. Click on its link to "Locate a TV Converter Box Retailer near you," and it tells you, "Retailer information will be posted, as it becomes available."

You'll have to wait, but you should wait anyway because you won't need a converter box until analog goes off the air Feb. 17, 2009. By this spring, you should see these boxes arrive from such brands as Echostar, Philips, RCA and Zenith and at list prices as low as $40.

Since the government is offering American households two $40 coupons for the purchase of a digital TV converter - available through that DTV2009 Web site or by calling 1-888-388-2009 - your digital upgrade can therefore be free. Coupons will be sent out starting the second half of February.

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