For all the folks out there who did let their government-issued TV converter box coupons expire, it may have some value after all. I spotted an offer over at Apex Digital, giving a $10 discount for expired coupons if you buy its converter box.
While it’s only 25 percent of the $40 coupon, it’s better than nothing. You can also purchase the $59.99 DTV250 converter box online at the Apex store HERE.
I bet we’ll start seeing more of offers like this as retailers attempt to clear out the boxes and consumers realize they are holding expired coupons.
The $40 government-issued coupons are still available. But they expire 90 days after they are mailed. Millions of consumers have let their coupon expire. If that’s your case, ask a friend who doesn’t need a converter box — most Americans don’t need one because they either have a digital TV or pay the cable company or other service to do the conversion.
If you’re hanging on to an aging analog TV and rabbit-ear antennas, you’ll need to buy a converter box after Feb. 17, 2009. After that, major TV stations will broadcast only in digital — a signal that is incompatible with analog TVs.
By the way, the $10 discount brings the price of the Apex box to $49.99, which is the same price that Best Buy is currently selling the box for. Best Buy, however, doesn’t accept the converter box coupons online. You’ll need to visit your local store.
TigerDirect.com also has the box for sale — and it accepts the coupon online. Right now, the Apex DTV250 is $40, plus shipping.
Don’t know how to install that converter box? Read, “How to install that digital converter box.”
More on the digital TV transition at gadgetress.freedomblogging.com/dtv/
Most recent DTV transition stories:
Select older stories:
- Senate approves DTV transition delay, could be law this week January 26, 2009
- Digital TV isn’t (totally) free, plus tips and tricks January 25, 2009
- Digital TV delay cost some TV channels $40,000/month January 23, 2009
- 23 DTV converter boxes for under $50January 23, 2009
- Dish welcomes digital TV transition with $9.99 deal January 9, 2009
- 23 reviews of digital converter boxes
- How to install that digital converter box
- 99 days until the digital TV transition changes TV
- 50% more coupons available for digital TV converter box program
- Digital TV coupons now available to more users
- Digital TV discounts still available; Amazon starts selling converter boxes
- Portable TVs will fade away after February
- Reminder: Digital converters bought with coupons aren’t taxable
Tamara 'the Gadgetress' Chuang
Here's a list of TV/mobile companies helping consumers one tweet at a time. 
I’m in an apartment in La Habra on fixed income
Allot of good these converter boxes do on rabbit ears!
Non Digital TV I get 2-13 and some UHF stations (some a little snowy but watchable)
With the converter box I get 4, 9 and 28 (that’s it! three channels!)
My landlord will not put up a master antenna and wont let me put up an antenna of my own
Feb 17 2009 is the day I will be forced to give up TV and go back to reading or slow 56k internet
Thanks allot Rotten Corrupt Government!! for abandoning us!!
I will be sure to vote out my rep if he or she voted for DTV!
TV less in La Habra - please note:
If your landlord will not put up a master antenna, he/she MUST allow you to install your own according to the “OTARD” rule. Please see http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html
Enter your addressat TVFool.com to find frequencies and signal strength. You may only need a relatively compact UHF-only antenna.
Radio Shack sells a small indoor/outdoor amplified HD antenna that works great in an apartment. I bought it the other day and it works good inside, but even better when I put it on my patio. It’s not much bigger than a large TV remote, so size is not a problem, but it does need to plug in to an outlet.
Purchased Two HD Converter boxes for analog TV sets connected to an external Antenna. After hook up Channels: 2, 4, 56 and 58 no picture; channels; 7, 9, 11, 13, very poor quality with snow and noise. Channels 28 & 50 better sound and picture than other channels but with snow. All stations tuned through the converter box are either poor quality or no reception. When the converter box is in the off position the pictures are much better. Will some magic wand wipe away this problem in February 2009 when all TV broadcasts will be high definition? I think not! Looks like if we wish to watch television after February we will have to pay for cable.
Richard Deaton
dickaudrey@aol.com
Richard - have you tried AntennaWeb.org? The site helps you figure out the ideal position for your antenna. — Gadgetress
I am getting great reception on 9 or 10 stations on my analog TV with external rooftop antenna. I hooked up the digital converter box an was all set for the Nov. 16 broadcast test. The 6:53am test gave me 2 stations with the bouncing box stating “weak or no signal” and nothing on the remainder of the channels. I hooked a different converter box up to another TV in the house and went through the channels during the 5:23pm test and got the same results.
Nothing in all the conversion info. tells me I must get a new or specific antenna, after all, I am getting great reception now. What gives? By the way, just yesterday cable was installed in my neighborhood!
First of all I DID NOT LET MY COUPON EXPIRE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There were NO BOXES TO BE FOUND during the time I had the coupon…. So I had to pay full price.. Then buy an antenna.. It all worked fine till about a week afte New Years.. It acts nuts.. It’s Ok in the morning for the morning news shows.. Then for regular programs.. it keeps cutting out and even changes channels, yeah all by itself… I am also deaf.. So afte the news no closed captioninfg is available…..I had closed captioning for the damn football game.. then it will work again for the damn soap operas.. This is a scam right.. so you have no choice but to buy cable..I spent all this money for nothing???
I didn’t know about the coupons expiring until FINALLY we found the boxes in stock at walmart. (They NEVER had any!) So went to use and lady told me the card was no good. What the heck? We waited over 7 months almost for the damn things to be in stock long enough so we could buy them. Why are they making this so difficult? THEY (the govt) mandated this change… I didn’t ask for it. SO- why are WE being punished for the stupid card expiring? Now there is a waiting list for new cards. But, I can’t get any- because dtv # customer service said “I already have been mailed 2 cards.”. What a crock of bull- yea, but they are no good to me cause they are EXPIRED!
Why, oh why was it necessary to place an expiry date on the card?” They” like to complicate things for themselves and everybody else.