Noted: Coupons are a pain to remember to use but they do tend to save some money. Today, Verizon teamed up with Cellfire to make using coupons easier for customers with wireless or FiOS TV service. Those customers can sign up at vzspendsmart.com.

Of course, anyone can sign up for the same deals at Cellfire.com. There are two options for redeeming coupons: Pick out deals online and add them to your grocery store loyalty/club card. Or keep the whole process digital and just show the clerk the image on your phone. Unfortunately, the latter isn’t available for most offers here in Orange County. Participants seem to be only grocery stores and Sears.

Verizon doesn’t say whether its customers will get any extra special deals. And it looks like the answer is no. More on the FiOS TV widget HERE.

Scanning the site, I noticed Fry’s had coupons! I haven’t been to the electronics store in a long time and didn’t realize it even offered coupons.

The only deal? Just $0.50 off Progresso Soup. Soup? Then I realized, this isn’t Fry’s Electronics. Rather, it was some grocery store named Fry’s Food with a very, very similar logo:

>>This just in from reader Mike in Yorba Linda (updated 5:41 p.m.): Fry’s Electronics was started by the sons of the Fry’s Grocery store founder, using some of daddy’s money. Hence the similarity. I often go to Arizona, where Fry’s Grocery Stores are common. The signage is nearly identical. As a tech geek, I was somewhat disappointed the first time I went in one. See the link for more info. (Thanks Mike for doing the reporting I didn’t feel like doing.)

Want some real deals? Check out the Register’s Deals blog at ocregister.com/ocdeals. Recent finds:

There are three more things AT&T U-verse customers can do on their TV: See who’s calling on the phone, watch four ESPN channels at the same time (for ESPN Full Court customers only) and get instant discounts on movies on demand.

None of these “apps” are that new for the industry. But all are useful. This brings the U-verse TV apps count to 20.

To get an instant $2 discount, U-verse customers just turn to channel 200, get the code, and redeem the coupon instantly on channel 199. Customers can also go to U-verse’s customer Web site and get the discount code. The first coupon will be available on Monday, Nov. 23. If you’re also an AT&T Wireless customer, you can get coupon alerts send to your phone by texting “On Demand” to 9696.

The discount movie coupon is something I hope cable providers will soon add. Time Warner, for example, does offer local coupons on demand (they’re actually sent by snail mail), but to get discounts on its on-demand movie library, customers have to snail-mail back a paper coupon with their monthly bill.

The onscreen Caller ID feature is, of course, only for customers who get home phone and TV service from AT&T. The feature also notifies TV viewers of new voicemails. The messages pop up in a small box on the TV screen for six seconds. This feature is coming soon and right now, only available in Austin, Tex. (AT&T, after all, is based in Texas.)

Lastly, ESPN Full Court package subscribers can watch four basketball games on the same screen on channels 4500 and 621. The package is priced at $105 through Nov. 28.

Here’s AT&T’s official video about how the new apps work:

Click here to view the embedded video.

AT&T U-verse’s other apps include:

1. U-verse TV Multiview, an app that lets you watch up to four channels at once on your TV screen.
2. Mobile Remote Access app for iPhone, an app that allows you to schedule and manage DVR recordings and easily search U-verse TV program listings from your iPhone.
3. Media Share, an app that lets you stream your personal photos and music files located on your home computers to any connected TV in the home.
4. TV Awards and New Shows, an app that helps you follow this fall season’s award shows and series premieres.
5. Weather On Demand, an app that gives you instant access to check the current weather conditions and detailed forecasts in any U.S. city.
6. Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Football, an app to help you manage your fantasy teams from your U-verse TV screen through the AT&T U-bar. AT&T U-bar allows you to get easy access to personalized sports, weather, stock and traffic information on your TV screen, without interrupting your current program.
7. College Basketball from Yahoo! Sports, which gives basketball fans the ability to view tournament brackets, their personalized completed bracket, game summaries and box scores, and more through the AT&T U-bar.
8. Film Awards Interactive, which provides biographies, previews and full-length movies for award-nominated films and stars.
9. 2009 Masters, which featured an up-to-date leaderboard, player scorecards, stats and bios, news updates, tournament photos, video archives and more from the 2009 Masters Tournament.
10. On Demand Top Picks, an app that provides rental recommendations based on their past rentals and lists the top ten titles U-verse TV customers are renting. The app is available to customers in Los Angeles, Cleveland, Hartford, St. Louis, Atlanta, Sacramento, San Antonio and Austin, and AT&T plans to roll out this app to all U-verse TV markets next year.

U-verse is available in certain portions of several cities in Orange County. Those are:  Aliso Viejo, Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Garden Grove, La Habra, La Palma, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Mission Viejo, Orange, Placentia, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana, Stanton, Villa Park, Westminster, and Yorba Linda. To get the most recent U-verse news, visit the special Gadgetress U-verse page.

Past AT&T U-verse coverage:

Visit the Gadgetress Guide to AT&T U-verse: gadgetress.freedomblogging.com/uverse

Cell phone companies have been talking about offering coupons on mobile phones for years but have mostly left it up to third-party providers like Cellfire to offer the service. Today, T-Mobile jumped in, launching its own digital coupon service. 

Called “Green Perks,” T-Mobile’s coupon program is intended to promote the company’s “green” efforts by offering discounts on environmentally conscious products from Method, Jamba Juice, Volcom, Roxy and Quiksilver, according to the press release.

The point of a cell phone coupon is to pull it up on your phone’s screen, show it to the store’s cashier and leave with a discount on your purchase. No printing, no paper necessary — very green, get it?

As a T-Mobile subscriber, I downloaded this myself. Oddly, T-Mobile didn’t create an app for Google Android phones, so G1 users like myself need to go to the phone’s settings and allow “unknown sources” to install non-Android Market applications (scary!).  Full instructions are HERE.

Only six coupons showed up for me, including 20 percent off a Volcom V-Co. Logical item at Volcom Brand Stores. That was the only in-store discount. Deals for Roxy, Quiksilver, CatSwell, DogSwell and Method cleaning products were only available through official company Web sites, which defeats the purpose of getting the discount on the phone. No Jamba Juice coupon to be found, by the way.

Still, I like the idea of having coupons on my cell phone. I hate messing with paper ones because you either 1) have to print or cut them out and 2) remember to use them. Now, I just need to remember to use them. 

The whole mobile coupon trend news reminds me of a story I wrote in 2006 (see “Other things your cell phone can do“) about, well, other things your cell phone can do. I mentioned Cellfire, a mobile coupon service that is alive and well today, and teaming up with stores like Vons, Payless Shoes and Hollywood Video. 

Now, if only those coupons would pop up on my phone’s screen when I neared the store… 

Green Perks is free but available only to T-Mobile users with a data plan and must be requested by going to a web site:  www.t-mobile.com/mobilize. The software is downloaded to a user’s phone and needs to be launched to see what’s new. 

More on mobile coupons from the web:

• Verizon rejecting new standard-rate mobile coupon programs? (Mobile Marketer)
• Popeye’s, Borders, OshKosh B’gosh offer mobile coupons (Mobile Marketer)
• Vons offering digital coupons (OC Deals)
• Wienerschnitzel hooks up with digital hotties (Fast Food Maven)

Recent cell-phones news from The Gadgetress:

Ten more days until our favorite TV shows go completely digital and the government wants to send another reminder that if you haven’t converted to digital, there may still be some financial assistance available.

The converter box coupon program still has $40-discount coupons but consumers who apply after today are no longer guaranteed to get the coupons before the June 12 switchover. That’s because it takes about nine business days to process and mail the coupons.

A converter box is the cheapest way to convert an old, analog TV to digital. If you need help, Best Buy’s Geek Squad is offering free in-home installation to the first 10,700 people who request it (see earlier, “FREE digital TV converter box installation to first 10,700 people“).

There’s also other phone and at home support available. Just plug in your zip code at dtv.gov/dtv_resources.htm. 

According to the Federal Communications Commission, we’re down to 2.7% of U.S. households, or 3.1 million homes, who aren’t ready for the digital transition.

If you need any more questions answered, the FCC has set up a hotline at 1-888-CALL-FCC.

More digital TV transition news:

With the ability to fast-forward  TV commercials, it seems like a tough sell to entice viewers to choose to watch TV commercials.

Time Warner Cable is rolling out such a service. Called “Promotions On Demand,” the new service will be available nationwide by the end of September. It’s available here in O.C., hidden as an on-demand channel  – the Get it on Demand on channel 1308 on my TV. Most videos are just standard TV commercials (for restaurants, stores and services) and there are video tours of homes for sale. Plus, it’s collected segments of some local shows (Huell Howser rides the Metrolink train) into longer infomercials. 

Coupons on your TV?

But the more potentially controversial feature is the coupons. Coupons on a TV, you ask? Yes. Sort of.

Watch the TV commercial and coupons will be mailed to your home whether you want them or not. It took me a few viewings of “Big O Tires” ad before I realized this. I thought the commercial was going to offer a phone number or Web site for me to ask for the 50 percent off oil change coupon but the commercial ends with something like “Just watch for these in your mailbox in the next few days.” I guess I’ll be getting a half dozen. 

Of course, I also didn’t read the ad’s description before I hit play:  ”Your personal information WILL NOT be shared with the advertiser” (Time Warner adds the all-caps).  

What good can come of this?

Says Time Warner in a press release, “Advertisers now have a turn-key solution to focus on their most interested consumers.”

Joan Gillman, president of Time Warner Cable Media Sales, says, “When customers get marketing materials they really want and advertisers get customers who are interested in their offers, everybody wins.”

Big O Tires even chimes in: ”Promotions on Demand has proven to be one of the most successful response media programs for Big O Tires,” said J.C. Cordero, who works for the auto parts retailer’s advertising agency, Cordero & Davenport Advertising.

It does sound great for marketers. For consumers? Meh. Well, it’s better than raising our rates. Oh wait, they’re doing that, too. I’d much rather have the interactive feature Verizon FiOS just rolled out, which lets users click an ad for more information

For the coupons, the selection of restaurants and retailers is extremely limited and don’t seem to be unique deals. Nor are there many offers for Orange County subscribers.  Maybe when it starts offering 50 percent coupons at Z’Tejas or discounts at Fry’s Electronics, I’ll tune in.

Check out the Gadgetress Guide to local TV services. Recent Time Warner Cable news:

Ever wonder why digital TV converter boxes start at $40? That, of course, is the same amount the government is giving away to anyone who needs one or two of these converter boxes to watch TV after June 12.

From the names (or no-names) of some of the converter-box brands — AccessHD, Artec, Coship and Goodmind, to name a few — I figured the digital boxes were cheaply made in Asia. And I’ve wondered if some savvy entrepreneur is making millions inflating the price of cheaply made electronics to cash in on the government subsidy.

Cynical me. 

While, in fact, the only converter-box brand made in-house by a familiar name is Zenith, a brand owned by LG Electronics, other companies aren’t making a whole lot of money on digital converters, says Myra Moore, president of Digital Tech Consulting, a research-consulting firm that has tracked this very topic.

LG didn’t respond to calls for a comment. Other brands like RCA and Magnavox outsource their converter boxes to some Asian manufacturer you’ve probably never heard of, she said. 

Moore did her own sleuthing and came up with the breakdown of how much it costs to make a digital converter box — between $28 to $32, she concluded in an article she wrote for EE Times.

I asked Moore to drill it down. Of that cost, between $16 to $22 pays for the cost of the demodulator, decoder chip, power supply, casing, remote control and input/output panel. 

Add in assembly, shipping and tariff fees and the manufacturer can’t make much of a profit if it sells the box below $40.

“No, you couldn’t make this for $20,” Moore agreed.

“The margins on the box are pretty low given what it costs to make the boxes and what little margin you need to put in for the developer and retailer. There wasn’t a lot of profit there. A lot of companies decided that because it was a short term, low margin product, they decided not to get into it.”

Add in other features the government felt was unnecessary – analog pass through, a smart antenna or programmable remote — and the price goes up.

There goes my conspiracy theory that the government inadvertently raised the price of a digital converter boxes by offering a $40 coupon. In fact, it was probably the other way around.

“They didn’t pick $40 out of thin air,” said Steve Baker, an analyst who tracks sales of consumer electronics for market researcher The NPD Group. “The goal wasn’t for everyone to make lots of dollars there but that their costs should be covered.”

According to the government division organizing the coupon program, 26.1 million (or exactly 26,136,855) coupons have been redeemed as of March 25, 2009. The coupon program can handle another 19.6 million converter boxes, although the amount is getting rapidly depleted as consumers request their share. 

The big issue now, added Moore, is whether there will be enough converter boxes. Moore was certain there would be in December, but that was before President Obama and Congress moved the deadline four months to June 12. 

“At the end of 2008, we were certain there were enough converter boxes in the pipelines to satisfy the February deadline. It’s a different story now. Until we finish the last quarter’s analysis of shipments, there’s a possibility that might have changed,” Moore said.

As a public service, I’m including information on how to get your coupon and where to find out more on how to get ready for digital TV:

For those who still need a coupon, here is how to get one:

• Apply online
• Call the Coupon Program toll-free 24-hour automated system 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009).
• Mail a coupon application to: PO BOX 2000, Portland, OR 97208-2000. Download a Coupon Application here.
• Fax a coupon application to 1-877-DTV-4ME2 (1-877-388-4632)
• Deaf or hard of hearing callers may dial 1-877-530-2634 (English/TTY) or 1-866-495-1161 (Spanish/TTY). TTY Service is available from 9 AM – 9 PM Eastern Time Monday through Friday.

Check out the Gadgetress Guide to the Digital TV transition. Latest DTV transition headlines:

For everyone who inadvertently let their $40 digital TV converter coupon expire before buying a converter box, you’re in luck. The government will let you reapply for up to two more coupons beginning today.

The coupons offer a discount off a converter box, which is one way to get an analog TV ready for the nation’s switch to digital broadcasts on June 12, 2009. But millions of people  let their coupons expire after the 90-day deadline. And then in early January, the government ran out of money.

However, thanks to intervention from politicians, the digital TV transition was delayed four months to June and $650 million more was set aside by Congress for the coupon program. Up to $90 million of that will be used for administration and outreach and promotion.

But for the past month, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, which is managing the coupon program, has focused on sending out coupons to the 4 million people on the waiting list. That list was cleared on Saturday, using up $190 million, or 39 percent of the $490 million reserved for coupons. 

“We’re particularly focused on the 4-plus million completely unprepared households and we’re going to monitor the coupon requests and the coupon redemptions to make sure that we don’t obligate all the funding before we ensure that the totally unprepared households get their coupons. If need be, we’ll establish another waiting list for the unprepared, over the air households,” said Anna Gomez, the NTIA’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information.

Before today, consumers who tried to get another coupon were rejected.  Now, when those users apply, the system will check to see if they have already cashed in a coupon. Up to two coupons total are allowed per household. If a household cashed in one coupon before but not the second, that household can apply for one more.

Gomez said that the coupon process should be faster than before. Besides upgrades in the operation, the coupons are also being delivered by first-class mail and should take nine days to arrive instead of the previous 21 days.

For those who still need a coupon, here is how to get one:

More digital TV transition news: Check out the Gadgetress Guide to the Digital TV transition. Latest headlines:

America will move to digital TV on June 12 and that’s final, said Gary Locke, President Obama’s nominee for head of the Department of Commerce. 

During his Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday, the Washington state governor said he has no plans to seek more funding or an extension to the digital TV transition, initially set for Feb. 17 but delayed till June after politicians felt America wasn’t ready.

Consumers who rely on antennas and analog TVs will have no TV service when networks begin broadcasting in digital only. But consumers don’t need to buy a new digital TV or subscribe to cable or satellite TV. They can buy a digital converter box, which costs between $40 to $100. (For tips, see the  ”Gadgetress Guide to the 2009 Digital TV Transition.”)

One reason the DTV transition was delayed was the government-funded program offering $40 coupons on converter boxes ran out of money in January. About 33 million coupons had been redeemed and new requests were put on a waiting list. Thanks to the president’s economic stimulus plan, the coupon program got another $650 million.

That money was received earlier this month and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, which runs the program, begin mailing out coupons to the 4.1 million on the waiting list.

Of the $650 million in new funding, approximately $160 million was set aside for administration and operational expenses. Those include contracting the service to IBM to process the coupon requests and mail them out. The $490 million dedicated to coupons can fulfill 12.25 million requests. 

“It takes us a few days to sort through the (waiting) list and make sure they are valid requests,” said Bart Forbes, the NTIA’s public affairs specialist. “We’ve been mailing out 400,000 coupons per workday.”

The law that delayed the digital transition in June also allows for people who let their $40 coupon expire to apply for one more. Details on when and how the reapplication process will work will be released as soon as next week, which Locke also mentioned during his confirmation hearing, Forbes said.

“We’ve been changing our process” to accommodate requests from expired coupon holders, Forbes said. “We had to rework the whole system.”

For those who still need a coupon, here is how to get one:

Around the web:

• No Further Digital TV Delays, Commerce Nominee Says (Wall Street Journal’s Washington Wire blog)
• US Commerce Secy Nominee Stresses Free, Fair Trade (Wall Street Journal)

More on the digital TV transition: Check out the Gadgetress Guide to the Digital TV transition. Latest headlines:

The clocks have been reset. Budgets have been approved. TV broadcasts are (finally) going digital on June 12. Most of the nation is ready but there are still millions who are hoping to get one of those government-issued coupons, good for $40 off a digital converter box.

New numbers out Monday show 4.3 million people are on the waiting list for a coupon. This includes 153,646 households in the Orange County and Los Angeles area, or 6.3 percent of the total. This is the highest percentage across the country — higher than New York City’s 6.1 percent, Chicago’s 4 percent, Dallas’ 2.5 percent and Boston’s 1.4 percent. Check out the official stats yourself on this PDF file HERE.

The coupon program ran out of money in January but thanks to the economic stimulus bill, millions more will be added to the program. When? Dunno. The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration, which manages the coupon program, has not yet announced when it will start sending out more coupons.

But thanks to reader Elvin P Miali, I have two coupons to give away to the first readers who simply ask. These expire in April so if you need one, send me an e-mail or comment on the blog. I’ll give the coupons to the first two readers who request one. (Remember, you don’t need a converter box is you already have a digital TV or pay for cable or satellite. Read more about what you will need at my “Guide to the 2009 digital TV transition.”)

If there are other readers out there who have valid coupons and no longer need them, I’d be happy to unload them to the needy. Send me an e-mail.

Everyone should expect to see more ads and education efforts by TV stations and organizations, like the National Association of Broadcasters. The NAB relaunched an updated campaign on Monday with TV commercials, ads on buses and in gas stations and the web. In all, the group and its member stations have invested more than $1.2 billion on informing consumers about the DTV transition, said Linda Yun, an NAB spokesperson.

More digital TV transition news: Check out the Gadgetress Guide to the Digital TV transition.

Latest headlines:

I was looking forward to today because it meant an end to writing about the transition to digital TV broadcasts. But no. That’s not happening for another four months, thanks to politicians who just approved the delay earlier this month.

So … four more months of watching DTV prep scroll across the bottom of the TV screen. Four more months of converter-box coupons. Four more months of procrastination.

Here is the latest regarding the digital TV transition:

1. On Feb. 11, Barack Obama signed the law to delay the digital transition till June 12. But as part of the law, stations are allowed to switch to digital after today.

2. Some 421 stations will turn off their analog signal today. Nearly 220 already have. That leaves approximately 1,149 full-power stations nationwide that plan to broadcast through June 12. If you’re wondering about your favorite channel, here’s the rundown: Major network owned and operated channels will stay on till June. Beyond that, the FCC identified 106 channels nationwide that still planned to switch today and persuaded 43 not to switch, leaving 20 markets nationwide with potential problems.  According to the FCC, only three stations in the Los Angeles region will ditch analog after today — and from the chart below, they are not major stations:

To see what other TV stations nationwide are coming or going, you can download the FCC’s spreadsheet of stations going digital this week.

3. $40 coupons for converter boxes — As of Feb. 11, there is no money available for more coupons.  Approximately, $911 million was used, another $400,000 is outstanding, waiting for consumers to cash in their $40 coupon. Some 3.98 million people are on the waiting list for coupons. Another $650 million was set aside as part of the pending economic stimulus bill to provide more money for the coupon program. Obama is expected to sign the bill today. Consumers can still request coupons at https://www.dtv2009.gov/

More digital TV transition news: Check out the Gadgetress Guide to the Digital TV transition. Latest headlines:

**UPDATE, 12:35 p.m.**: AP is reporting that Senate Republicans have blocked the proposed bill to delay the the February 2009 digital transition to June. Democrats, however, say they will try again next week. This comes after President-elect Barack Obama once again urged Congress on Friday to delay the transition. Reason to block delay: It would cause too much confusion among consumers and would delay transferring those analog airwaves for emergency purposes.

————————

With President-elect Obama urging a delay to the planned Feb. 17 transition to digital TV, the bureaucrats are making things happen.

Sen. Jay Rockefeller introduced his bill to delay the transition for four months until June 12, 2009. 

“I firmly believe that our nation is not yet ready to make this transition,” Rockefeller said in a press release.

On the House of Representatives’ side, Rep. Henry Waxman from California introduced a similar bill to delay the DTV transition.

Besides postponing the deadline, a delay will reform the coupon giveaway. According to the senator, 2 million Americans are still waiting for their $40 coupon, good for discounts on digital  converter boxes that are need to upgrade older analog TVs to the digital age. The $1.3 billion committed to the transition has been used up. A delay would give the new administration time to find more money to put into the coupon program. 

(One note: Anyone can buy a digital converter box without a coupon. You just won’t get the discount. Prices start around $40.) 

——————————

__________________________________

In Orange County and Los Angeles, 9.5 percent of TV-watching households aren’t prepared, according to a December report from The Nielsen Company, the TV research company. Approximately 535,000 households, or 9.5 percent, of folks in the region do not have a digital television, converter box or cable or satellite service.

On Thursday, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission began implementing the “Short-term Analog Flash and Emergency Readiness Act,” or SAFER, which permits analog TV service for 30 days after the Feb. 17 deadline.  

During the 30 days, TV networks can voluntarily use the analog airwaves to air public safety information and DTV transition tips on how to restore TV service. The FCC Order has 826 stations that are eligible to continue broadcasting during those 30 days. Stations not on the list are encouraged to work with other stations in the community to support the extension. Eligible stations in Orange County include:

More on the digital TV transition at gadgetress.freedomblogging.com/dtv/

• Guide to the 2009 Digital TV transition (Gadgetress)
• At Obama’s request, law to delay DTV transition underway
• Dish welcomes digital TV transition with $9.99 deal
• Waiting list begins for Digital TV converter coupons
• How to install that digital converter box
• Digital TV coupons now available to more users
• Amazon starts selling converter boxes
• Most digital-TV coupons expire before being used
• Portable TVs will fade away after February
• Tax discount on digital TV converters bought with coupons
• 23 reviews of digital converter boxes
• Questions about Digital TV and the February deadline?

If you’ve been waiting for the last minute to convert your TV to digital, it may be too late to get the free $40 coupon. The government-issued coupon, which offers $40 off a digital converter box, has reached its $1.34 billion capacity and remaining consumers will now be put on a waiting list, as of Jan. 4.

The Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration has offered the coupon discounts for nearly a year to help consumers prepare for the digital TV transition. On Feb. 17,  the major TV networks will switch to an all digital broadcast.

If you have cable, satellite or other paid TV service, you don’t need to do a thing. People with newer digital TVs are also not affected. But consumers who rely on an analog TV and antenna  will see a blank screen after the deadline. Some networks will broadcast  DTV transition information for an additional 30 days over the analog airwaves.

Consumers can apply for coupons online at www.DTV2009.gov, by phone at 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009), via fax at 1-877-DTV-4ME2 (1-877-388-4632) or by mail to P.O. Box 2000, Portland, OR 97208-2000. Deaf or hard of hearing callers may dial 1-877-530-2634 (English TTY) or 1-866-495-1161 (Spanish TTY). Nursing home residents may apply with the paper application available downloadable at www.DTV2009.gov.

If you missed out on the coupon, you can still buy a digital converter box, which are priced between $40 to $80. Here’s a list of places that sell DTV boxes: https://www.dtv2009.gov/VendorSearch.aspx.

Related posts:

• Guide to the 2009 Digital TV transition
• Consumer DTV information www.dtvanswers.com
• Coupon program www.DTV2009.gov
• FCC on DTV www.dtv.gov
• Coupon expired? Apex Digital offers $10 for expired coupons
• 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
• 23 reviews of digital converter boxes
  
• Most digital-TV coupons expire before being used
• Portable TVs will fade away after February
• Reminder: Digital converters bought with coupons aren’t taxable

Deal spotting: I’m in the midst of trying Restaurant.com for the first time because of this incredible deal posted on FatWallet offering an 80 percent discount on the company’s gift certificates. Use FatWallet’s link to get to the site and then type the code “SURPRISE” to get 80 percent off your purchase. The special deal ends today.

I just tried it and the code works. As for Restaurant.com, we’ll have to see. The  Arlington, Ill., company has a strange business model. It sells discount coupons to local eateries. Restrictions vary based on the restaurant.

Example, at Cask ‘n’ Cleaver in Orange, you would pay $10 for a $20 coupon off $35 purchase. Restrictions are the coupon can only be used Sunday to Thursday and dine-in only. Alcohol and beverage are extra. Also, for all restaurants, you’re supposed to use a coupon only once a month per restaurant. I bought one for Cask ‘n’ Cleaver, and paid $2. (My co-worker, Fast Food Maven, wrote about the site last year.)

While I’d often perused Restaurant.com for information — they offer menus to many restaurants — I never bothered to buy a coupon. It just felt odd to pay for a coupon. But the FatWallet deal did me in. I got a $100 coupon for a local steakhouse for $8 (instead of $40). Now, hopefully I’ll bother to go to see if it really works out.

For those wondering, the issues with the company vary. In FatWallet’s forums, comments mention the unreliability of the site when trying to order and that restaurant owners don’t get a cut of the money (!!).  Over at XPBargains, commenters remind users to read the fine print. But for the most part, people do say Restaurant.com works. I’ll post an udpate after I’ve actually experienced the whole process.

I know this isn’t a typical Gadgetress post, but in keeping with the Alt+Save theme, plus it’s an online site, I figured, why not share the bargain with readers?

More on deals:

• Whoa! Another reason buy electronics at Costco
• My own list of free tech stuff online
• T-Mobile offering free airline tickets
• When AT&T, Guitar Hero and O.C. mix
• AT&T adds McDonald’s to its Wi-Fi hotspot arsenal
• Contest alert: Canon looking for pop stars. Know any?
• RadioShack offers gift cards for your old electronics
• Free Wi-Fi for iPhone users is back, really!

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

Just 99 days to go until TV watching as we know it evolves into a purely digital form.

The countdown began yesterday at the 100-day mark and all sorts of events took place. TV commercials reminding consumers about the deadline started. Stations began airing a countdown clock. Ads are covering 1,200 buses around the nation. And various cities, including the Los Angeles area, plan to conduct shut-off tests to help viewers determine if they’re ready.

For those just tuning in, on Feb. 17, 2009, the major TV networks will switch to digital broadcasts. That means that people who use an antenna to watch TV will likely get no more service after Feb. 17. The exceptions are if the TV is a digital TV, TV service comes from cable or another paid source or you bought one of those digital converter boxes (two $40 coupons are available at www.DTV2009.gov). See my “Guide to the 2009 Digital TV transition.”

Digital converter boxes are now widely sold across the country, including online at stores like Amazon.com. 

And don’t forget, the coupons expire 90 days after they are mailed. As of last Wednesday, 13.5 million coupons have been redeemed. But another 7.8 million coupons are active and waiting to be redeemed or expire.

There are still plenty of coupons available. According to the Department of Commerce, which is the U.S. agency that is handling the coupon distribution, 50.5 million coupons can be available. People just need to ask (Apply for a coupon at dtv2009.gov or call 1-888-DTV2009).

Past stories that may help: 

• 50% more coupons available for digital TV converter box program
• Digital TV coupons now available to nursing homes, P.O. boxes (Gadgetress)
• 23 reviews of digital converter boxes (Gadgetress)
• Help parents survive the digital TV transition (Gadgetress)
• Guide to the 2009 Digital TV transition (Gadgetress)
• Consumer DTV information
• Coupon program
• DTV Coalition 
• FCC on DTV

The agency that handles the coupon program for the digital TV converter boxes has upped the number of potential coupons to 50.5 million, which is 50 percent more than the 33.5 million the National Telecommuniciations and Information Administration had available over the summer. 

Meredith Baker, NTIA secretary, said earlier this week that the agency asked the Department of Commerce and received $7 million more to fund the program. The agency can also go back and request more, if neccessary. 

“At this point, we’ve ordered 44.5 million coupons. Our estimates are based on what we see in ordering and redemption rates,” she said, adding that they can order up to 50.5 million. “…We have asked for flexibility.”

The coupons offer a $40 discount on digital converter boxes, which are necessary for older analog TVs that rely on antennas to get TV signals. After Feb. 17, 2009, major TV stations will switch to digital broadcasts and end their analog broadcasts. With a converter box, which sells for $40 and up, older TVs will still work (consumers who subscribe to paid TV service like cable TV don’t need to worry about this).

As of Oct. 1, 11.2 million coupons have been redeemed, while 8.9 million have expired. The coupons expire 90 days after they are mailed, under the law. Once coupons expire, recipients cannot apply for a new one. No legislation is pending to change that.

Baker said that it’s now taking between two to four weeks for coupons to arrive. Since consumers must then go buy a converter box and install it, the agency is estimating that the whole process takes six weeks and urges consumers to apply for their coupons before the end of the year to make the Feb. 17 deadline. Read the NTIA’s “Apply, Try, Buy” tip sheet.

Other DTV updates:

* There is now a battery-powered digital converter box. The Wineguard RC-DT09A Digital to Analog Converter Box (pictured at right) is $62.99 and eligible for the coupon discount. More information HERE.

* Consumers can call the Federal Communications Commission for more information or help, at 1-888-CALL-FCC (888-225-5322)

* If you lost, misplaced or let your coupon expire, you cannot apply for another one. The government encourages those folks to ask a friend or family member who won’t need their coupon. Also suggested: Ask your local church or community group to see if a program has been set up to handle this.

Related:

• Digital TV coupons now available to nursing homes, P.O. boxes (Gadgetress)
• 23 reviews of digital converter boxes (Gadgetress)
• Help parents survive the digital TV transition (Gadgetress)
• Guide to the 2009 Digital TV transition (Gadgetress)
• Consumer DTV information
• Coupon program
• DTV Coalition 
• FCC on DTV

If you make a big enough stink, the agency that hands out those $40 coupons for digital converter boxes will, apparently, change the rules. 

Beginning Oct. 20, people who use P.O. boxes or live in nursing homes can begin applying for the coupons to get $40 off a converter box that will modernize old, analog TVs. Such TVs won’t work after Feb. 17, 2009, when all the major TV stations begin broadcasting in digital all the time. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration originally exempted these folks under its definition of ‘household.’ Read the NTIA’s revision HERE.

Also, more tests continue to see if parts of the nation are ready for the transition to digital TV all the time. Today and tomorrow, two stations in Sacramento will shut off their analog signals for 30 seconds. During that time, viewers will see a message showing if their TVs passed or failed the upgrade tests. 

And for the latest coupon update: As of Sept. 17, 10.4 million coupons have been redeemed out of a possible 33.5 million. There are still 7.4 million coupons out there waiting to expire. Coupons expire after 90 days. After that, you’re out of luck unless you can borrow one from a friend or petition the government enough to change thier minds. You can still order your coupon at www.dtv2009.gov or call 1-888-388-2009.

Links:

• 23 reviews of digital converter boxes (Gadgetress)
• Help parents survive the digital TV transition (Gadgetress)
• Guide to the 2009 Digital TV transition (Gadgetress)
• Consumer DTV information
• Coupon program
• DTV Coalition 
• FCC on DTV

Five months from today, TV broadcasts will change to all digital, all the time. Approximately 70 million older, analog TV sets won’t work after that date unless they’re connected to a paid-TV service or a digital converter box.

I’ve been following the transition since spring but hadn’t done an update since last month. For my Orange County readers affected, please go to my special Guide to the Digital TV transition to get basic questions answered.

A few updates:

• The $40 government-issued coupons to help offset the price of a converter box are still available. If you’ve already requested yours, use it before it expires. They expire 90 days after being mailed.
• As of Sept. 10, approximately 10 million of 33.5 million coupons available have been used. Some 7.9 million have expired.
• Amazon is now selling digital converter boxes. There are 10 models available that can be purchased with a coupon discount. Here is Amazon’s page of digital TV products.
• Residents of Wilmington, N.C. were the first to go all digital, all the time, last week. No major issues, from what I can tell.
• The government-sponsored Digital TV Road Trip still has not posted any Orange County locations so you can’t go yell at them in person.
• If you’ve lost your coupon, don’t want to pay for cable or satellite TV or have decided that installing a converter box is too difficult, consider buying a digital TV. They’re getting cheaper and you won’t have to worry about the day TV networks start broadcasting in digital all the time beginning Feb. 17.

Related:

• Most digital-TV coupons expire before being used
• Yell at the FCC on its Digital TV transition tour
• Portable TVs will fade away after February
• Tax discount on digital TV converters bought with coupons
• 23 reviews of digital converter boxes
• Find a store that sells digital converter boxes
• Which (nearly) free digital TV converter box should I buy? (CNet)
• Who Acts as Tech Support for the DTV Transition? (PC Magazine)
• List of DTV converters eligible for the coupon afterdawn.com)
• Help parents survive the digital TV transition (Gadgetress)
• Guide to the 2009 Digital TV transition (Gadgetress)

Recent tech posts:

• Modern-business card MeeID loves OC
• Update: Google Android phone out next week?
• The 15 most dangerous celebrities online
• Video: Ripping open Esquire’s digital ink cover
• Stump the PC Club: Diagnose powerless USB port
• Latest OC tech buys: Newport Beach hot for iPods; H.B. prefers $35 MP3 player
• AT&T offers free Wi-Fi to all broadband customers
• OC’s Averatec offers twist on computers
• Alt+Save weekends: Money-saving headlines and contests
• A netbook with an 18-inch monitor
• 1,075,500 reasons I switched from FireFox to Chrome
• New Facebook coming to O.C.
• OC gets a new cable Internet company

I mentioned this yesterday but it got buried in the digital-transition post: Members of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission will be traveling to 80 cities starting Aug. 27 to educate consumers about why we’re moving to all-digital TV broadcasts.

The switch to digital affects people who own an older, analog TV that relies on an antenna to get pictures (Others with cable or another paid-TV service are being taken care of by their provider). On Feb. 17, 2009, major TV networks will stop broadcasting in analog signals and will switch to digital. Analog TV watchers will need to buy a digital-converter box to continue watching favorite shows. The government is providing up to two $40 coupons to offset the price of these boxes.

But many readers have complained that they don’t understand why this is happening (answer HERE) and why the coupons expire after 90 days (answer HERE). I’ve even listened to a reader who believes these digital converter boxes are an elaborate spy operation by the government, like a sinister version of the Clipper Chip.

Well, if you’re one of those readers, you can yell ask the government yourself.

The DTV tour targets cities where more than 100,000 households, or 15 percent, rely solely on the over-the-air signals for TV. (People who have cable, satellite or other paid-TV service are not affected by the switch, even if they have an old, analog TV.)

Orange County isn’t on the list of 80 cities, but Los Angeles and San Diego are. Dates are to be announced in the future. As part of the tour, the FCC will hold a public event in the community. I will post local information as soon as I hear about it.

The first batch of cities and dates:

Anchorage, Alaska 8/27/2008
Fairbanks, Alaska 8/28/2008
Baltimore, Maryland 9/8/2008
San Francisco, California 9/11/2008
Austin, Texas 9/18/2008
Houston, Texas 9/17/2008
Memphis, Tennessee 9/19/2008
New York, New York 9/27/2008
Boise, Idaho 9/29/2008
Atlanta, Georgia 9/29/2008
Missoula, Montana 9/30/2008
Helena, Montana 10/1/2008
Bozeman, Montana 10/2/2008
Billings, Montana 10/3/2008
Nashville, Tennessee 10/7/2008
Charlotte, North Carolina 10/16/2008
Denver, Colorado 10/16/2008
Seattle, Washington 10/20/2008
Spokane, Washington 10/21/2008
Yakima, Washington 10/22/2008
Portland, Oregon 10/23/2008
Chicago, Illinois 11/20/2008
Phoenix, Arizona 12/29/2008

The following is a list of areas the FCC will visit prior to February 17, 2009. More information will follow regarding upcoming dates for the remaining cities:

Albuquerque-Santa Fe, New Mexico
Anchorage, Alaska
Atlanta, Georgia
Austin, Texas
Baltimore, Maryland
Bangor, Maine
Billings, Montana
Boise, Idaho
Boston, Massachusetts
Bozeman, Montana
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, West Virginia
Charlotte, North Carolina
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chicago, Illinois
Chico-Redding, California
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cleveland-Akron (Canton), Ohio
Colorado Springs,-Pueblo, Colorado
Columbus, Ohio
Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas
Dayton, Ohio
Denver, Colorado
Des Moines-Ames, Iowa
Detroit, Michigan
Duluth-Superior, Minnesota
El Paso, Texas (Las Cruces, NM)
Erie, Pennsylvania
Fairbanks, Alaska
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fresno-Visalia, California
Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo-Battle Creek, Michigan
Green Bay-Appleton, Wisconsin
Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina
Harlingen-Weslaco-Brownsville-McAllen, Texas
Helena, Montana
Honolulu, Hawaii
Houston, Texas
Idaho Falls-Pocatello, Idaho
Indianapolis, Indiana
Joplin, Missouri-Pittsburg, Kansas
Kansas City, Missouri
Knoxville, Tennessee
La Crosse-Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Lansing, Michigan
Laredo, Texas
Los Angeles, California
Lubbock, Texas
Madison, Wisconsin
Memphis, Tennessee
Miami-Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota
Missoula, Montana
Nashville, Tennessee
New York, New York
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Phoenix, Arizona
Portland, Oregon
Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina
Richmond-Petersburg, Virginia
Rochester, New York
Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto, California
Saint Louis, Missouri
Salt Lake City, Utah
San Antonio, Texas
San Diego, California
San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, California
Seattle-Tacoma, Washington
South Bend-Elkhart, Indiana
Spokane, Washington
Springfield, Missouri
Tampa-St. Petersburg, Florida
Toledo, Ohio
Tucson, Arizona
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Twin Falls, Idaho
Washington, DC
Wausau-Rhinelander, Wisconsin
Yakima-Pasco-Richland-Kennewick, Washington
Yuma, Arizona-El Centro, California

With six months left before TV switches to all-digital broadcasts, the number of government-issued coupons used to offset the purchase of a digital-converter box dropped below 50 percent. This means that more than half of people who requested a $40 coupon have lost it or have let it expire.

[Also read: FCC will start an 80-city tour to answer questions about the digital TV transition beginning late August. ]

The latest data, from the U.S. National Telecommunications and Information Administration, shows that coupon redemption rate dropped to 48.8 percent last week, down from a high of 53.5 percent three weeks earlier. Lost or expiring coupons rose to 52 percent. This data is for completed transactions, or coupons issued by May 10. Coupons issued since then have not yet expired.

Coupons expire 90 days after they are mailed. The $40 coupon can be used to buy one of dozens of digital TV converter boxes at 2,458 retailers nationwide (at 28,097 locations).  Older, analog TVs that use an antenna to get a TV signal won’t be able to watch major channels after Feb. 17, 2009. But installing a digital converter box will convert the new digital signal back to analog so the TVs will still be watchable.

The government set aside $1.5 billion from last spring’s auctioning off of some airwaves to fund 33.5 million coupons. As of Aug. 13, 8.3 million coupons have been used, while 6.7 million coupons have expired.

Possible reasons for the higher rate of expiring coupons are people don’t realize they expire (the date is listed on the coupon), they realized they don’t need a converter box because they have cable, satellite or another paid TV service, or they recently bought a digital TV.  People who have let their coupons expire cannot request another one, but the program allows people who don’t need one to give their’s away.

Consumers can apply for a coupon at dtv2009.gov or call 1-888-DTV2009.

Many converter boxes have sold out, according to the NTIA’s official list. However, I know digital converter boxes are still in stock. I was at the Target store in Huntington Beach over the weekend and they had plenty (see photo on right).

For more tips, check out “Guide to the 2009 Digital TV transition.”

Related:

• Portable TVs will fade away after February
• Tax discount on digital TV converters bought with coupons
• 23 reviews of digital converter boxes
• Find a store that sells digital converter boxes
• Which (nearly) free digital TV converter box should I buy? (CNet)
• Who Acts as Tech Support for the DTV Transition? (PC Magazine)
• List of DTV converters eligible for the coupon afterdawn.com)
• Help parents survive the digital TV transition (Gadgetress)
• Guide to the 2009 Digital TV transition (Gadgetress)

10/2/2008 — UPDATE to this question: There is now a battery-powered converter box. Read the post, “50% more coupons available for digital TV converter box program”

Stump the Gadgetress isn’t really back. I’ve just been answering a ton of digital converter box questions and this one seemed worthy of sharing my research with all readers.

Question: Will my portable TV not work after Feb. 2009?

Gadgetress: Nope. You’re out of luck. 

**UPDATE** WineguardDirect.com now sells a battery-powered converter box.**

My initial research shows that nearly every portable TV will need a converter box because they are analog TVs. And everyone should know by now that on Feb. 17, 2009, TV broadcasts for the major channels will switch to digital only, leaving analog TV viewers in the dark. But you don’t need to get rid of your TV — you just need to buy and install a digital converter box. Lots of info on that at “Guide to the Digital TV transition.”

The lone exception to ditching the TV is the portable TV. There are no battery-operated converter boxes available and no manufacturer has stepped up to make such a product. It’s probably because the portable TV market is so small, no one can make any money developing such converters.

This is quite sad for many folks out there who rely on portable TVs for news during emergencies.  Guess you’ll have to rely on TV on your cell phone during those tough times.

However, there are portable TVs that have the digital tuners built in, but that will set you back at least $200. There’s the Accurian 7″ Portable Handheld TV sold at Radio Shack and the 8.4-inch one at LCDigital in Newport Beach for $349.

I did find a site that explains how to connect a portable TV to a converter box, but it doesn’t look simple. Plus, it will no longer be portable. But here’s the link: ezdigitaltv.com/Old_Portable_TV.html

And officially, on the government’s DTV website, it does address portable TVs. I cut and pasted the answer below:

Portable, battery-powered analog televisions may be able to receive over-the-air programming after February 17, 2009 if they are connected to a digital-to-analog converter box. Because battery powered digital-to-analog converter boxes are not currently available, an external power source would also be required. If local utility power service is not available, an external battery power station or an emergency power generator may be able to supply the necessary power for the converter box.Also, portable, battery-powered digital televisions are coming onto the market. If your portable television contains labels or markings with the words “Integrated Digital Tuner,” “Digital Tuner Built-In,” “Digital Receiver,” or “Digital Tuner,” “DTV,” “ATSC,” or “HDTV Built-In”, then you should be able to view digital over-the-air programming without the need for a digital-to-analog converter box. Please check with an electronics retailer for availability and further information on these products.

Related stories on portable TVs:

• 50% more coupons available for digital TV converter box program
• Your battery-powered TV won’t survive the digital conversion (Houston Chronicle)
• Don’t buy a portable TV this year (CNET)
• Portable TVs may be lost in digital transition (LA Times)

Past Gadgetress stories on the digital TV transition: 

• Lost or expired digital TV converter coupons? Numbers climb
• Tax discount on digital TV converters bought with coupons
• 23 reviews of digital converter boxes
• Find a store that sells digital converter boxes
• Which (nearly) free digital TV converter box should I buy? (CNet)
• Who Acts as Tech Support for the DTV Transition? (PC Magazine)
• List of DTV converters eligible for the coupon afterdawn.com)
• Help parents survive the digital TV transition (Gadgetress)
• Guide to the 2009 Digital TV transition (Gadgetress)

I got a call from Paul Langenwalter of La Mirada who told me that he used his two government-issued coupons to buy two digital converter boxes this morning. But the Best Buy in Brea charged him tax on the entire $120 purchase. By law, Best Buy should have only charged him tax on the post-coupon purchase of $40.

Good thing Paul had read my article that retailers aren’t allowed to charge tax on the coupons. He went all the way up to the store’s manager to get his $10 in taxes back.

He wasn’t the only one.  Another reader said he got taxed on the whole purchase at Wal-Mart. He’s going back to the store with my article to try to get his money back.

For those tuning in, the government is giving away $40 coupons (two per household) to alleviate the cost of buying a digital converter box. Not everyone needs a box. But on Feb. 17, 2009, the major TV channels will start digital broadcasts, rendering some older, analog TVs useless. But if you buy a digital converter box, the TV will work just fine. (Why is this happening? Read the background here: “Guide to the 2009 Digital TV transition.”)

I called Best Buy and the state’s Board of Equalization, which issued the tax-exempt reminder last week and asked, “What’s up?”

No response from Best Buy yet.

Over at the tax board, Anita Gore, a spokeswoman, said that this is the law, albeit not a new one. Retailers aren’t allowed to collect taxes when dealing with a government entity.

“We’re just reminding retailers that this is the law because it comes up so rarely,” she said. “Because the coupon becomes a payment from the U.S. government, it’s not a taxable amount.”

So, if the converter box is $50 and you use the $40 coupon, tax should be on $10 — not $50.

The BOE is working on sending out letters to the state’s 16,000 stores who sell digital converter boxes “as a reminder to retailers that this is the law,” she said.

If you have been charged tax, or the store doesn’t believe you, Gore recommends two things: Either print out the official notice (found here: “Tax Exemption for Digital Converter Box Coupons Issued by Federal Government“) or have the store call this phone number: 800-400-7115.

Stores that do refund the tax to consumers can also call the state’s BOE to get their own tax refund.

Related posts:

• Lost or expired digital TV converter coupons? Numbers climb
• Tax discount on digital TV converters bought with coupons
• 23 reviews of digital converter boxes
• Find a store that sells digital converter boxes
• Which (nearly) free digital TV converter box should I buy? (CNet)
• Who Acts as Tech Support for the DTV Transition? (PC Magazine)
• List of DTV converters eligible for the coupon afterdawn.com)
• Help parents survive the digital TV transition (Gadgetress)
• Guide to the 2009 Digital TV transition (Gadgetress)