Got Extra DTV Coupons Pass Them Along To Someone In Need

Did you order a DTV converter coupon from the government that you don't need? Maybe you asked for two and only ended up using one. I know several people mistakenly ordered coupons only to find out they either already had digital tuners in their TVs or that because they are using cable television they won't need a new converter box. Still more people were confused on whether or not they needed one and order then just in case.

For those of you that might be sitting on extra coupons there are a few easy ways to pass them along to people in need.

Retrevo, has started a Good Neighbor Coupon Exchange program for DTV vouchers. The Retrevo system is pretty easy and very straightforward. If you are looking for a DTV voucher, fill in the I need form. If you've already got a voucher and want to give it away to someone in need make sure that it hasn't reached its 90-day expiration date and fill in the donor form. The system will match people based on zip codes and will hook you up with someone to whom you can mail the coupons, or who will pick them up, if you're comfortable with that.



Another popular option is The Freecycle Network. Freecycle is a collection of Yahoo Groups where individuals post items they either have or need. If you are in need of a DTV voucher you've find the group nearest you and essentially post a Wanted ad. If someone from the group has an extra voucher they in turn would contact you. If you've got an extra coupon and would like to give it away, you'd find your local group and post an offer ad. Offering up your coupon to someone in need.

A third option would be posting and ad on your local Craigslist. Every city featured on Craigslist has a free section in which you can often times find people posting extra vouchers. For those of you that have an extra you can post there, or browse the wanted sections to perhaps find someone that is in need.

To date the government has issued 47.6 million DTV coupons, roughly 23 million of those coupons have been redeemed while 14 million have expired. That means there are currently somewhere near 10 million coupons out there that have been unused. On top of that the government currently has a waiting list of 3.7 million applicants. If we can get a fraction of those unused coupons into the hands of the people that need them then maybe we can stop the government from adding on additional tax payer dollars.

Nielsen ratings estimates that only about 6.5 million households are still completely unprepared for the DTV transition. That means with the 10 million coupons in circulation we should have more than enough to cover everyone that actually needs one.

Obama Asks Congress To Delay DTV Switch, Add More Funds

Following the announcement by the NTIA that the DTV converter program was out of funds President-elect Obama and his transition team have asked congress to delay the cutoff date for the DTV transition.

In a letter sent to Capitol Hill this afternoon (PDF), and obtained by The Los Angeles Times, John Podesta, Co-chair of the Obama-Biden Presidential Transition Team said congressional action is needed. The action would be the "first step" toward helping consumers get ready for the transition to digital television. It also called funds provided to support the conversion "woefully inadequate."

"The government's programs to assist consumers through the upheaval of the conversion are inadequately funded," said Podesta. "There is insufficient support for the problems consumers (particularly low income, rural and elderly Americans) will experience as a result of the analog signal cutoff."

Meredith Baker, acting head of the Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration told reporters on a conference call Monday, 103,000 people are currently on the waiting list for DTV converter box coupons. Baker attributed the cash shortfall, in part, to a late surge in coupon requests.

According to the Nielsen Co., about 7% of U.S. TV households, or 7.7 million homes, were totally unprepared for the digital switch as of last month, meaning they either didn't have TVs capable of receiving a digital signal, didn't have cable/satellite TV or hadn't yet purchased a DTV converter box. The percentage is higher in some areas with the Los Angeles Times reporting 9.46%, or about 535,000 homes were unprepared for the switch.

DTV Converter Program Officially Out Of Cash

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced that the $1.3 billion in funding it had received from Congress for the TV Converter Box Coupon Program has been used up. Starting last Sunday, U.S. residents applying for a digital TV converter box voucher were put on a waiting list, the agency said.

Because of the high demand for coupons, the program reached its $1.34 billion ceiling, which consists of ordered and redeemed coupons.

“Households need to consider all of their options and act now to be prepared for the February 17 transition to digital television,” said Acting NTIA Administrator Meredith Attwell Baker. “We are working with Congress, the incoming Administration and other stakeholders to ensure everyone is prepared for the transition and no one is left in the dark.”

When consumers contact the Coupon Program to request coupons, they will receive a message they have been placed on a waiting list and will receive coupons on a first-come, first-served basis, as coupons become available and funds are returned to the U.S. Treasury from expired coupons. Consumers will receive a reference number that they should write down and use to check the status of their order at the Coupon Program’s Web site, www.DTV2009.gov.

According to the NTIA press release more than 24 million households have requested more than 46 million coupons and more than 18 million coupons have been redeemed. The NTIA also stated that only 52.5 percent of the requested coupons have been redeemed and more than 13 million coupons have expired. The DTV coupons expire within 90 days from the date it is mailed.

Customers of cable or satellite TV service will not be affected because they already have digital converter boxes as part of their service. Those households are still eligible for the DTV coupon program, however the converter boxes only work for over the air transmissions. So unless you are planning on dropping your cable service, or if you are just looking for aback-up in case your cable goes out there is no need to apply.

For more details on the DTV program please checkout our previous posts:

- Updated guide to buying DTV converter boxes
- DTV converter box program
- Guide to buying digital converter boxes

Comcast Offers Free Basic Cable For A Year

In an attempt at snatching up new subscribers ahead of a government-mandated digital TV switch-over on Feb. 17, Comcast will be offering new customers free basic cable programming with another paid Comcast service, such as Internet or phone.

Comcast said new customers who choose not to subscribe to additional Comcast services can get basic cable for just $10 a month for a full year.

Basic cable is pretty much just that, the basics, in most areas you'll receive 20 to 30 channels, including free-to-air local broadcast channels like ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX as well as shopping and local public TV channels.

Cable companies are looking to cash in on some of the confusion over the government-mandated switch-off of analog TV signals next year. Studies have shown there is still a great deal of confusion over the switch and cables companies figure they'll offer a "cheap and easy" solution to get new customers. Basic cable does not require any new equipment, which will be a plus for many customers, however you'll still need to have cable installed.

After the digital changeover on Feb. 17, households currently watching TV for free over-the-air will no longer receive analog signals. The majority of these households will need to purchase a new digital converter box. The U.S. government is subsidizing a digital-to-analog converter box that plugs into an existing TV for those that do not have digital televisions, that have digital television without a digital tuner. Consumers can buy the box through a government coupon program, which goes toward buying the box at retail prices of around $40 to $70.

For more information on the digital TV transition and the DTV coupon program please visit out previous posts: Digital TV Converter Box Program - Upgraded Guide To Buying Digital Converter Boxes

Updated Guide to Buying Digital Converter Boxes

Looking for Coupon Eligible Converter Boxes? Hopefully the information below will help you find the answers you are looking for.

Earlier this month I wrote a brief guide to buying digital converter boxes. At the time there was, and still is, very limited information available about most of the boxes. However I did find a few links that might be helpful to anyone that is still looking to buy their DTV box.

Getting Started
The first place to start, if you haven't already is to go to dtv2009.gov and apply for your convert box coupon. TV Converter Box Coupons will be shipped on a staggered basis to accepted households. They come in a clearly marked envelope and they come in the form pf a plastic card that look like a gift card. Coupons cannot be printed or downloaded from the Program Website and are not available to pick up at retail locations.

Where To Shop?
Currently DTV2009.gov only list the following four national retailers, Wal-Mart, Circuit City, Radio Shack and Best Buy as participating in the program. They also list three online retailers Data-Action.com, SolidSignal.com and BSAT.net. Along with those options they've got over one hundred retailers total, mostly local, you can check the list via PDF.


Which Box Can I Buy?
Here is the current list of Coupon Eligible Converter Boxes however from the looks of it you are going to be limited to a few selections from the national retailers, the local guys might carry a broader selection but it really looks like it will just be hit and miss.

Comparison of CECB units

I recently came across a great side by side comparison page on Wikipedia. The page gives a pretty good break down on most if not all the current boxes on the market. There is also a good link for more information from ConsumerReports.org

Currently Available Digital Converter Box

The following products are sold in store only.

Best-Buy is now selling a couple coupon eligible boxes the Insignia NS-DXA1-APT $59.99 and the Apex DT250 for $54.99

Radio Shack now has added a few more converter boxes, the Zenith DTT900, Zenith DTT901, Digital Stream DTX9950 and the Digital Stream DTX9900 all selling for $59.99

Wal-Mart has the Magnavox TB100MW9 and the RCA DTA800 for $49.87, (they aren't currently being sold online though)

Circuit City is also carrying the Zenith DTT901 for $59.99

Online Shopping

BSAT has two boxes listed, the Artec T3A for $56.99 and the CoShip 9900T for $57.99, both with free shipping.

Data-Action.com currently only lists the Artec T3A Pro for $51.99 with free shipping

SolidSignal.com list the following boxes:

Artec T3APro $54.99
Philco TB100HH9 $64.99
Tivax STB-T9 $49.99
Sansonic FT-300A $59.99
MicroGem MG2000 $64.99

Digital TV Converter Box Program

As previously reported on February 18, 2009 television stations in the U.S. will turn off their old-technology analog signals and broadcast only in a digital format. At that time anyone who owns an older television that gets its signal via antenna will need a converter box in order to receive the digital transmissions.

The government has set aside millions of dollars to help those households that need assistance with the change over. Each household is eligible for two coupons, regardless of whether they have pay-television service or not. To request a coupon apply online at dtv2009.gov or call the 24-hour hotline, 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009).

When talking about digital TV converters, usually means a basic device that attaches to your analog TV set, allowing it to receive digital over-the-air programs using your existing antenna. These are the digital-to-analog converter boxes (or “digital TV adapters”). The expected price is about $40 to $70, meaning with the coupon you may still need to cover some of the cost. Here is a full list of Coupon Eligible Converter Boxes (CECB).


How to tell if you need a DTV Converter

As of March 1, 2007, all television receivers shipped in interstate commerce or imported into the United States must contain a digital tuner. In addition, effective May 25, 2007, the Commission required sellers of television receiving equipment that does not include a digital tuner to disclose at the point-of-sale that such devices include only an analog tuner, and therefore will require a digital-to-analog converter box to receive over-the-air broadcast television after the transition date.

As for how to determine whether your television equipment purchased prior to May 25, 2007 is a DTV, many DTVs and digital television equipment will have labels or markings on them, or statements in the informational materials that came with them, to indicate that they contain digital tuners. These labels or markings may contain the words “Integrated Digital Tuner” or “Digital Tuner Built-In.” “Receiver” may be substituted for “Tuner,” and “DTV,” “ATSC,” or “HDTV” (high definition television) may be substituted for “Digital.” If your television equipment contains any of these labels or markings, you should be able to view digital over-the-air programming without the need for a digital-to-analog converter box. (Remember, you do not need an HDTV to view free over-the-air digital programming. As long as your television equipment contains a digital tuner, you can view over-the-air digital. An HDTV is only necessary if you want to view digital programming in “high definition.”)

Many newer DVD recorders and other TV equipment come with built in DTV tuners. So make sure to check all your components before you go out and buy a convert box as you may not need one!

You should also check the manual or any other materials that came with your television equipment in order to determine whether it contains a digital tuner.

If your television set is labeled as a “Digital Monitor” or “HDTV Monitor,” or as “Digital Ready” or “HDTV Ready,” this does not mean it actually contains a digital tuner. Thus, you still will likely need a separate set-top box which contains a tuner in order to view programs in the new digital TV transmission standard (which includes HDTV formats) on such a set.

Over-the-air digital set-top boxes can be purchased at retail stores. Cable and satellite TV providers also sell or lease digital set-top boxes for their specific services. (Note: the digital set-top box described here is not the same as the NTIA program digital-to-analog converter box, used to convert free over-the-air digital broadcasts for viewing on an analog TV set.)

If your television set is labeled as “analog” or “NTSC,” but is NOT labeled as containing a digital tuner, it contains an analog tuner only.

If you cannot determine whether your television set or other television equipment contains a digital tuner, you are advised to check your equipment for the manufacturer name and model number, and then contact your consumer electronics retailer, or the manufacturer, to determine whether it contains a digital tuner. This information also may be available online through the manufacturer’s website.

Because most broadcast stations in all U.S. television markets are already broadcasting in digital, consumers are further advised to contact their local broadcast stations to determine the channel numbers on which the stations are broadcasting digital programming. Consumers should then ensure that their televisions are set up to receive over-the-air programming (as distinguished from the signals of a paid provider such as cable or satellite TV service), and then tune to the over-the-air digital channels to see if they can receive the digital broadcast programming.

Do I need a new Antenna for DTV?

The antenna you've been using for watching analog TV over the air can also be used for digital TV, including HDTV. Viewers in some areas, however, will find that a better antenna—a rooftop one, perhaps—is needed to ensure reliable digital TV reception.

Digital TV reception differs from analog: Essentially, you either get a perfect digital signal for a particular channel, or nothing at all. It’s what’s known as a “cliff effect.” You will either find yourself at the very peak of reception capability or—less happily—in the deepest ditch. Which means you won't get the channel at all.


Do I Receive Digital Broadcasts If I Subscribe To Cable Or Satellite?

If you receive cable or satellite television service, contact your cable or satellite provider about any additional components, such as a digital set-top box, that you may need to watch digital broadcast programming. If you use the older style boxes then no you aren't receiving digital TV and you'll more than likely need to upgrade.

Will DTV work with my VCR, DVD Player, Camcorder, Video Games?

VCRs, DVD players, camcorders and video games will continue to work, even if they are only analog-capable. However they may not provide digital-quality picture and sound. Newer components may come with a digital tuner built in so check your owner manual or check the manufacturers site for more information.

Recent Updates
Important Information about Coupon Distribution from DTV2009.gov

TV Converter Box Coupons are plastic cards that look like gift cards. They will be:

• mailed to households with approved applications, starting in late February.


• sent based on the date of application, in the order in which the applications were received.


• mailed on a staggered basis – not all at once.


• delivered by the U.S. Postal Service.

Coupons cannot be printed or downloaded from the Program Website and are not available to pick up at retail locations.

Remember to call ahead to confirm availability of coupon-eligible converter boxes at the store on the day you plan to shop.

Confused About Digital TV Transition?

You aren't alone, millions of television viewers will be affected by the Feb. 18, 2009 changes and recent studies indicate the majority of them don't full understand the changes ahead.

Feb. 18, 2009 that's the date in which full-power television stations in the U.S. will turn off their old-technology analog signals and broadcast only in a digital format. At that time anyone who owns an older television that gets its signal via antenna will need a converter box in order to receive the digital transmissions. In laymans terms these are your typical local stations, and you'll now need a converter box in order to watch those channels.

Reportedly 13.5 million television households, rely on over-the-air television broadcasts for programming. According to recent surveys by Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports magazine, 36 percent of respondents in its survey were unaware of the transition. Among those 58 percent believe all televisions will need a converter box to function. While another 48 percent believe that only digital televisions will work after 2009, and 24 percent believe they will need to throw away all of their analog television sets and buy new digital sets.

None of these presumptions is true.

According to the recent MSNBC article "Consumers confused about digital TV transition"the government has allocated $1.5 billion to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to pay for coupons that will subsidize the cost of converter boxes. But only $5 million of that is for consumer education. Another $1.5 million has been allocated to the Federal Communications Commission for public education efforts.

Each household is eligible for two coupons, regardless of whether they have pay-television service or not. To request a coupon, consumers can apply online at dtv2009.gov or call the 24-hour hotline, 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009).

For more information visit the FCC DTV
Consumer Facts Page or DTV.gov.