Converter boxes for antennas--VERY OFF TOPIC

[Sandy F.]

I just got my coupons recently and I bought my antenna converter box.... I am kicking myself for not doing it sooner. I tripled the number of shows I can watch and tape... including the Detroit PBS Creative station... I can watch all sorts of cooking and quilting shows there.

If you have not gotten your converter box I urge you to do so, small expense compared to what you get for the money especially if you use a coupon.

No I do not get cable... the connection is too far
Wireless / Dish is to expensive for the amount of TV we actually watch a night ( less than 2 hours... too many other things to do like quiltng.)

[Lorna B.]

Thanks for sharing and the remiinder. I choose not to buy cable or satellite and just have rabbit ears. I knew I needed the converter box to continue to recedive signals after Feb next year. I didn't realize it might enable me to get more channels now. I just orderd my coupon!

[Lorna B.]

We just got pur converter box and my husband is doing the happy dance. He even told me if I couldn't sleep that he saw a quilting show that was on at 10:30pm. Made me smile.

[Lynn K.]

I have a funny story about our converter box. We didn't have TV - just had chosen to take a break from it. We had moved into our new "used" house and it had satellite TV, we didn't want cable or satellite (not enough hours in the day to watch it all!) Plus we have individual cell phones and didn't need a land-line for a home phone. We had just moved from being full time RVers to owning a home again.

So anyway we were without TV. I happened to be reading the paper and saw a notice by our local TV station that they were offering free converter boxs to the first ??? of people who sent in cards. All you had to do was send in a card with your name and address. (looking towards the day when the antenna wouldn't work)

For some crazy reason, I did it. And promptly forgot about it.

About 6-8 weeks later this large package came in the mail, and - well you guessed it. It was the box. So I just set it in the corner and thought, well, maybe someday we will buy another TV, but not today.

About 3 weeks later, a friend called and said he was getting a new large screen TV and would we like to have his old 21 inch. We said sure, and he dropped it off. So we eventually hooked it up and starting watching it but still just using the antenna.

Then a friend who is in the business of stringing cable etc. for hospitals came by. He eagerly looked at all our stuff, hooked it up and WHOA! We had all these stations.......who knew there were so many digital stations?

So not only was the PRICE right! But it was all free!

Lynn

And, yes, I get alot more hand work done sitting at the TV now whereas before I would sit in my sewing room and listen to iTunes podcasts, movies, etc.

[Lynn K.]

I spent the day listening to my TV shows...on quilting, cooking gardening, and how to's while I sewed and cooked dinner... I was so much fun to get clearer pictures... and such a variety... More than I will ever need.

Look at the link for Creative TV.com

http://www.createtv.com/CreateTV.nsf...rts&Crafts



http://www.createtv.com/CreateTV.nsf/Home?ReadForm

These are the shows on the digital expanded programs I found on PBS... Some of the stations have this group of shows and they are great........ If you get a chance tune in. I think you will enjoy it.

[Lynn K.]

Even though I live fairly near to a large city (Detroit), we don't get any TV reception without cable or satellite. I am SO TIRED of paying the exorbitant price for cable, particularly since nearly all of the shows I watch are available for free on the network Web sites, or on Netflix free download!

I ordered a converter box coupon in hopes that it'll give us reception, and if it does, it's BYE BYE CABLE BILL!

'thann

[Lynn K.]

Mirwood

I live in Lapeer which is about 70 miles north of Detroit. We have an antenna tower that rotates 360 degree. We need it to get the Detroit, Flint, Saginaw stations.... I always have to turn the antenna in order to get the station I want... for some reason I can sometimes get the Detroit stations better and at other times I can only get the Flint stations... this can be a real pain.

Do you have a house antenna? Do you have a UHF/ UV booster? ( You might need the booster added to your antenna in order to get a better signal.) Go to Radio Shack or a TV / electronic /antenna shop ( they still exist) and talk to them about how to get your needs met.

The regular broadcast stations still have to broadcast (free) over regular airwaves despite the cable and satelitte companies.


In Detroit ... channels 2-4-7-20-50-56- 62 are all broadcasting and have secondary broadcasts... You will love pbs 56-3 Creat TV... I have been watching them. You might have to do some research to find the way to get the shows you want.

( I get all of the above stations except 62 which is located south of Detroit so it is too far for me to pick up the signal... I have to watch the Flint stations to get CBS)

Good luck with your endevors.

[Lynn K.]

Ladyrags, I told my husband what you said and he said to find out what brand of converter box you got, and where. Please? It sounds so great!
Thanks!
JoAnne

[Eileen K.]

My Mother lives in a senior apartment building and they don't have cable or anything. Strictly antenna. A few months ago, I spoke to the people in the office about this new law coming in February and they knew nothing about it.
The last time I went down, my Mom told me the office told her to tell me that they're checking into what they'll have to do.
My question is-what if I get my Mom a converter box and not worry about the rest of the building? Will it work?
eileenkny

[Eileen K.]

So, I have a question. The other day we had severe weather and got no reception with the converter box. My question, if we have a national (or even local) emergency and it is a stormy day--how are we suppose to know what is going on. Basically, if someone attacks our satellites--do we lose all ways to communicate with each other, since I understand that radio is being converted too?

[Eileen K.]

I got the DIGITAL STREAM BY SANYO... ( Sanyo makes TVs so I figure they are a good bet for making this devise. ) from Radio Shack... the main reason for picking this one is Radio Shack has two stores located less than 5 miles from my home.... they also have knowledgeable salesclerks who have acutally program the devise so they know how it operates. I did not find that to be true at Best Buy... the guy there could not answer any of my questions.

Go to the most reliable dealer closest to you. Ask questions for the staff. Check into the return policy.

When installing be very carefull not to bend the connection wires or you will not get a good signal.


I am finding I am not getting very good reception when it rains from the Detorit Stations which are 70 miles to the south of me. I hope that does not hold true cause that would be a great disappointment. I always got good reception regardless of the weather with the analogue stations. MY B-in-L says reception will improve as time goes on and the broadcast stations beef up thier signals.

[Eileen K.]

eileenkny


As far as I know each TV has to have its own converter box regardless of what it is hooked up to.... rabbit ears or an outdoor antenna.

I would get the coupons for the 40 dollars rebate then go ahead and get the box from a store near you ( see previous post) It only cost me an additional 9 dollars for the box, when I used my coupon.

If there are going to be problems with the system ... isn't it better to find out now then wait until the last minute?


To find out more about the switch... Google : HDTV, Free coupons for HDTV... or link to your local TV stations they allllllllllll have information posted about the transfrer to digital signal.

[Eileen K.]

So, I have a question. The other day we had severe weather and got no reception with the converter box. My question, if we have a national (or even local) emergency and it is a stormy day--how are we suppose to know what is going on. Basically, if someone attacks our satellites--do we lose all ways to communicate with each other, since I understand that radio is being converted too?

Good Questions.... I haven't the slightest ideas about what will happen. I just knew I needed to try it out now and did not want to wait till the last minute.

So far it has been an improvement but I have only been using it a week. It rained today and I had to switch the anntenna from the Detroit ( 70 miles away ) to the Flint ( 20 miles) stations to get in the show I wanted..... I am hoping there will be a boost in broadcast power and strength as time goes on. MY B-in-L who is into electronics says there will be improvements in the next couple of years in the system when every one is using the same.

[Eileen K.]

LadyRags, thanks so much for the info! I'm going to order the coupons and get some of the ones by Sanyo at Radio Shack. Thanks for posting this valuable information.
JoAnne

[Eileen K.]

UPDATE:

THERE ARE EVEN NEWER CONVERT BOXES... JUST RECENTLY RELEASED. They have a ANALOGUE PASS THROUGH FEATURE. The ANALOGUE PASS THROUGH FEATUREallows you to pick up local stations... community centers, schools etc that are low voltage and do not convert to HDTV.



WHEN you go to buy the converter box be sure to get this newer version... it is suppose to be much more stable and a better value. I got mine for our main TV in the living room. I wish I had known about this before I bought my first one.