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Digital converter box

(21 posts)

Started 5 months ago by Corvus
Latest reply from Ballardemician

Corvus

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Anybody have one they want to sell?

Posted 5 months ago #
bambooboy

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Don't have one but did notice that they seem to be pretty cheap in the stores.

Posted 5 months ago #
Corvus

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Fred Meyer wants 70$, Radio Shack wants 60$, and Best Buy has one for 40$ but you have to order it into the store. To my mind, cheap ends at about 30$.

Posted 5 months ago #
Corvus

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oops double.

Posted 5 months ago #
GAM

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I wonder if Re-PC would have one on the cheap?

Posted 5 months ago #
Ballardemician

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What's a digital converter box? Is it the thing that makes an analog TV able to receive digital signals?

IF so maybe you should think about saving up for a digital TV. There were lots of them on sale this weekend for (just) under $100, so the amount over the price of a converter is not so much. This one, for instance, was $99 on Friday:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Insignia%22+-+26%22+Class+-+LED+-+1080p+-+60Hz+-+HDTV/5975302.p?id=1218716792876&skuId=5975302&AID=10474050&PID=2187655&SID=ebs4d6d455347850b24cb720b44963742510856263647sbe&URL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bestbuy.com%2Fsite%2FInsignia%2522%2B-%2B26%2522%2BClass%2B-%2BLED%2B-%2B1080p%2B-%2B60Hz%2B-%2BHDTV%2F5975302.p%3Fid%3D1218716792876%26amp%3BskuId%3D5975302&ref=39&CJPID=2187655&loc=01

Posted 5 months ago #
VeganBiker

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Corvus - if you are still looking for a converter give me a call, I just sent you an email. Call me soon as I am about to take the dog for a walk in your direction.

Posted 5 months ago #
great idea

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I can see where a whole new TV maybe the way to go, but I suspect Corvus has a functioning older TV he'd like to continue using (as opposed to e-cycling at goodwill)

those boxes were really cheap when they came out--like 20 bucks. I believe they were government subsidized for a few years.

my old TV is still working, but when it goes South I will hold onto that box if you're still looking.
someone on this forum must have an unused one lying about.

Posted 5 months ago #
great idea

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see that? vegan biker to the rescue!

Posted 5 months ago #
BlueJay

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Corvus, I have a Zinwell ZAT-970A converter box that I bought exactly a year ago. It works very well, and has a remote also. I'm not using it anymore, I can sell it to you for $20.

Posted 5 months ago #
phoo

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Sometimes you can find them at Goodwill. The ones that are Zenith (or a rebranded zenith like Insignia) are better.

Posted 5 months ago #
Mondoman

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For those of you who didn't know, our cable overlords at Comcast are finally converting the cable to all-digital (early next year?), so even if you have the $10/month local channels plus a few others plan (which used to be analog), you will now have to use either a TV with digital tuner built-in, or one of Comcast's nefarious_xxxxxxxxx_splendiferous digital boxes, or your own digital convertor box. It's progress!

Posted 5 months ago #
RichY

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Well, seeing that analog TV was turned off in 2009 - Comcast was giving a little extra time to get your act together

And prior to the switch off you could get 3 converters for free or $25 off each, and there was a 11 year warning about the switch over that was to happen in 2002 but delayed to 09.

Posted 5 months ago #
Corvus

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VeganBiker rocks! And thanks to you too BlueJay for responding also. The TV is a flat screen with built in dvd that was bought cheap because it was the last year before all TV's went digital. It is a fine TV and for as much as we use it (in the bedroom) it will work fine. Now when the girlscouts have invaded downstairs, I can escape and watch football upstairs.

BTW, Ballardemician, the TV at Bestbuy is 199.00, not 99.00.

Posted 5 months ago #
Ballardemician

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and I quote (myself): "This one, for instance, was $99 on Friday"

it was on sale for $99, a decent barometer for what you can get for $100 buck if you shop carefully.

but since you already have a decent tv then the converter box is definitely the call! You've got it sorted out just fine ...

On the related subject, is it correct that if you have a digital tv already then you don't need to swap out to a new box from Comcast? Thanks!

Posted 5 months ago #
RichY

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Ballardemician, You may need a 'cable card' - free with cable - if not just re-scan the channels when they turn off analog (in fact you may already be receiving the digital)

Posted 5 months ago #
racerX

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RichY +1
http://www.myballard.com/forum/topic.php?id=14991#post-202959

Posted 5 months ago #
pennygirl

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What are you talking about Corvus? If you bought the tv new last year then you really shouldn't have a problem. Just get one from the cable company.

Edit: Or, like RIch said just re-scan the channels.

Posted 5 months ago #
Corvus

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Hi Penny, I bought the TV "the last year before all (new) TV's went digital," not last year. I think we bought it in 2006 or 2007.

It works great now. I'm sure it will probably last for another 20 years.

Ballardemician - I was pretty sure you meant the TV was on sale and that price was only good on Friday, but wouldn't do me much good today. Anyway, 20 bucks for a converter (which I should have bought years ago) and 9 bucks for a splitter so both TV's could use the same antenna and I have what I need. Don't you Freecycle? I thought it was all the rage.

If we can't use this forum to free or almost-freecycle, then it really isn't good for much.

Posted 5 months ago #
pennygirl

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Oh...ok. Sorry Corvus. Good luck then!

Posted 5 months ago #
Ballardemician

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Sure man, keep your tv - that's the best idea.

Posted 5 months ago #