You’ve got 8 weeks left until the digital TV transition. Our new president has gotten the TV converter box program humming along again, and the backlog of coupons is clearing. Now, it’s time to make up your mind about that old TV set. It might have served you well over the years, but its analog tuner and over-the-air antenna will make it obsolete on June 12, when the federally mandated transition to all-digital TV broadcasts occurs unless you do something about it.
You can keep using the old analog set by adding one of several digital TV converters and keeping your over-the-air antenna, or you can connect a cable or satellite service to it.
But if you choose to replace it with a fancy new LCD TV, what can you do with the old set? You can’t just throw it away, because some models contain up to 8 pounds of lead.
Recycling is an obvious choice. Here are some others:
Donate it. A few charities and thrift stores might accept working televisions. Call the United Way for charities in your area that accept older TVs.
Give it away. Maybe a friend, neighbor or relative can use it for one of the above purposes. Or list it free on Freecycle (www.freecycle.org) or the free section at Craigslist (www.craigslist.org).
On June 12, major broadcast stations will be cutting their over-the-air analog signals, if they haven’t already, in favor of a new digital standard. The digital signal isn’t compatible with most older televisions, so consumers need to upgrade to a digital set or connect their analog set to a converter box to keep receiving channels. Cable and satellite service are not affected.
The federal government is offering two $40 coupons to every household to cover most of the cost of purchasing a converter box.
The original transition date was pushed back from Feb. 17 to June 12 because the coupon program ran out of money in January and many people would have been unable to get coupons in time for the transition. But the program has since received more funding and there is no longer a long waiting list. In addition, a rule has been changed so that those who have expired coupons are now able to apply for a replacement coupon.
If you need more information, feel free to browse the rest of our digital converter box reviews. We’ve done all the hard work for you, so you can just sit back and bask in the glory that is digital TV. If you’ve already picked up your digital TV converters, you’re not finished yet. You also need a good digital TV antenna to get great digital TV channels for free. We’ve reviewed all the top models ranging from the smallest indoor digital TV antennas to the best outdoor HDTV antennas that can pull in stations from up to 70 miles away. Pick up one of these, and there will be no more blacked out games or fuzzy channels for you.
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