February 17 is fast approaching. This site was created to help ease the DTV changeover for viewers across the country. The change is less than a month away now, and it looks like you’ll be about to find analog TV broadcasts in your local obituaries. There are many digital to analog converter models that are eligible for the $40 government coupon program. This means that your converter box purchase can essentially cost you little to no money out of pocket when you buy an eligible unit from a participating retailer such as Amazon.com. The official name for these devices is Coupon Eligible Converter Box (CECB).
Digital TV antennas are also a very important piece of this puzzle. Many viewers have complained about their digital TV reception in the beginning, but as more stations have come online this complaint has largely stopped. For anyone still having trouble, please check out our article on digital TV reception tips as it may provide a solution to your problem. Many of you will need a new digital TV antenna once you hook up your digital to analog converter, but we have you covered on that front too with our digital TV antenna reviews.
This article will not be an end all be all reference to CECB’s. But, it should provide a solid introduction to them, with pointers to further information, and short answers to some questions that have commonly appeared from our readers. If you have suggestions, corrections, or updates, please feel free to post them. If you have a question about a specific coupon eligible digital to analog converter model, you’d probably best post in the review section for that model.
What are CECBs for?
The eligible digital to analog converters allow old analog TVs to be used with over-the-air (OTA) broadcast digital TV (ATSC) signals, so that these TVs will still function after full-power analog (NTSC) signals cease in the USA on February 17, 2009.
What are the coupons?
To help consumers ease the pain of the analog-to-digital transition, Congress has allocated funds for approximately 33 million coupons at $40 each, which can be used to pay part of the cost of a CECB. Each household is eligible for up to two coupons. Each coupon can be used for one CECB. The price of a CECB (before applying the coupon) varies from about $40 up to about $70, depending on the manufacturer and the dealer. We’ve put together a list of the eligible digital TV converters along with reviews of each model. If you need more information about the coupon program, please see our FAQ entry on the DTV coupon program.
Which digital to analog converter is best?
This is a really tough question to answer, as the best model for you really depends on the features you need. See our converter box reviews for our full tests, as this will help you find the best model for your needs. However, if forced to choose, we would go with the Zenith DTT901, Tivax STB-T8, or the ChannelMaster CM7000.
How do I use a digital to analog converter?
You connect your antenna to the CECB’s coaxial RF (radio-frequency) input. Then you either
(a) connect the CECB’s composite-video or S-video output to a matching input on your TV, using an appropriate cable, and set your TV to use that input, or
(b) connect the CECB’s coaxial RF output to your TV’s antenna input, and set your TV to channel 3 or 4, just like with a VCR.
In either case, to change channels you must leave the TV set the same way, and change channels on the CECB, generally using the CECB’s remote control.
My HD-ready TV or monitor doesn’t have a digital TV (ATSC) tuner. Can I use a CECB as an HDTV receiver?
No. A CECB must have only standard-definition (480i) output. It must be able to receive high-definition signals, but it must convert them to standard definition output.
If all you need is an HDTV receiver, the Grandtec TUN-5000 is very popular here, and widely available at many retailers.
Do any of the eligible digital to analog converters have HDMI or component-video outputs?
No. A CECB must have an RF (coaxial) output and a composite-video (yellow RCA-type) output. It may optionally have an S-video output. It must not have component-video (red/green/blue RCA-type) or HDMI outputs.
Do any CECBs have digital audio output?
No, only analog stereo audio (red/white RCA-type) outputs are allowed on the eligible digital to analog converters.
I use cable TV. Will a CECB do anything for me?
A CECB must decode only digital OTA broadcast signals (ATSC). Digital cable TV uses a different type of signal, QAM. So you cannot use a CECB to receive cable TV signals, regardless of whether they are encrypted or “in the clear”.
Some people find it useful to receive OTA digital broadcasts in addition to cable. It’s often possible to receive OTA channels or subchannels that your cable company doesn’t provide. Also, even if you do get the same channels via cable, the picture quality of digital OTA broadcasts is often better (considering only standard definition here). Of course, this all depends on your local reception conditions and how good an antenna you have. You can use the free digital signals to get channels not offered by your local cable company. Using the correct digital TV antenna can also allow you to pick up signals from other areas; including sporting events that may often be “blacked out” in your area.
Also note that the analog TV shutdown in February 2009 does not apply to cable TV. Cable TV providers will convert from analog to digital at some point in the future, but each company will handle the transition independently, on its own schedule. In the meantime, most cable companies will continue to provide local broadcast channels in analog format, by converting them from digital format if necessary.
If you want 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 to analog converter, you’re not finished yet. You also need a good digital TV antenna to get great digital TV channels for free. We’re 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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