Digital TV Conversion is Coming. Are You Ready?

Unless you’ve been living under a rock or just hung up watching old movies for quite some time, you know that the digital TV conversion is going to happen on June 12th. That means you have just about 30 days to prepare your home if you want to continue watching the TV we all love so much. This TV conversion was delayed by Congress due to troubles with the program. All those troubles have been ironed out, and the switch is on. If you aren’t yet ready, it’s time to get a move on before it’s too late.

Top Digital Converter Boxes
We’ve tested lots of the top converter box models, and here is a quick rundown of our top picks:

Lasonic LTA-260: Overall the Lasonic LTA 260 does not come with all of the frills as compared with other digital tv converter boxes, but it does provide users with a great picture. It is fairly inexpensive at around $47 before using your converter box coupon. It is one of the better converter boxes on the market and it will certainly work for all of the major functions that it is needed for. Now IN STOCK at Amazon.com for $46.19 ($6.19 after coupon) with FREE SHIPPING. Read our Lasonic LTA-260 review. Also named a CONSUMER REPORTS best buy.
Tivax STB-T8: Overall the Tivax STB-T8 is one of the best digital TV converter boxes available and is a nice upgrade from other similar models. It comes with plenty of features and one of the best picture qualities you can get. At a price of around $50 it is also a very good buy. If you are interested in a digital TV converter box we can highly recommend this one. Now IN STOCK at Amazon.com for $49.99 ($9.99 after coupon) with FREE SHIPPING. Read our Tivax STB-T8 review.
AccessHD DTA1080D: The AccessHD unit is a solid performer. Coming in at around $45, it is a great bang for the buck unit. One of a few models with an analog passthrough make this a must look if you need that capacity. Very good audio & video quality. Now IN STOCK at Amazon.com for $43.99 ($3.99 after coupon) with FREE SHIPPING. Read our AccessHD DTA1080D review.
Philco TB100-HH9: This is another model with the digital passthrough feature. Priced at around $45 it is another good buy. More aesthetic minded buyers may consider other options as the white case may conflict with other components. Very good audio and video quality although not quite as clear as the Lasonic or Tivax models. Now in stock at Amazon.com for $43.99 ($3.99 after coupon) with FREE SHIPPING. Read our Philco TB100-HH9 review. Also named a CONSUMER REPORTS best buy.

Digital TV Antenna Reviews
So now that you’ve got your converter box, what else do you need for the digital TV conversion? Many viewers may need a new antenna if their old one isn’t compatible with the new digital signals in their area. Some of our current favorite amplified indoor antennas are:

The really nice thing about these antennas is that they are reasonably priced (in the $30-$40 range) and require no installation troubles like an outdoor antenna for HDTV would. Can you imagine teetering on your roof while mounting an antenna mast and running coax? Not my idea of a fun weekend for sure.

That being said, many people are willing to go to that extreme for the best digital TV reception. If you want the absolute best in digital TV, an outdoor HDTV antenna is a must. We’ve done some testing in this category as well, and come up with the following winners:

These are the BIG DADDIES of antennas, and can pull in even the weakest station. For example, the DB8 can pull in signals from over 70 miles away with NO amplifier. Add an amp, and you can really rock. Get all the blacked out games you want. The ClearStream4 is almost as powerful. You can expect a range of around 65 miles, and it fits great in an attic. We’ve got an entire article on the best outdoor HDTV antenna if you need more information.

These steps should get you ready for the transition. Thanks to great suppliers, and info sites it’s possible to get up and running for not much money and in a hurry. You may even have time to catch some of the upcoming marvel movies before the transition hits, AND have enough left over for popcorn. Just be sure that you are getting ready for the digital TV conversion before it’s too late. I know you’d hate for your TV to look like it was playing the final episode of the Sopranos all over again.

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