Got my digital TV box coupon, and bought a box "Insignia" brand

[Chad Hauris]

I don't think the coupon would actually be surrendered upon use??...as far as I understand it it's a magnetic card like a gift card and the value would just be decremented from it.

[Pete Deksnis]

Originally Posted by kx250rider

Here's a thought thinking outside the box (pun intended)... Is anyone going to keep an un-cashed coupon as a collectors item?

Charles

When I bought my Magnavox at Walmart they kept the coupon/card. It was clear they were not familiar with the procedure, but it made sense since it is a one-time use device.

[old_tv_nut]

Originally Posted by andy

According to the manual for the Magnavox, it will do that in "full" mode (see page 20). The Magnavox web site lists QAM as a feature. Can anyone confirm whether or not it really can receive QAM? It's not mentioned in the manual. QAM would allow it to receive local HD channel on cable.

http://www.funai-corp.com/6pdf/om/TB100MW9.pdf

I wonder if any of these boxes have digital audio, S-video, RGB, or component video accessable from inside the box. I would love to know which chip is doing the video decoding.

QAM sounds like text mistakenly carried over from other product.

Some (perhaps all) units use a "system on a chip" to keep costs down, which does a direct downmixed decode to stereo audio even if the source is 5.1, and also has no HD component video signals brought to pin connections.

[PioneerGuy75]

Still waiting on coupons here....


Are the Insignia boxes decent? Have not heard great things about the Insignia electronics

[RCAkid]

Funny that I should be reading this thread today. I was sitting at my desk wondering when the coupons would arrive and they were waiting for me in my mailbox. Woohoo.



Now I am ready for the digital wave!

[old_tv_nut]

Originally Posted by RCAkid

Now I am ready for the digital wave!

The idea that doesn't seem to be getting out is that digital is *already* here. Get yourself set up with cable, satellite or converter box, and when the analog gets turned off, you won't even notice.

This is what we should be telling our friends, grandmothers, etc., especially if we are the ones they will call on after the analog shutoff - get them preset and avoid the hassles. OH - and they should save the instructions on how to channel-scan, since some stations will change frequencies.

[ChrisW6ATV]

My "coupons" arrived today, with an expiration date of May 28 The mailman delivered them at the same time I was talking to a friend who called to tell me his coupons arrived too.

[Earlsays]

I don't know that I care...I just got rid of my two analog TV sets and acquired a potentially unrepairable one in the process...so I'm STILL stuck with a TV that I don't/can't use...I tink i'm just going to bite the bullet on this one, and buy myself either a flat panel or a projector and be done with it...for the record I did request two of the cupons though. Still haven't received them.

[terra1]

Originally Posted by old_tv_nut

The idea that doesn't seem to be getting out is that digital is *already* here. Get yourself set up with cable, satellite or converter box, and when the analog gets turned off, you won't even notice.

This is what we should be telling our friends, grandmothers, etc., especially if we are the ones they will call on after the analog shutoff - get them preset and avoid the hassles. OH - and they should save the instructions on how to channel-scan, since some stations will change frequencies.

Yes, get the word out. I know it hasn't sunk in for my mom yet.

Also that the coupons have an expire date 90 days after its mailed!

Even I was thinking I had til 2009 some time to use the coupons.

[kx250rider]

Originally Posted by Pete Deksnis

When I bought my Magnavox at Walmart they kept the coupon/card. It was clear they were not familiar with the procedure, but it made sense since it is a one-time use device.

They kept mine at WalMart too... I asked if they had to keep it, but didn't debate them on it. I might spend the other one elsewhere and try again. We have another set of coupons for the Dallas house, so I still will keep at least one coupon for a collectible. Or maybe an unopened envelope of two? A definite TV historical piece.

Charles

[terra1]

Originally Posted by Chad Hauris

I don't think the coupon would actually be surrendered upon use??...as far as I understand it it's a magnetic card like a gift card and the value would just be decremented from it.

I got 2 coupons. Each coupon may only be used once. It is not decremented like a gift card or they could have just sent one. I imagine they call it a coupon on purpose so people will not be surprised if it had to be surrendered like any other clip out coupon.

It makes sense so sneaky ... erm ... clever customers and scammers don't use it more than once and sell them.

Does anyone know if the store gets some kind of federal subsidy? That would be another reason the store would need the coupon as proof of being sold. As a taxpayer I wouldn't want to be ripped off by scammers.

[Update: I got 2 Zeniths from Radio Shack today and they returned both my cards.]

[mattdavala]

I got my 2 coupons and decided to get one insignia box yesterday. I have cable at home and I didn't really need the box. BUT-- I tried it out and love it! I had the most basic of comcast cable, and decided to drop cable and go pure off air. I am loosing discovery channel, but I can manage. I can't believe the difference, from NTSC signal to the digital station.

Later yesterday afternoon I bought another insingia box. With a cheap 9 dollar antenna I get all the digital stations. No issues at all. I love my old TV's and with the insignia's screen ratio selector I can select "cropped" and I loose those darn black bars at the top and bottom. Video quality is great too, even on my B/W tube sets

Makes my color roundie look good, not having those black bars! Fills the whole screen. So I am not worried at all about the switchover next year. Our old sets will still work fine, as long as we leave them on channel 3.

Best Regards,
Matt Davala

[vertex]

Ok, so the obvious question; where/how the hell do you get a coupon? Do you have to request it? Is there a website? Is there a special chant?

[vertex]

Never mind...

https://www.dtv2009.gov/ApplyCoupon.aspx

Damn it, you'd think there would be just a little bit more information about this. A pretty piss-poor job so far, IMO.

[terra1]

Originally Posted by vertex

Ok, so the obvious question; where/how the hell do you get a coupon? Do you have to request it? Is there a website? Is there a special chant?

Here's the website.

https://www.dtv2009.gov/

There's also a toll free number.

By the way, I bought two Zeniths today at Radio Shack and they returned my coupons, they just swiped the magnetic strip. They also asked for name, address, phone#.

Here's what consumerreports.org had to say:

To get your coupons, you can call a toll-free number, 1-888-DTV-2009, and give them your name and address. You can also visit a website, www.dtv2009.gov, to apply. The last day to request coupons is March 31, 2009, but there's no guarantee they’ll be available at that late date if funding for the program runs out. The coupons are good for 90 days, and the federal government is supposedly timing coupon distribution to coincide with retail availability of the DTV converters. Many leading retail chains, including Best Buy, Circuit City, Kmart, RadioShack, Sam's Club, Sears, Target, and Wal-Mart, have been certified to participate in the coupon program.