Well, who was the marketing genius on this campaign? I’m guessing since it’s a government subsidy that we will pay for it in the end.
Go ahead apply for your two $40 credits towards a digital converter box. Hurry up as the government has already sold the analog TV frequencies for a Wireless internet spectrum that will then be leased to you for a nominal fee and 2 year service agreement.
https://www.dtv2009.gov/
There are two models, Zenith and Nhens Digital from Canada. Both priced at $59, when ends up to be about $22 after tax and credit. I can’t image that these things cost more than $5 to make. The market demand would have probably set the price at around $22 anyway so whoever marketed this, spun it pretty well. I’d be interested to know where that $40 credit goes.
Anyway, I didn’t like the look of the Zenith one as it was more boxy and had that clunky American electronic look. Zenith was a US company but now seems they outsourced or sold out as “Zenith-brand products are sold and serviced by LG Electronics USA”. I never thought of their stuff as high quality anyway, and am surprised they are still around.
I opted for the Canadian one and it works pretty well. Finding 16 HD channels on 67% signal strength from a roof top antenna. It has a nice analog passthrough button on the remote so you can jump right back to the analog. However the remote doesn’t work volume or channels once you do that. There seems to be a volume control in the converter box itself instead of using the one in the TV so this is a pain since it has to be adjusted with both remotes when switched. There is a zoom feature which will set between letter box and a 16:9 aspect ratio. All in all a pretty good little box and I don’t think I’ll miss the analog.
So long my friend… (ie. 011100110110111100100000011011000110111101
101110011001110010000001101101011110010010000001100110011100100
1101001011001010110111001100100)
