Regarding the taxes you were charged...

The rebate is just that -- a rebate. It's essentially a refund for money you have to put out for the converters. So, in essence you have paid the $80, so you have to pay tax on the total amount of the sale, then you receive a refund of $80. It's just that these have been designed in such a way as to be an instant rebate (you don't have to send anything in and wait for a refund check to arrive in the mail), but, nonetheless, it's a rebate.

You say you should only have been charged the tax rate of Georgia rather than that of Tennessee. If you purchased the converter boxes in Tennessee, you have to pay the tax rate of that state because that's where you purchased and took possession of the boxes.

humh....interesting lindsey. "My bad" (new lingo for me) guess the information I had read about another state to state purchase for the converters doesn't apply in GA..thank you for the info..

oh I remember now...several years ago when I purchased a piece of jewlery in TN for HD...the salesman suggested i have it shipped to my state of GA to avoid the higher TN sales tax...is this the only time it applies?

can anyone offer comments about their converter box successes or failures?

Boy, I really wish you could pay your own state's sales tax when shopping out of state. It's always such a shock to me, when travelling down south, and I buy food or clothes and find the price higher than I expected because of the unexpected tax.

Don't you have any areas of your state where you get a tax break? Our state has urban enterprise zones--areas where the state is promoting economic growth--where the sales tax is half what it is in the rest of the state. We make it a point to try to buy larger purchases there. As a matter of fact, we're planning on retiring to one of the UEZ's, to help our retirement $$$ go further. It can be a big savings on larger ticket items. Really, though, I'd pretty much expect to pay tax on the entire price--just as you tip on the whole bill at a restaurant, even if you have a by one; get one coupon.

We haven't picked up our boxes yet. Probably won't until closer to the time when they're needed. I wasn't aware they'd help you get MORE channels than you're currently receiving--are you sure about that? I thought they were just necessary to continue recieving the usual local channels.

My big question is--if you keep your old TV, without a converter box, are you going to be able to pick up the military transmissions that the analogue frequencies are going to be used for? Seems a little risky, if so. And it's a really pricey fix--for the general public--for the problem that the military needs more frequencies to use. I really think there was some other solution they could have come up with, rather than messing with all our home TV reception.

I hadn't heard that the analog channels will become military. I have read that they may convert some to "emergency" broadcasts and auction off the remaining.

As far as picking up more channels - you probably won't get any different channels, but some stations broadcast on two or more channels.

For example, my CBS channel:

8 - regular analog regular programming
8-1 HDTV regular programming
8-2 HDTV weather programming

My local PBS affiliate has 3 HD channels. I love this - one is always broadcasting CREATE - which is cooking show, home improvement shows, etc.

So you may be able to get more channels.

I am still waiting for my coupons. I don't think they are difficult to hook up.

I live a couple hours from my TV stations - the weather does affect my signal with digital. It doesn't with analog. Audio is the first to go, then the picture becomes scrambled. This happens easily with heavy rain and stormy weather - when you REALLY want to watch the weather.

Thanks a bunch for that Uncle Sam!

the weather does affect my signal with digital. It doesn't with analog. Audio is the first to go, then the picture becomes scrambled. This happens easily with heavy rain and stormy weather - when you REALLY want to watch the weather.

I know...that makes me nuts. I have a digital tv in the living room and do most tv watching there. It is on satellite and an antennae for the local and PBS stations. Weather often throws it 'completely out' where it doesn't the analog in the bedroom.

As Feb 09 approaches, I envision more and more perfectly good TVs set curbside, or taken to the Goodwill, or offered up for little or nothing on Craig's List or Freecycle. I will probably pick up at least a couple 'extras' to have once my analog goes out. Digital TVs aren't perfected yet, IMHO, when they loose the signal totally instead of the consumer maybe being able to at least view what they were watching with a less than perfect picture. Folks on antennae are used to a little snow, on some channels some of the time.

Just my 2 cents....

really people have no choice.. I think.. You have to get the boxes to use to get to be able to use your TV if you have analog

Unless you have cable or satellite and get your local channels that way.

I can do both - so I will get my boxes for my non-DTV's.

I got a coupon for one because I have a little battery operated TV to use in an emergency. Otherwise I'm ok because I have cable for my other tvs.

I really should start to pay attention to this! Where do you get the rebates? Do we need a separate box for each TV?

What if we buy a new HDTV and still get our reception through a roof antenna . . . do we still need a converter box?

Thanks for helping!

Susan

You can go to the link below for the coupons.

You DO need a box for each TV. The coupons are good for 3 months - and you can get two per household.

The boxes cost around $49 at Wal-Mart - the coupon is good for $40 of that.

If you have a new DTV - you don't need a box, and you can get the HDTV signals from your rooftop or rabbit ear antenna.

We get the local channels on our Dish, but the HD signal actually comes through the rooftop antenna. We have a High Def TV. I have two HDTV's but have a couple older analog TV's that I am getting the boxes for.

The website is very informative - it is a .gov site.

292 Days until Analog TV is off the air!

Here is a link that might be useful: DTV

Since I can't walk and chew gum at the same time, my son began hooking up the "BOX" this am on my big screen only to discover the yellow, red and white cable that comes with the Zenith (highest rated that I have seen) is really short and would not reach the cable outlet at the bottom of my set....drat! Oh hoorah, mom to the rescue...extra cables purchased for another electronic gadget that has died in the "keep me drawer", they are perfect length!
But he's a "I can do this without reading instructions" kinda guy (aren't they all) and dismissed it with...oh well, we have until Feb, 2009...so we'll work on this later! Darn it....get off your butt and at least install the one in my bedroom....OK, read the instructions 1/2 way this time and success! "BOX" installed....fantastic reception....as clear as those beautiful flat screen HD's he's been admiring at the WalMart...the color is awesome...just don't lose that remote!

I now have several more channels...like someone said some stations broadcast in 12-1, 2 and 3...still working out some kinks with the rabbit ears...but otherwise happy...especially like the on screen channel guide and time feature...surprise...didn't affect the closed caption feature that I need.

the zenith remote will allow you to use this remote for both appliances. This was a real selling feature for the Zenith...which I was already aware of but found it funny when the salesman at the hhgregg store said he had not realized this when purchasing a Magnavox and now had to keep up with and use two remotes...but, I have read somewhere some universal remotes will work on the "BOX".

So be sure to look at what is provided initially to avoid additonal expense. another point we discovered, analogs that do not use the three colored cables will need a RFU switch...check for these at WalMart or Sears...we had to buy one for a small DVD (which we need when we travel to the mountains and want to use the DVD) they run about $15-20.00.

Here is a link that might be useful: zenith info

Great info Rusty!

Now I'm overwhelmed...I think...If I'm going to have to read something to do it...sigh......But thanks for all the info...looking forward to what it will do with my analog and antennae. Maybe I'll get rid of my satellite for the summer at least.

Will my current remote still work on "the box" or do I toss that one & use the one that comes with "the box"? Any info. is appreciated.

I was wondering if you don't have an antenna, can you still use these boxes instead of having cable tv?

Canada isn't changing to digital until 2011 I think and since I live in a border city and most of the stations I watch are US stations I will have to purchase a box earlier. The only Canadian station I get is our local CBC with my rabbit ears right now.

I don't know why we aren't changing the same time the US is. I doubt our government will give us rebates for the converter boxes we need.

Anne

I'm probably in over my head here, but will try to answer one or two simple questions that have been asked.

judy_jay: Will my current remote still work on "the box" or do I toss that one & use the one that comes with "the box"? Any info. is appreciated.

This depends on which "Box" you buy...I have the zenith and understand it can be programmed to work with universal remotes...but mine isn't fully installed on the big screen yet and I haven't figured out how to get the Box remote to turn on my set in the bedroom...so your guess is as good as mine....any one else wanna jump in here and help out?

puppygirl1962

I was wondering if you don't have an antenna, can you still use these boxes instead of having cable tv?

this would be wonderful, but sorry no...you either have to have antenna, cable or sat and the converter boxes are designed to be used with antenna...even suggested that although consumers who may have Sat or Cable ... one would be very useful on an analog TV for emergency situations...such as no signal if only to get weather or emergency news if needed.

does this help?

my biggest complaint right now would be the zenith has a soft blue light on the front when it is on (and an auto shut off after a certain amount of time if not in use) and a red eyed monster light replaces the beautiful blue hew when it is off! Red lights and fibromalygia don't mix! Keeps me awake...i'll have to cover it up like a parrot at night!