Ecofriendly digital TV converter?
 

So, I got my rebate in the mail to get a digital TV converter. From what I've read Best Buy's Insignia box is the best one around. It even comes with an energy star rating. I'm not sure what thats worth, but it can't be bad. Anyone have any input?

I'm interested as well in knowing how much energy these use and what they use while in standby mode, we now own 3 kill-a-watt meters so as soon as I get around to buying a converter box I'll know how much power they use, but someone out there must have this information already? reviews?

Not to rag on you particularly, but an Ecofriendly converter box is the one that is never manufacured or bought. Since I watch no broadcast TV, I had too google to discover that:

"Congress has appropriated $990 million to pay for the rebate program, with an option to increase it another $510 million if it is deemed the original amount is not sufficient. If more funding is required, only over-the-air households would be eligible for the second round of coupons. The coupon would cover just about all of the cost of the box, currently expected to range from $50 to $70 a piece. It will not be permitted to be used for any other purpose other than purchasing the box, the Commerce Department said."
Source:
http://www.betanews.com/article/Digi...ced/1173725841

Only my sadly limited vocabulary of explitives prevents me from saying what I REALLY think of this expenditure of tax money. :mad: It is to be expected that govt. officials will waste and steal our money for their OWN benefit (youtube "bridge to nowhere").
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6q__0-krUo

The fact that govt. is wasting our tax money on making sure people KEEP WATCHING TV suggests that there must be some benefit to govt.
Now I wonder what that could be? :eek:

I get off work so late that both broadcast and pay television is trying to sell me extenze. Im just keeping the tv around for video games and movies.

The reason for the coupons is because the gov't is FORCING broadcast television to go digital. The reason for this is to conserve RF frequencies, digital signals can use TDMA (similar to some cellphone carriers) this can put somewhere around 4 tv stations on one RF channel. The reason for this is that in high population areas (NYC, LA etc.) there is so much RF in use that there are no available frequencies for expansion. That fact can be argues either way 1. We don't need more RF the hell with them. or 2. Good I won't get as many dropped calls on my cell phone and the police will be able to respond to my car accident better.

Now, people that choose not to buy cable or satellite currently watch analog television over broadcast. It's usually 3-7 stations, not too much but the basics, news and what not. So, because the gov't is making the technology these people use obsolete they have to provide for an alternative, if you're a cable customer yeah your tax money is going toward somebody that doesn't want to spend $40-$180/month on cable. If the gov't wasn't mandating this there wouldn't be coupons. I hope that helps explain it.

PS. I work for a company that does police radio systems and have a fairly strong working knowledge of RF.

Bam! :thumbup: