EZ Digital TV Blog

The EZ Digital TV Blog will keep you updated with the ever changing news and information concerning the Analog to Digital Transition.

We are currently focusing on the news and information surrounding the Converter Boxes and Coupons. Check here often for updates.

Digital TV is the wave of the future! It may sound overwhelming, but we are here to assist you with free advice and information.

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May 10, 2008, Digital TV Stations

A list of Digital TV Stations

May 10, 2008, EchoStar TR-40 DTV Converter Box

Features of the EchoStar TR-40 with analog pass-through. The TR-40 has been approved by the NTIA's coupon program and will be sold as the DTVPal by both EchoStar and Sling Media. VCR Event Timer.

May 10, 2008, Digital STREAM D2A1D10 DTV Converter Box

Features of the Digital STREAM D2A1D10 DTV Converter Box. NTIA Approved CECB.

May 10, 2008, Digital STREAM D2A1D20 DTV Converter Box

Features of the Digital STREAM D2A1D20 DTV Converter Box. NTIA Approved CECB.

May 10, 2008, Additional Features Matrix for the NTIA Coupon-Eligible Converter Boxes

Additional Features Matrix for CECBS. Converter Box Comparison Chart. CECB Comparison Chart. ATSC Converter Box Comparisons

May 10, 2008, What is a Converter Box? DTV Converter Box.

NTIA Approved Coupon Eligible Converter Box. CECB. What is a Converter Box? Set-Top Box

May 10, 2008, Converter Box Retailers

Converter Box Retailers who are Certified Dealers. Online Retailers. Where can I buy a converter box? Converter Box Sellers. NTIA Coupon-Eligible Converter Box Retailers.

May 9, 2008, Site Map for EZ Digital TV.com

Site Map for EZ Digital TV.com

May 9, 2008, Winegard RC-1010 Digital HD Receiver

Features of the Winegard RC-1010 Digital HD Receiver.

May 9, 2008, Old Portable TV Sets and the Transition

Old Portable TV Sets: Can I use my old portable TV set with a converter box?

May 9, 2008, Wilmington North Carolina To Make Early Switch to Digital TV

By The New York Times

Its official: "Any glitches in the nationwide switch to digital television will be felt first in Wilmington, N.C.," the AP reports.

"The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday formally announced that the North Carolina TV market on would be the first to switch from analog signals to an all-digital format. It said five local stations will begin broadcasting only digital signals beginning at 12 p.m. on Sept. 8 - five months ahead of the much-advertised Feb. 17 nationwide flip."

"This experience will help us to spot issues that we need to address elsewhere in the country before next February," FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said in a release Thursday.

About 12,600 households in Wilmington still watch over-the-air programming.

May 8, 2008, DISH Network DTVPal Converter Box

Features of the DISH Network DTVPal with analog pass-through. Approved by the NTIA's coupon program and will be sold as the DTVPal by both EchoStar and Sling Media. VCR Event Timer. 7-day EPG.

May 8, 2008, Winegard RC-DT09 DTV Converter Box

Features of the Winegard RC-DT09 DTV Converter Box. NTIA Approved CECB.

May 7, 2008, Digital Television Converter Box Coupon Program Update As of May 2, 2008

Total applications accepted 12,657,189

May 7, 2008, Reference Links

Reference Links to additional Analog to Digital Transition Information

May 5, 2008, Converter Box Coupon Program Information

Information About the Converter Box Coupon Program.

May 3, 2008, Magnavox TB100MG9 DTV Converter Box

Features of the Magnavox TB100MG9 DTV Converter Box with Analog Pass-Through. NTIAA Approved CECB. Buy online for $67.99 with a coupon.

May 3, 2008, Lasonic LTA-260 DTV Converter Box

Features of the Lasonic LTA-260 DTV Converter Box. NTIA Approved CECB.

May 2, 2008, Nielsen Issues DTV Transition Plan

11.3 percent of the TV sets in the Nielsen panels are unready to receive digital broadcast signals

NEW YORK Nielsen Media Research has issued to its clients a nine-page letter spelling out its plan for the transition to digital-only television broadcasting that goes into effect on Feb. 17, 2009, assuring that "most homes" in its audience ratings sample with TV sets not capable of receiving digital signals will take steps to ensure that they continue to receive TV signals after that date.

According to Nielsen, 11.3 percent of the TV sets in its panels are "unready" to receive digital broadcast signals. Nielsen is requesting that people in the sample with those sets replace them with new sets equipped with digital tuners that will enable them to get over-the-air reception of digital broadcast signals. Or that those people subscribe to cable, so their analog signals can be converted to digital. (Failing that, Nielsen asks that they purchase and connect their sets to government-subsidized, set-top converter boxes.)

Nielsen said its field staff is planning to make a "significant" number of visits to sample households to hook up meters to any new equipment that is purchased. Nielsen has also set a timetable for users in the sample with unready sets to take steps to transition to digital reception.

Nielsen said that none of its field representatives would be allowed to take vacations in January or February of 2009, so that the full staff can concentrate on making sure the conversion goes according to plan.

"Over the next few months, our statistical research department will be reviewing all unready scenarios and potential household actions to determine whether any related changes to our existing editing rules might be warranted on a temporary basis," Nielsen said in a memo to its clients. "The focus will be on those conditions that would cause a home to fall out of tab."

Nielsen said beginning in August, its Data Distributor Management department would begin communicating with local stations regarding their transition plans. Nielsen will then need to take action to make sure it continues to be able to correctly receive and monitor signals to gather information.

Nielsen also plans in December to select a sample of stations that have made the conversion to digital-only signals to see if their signals are adequate for auditing and measuring.

Because the transition is taking place in February, Nielsen will move its sweep measurement period from February 2009 to March 2009 to ensure the most accurate measurement with no glitches.

May 2, 2008, VCRs and Converter Boxes

VCRs and Converter Boxes; how will they work after the transition? Can I use my VCR with a converter box? Can I use my VCR after the analog to digital transition?

May 1, 2008, Artec T3A Pro DTV Converter Box

Features of the Artec T3A Pro DTV Converter Box. Buy online with a coupon for $59.99. NTIA Approved CECB.

Apr 30, 2008, Lasonic LTR-260 DTV Converter Box

Features of the Lasonic LTR-260 DTV Converter Box. An NTIA approved CECB.

Apr 29, 2008, Explanation of Converter Box Features

Explanation of Converter Box Features. NTIA Coupon-Eligible Converter Box Features Explained.

Apr 29, 2008, COSHIP N9988T DTV Converter Box

Features of the COSHIP N9988T DTV Converter Box with 7 day EPG. NTIA Apoproved CECB.

Apr 29, 2008, COSHIP N9900T DTV Converter Box

Features of the COSHIP N9900T DTV Converter Box with Smart Antenna and 7 Day EPG. NTIA Approved CECB.