What's the lifespan of TV converter boxes?
April 13, 2013 8:15 AM Subscribe
My converter box just all-of-a-sudden didn't work last night for my analog TV.
I purchased one at Best Buy when the DC metro area was forced to go to digital TV. I *think* this was in 2010. The box sold retail for $80 and I had a 50% off coupon. Does anyone know how long these things last? I have it hooked to an analog television and it has been working fine, with its remote, and then last night I wasn't able to watch my favorite shows anymore. Tinkering around hasn't helped. I don't even know if the digital converter boxes are still sold. Any help? Thanks.
I purchased one at Best Buy when the DC metro area was forced to go to digital TV. I *think* this was in 2010. The box sold retail for $80 and I had a 50% off coupon. Does anyone know how long these things last? I have it hooked to an analog television and it has been working fine, with its remote, and then last night I wasn't able to watch my favorite shows anymore. Tinkering around hasn't helped. I don't even know if the digital converter boxes are still sold. Any help? Thanks.
I had two in a three-span and when the second one bit the dust, I just broke down and got cable. I still see many available for sale at Best Buy.
posted by nubianinthedesert at 1:57 PM on April 13, 2013
posted by nubianinthedesert at 1:57 PM on April 13, 2013
Best answer: Note that you certainly don't have to get cable to solve this.
In addition to the (continuing) option of buying a converter (a CECB), you can just get a new TV and hook your antenna directly to that. You can even get a used TV -- all TVs from 2007 or later have built-in digital tuners.
How many months of cable bills would it take to spend the money you could have spent on a small flat screen TV? You can get a ~25" TV for about $200, and that is almost certainly going to give you a BIGGER image than the old analog CRT you are hanging on to, especially when you factor in that you're watching so much 16:9 material letterboxed onto your 4:3 display.
The analog shutdown occurred in June 2009.
Go buy a $200 TV.
posted by intermod at 2:26 PM on April 13, 2013
In addition to the (continuing) option of buying a converter (a CECB), you can just get a new TV and hook your antenna directly to that. You can even get a used TV -- all TVs from 2007 or later have built-in digital tuners.
How many months of cable bills would it take to spend the money you could have spent on a small flat screen TV? You can get a ~25" TV for about $200, and that is almost certainly going to give you a BIGGER image than the old analog CRT you are hanging on to, especially when you factor in that you're watching so much 16:9 material letterboxed onto your 4:3 display.
The analog shutdown occurred in June 2009.
Go buy a $200 TV.
posted by intermod at 2:26 PM on April 13, 2013
Response by poster: Thanks so much for all the help.
posted by noelpratt2nd at 2:44 PM on April 13, 2013
posted by noelpratt2nd at 2:44 PM on April 13, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
As for lifespan, I had the remote control die and was able to replace just that part on Amazon. Then the TV went, naturally, so I finally caved and bought a new TV last December.
posted by pmurray63 at 9:15 AM on April 13, 2013