Cable TV & Digital Broadcasts

[Carol]

Mike wrote:
<snip>
> 
> I've read this whole thread and I'm still confused about something. I 
> have cable and one cable box to get the premium channels. But I have 
> a couple more analog TVs that are connected directly to the cable, 
> i.e. no box for those. 
> 
> Will I still be able to receive the signal on those analog sets 
> without any box? Does it make any difference if those sets have 
> a "cable/tv" switch?

Carol responds;

I wrote to the coupon people using a "contact us" link on the site I
posted a link to earlier asking a similar question. Apparently, your
analog TVS will work if you have an antenna (indoor or outdoor) plus
the converter. Your cable TV will work as it always did and won't need
a converter (unless you want to give up cable and just use it as you
do those other TVs). It makes no difference, AFAIK, whether they have
a cable TV switch (though you'll probably need a place to plug the
converter box into those TVs).

In short, you need *either* a cable box *or* an antenna plus a
converter box.

Here's the response I got to my queries, one of which was whether
people with cable TVs are eligible for the coupons. (I forget what
else I asked.):

"There  are  22.25  million  coupons  available  to  all  U.S. 
households. Once  those  coupons  have  been  used,  there  are  an 
additional  11.25  million  coupons  available  only  to  households 
that  receive  their  TV  broadcasts  over-the-air  using  an 
antenna.  Households  with  TVs  connected  to  cable,  satellite  or
 other  pay  TV  service  are  not  eligible  for  this  second  batch
 of  coupons. Consumers  can  apply  for  coupons  until  March  31, 
2009,  or  until  the  funds  are  exhausted.

"If  you  currently  use  an  antenna  to  receive  your  over-the-air
 programming,  you  will  still  need  it  after  you  install  a 
converter  box.  In  some  cases,  TV  viewers  may  need  a  new 
antenna.  For  help  choosing  an  antenna  in  order  to  receive 
your  free,  local  broadcast  TV  channels,  visit 
http://www.antennaweb.org.

"Sincerely,            
MELISSA CARLSON
Consumer Support
TV Converter Box Coupon Program"

Apparently, people with cable TVs are elibible until the first 22.25
coupons are issued, but they need the coupons only if they plan to
switch over to antenna plus converter. In your case, you'd be eligible
even after those coupons are issued because two of your TVs use an
antenna.

What I don't know is whether you'd need more than one converter box
for those TVs (I expect that each would need its own) and whether you
can plug in a converter to an old TV that isn't set up for cable.

Check out the site at https://www.dtv2009.gov/

If you still have questions, go to the contact page, 

https://www.dtv2009.gov/EmailUs.aspx

where you can email them by filling out a form. They respond in only a
few days.

Or copy and paste this address into your own email if you prefer:

WebSupport @ dtv. 2009.gov (close up the spaces: I only put them there
to trick Yahoo so it won't hide the address).

Good luck!

Carol, who intends to apply for a coupon and buy a converter box just
in case cable becomes an unaffordable luxury