CECB or Coupon-Eligible Converter Box is a specification for converter boxes eligible to receive subsidy coupons through the U.S. federally-sponsored DTV Converter Box Coupon Program. (Ref - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CECB)
I still own my old Panasonic TAU (27 inch flat screen tube SDTV) and occasionally turn it on. So buying a converter box for less than $10 was pretty exciting. So I started browsing https://www.dtv2009.gov/ and other related sites to gather more information 
Though the $40 coupon looked exciting at first look, I was able to find many serious flaws in this federal sponsored program.
- $40 is not a big deal for most of US resident. We pay more than $40 to car mechanic who spend an hour fixing something. US is a rich country and guess people can easily manage to buy converter box without any federal aid. Why don’t we use the fund in better causes?
- NTIA criteria for a qualified converter box is pretty stupid. Any device which doing anything more than simply converting a digital over-the-air television signal (ATSC) is dis-qualified. Any device with modern output ports (like DVI, HDMI, VGA etc) is dis-qualified. How dumb!
Fed is investing millions of dollars in to something which is bound to turn into piece of junk in a year or two. Most of tube TV are pretty old by now and I don’t think that anyone will invest a single penny in repairing them after they turn bad or dead.
- This coupon program creates a big completion to dis-qualified but technically up-to-date converter boxes and DVRs. It is sad that now a future-proof box (with QAM, HDMI, DVI) priced at $70 competes with CECB $10 (would be $50 otherwise).
I think this program goes very opposite to Hybrid tax credit and effectively pushing people to stay on old technology. It is not expensive to include those modern features into converter box but Fed killed it.
If I can buy a QAM capable device (with this coupon), I may not need a second set-top-box from Comcast (at the expense of scrambled channels) and still use this device for many years. If I can buy a DVR (with this coupon), I can do a lot and stay up-to-date on technology. I feel that it would be definitely a better use of this coupon money.
Anyway, here is the list of CECB (as of 04/14/2008), I also marked the models which can be found in 4 approved national retailers .
* AMTC AT-2016
* AccessHD DTA1020U
* AccessHD DTA1010U
* AccessHD DTA1010D
* AccessHD DTA1020D
* Apex DT1002
* Apex DT1001
* Artec T3A
* Artec T3APro
* CADENCE DTVC-9
* CASTi CAX-01
* COSHIP N9988T
* COSHIP N9900T
* Channel Master CM-7000
* DENCA DAC-100
* DENCA TBX1005A
* DENCA NL8118
* DENCA NL8119
* DIGITAL STREAM D2A1D10
* DIGITAL STREAM DSP7500T
* DIGITAL STREAM DX8700*
* DIGITAL STREAM DTX9900 (at RadioShack)
* DIGITAL STREAM DTX9950*
* DIGITAL STREAM DSP7700T*
* DIGITAL STREAM DSP6500R
* DIGITAL STREAM D2A1D20
* ECHOSTAR TR-40*
* Fuyai ATSC 630
* GE 22730
* GE 22729
* Goodmind DTA900
* Goodmind DTA980
* Goodmind DTA1000
* Gridlink GLT-200
* Gridlink GLT-300
* Insignia NS-DXA1 (at BestBuy)
* Jiuzhou DTT6000
* Kingbox K8V8
* Kingbox K8V1
* Lasonic LTR-260
* Lasonic LTA-260
* MAG CCB7707
* Magnavox TB100MW9 (at Walmart)
* Magnavox TB100MG9*
* MaxMedia MMDTVB03
* MicroGEM MG2000
* Microprose MPI-500
* Mustek MAT-K50
* OLEVIA DTA100
* Philco TB100HH9*
* Philco TB150HH9*
* RCA DTA 800A (at Walmart)
* RCA DTA 800B
* RCA DTA800B1*
* SVA DAC100
* Sansonic FT300A
* Sansonic FT300RT
* Skardin DTR-0727
* Synergy Global Supply SYN2009
* TATUNG TDB3000
* TATUNG TDB3001*
* Tivax STB-T9
* Tunbow Electronics E60010
* VENTURER STB7766G
* WINEGARD RC-DT09
* ZINWELL ZAT-856
* ZINWELL ZAT-970
* Zenith DTT900 (at CircuitCity, RadioShack)
* Zentech DF2000
* Zinwell ZAT-756A
* Zinwell ZAT-857
* jWIN Electronic Corp JD-TV1000
Responses to “Stupid Coupon-Eligible Converter Box”
April 24th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
I couldn’t agree with you more. Why can’t I use my coupon for an HD tuner? It is so stupid.
May 2nd, 2008 at 6:52 am
Just an update… The Magnavox TB-100MG9 is now being sold online:
http://www.ezdigitaltv.com/Magnavox_TB100MG9.html
May 6th, 2008 at 7:36 am
I finally requested 2 coupons for myself (should be getting it early next month). I still believe that the whole program is waste but don’t want to be the only one who was not benefited by it.
I’ll hook one STB to my tube TV and other to my theater setup in my loft (to DLP projector using S-video port).
May 10th, 2008 at 8:58 am
tube tv’s will be in service for another 20 years - they don’t die easily
if $40 is not a lot of money then why complain about it?
maybe you would suggest the coupons should be redeemable for liquor and porn?
May 14th, 2008 at 10:33 am
If the DTV converter box coupon program exhausts its $890 million coupon budget, a second phase (providing an additional $510 million) will begin.
It is certainly a big amount when adds up to $1.4 billion. Liquor and porn is not a suitable argument so I won’t fight for it but I’ll certainly vote for QAM enabled tuner and DVRs.
I may be wrong but I feel that one can find tube TVs only in science museums after 20 years.
May 18th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Why should the government subsidize a DVR, or ‘quality’ convertor?
The way I see it is if you can afford a DVR then you should stop milking the US tax payers and go and buy one. This program is designed to ensure those who cannot afford the cost associated with switching to digital are not left behind.
You complain that you can add $30 to the coupon and get a model with more features! Then you obviously don’t need a $40 coupon if you have $30 to spare.
Why do people think the world owes them something, geeez
May 24th, 2008 at 1:05 am
Digital Desmon,
WHEN Echostars $40 free with coupon box comes out I will buy 2 and then through them into the Trashcan - where they belong - obsolete. Millions will soon do so.
I bet you voted for Bush 2x, and you dont mind the government wasting 3 trillion bucks on Iraq!
You also don’t mind Bush gov paying 600 billion to Haliburton and his rich friends with our tax dollars. Yet you mind $40 for a modern pro green box.
You only just prove why we are the technological laughing stocks in China And India.
The gov is giving 40 bucks, and is so stupid that its forcing companies not to sell $40 boxes that are modern, but allowing more expensive $40 boxes that are obsolete.
May 24th, 2008 at 1:07 am
I mean is allowing $50 bad obsolete boxes, but banning $40 boxes that are good and advanced.
June 2nd, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Excellent site, good info. I am looking forward to more on the subject of DTV.
June 5th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
The government did not help out when TV was first invented, why should they help now? Maybe some lazy ass Americans would go outside and do something if they couldn’t afford a new TV or converter.
June 6th, 2008 at 5:28 am
I am just curious as to which converter box is better to get over another staying within the lowest ($59) price. Any suggestions? Thanks!
June 19th, 2008 at 3:09 am
The reason the govt is offering this is b/c they are mandating the switchover to digital therefore the must make it affordable for all. Tv is the main outlet for communication of alerts from the govt - it lets the population know of emergencies (attacks, weather situations, etc). That is why they are offering this program.
April 21st, 2008 at 9:27 am
The Magnavox TB-100MG9 is not being sold at Walmart right now. Here’s a great site with a lot of retailer and converter box info:
http://www.ezdigitaltv.com/Converter_Box_Retailers.html