Digital TV “Granny Box” purchasing

  I’m disappointed this time with Consumer Reports and also Sound & Vision Magazine. They do such a great job testing many products, but have failed with the CECB Granny boxes.  Libraries have also failed to have even a display with useful information, much less a program for Granny.  There are 6 million first batch coupons still available, and thanks to $millions spent on advertising (“On Feb. 17, 2009, …”), requests for the coupons are about three fourths of a million per week.  Thus, the availability should end in 8 weeks.  There could be a rush at the end if somebody notices, so it may end sooner, like before August.  I’ll continue to ask the Library to do something before then.  Meanwhile, the City of Palo Alto Community Media Center has a class on CECB’s for beginners. See:

http://www.paloaltodailynews.com/article/2008-5-9-bcn-17

 I’m privately recommending the April build or May build of the Zenith DTT900 where signals are weak or haunted (multipath).  If the bypass is needed, get the untested Zenith DTT901.  My previous post on Granny Boxes was March 2, 2008. See:

http://thedonofpages.wordpress.com/2008/03/02/digital-tv-granny-box-coupons/

 Buying strategies include the following:

THE FUTURES TRADE: It’s illegal to sell the coupon, but you can do whatever with the box.   So I tell Mabel I will trade her for the privilege of me using her coupon in the future.  She gets the box I have now, bought with my coupon just before it expired.  That way I have the chance to buy a future box that hasn’t hit the shelves yet.  The problem is to find a Mabel.

THE REBUY:  A store has a return policy.  You go to the store and buy a box and pay for it without using the nonrefundable coupon.  At home, you test the box for whatever (like the left audio channel chirp), then take it back to the store for a full refund.  If it failed the test, well, you could try another box, or another store.  If it passed the test, then you want not just any similar box, but that exact box that you’ve tested and programmed for your home.  So, rebuy that very box, this time using up the coupon. 

THE ADVANCE ORDER:  You purchase a box now with your coupon, and the supplier will ship you the box when they become available.  Some suppliers were caught taking advance orders for boxes, however, and got burned by the Feds. see:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1023326&page=5

THE HOSTAGE: Circuit City has the Zenith DTT900, but the Zenith DTT901 which has the bypass won’t arrive for a few weeks.  I’m going to buy a 900 in a few days with my coupon just before it expires.  I will keep the 900 as a hostage, and won’t open the packaging.  If the 901 arrives within 30 days of my purchase, I can exchange the hostage for a 901. 

SETTLE FOR FLAWS: I was busy with the June Election, but I had a coupon about to expire.  I got a March build DTT900 with the weaker LG tuner and tried it out at my apartment.  It was strange to rotate a handmade 3dBd colinear antenna and find no nulls.  Maybe haunting can be a good thing.  I didn’t get the expected screen of evil blackness, but instead got a picture that would break into pixel pus.  Most channels were fine in spite of the challenging location.  I’m usually working during the NBC News, so I haven’t checked for the chirp flaw.  I’m a Senior Citizen, so I checked my hearing.  My Mom couldn’t hear the 12KHz tone, but I could.  See (Hear?):

http://www.freemosquitoringtones.org/

If desparate, I could cobble up a passive 10KHz low pass.  See:
http://www.themusicworkshopchicago.com/special/aprilbuild.zip

 THE PRAYER:  The coupon’s expiration date is coming; let it die and pray for a resurrection.  With only 90 days of life, over half of the coupons died before use because there was a small number of actual products to choose from  They all had serious flaws, and most were not even better than nothing.  Some Congressmen are suggesting the life of the coupon should be extended (I figure no chance), or that after the coupon has expired, you should be able to reapply.  The present rules forbid this, but there is a chance of a future change. See:
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D917DHCO0.htm

  I’m going to pray with one dying coupon since I am eligible for second batch coupons.  If you aren’t an eligible batchelor like me, I suggest you don’t risk it.  It took God to do a single resurrection in a matter of days, and Congress isn’t noted for doing anything properly without months of politicking first.  By the time the rules change, the first batch may no longer be available.