Scammers Take Advantage of Digital Switchover Confusion

July 17, 2008 – 12:04 pm, posted by Shannon

Scam artists seem to be everywhere you turn, so it probably doesn’t come as much of a surprise to many that there are scammers looking to take advantage of people that are confused by the switchover to digital television broadcasting.

According to a recent scam alert put out by the Better Business Bureau, a company that is calling itself Universal TechTronics is currently running ads in an attempt to bilk people out of their hard earned cash. More specifically, they are offering to provide consumers with free converter boxes – all they need to do to get these boxes is sign up for a five-year warranty that costs $59 to purchase. Victims are also asked to pay shipping fees for the converter boxes, which brings the cost up to almost $100.

Of course, with the coupons the government is issuing for the converter boxes, you can get a box for far less. In fact, most people should be able to get one for only $20 per box after using the coupon. So, unless you want to spend $80 on a warranty you likely won’t use and that probably isn’t worth its weight in gold, stay away from these ads and purchase your box from a company you know and trust.



  1. 6 Responses to “Scammers Take Advantage of Digital Switchover Confusion”

  2. What do you do if the converter you purched has a very pore menu or dosn’t work well? and you used your Gov. discount card to buy it? I purched mine at best buy and they wouldn’t give me the $40.00 dollars back on the coupon?

    By Chuck on Nov 16, 2008

  3. Since I have two fairly new flat-screen (tube) digital television receivers (a square Sony 24) and a wide-screen Toshiba 26)I do not anticipate any purchase, anytime soon of any new ones. However, I would like to be able to receive the High Definition Television broadcasts, when they begin. I have installed a Memorex and a Digital Stream Converter (both ones available locally) but, I do not see any major difference to the signal I get on my VHF roof antenna. There are 7 channels available on it (two in New Jersey, and the rest in NYC) the Memorex allowed me to pick up 5 affiliate stations from WTBY out of Poughkeepsie - none of which I am ever likely to watch - one is full time infomercials, two others are religious programming, another is FT videos by Christian groups, and the remaining one is full time educational cartoons. The signal on them is very good, however, so it probably is digital, but not HD. I think I will need to add a UHF dipole to the roof antenna to get HD broadcasts, and I may also need some kind of apparatus to be able to tune in HD Broadcasts. Am considering either a Combo Deck or a DVD-Recorder, with built-in HD Tuner. But, before I go to that expense - can someone assure me that will be the end of it, or - will I still need a Television capable of receiving HD? Or, will the DVD-R or Combo be enough? …. If so, can it be used in place of the converter box, or will I need to use both in tandem? … And, is the UHF dipole absolutely necessary, or will a good rooftop VHF antenna be adequate for the new transmissions?

    By Chris on Jan 22, 2009

  4. I did not realize this would be posted in the are about scamming, but, since I had just read that, I suppose it makes sense. There is definitely quite a bit of confusion out there. Most people don’t know the difference between things like ATSC and QAM, and PAL and SECAM, and thus - I suppose there are many who are destined to take advantage. Various merchandisers are advertising their products as HD-Capable, when they are only SD-Capable. Yet, another point of confusion. And, of course - being sold on the idea of a DVD Player which up-converts - gives you HD - is yet another problem. No DVD Player will provide HD Reception, as it has no tuner.
    And, here is yet - one more. HD requires an HDMI connection, or a Component Video connector - right? …. So, why do these converter boxes only provide Composite output?
    There may be a handful with S-Video connectors - but that doesn’t qualify for HD, though - does it?

    By Chris on Jan 22, 2009

  5. Except for the handful of digital converter boxes which provide S-Video connectors, there is virtually no difference in the way these units pull in the digital stations that are available, locally, in your area. There is a difference in the way they set up their on-screen menu system, but, once you get used to the differences, they all do - pretty much - the same thing. The shops which take your discount cards, know this, and that is why they have no interest in returning your money. And, when you use the government-issued discount cards, that process is carved in cement. You cannot exchange, as the credit has already been assigned to that vendor. If you want another box, just go ahead and buy it. If you have used up both of your discount cards, just pay the full price (usually $55 to $70.)
    But, if the one you have, already - is not pulling in as many stations as the next guy - either wait until February 17th, to see what will happen then, or - go ahead and invest that money in a better antenna setup.

    By Chris on Jan 22, 2009

  6. Further to the last …. there is no guarantee a better antenna setup will put you in a better position to receive Digital Broadcasts. It will, however, if it includes the addition of UHF to VHF - guarantee you will receive more stations. (All available to you on UHF.)
    But, if the addition of a digital converter - such as one of the Digital Stream units, or the Zenith, or the Memorex, or any of the Apex models - brings in the supplemental digital programming in your area now being transmitted, then, they will also provide you with digital broadcasting form the Networks, when they make the switchover to Digital on February 17th. The supplemental programming stations now transmitting, are providing a test-bed for us - so that you will know you are in a good place to receive digital broadcasts - when they happen. There is no half-way mark with digital - like ghosting or echos - as with the old-style transmissions. Either you get digital, or - you don’t. So, unless you get absolutely - nothing - with your new digital converter box - paid for, in part, by the US Government, you have no valid reason to want to take it back. If it works, now, then - it will work, when you need it to.

    By Chris on Jan 22, 2009

  7. There are some genuine concerns here, and some that are not quite as much so. The concerns about what digital converter box to buy, are not as valid as making sure you have one - if you are dependent on your own devices to receive television transmissions (not on cable or dish) …. and, if you are - I commend you for holding out. You will find, when full-time digital goes into effect, you are receiving just as good transmissions as your buddy on cable, next door, is - and, you are getting it for free. If you have only laid out twenty bucks for a single converter box by then - you will be way ahead of the game.

    By Chris on Jan 22, 2009

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