Get a free digital converter box and HDMI cable

You supply the government coupon; Meritline serves up the converter box and a free HDMI cable to boot.

(Credit: Airlink101)

Still haven't picked up a converter box for your old non-digital TV? Meritline has a deal that's hard to beat: if you've got your coupon from Uncle Sam, you can get an AirLink ATVC102 digital-to-analog converter box for free. Really!

Also free: shipping. Also also free: a 6-foot HDMI cable. And if all that's not good enough, you can double up on this deal: two boxes, two cables, and still free shipping.

I haven't found any reviews of this particular box, which is one of the few that's actually priced under $40 (which is the redeemable value of each coupon--how else did you think Meritline was swinging this deal?).

But it looks like it has everything you need to bring an analog TV into the Digital Age: an electronic program guide, an analog pass-through, a remote, and a one-year warranty.

To get the deal, you simply need to enter the 16-digit DTV coupon number(s) and supply your credit card info. I'm not sure when the deal expires, but I have a sneaking suspicion Meritline will sell out quickly. So if you've been sitting on your coupon(s), now's the time to act!

1TB drive prices seem to be falling fast. $85 w/ free shipping (no rebates)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148373&nm_mc=OTC-RSS&cm_mmc=OTC-RSS-_-Internal%20Hard%20Drives-_-Seagate-_-N82E16822148373

The other day I saw a 1.5TB there for $120ish. Don't see it now :(

[He_And_Him_Studios]

It says they have a low lifespan though, only 6 months, it seems.

[Bemused51]

Oh great, first it was the digital conversion, now we have to worry about the next conversion, the digitial conversion !

[rickbroida]

D'oh! A spelling error right in the headline! Shameful... (and fixed)

[rufustel]

A nice price, but a nice price without available information as to product quality, etc. is risky at best. In fact, users comments at Meritline are midling, making this a questionable deal--it may serve some, while others may be better popping an extra $10 or $20 for a more solid product.

[rickbroida]

To quote Homer Simpson... But they're free!!

[c|net Reader]

They are not free. Taxpayers foot the bill. All taxpayers must contribute and some take the money. Lovely.

[rickbroida]

Can't argue with that. But you might as well get some of your tax money back! :)

[zyxxy]

The quality on these boxes does vary a bit. Consumer reports covered them a while back. Paid subscription, or go to your local library. Oddly, the higher rated boxes were not available through retailers, only online. Bought one of the better rated boxes for my parents and the picture and audio quality are very good. Uses the composite video/audio in jacks. Matches DVD quality on their TV. If you have to use the antenna to pass through the TV, it is still good, but not as good as the composite input.

That said, unless I could find a solid review of this converter, I would be cautious. It isn't really free, it costs you your coupon. Paying an extra $20 for a better box will be money well spent in the long run.

[rufwork]

Saw CR's write up recently, and saw that there was a converter box that will automatically change channels at prescribed times. A bit of a hassle, but keeps a real cheapskate's VCR fully functional a while longer. If you're serious about converter boxes and VCRs [sic], that's a must-have feature that it doesn't sound like we have here.

[j_a_s_p_e_r]

I passed on this deal earlier (when it was bundled with an antenna a few weeks ago) and got the Channel Master CM-7000 ($20 shipped at amazon after coupon). I read many comments posted at avsforum.com and this one had the most sensitive tuner. Others liked the Zenith DTT-901 for its features (smart antenna etc.). So far I'm very happy with this and actually canceled cable! My kids watch some TV, but there is a PBS subchannel with kids shows all the time and a sattelite channel (This TV) that are carried as subchannel on the local Fox channel so they got more than enough to view. Some of the other local low power stations that are testing transition (since they are not forced to do so yet) are showing old public domain cartoons and movies

[j_a_s_p_e_r]

By "This one" I mean the CM-7000 not the airlink. AVSForum members didn't like the Airlink very much. Also I should note the CM-7000 does not have analog pass-through, but I don't need that.

[markntravis]

I ordered this "FREE" converter box with my coupon and guess what? They charged my account $40 dollars.

[seanwame]

Free HDMI cable? Too bad there's no place to plug it in on this converter box. $40 for a vanilla converter is a mediocre deal at best. I think that Meritline is being a little misleading with thier listing.

[BrookBabcock]

I was hoping someone might mention this. Not sure if it's this model, but consumerist.com had a story on a Meritline Airlink that came with an HDMI cable but couldn't use it.

Story: http://consumerist.com/5223603/meritline-using-misleading-free-hdmi-cable-to-sell-digital-tv-converter-with-no-hdmi-output

[j_a_s_p_e_r]

meritline is a little sneaky, sometimes the images with products are misleading (like pictures of building block toy structures, where it requires expansion packs etc). Worst is that they don't allow a review rating of any product below 2 stars!

[bremori]

had a choice between the airlink and the channelmaster, both at fry's, went with the channelmaster for the company's exp with ota antennaes and ota technology, and for the s video output. am happy with the channelmaster, still like and use airlink networking products, but pay extra for the channelmaster, when on sale at frys' for 49.95 w/ coupon it's just $10 more but way better in quality.

[briancgraham]

No experience with this one and it may work fine for those with older tv's or smaller than 13"... but after much research and 5 months later....

I LOVE my ChannelMaster CM-7000 with S-Video out and HIGHLY recommend it.

I also bought a Zenith DT-901 (K-Mart had them for 49.99) and LOVE it almost as much.

Do your research, you'll find that it's worth the extra few dollars for signal sensitivity and picture quality especially if you have a tv bigger than 13".

[j_a_s_p_e_r]

I looked all over for a Zenith DTT-901 (no KMarts near me and sold out everywhere else or priced at $80+ shipped online), finally I got the CM-7000 from Amazon For $60 shipped. They had it on gold box one day for $50 shipped, but I passed on it (I didn't know it was one of best). For reference I have both an Samsung SIR-T151 and SIR-T351 ATSC HD receivers and they cannot get a decent signal. I took the cheapest antenna I had with the CM-7000 and get ALL channel never having adjusted anything on the antenna

CNet rated a dozen of these DTV boxes and missed one of the best...

[donsms]

Cmon folks!! you get 2 boxes for your 2 coupons and you get to sleep at night knowing gramps and grandma are now all set for June 12.

[j_a_s_p_e_r]

SUPER SIDE DEAL: Steam (steampowered.com) has Orange box for $9.99. I've been waiting for this deal. Half Life2 , Half Life 2 Episode 1, Half Life 2 Episode 2, Half Life 2 Lost Coast, Portal, Team Fortress 2 are included

[alphabits]

Rick,
I don't know if it's a scam or what, but I followed your converter lead, provided the procedure for entering federal coupons (2), added the credit card data as required. Out of curiosity I checked the card's account ten minutes later and saw that $80 had been withdrawn by the converter supplier. Are they double charging? - I don't know, but it sure looks that way.

[Dovebyrd]

Well, as a single mom of 3 on a very tight budget, this is exactly in my price range. I did as it said on the site and I am getting 2 of both the Airlink101 ATVC102 Digital to Analog TV Converter Box and the Mygica Digital TV Antenna, A20 White, Hookup with HDTV, USB/PCI Digital ATSC Tuner or DTV Converter Box, UHF + VHF Analog and Digital Frequency Range for free, ground shipping was included. I will let you know how they work after the transition is complete and they are in use. Worse case scenario will be that I need to buy a new one without a coupon, but I can't imagine that it will be so bad they are unusable or too many complaints would come in for new coupons based on crappy performance. We shall soon see.....