Applied for my converter box coupon(s)

The last time I had tried (couple weeks ago) it returned a 404. So, the fact that it is up now is news to me.

Personally, I plan on waiting until I see the boxes in the store before getting the coupons.

Ditto, from PST. I got a referenced number, but it's dated 12/31/07. I hope it goes through.

This article posted today says tomorrow you can apply online or call.

http://apnews.excite.com/article/200...D8TSLN7O0.html

I applied also. I called 888-388-2009 and it said my application was approved. Just call press 1 then 2 2 then 1 enter the Reference number the site gave you on the page to print out.

Shot off the fireworks, guests gone home, applied for coupons, got an error message. Tried again. Error message. Guess I'm not the only one trying.
Hopefully I'll have better luck with the phone later on.

Most of us have become familiar with the different zones and when your submission is accepted in your zone it is usually valid, the response from a server in another zone will time stamp it's local time but that should not have any bearing on the outcome..You were accepted. If it was right after Midnight then you are in the first few thousand. Of course you could have waited three hours and been in the first hundreds of thousands with Pacific Time.

Applied online again, got the confirmation. I'm in the low 77,000's.

Forget the %&*%$#* web site and just call 888-388-2009

The phone system works and it is fast.

IB

Just applied online and received a reference number in the 94 thousands

My reference number is 5 digits beginning with 7 (7+,+++). Does that mean there are over 70,000 people who applied before me?

PS "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 solely 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."

Looks like I have no worries about getting a coupon.

IB

132K+ - took a few tries

155,000 +
First try.

I'm in the 175,xxx...Used the website...Took less than 45 seconds to type name & address and get verification...

I could not get in this morning, but it worked tonight (240K+).

#266772 at about 9 PM Pacific time for me.

Do any of the eligible converter boxes have HD outputs? (Component, DVI, HDMI)?

No. For the 100th time - no. Do some reading.

No, any such output make them ineligible.

To the best of my knowledge the purpose of these boxes are for use with SD 4:3 standard issue for the last 30+ years of SD TV's...But can still be used with HDTV's...Just not used for HDTV...Make sense???

I tried to sign up for my parents but got error message...tried twice with same result.

This link will take you directly to the application page:
https://www.dtv2009.gov/ApplyCoupon.aspx

I was able to get to the website, I had to reload the page a couple dozen times.

The confirmation page includes this message:
"TV converter boxes are not expected to be available in retail stores until late February or early March. You will receive your Coupon(s) then. The Coupon will expire within 90 days from the date it is issued."

So, lets see ~ $900 mil alloted/ 300K per day x 2 (I assume everyone asks for 2 coupons) x $40 = 37 days. Something's gotta give.

I just applied for mine... about #447000.

The boxes I'm particularly interested are the Echostar ones which are apparently the only ones that will take digital TV Guide On Screen data and convert it to analog. I've got a couple of Sony HD DVRs that use analog TVGOS, and they will be very awkward to program after 2009-02-17 without these converter boxes (or a firmware or hardware upgrade which I think is very unlikely).

What are the chances all the early coupons will be claimed before the first box is even available?

^ Looks like chances may be good if it's true they won't be available(nor the coupons mailed) until late feb/early March ...

It's Up to around 515K around 1:30pm ....

Oops: Edited/deleted portion of post concerning how long the coupons might last after I saw biker19's earlier post with the better math (2 coupons requested per household instead of one) ....

522,000 as of 1345 EST