The Digital TV Conversion

Reception from a digital converter box is about the same as that from an HDTV. Digital converter boxes will tune an analog TV to HD programming and give most viewers very decent picture quality, but they will not send HD quality to the TV they are connected to. Converter boxes down convert HD programs to standard definition to be compatible with older TVs. There are more expensive converter boxes provide analog TVs with HD quality picture quality, but they fall outside the government coupon program. Any box that is coupon-eligible cannot put out HD quality.

Consumers who want to experience true HD-quality programming will need purchase an HDTV that has a built-in digital tuner and can receive digital signals without using a converter box.