With the buzz about the upcoming DTV transition, I ordered my converter box coupons on October 13th, then began anxiously watching my mailbox.  I received the cards on the 2nd of November and promptly set out to pick them up, excited about the prospect of a clearer television picture – excited but skeptical. 

To say I live in “the country” would be an understatement – satellite has been my only option, and an expensive one at that.  Reception of the 3 stations I could pick up through my analog antenna was fuzzy at best.  So with coupons in hand, I headed out to the Pineville Wal-mart, only to find that they were out of stock.  I then headed to K-mart, also out of stock.  Next stop, Radio Shack, they had plenty … for $59.95.  This was not what I had expected.  It would cost over $40 out of pocket for the 2 converter boxes.  Forty dollars I was NOT willing to pay.  So I returned home disappointed and empty handed – vowing to find a better deal, and more skeptical.  On November 13th, exactly one month after ordering my coupons, I set out again to find the elusive converter boxes.  After stopping at 2 more stores who were sold out, I finally found them for $49.95 each at the North Mall Wal-mart in Alexandria. 

Like most people, I don’t like change, especially when it is forced upon me, so I opened the box with excitement and dread.  My husband unplugged the antenna from the TV, plugged it into the converter box, ran the cable from the converter box back to the television, and sat next to me with the remote.  So many questions: how difficult would it be to program the box, would my roof top antenna be strong enough to receive a signal, would we still get 3 channels?  We turned the television to channel 3 and followed the on screen instructions.  Everything was automated.  It scanned for channels and programmed the remote.  When everything was said and done, we had not 3 channels, but 9, each with a crystal clear picture and FREE!  What a pleasant surprise!