If you’re cheap like we are, you may not have gotten yourself a shiny new widescreen HDTV yet.  We’re trying to preserve our capital for our business.  When they are cheap enough, I’ll eventually succumb to the lure of watching the Superbowl on a huge TV.  For now, I’m going to have to mooch off my buddy and watch the game at his house.  For those of you still sticking to good old analog TV, make sure you take advantage of the government coupon giveaway for a digital TV converter.  Starting today, the government is handing out “$40 off” coupons for a digital converter.  You’ll need a converter in order to receive over-the-air broadcasts of digital TV.  The converter turns the digital signal into an analog signal that your analog TV will understand.  If you subscribe to cable or satellite, you won’t need a converter.  Your existing set top box will continue to feed the signal to your TV.

You can get up to two coupons per household.  The first 22 million coupons will go to anyone that requests one.  After that, you’ll have to swear that you do not subscribe to cable or satellite.  The coupons will probably be given out in February or March, about the time the converters are expected to hit the stores.  The converters are expected to cost between $50 and $70.  Your coupon will be good for 90 days after they are issued.  Even if you subscribe to cable or satellite, you may want a coupon.  If you have a second TV that still uses over the air signals, you’ll need a converter for it.

To request your coupon(s), go to https://www.dtv2009.gov/.  It might take a couple of tries.  My request didn’t go through the first time.  You’ll get a confirmation number if you’re successful.  Even you don’t need a coupon, you may want to request one for your less technically savvy relatives.