If you're one of a large number of people in our area who watch T.V. using an antenna you may be planning on picking up a couple of converter boxes before the switch to all-digital T.V.

But coupons from the government for the boxes expire 90 days after they’re issued, and some retailers are having problems keeping them in stock. "A lot of phone calls, a lot of people stopping in looking for them, as of right now we're still waiting on our supply”, said Brandon Knapp, Electronics Manager at Furniture and ApplianceMart in Wausau. They’re one of a handful of retailers having trouble with stocking digital to analog converter boxes. At last check, the local Wal-mart, Target, and Sears all say when they get boxes in stock, they’re gone quickly.

But a number of retailers also tell me they've had no problem getting the boxes to customers right away. "We've been able to keep them in stock,” said Luke Patton, District Manager for RadioShack. “Especially in our warehouse, in case we run out in the stores." He says they've had the boxes in stock consistently for some time, despite rapid sales.

This week, we found Best Buy, Electronic Innovations, and Sound World also said they had a large supply of the boxes in stock.

Officials with the Government coupon program says interest in the boxes has been high in our area. "In the Wausau television viewing area, nearly 80,000 coupons have been requested and more than 34,000 have been redeemed”, said Todd Sedmak, Spokesperson for the Converter Box Program at the U.S. Department of Commerce. “So thousands of people are getting the message and transitioning to digital T.V. each day to get a better picture and more options from the broadcasters.”

Those additional options include digital-only channels, like My TV and NewsChannel 7’s 24-7 Weather Channel, which are on digital channel 7-2 and 7-3.

However, if you get your box now, there are some important differences to pay attention to. It’s important to note not all stations are yet broadcasting in digital. The Fox affiliate in our area is still broadcasting only in analog. That means if you get a converter box, you’ll need to get one with ‘analog pass-through’ in order to continue to receive their signal.

You can ask retailers whether the model they carry has analog pass-through. A list of which models and retailers have analog pass-through models is also available linked to below. Models my also have varying display options, and just a handful include universal remote controls.

So what should you do if your coupon’s already expired, and you didn’t get your box? Sedmak tells me it’s recommended you find a friend or family member that doesn’t need a converter box, ask them to apply, and use their coupons. He says there’s nothing wrong with using others’ coupons, as long as you don’t try to sell them.

More information about the coupons, the switch, and the converter boxes can be found linked to below.