My coupons were about to expire so I bought a Magnavox TB100MG9 (w/analog pass through) and a Artec T3A Pro (because of 12vdc input). I had to settle for something other than the DISH Network DTVPal that has event timers and up to a 7 day EPG

Dale,
The Tech writer is right. Cable will switch to digital, I think more sooner than later. A clear signal from the National Cable & Telecommunications Association and the compromise with the FCC is what they aren�t saying. NCTA members agreed to provide over-the-air local broadcast channels to their subscribers in analog until 2012. The key phrase is "local broadcast". It says nothing about other channels that are now viewed in analog like CNN or Discovery and them staying analog until 2012. I've heard people from around the country say their cable provider has switched or is about switch to digital. It makes to much business sense for them not to, removing one analog channel frees up space for several digital channels. For reference see http://www.ezdigitaltv.com/Cable_Television.html

None of the boxes available come close to have all three! See http://www.ezdigitaltv.com/Converter_Box_Retailers.html Only a few boxes comes with two, the Philco TB150HH9, Apex Digital DT1001, MaxMedia MMDTVB03, and Philco TB150HH9

�You can have it FAST, you can have it GOOD, or you can have it CHEAP, but you can only Pick Two� 

The NTIA requires no more than composite video or s-video. No component connections are allowed.

You can not use two coupons for one box. "The coupons cannot be combined to purchase a single converter box, and they be cannot be used toward the purchase of other products." Found here at http://www.ezdigitaltv.com/Converter_Box_Coupon_Program.html

Read this quote from the DTV website http://www.dtv.gov/consumercorner.html#faq16 �for business reasons (among other things, digital is much more efficient than analog), cable companies may be interested in transitioning their systems from analog delivery to digital delivery. If a cable company makes the business decision to go all-digital (meaning it will stop offering any channels to its customers in analog), it must ensure that its analog customers can continue to watch their local broadcast stations. This may require customers with analog televisions to get a set-top box. If the cable company provides the customer with a set-top box, any costs related to it will be determined by the cable company. Therefore, it is recommended that analog cable customers contact their cable company to ask if a set-top box will be needed, when it will be needed, and if there will be a cost."
Also lots more info on converter boxes here at http://www.ezdigitaltv.com/Cable_Television.html

The list of converter boxes are growing. Available boxes are Artec T3A, COSHIP N9900T, Digital STREAM DTX9900 , Insignia NS-DXA1, Magnavox TB100MW9, Philco TB100HH9 and the Zenith DTT900.
Some are easier the find than others, like the Magnavox at Wal-Mart. But be careful, the Magnavox TB100MW9 being sold now does not have analog pass-through but the Magnavox TB-100MG9 does! If this is a feature that you might need, watch the model numbers. They have more information here http://www.ezdigitaltv.com/Converter_Box_Retailers.html