Winegard News Releases—Winegard Offers 9V Backup Battery Pack for Digital Converter Boxes

Winegard Offers 9V Backup Battery Pack for Digital Converter Boxes

BURLINGTON, Iowa – (August 29, 2008) -- Winegard Company is offering a new Backup 9V Battery Pack, model #RC-BP9V, which will power the company’s analog to digital converter boxes for consumers who use battery-powered televisions.

“Some 7 to 8 million consumers use battery-powered televisions, particularly those who live in areas that are prone to hurricanes or tornadoes, where power outages are commonplace,” said Aaron Engberg, Director of Home and Mobile Reception Products.

He added that the battery packs will be a necessity for these consumers when the digital transition occurs in February, 2009. After that time, battery-powered televisions will not work without a converter box to change the new digital signals for viewing on analog television sets. The battery packs last up to 18 hours, and require six “D” Cell batteries.

The battery pack is designed to work with Winegard’s digital to analog converter box. The converter box, model #RCDT09A, plugs into an existing analog television set and a Winegard over-the-air antenna, enabling consumers to receive local digital television stations for free, with no monthly programming fees.

“We’re striving to make the analog to digital conversion as easy as possible,” Engberg added. “Aside from its easy installation, purchasing the combination of the new converter and battery pack is far more economical than purchasing a new digital television.”

Winegard’s battery packs retail for $14.99, and the converter boxes are eligible for the federal government’s $40 coupon program that can be used toward the purchase of certified DTV converter boxes. Visit www.DTV2009.gov for more information, or call 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009).

Both the converter box and battery pack are available now. For more information or to find a Winegard dealer near you, visit www.winegard.com. Winegard Company currently manufactures and markets four distinct product lines:

• Mobile Television Reception Products: Recreational vehicle, truck, marine, and automotive applications. Satellite systems ranging from manual crank-up models to fully automatic satellite tracking systems with GPS/DVB. Off-air antennas including bi-directional and omni-directional VHF/UHF/FM antennas. Ground Antenna Mounts and Accessories.

• Satellite Antennas and Mounts: Residential antennas ranging in size from 46 cm to 1 meter, including mounts and accessories.

• Off-Air Antennas: VHF/UHF/FM/AM and HD Antenna Systems, Distribution and Preamplifiers, Power Supplies and Accessories.

• Telemetry: Medical and Data Antenna Systems, Distribution Amplifiers, Power Supplies and Accessories.

For technical product questions, contact Winegard Customer Service at 800-288-8094 or visit www.winegard.com; for additional downloadable press releases and images, visit Winegard's online pressroom, www.editorpressroom.com/winegard.