Visalia Geek Squads DTV Mobile Assistance Center | ABC30 Fresno

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By ABC30

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Visalia, CA Just outside of the Visalia Mall where a mobile assistance center has been set up to help people and answer any questions they may have about converter boxes or the /*DTV transition*/ in general.

/*Best Buy*/ in Visalia has digital converter boxes lining the walls in preparation for customers coming in last minute to get ready for the Digital TV transition on June 12th.

Beto Rodriguez said, "I see a lot of different customers here every day and it seems like the number one thing if they don't want a TV they need a converter box."

Rodriguez says converter boxes have been flying off the shelves by the dozens in recent weeks. By next Friday people will no longer be able to get a picture on an analog television over the air. Consumers must buy a digital converter box, an updated television or connect to cable or satellite to continue watching television.

People coming into Best Buy are asking plenty of questions about the switch. "The most popular question is what type of antenna they need if their existing antenna would work," said Rodriguez.

Best Buy's Geek Squad has been busier than normal. Ever since the company started offering converter box installation for free, these geeks have really been on the move. Here they are at Juanita Martinez's house in Visalia.

"I think it's a great service that most of the people in our community need," said Martinez.

Jacob Highlanden with the /*Geek Squad*/ said, "I was actually kind of surprised at how quickly the word got out because pretty much the same day that you got in communication that we were going to do the free converter box installs I started getting phone calls right away."

In fact the Geek Squad in Visalia has more than one-hundred appointments for converter box installations next week.

The mobile assistance center will be here until 7:00 p.m. Friday evening.