I'm not sure everyone here is on the same page. If you have a digital or HDTV now, you do NOT need the converter box. Any TV purchased within the past couple of years probably does not need one. Only if you have an analogue television like a CRT. Then you need one.
I'm a throw back. I do NOT have dish nor do I have cable. All my television is over the air broadcasts. I receive the digital broadcast just fine with my HDTV CRT (Sony XBR960), no converter box and with the 13" Panasonic analogue WITH converter box and the Haier lcd digital tv in the trailer without a converter.
If you have a newer tv, an lcd, plasma or other digital tv you probably will not need the converter box. Just remember the analogue likes channels 3, 8, 13, 35, 41. Digital likes 3.1, 3.2, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 13.1, 13.2, 35.1, 35.2, 35.3, 41.1 and 41.2. This is at home. The Haier in the trailer likes 3.0, 8.0, 13.0 & etc. Same concept, just different numbering system.