digital tv convertor box

tommu56 · Jun 16, 2008

I'm looking for one for my cabin.
I get about 6 fuzy stations and 2 good ones on my roof top antenna on my tv now.
Has any one got one yet?

tell me the good bad and ugly!

tommu

Redbug · Jun 16, 2008

I'm another that wants to know...

From what I read, the Govt $40 coupon, (each household is entitled to two), is good for 90 days. So don't order them to hold them.

Digital Converter Boxes

Mighty Dodge · Jun 16, 2008

I've bought 3 so far. 1 from Wally World (Walmart) and 2 from Radio Shack. The Radio Shack converter's are better. They cost $10 more but include a single remote that controls the converter as well as your tv. That allows you to turn on the converter and tv as well as adjust the volume using one remote control. They also pull in more stations. The one from Walmart has a remote for the converter only so you have to use the tv's remote to turn on the tv, adjust the volume etc. and the converter remote to change channels. The fuzzy channels may not come in at all using the converter but the stations that send out a strong signal are picture perfect. From what I've read many of the stations that are broadcasting digital now are doing so at lower power to save money. There are several stations that I can no longer get using the converter but once they go digital only and start broadcasting at full power that will change, I hope. Many of the digital stations also broadcast multiple channels. For instance my local pbs station broadcasts 3 channels, 67.1 regular pbs, 67.2 shows more This Old House and Science programs and 67.3 is all spanish. Several other stations have all weather channels too.

M.D.

M.D.

MrJimi · Jun 16, 2008

I read on another forum the the OP had to go thru 3 converters to get one good one and remember that they do not like to refund electronics

This whole thing is not good

Mighty Dodge · Jun 16, 2008

I haven't had any problems with any of mine. I would think the store should exchange it if one doesn't work. Radio Shack tried to get me to buy insurance in case one of the converters broke I could buy a new one for only $5. If that happens I'll probably just buy a new tv.

M.D.

ray66v · Jun 16, 2008

My family put me in charge of this. So, I have tried 4 different ones now, and the Digital Stream from Radio Shack is hands down the best, ($59.99 retail, coupon eligible). Fastest processor, best menu, plus it has programmable buttons for TV power and volume. After buying several, I did get one that would not receive one channel, and they exchanged it no problem. Avoid the cheap Magnavox model from Wally world. It works, but it sucks.

Redbug · Jun 17, 2008

My feeling is the Feb 09 date to convert will not happen as advertised. I think it will be pushed back since this will effect a lot of people and TV stations, and many will not be ready by then. There's lot of money floating around with this big push. The ones making the digital boxes have a gold mine. I wonder about all this.

Soundguy · Jun 17, 2008

I just thought about something.. i have about an 8yr old LCD handheld tv.. i guess this thing is more or less gonna be defunct now right? it has a built in antenna, and no antenna connection.. same with a small battery powered black and white 4" tv I have. I use them for storm / emergency... Guess they are junk now huh?

soundguy

MrJimi · Jun 17, 2008

Soundguy said:
I just thought about something.. i have about an 8yr old LCD handheld tv.. i guess this thing is more or less gonna be defunct now right? it has a built in antenna, and no antenna connection.. same with a small battery powered black and white 4" tv I have. I use them for storm / emergency... Guess they are junk now huh?

soundguy

I have some of those little TV's that we bring with us on camping trips and I would say they will work with the converter box if you have an external ant connection. I think I added a round ant connection to one of my little TV's, I got the connector at RS and drilled a small hole and soldered two wires and it works now. Or they can be used as a backup TV with the connector mod.

DANOCHEESE · Jun 17, 2008

here is an issue:

90 percent of the new OTA boxes do not have anloug pass thru. We use translators for about half of the channels we receive. SO it is back to an a/b switch. And no translators are noo going digital untikl they can fidn soem more money ther eis a grant program fromt he USAC only covers abotu 30 percent of the cost.

This will happen Feburay 09. Too much money to be left on the tabel if it does'nt. Th FCC likes to get money for selling the air waves. Adn this is what this is all about not abotu going digitla it is abotu freeign up spectrum for other uses.