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Home audio & video: Poll: Will you be getting a digital TV converter box?
- 5/9/08 12:26 PM
Converter Box Fiasco
by ob - 5/10/08 10:35 AM In reply to: Poll: Will you be getting a digital TV converter box? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have my coupons but will hold off for a while as I have heard horror storys of the converters now available.,the coupons have a 3 month expiration.
A friend has 1 hdtv and 2 analog tv's, gets good local reception with antenna on all sets.
He bought converter boxes for 2 analog sets, and gets low signal strength error on converters. He used hdtv antenna, same message.
Took boxes back, was told he needs to buy $100+ smart antenna and no refunds.
These were $59 RCA converters from Walmart.
I heard Magnavox is better and cheaper, but they are out of stock.
I have satellite and only need converter for motorhome, or maybe not with gas prices.
This is a horrible law, why did they mandate analog broadcasts have to stop, other than crooked politicians getting "donations" from converter and digital tv manufacturers.
Digital Box
by Darrell67 - 5/10/08 12:52 PM In reply to: Poll: Will you be getting a digital TV converter box? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Already have a DVR from Time Warner. It works alright. DO with they provided as many HD channels as satellite.
Sansonic FT300A
by lovechild123 - 5/29/08 2:48 PM In reply to: Digital Box by Darrell67I've got an Insignia from Walmart which was causing problems when it overheats, audio will disappear & need to reset the box after it cools down a little. Then a friend recommended me to get a Sansonic FT300A, which is working great, no problems what-so-ever. You can visit www.sansonic.net for more info.
Not happy with the box
by la senora - 5/10/08 1:39 PM In reply to: Poll: Will you be getting a digital TV converter box? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I already got my converter box (Magnavox) from Walmart, using the card. What a disappointment! Of course, I live out in the country. But I get a strong analog signal with my outside tower. Hooking up the box lets me (sometimes!) get 16, which I could never get before on the tower, but I can no longer get the 2 channels (7 and 11) I was getting. And get this- my little old-as-dirt black and white TV with only one broken down rabbit ear that I keep in the kitchen gets all 3 of the channels. I hooked up a digital receiver to the box, and hooked that up to the black and white, and then could not get anything. I currently run the line from my tower to a splitter, taking one line to the box, and running the other through my DVD player. Then I run both lines into another splitter, and run that single line to the TV. So at least I can switch back and forth from analog (through the DVD player) to digital (through the converter box). What I'm going to do in January, I do not know. My only hope is that after the switch the digital signals will be stronger so that I can get them.
I have a digital ready TV from 2004
by Ralphdb - 5/10/08 4:37 PM In reply to: Not happy with the box by la senoraIt has a "C" input for the satellite or Outside Antenna That is all I have used for 12 months don't need all the crap. the HD channels on air workd fine I have 4 of those... I get a total of 14 stations..
If you are getting SOME digital signalnow !!!
by goodguy222 - 5/29/08 4:56 PM In reply to: Not happy with the box by la senoraIf you are getting SOME signal now you should consider an amp up at the antenna. Their is something called the CLIFF effect on Digital that is NOT present with analog which means the digital signal either works or if what would be a weak analog signal would be OFF THE CLIFF and un receiveable as a digital signal. The signal falls off the cliff before you receive it.
Also the stations you are missing NOW on digital MAY ofter the switch over, be returned to the same or higher signal after the switch over.
In my area several digital staions will be returned to VHF high from UHF and be MUCH STRONGER after the change over. You need to research you local channels and be aware of WHERE ( actual channel position on the dial) you stations will be located. In my area I will be adding a channel VHF HIGH antenna (7-13 channel location) aimed at several local stations that will be on channels 7,9 and 13 vhf high and another UHF (much smaller antenna) aimed to get the now digital channels located at 33 and 52 and 56. I am from 17 miles to 49 miles from the various towers so I have to use outside antennas. I will have a combiner and a 17 DB amp to offser all the loses from combining all the signas.
Not me, I don't need one
by Neil H. - 5/11/08 2:16 PM In reply to: Poll: Will you be getting a digital TV converter box? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
No convertor boxes for me! Last year I finally went LCD flat panel TV, bought a Samsung 32" widescreen which has all three tuners built in, NTSC, ATSC and QAM. It's terrific! Now I get all the free digital "extra" channels on Comcast cable I'd never seen before, an increasing number of them in HD, and amazing over-the-air digital reception also with a Philips indoor antenna on my windowsill. I get 20+ digital channels OTA where previously I could only get two VHF channels on an indoor antenna in my apartment, no UHF at all. I'm happy as the proverbial clam.
Will I be getting digital converter boxes?
by bwestheimer - 5/11/08 5:42 PM In reply to: Poll: Will you be getting a digital TV converter box? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Yes, for the two sets that get over-the-air programming.
Probably going for a 46" Sony Bravia and OTA HD Antenna
by 8IronBob - 5/12/08 2:34 PM In reply to: Will I be getting digital converter boxes? by bwestheimerI'm most likely going to save up a little bit, and I'm expecting a good amount from the stimulus check from Uncle Sam, as well as myself having a $50 coupon code from Amazon, it's most likely that I'm probably going to be getting a 46" Sony Bravia LCD and maybe an OTA HD Antenna like a Terk or RCA, or one of those higher-end digital antennas, and that'll be good enough for me.
I see no point in getting a digital TV converter box
by Joshxy - 5/12/08 10:55 PM In reply to: Poll: Will you be getting a digital TV converter box? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
for my still excellent 20yr old Sony TV, unless I get more channels.
NO! I'm changing from a 36" CTR to a 48 - 52 LCD or Plasma
by edhoyer - 5/13/08 12:40 AM In reply to: Poll: Will you be getting a digital TV converter box? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
because I am moving a few thousand miles away and am purchasing all new stuff there $$$:( ...other wise I would not make the move up yet and I would not be getting a digital TV converter here yet either.
All My TV's are ready!
by ToTheHilt - 5/15/08 5:44 PM In reply to: Poll: Will you be getting a digital TV converter box? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
All My TV's have Digital Tuners. So I won't need One.
Getting a digital TV converter box?
by miniappleman - 5/19/08 5:04 PM In reply to: Poll: Will you be getting a digital TV converter box? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I'll be getting at least one converter box to attach to my VCR - still a few things I want to record from TV - some science programs, news or sports events.
Beyond that - agree with several others. When analog ends next Feb, I may just put the old TV out for the trash guys and replace it with a monitor for watching tapes and DVDs. Commercial TV stinks right now and I don't see it getting any better any time soon.
-tg
VCR needs a converter box?
by mg50cnet - 1/1/09 2:27 PM In reply to: Getting a digital TV converter box? by miniapplemanThis is something I have been trying to figure out, with little success. With OTA signals only (no cable or satellite, a new digital TV and digital antenna, is it true that we need a converter box for older components like a VCR? Or does it depend on the way you connect everything?
Please help with this-- many people don't understand.
Thanks.
Let's make a statement.
by R. Proffitt - 1/1/09 2:30 PM
In reply to: VCR needs a converter box? by mg50cnet
-> To play VHS TAPES on my TV I do not need a converter box.
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