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DTV Converters and Info
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|
| letterman@invalid.com 2008-03-09, 9:25 am |
| I saw that they finally have the DTV converters in the stores. I
noticed last week a thread on here about them. Someone said that they
could not get the analog signal now, at least not without some wiring
changes to the antenna connections. I seem to have lost the thread on
here, so I am starting a new one.
I just signed up for my coupons. They expire after 90days, so I
wanted to make sure the stores had the converters in stock first. I
saw them at Walmart. The 4 stores that carry them are Walmart, Best
Buy, Radio Shack, and Circuit City.
While looking at all the info, I found the list of approved brands.
Some of them WILL pass the analog signal as well as the digital. Here
is the exact copied list from their site. Those with a star "*" will
pass the analog signal. I definately want one of them. (The list is
below). Walmart only had two of them. Magnavox and RCA.
I hope this list helps others.
Now, I have some questions.
Has anyone found an online source that tells the features and rates
them? Or what about "Consumer Reports" or some such thing?
Please post if you find anything......
One other question. I noticed when I signed up online they did not
ask me for my email address, just name and mailing address, and what
type of tv reception I have. My reason for asking this is because I
need to sign my mother up to get the coupons. She's elderly, and not
able to go to stores anymore. She does not have a computer or
understand any of this sort of thing. In fact when I told her she got
all upset and thought she would be without tv. She lives quite a
distance from me. so I will have to get her coupons, and buy and
install it for her. I was wondering if anyone knew if they track our
URL when we sign up, because I will have to do that for her. Of
course I will use her name and address, so it's just the URL tracking
that could be a problem. Anyone know?
Here's the list. As I said, those with a "*" are for both DTV and
Analog. (If anyone sees those models, please say what store you found
them, because I live in a rural area and do not have access to any of
those stores except Walmart, and will have to travel considerable
distance to get to them.
------
Copied from: https://www.ntiadtv.gov/cecb_list.cfm
Coupon Eligible Converter Boxes (CECB)
The NTIA will maintain a list of approved CECBs to distribute to
consumers and participating retailers.
The following is the list of approved CECBs.
AMTC AT-2016
AccessHD DTA1020U
AccessHD DTA1020D
AccessHD DTA1010D
AccessHD DTA1010U
Apex DT1001
Apex DT1002
Artec T3A
Artec T3APro
CASTi CAX-01
COSHIP N9900T
DIGITAL STREAM D2A1D20
DIGITAL STREAM D2A1D10
DIGITAL STREAM DTX9900
DIGITAL STREAM DX8700*
DIGITAL STREAM DSP7700T*
DIGITAL STREAM DSP7500T
DIGITAL STREAM DSP6500R
ECHOSTAR TR-40*
GE 22730
GE 22729
Goodmind DTA900
Goodmind DTA980
Goodmind DTA1000
Insignia NS-DXA1
Kingbox K8V8
Lasonic LTA-260
Lasonic LTR-260
Magnavox TB100MW9
Magnavox TB-100MG9*
MaxMedia MMDTVB03
MicroGEM MG2000
Microprose MPI-500
Mustek MAT-K50
OLEVIA DTA100
Philco TB150HH9*
Philco TB100HH9*
RCA DTA 800B
RCA DTA 800A
Sansonic FT300RT
Sansonic FT300A
Skardin DTR-0727
Synergy Global Supply SYN2009
TATUNG TDB3000
Tivax STB-T9
VENTURER STB7766G
ZINWELL ZAT-856
Zenith DTT900
Zentech DF2000
Zinwell ZAT-857
*The manufacturer has indicated that these models are capable of
passing analog signals through to the TV set.
| |
|
| <letterman@invalid.com> wrote in message
news:2987t310l90d9t62vle1pd0a31jne11nil@4ax.com...
| I saw that they finally have the DTV converters in the stores. I
| noticed last week a thread on here about them. Someone said that they
| could not get the analog signal now, at least not without some wiring
| changes to the antenna connections. I seem to have lost the thread on
| here, so I am starting a new one.
|
| I just signed up for my coupons. They expire after 90days, so I
| wanted to make sure the stores had the converters in stock first. I
| saw them at Walmart. The 4 stores that carry them are Walmart, Best
| Buy, Radio Shack, and Circuit City.
|
| While looking at all the info, I found the list of approved brands.
| Some of them WILL pass the analog signal as well as the digital. Here
| is the exact copied list from their site. Those with a star "*" will
| pass the analog signal. I definately want one of them. (The list is
| below). Walmart only had two of them. Magnavox and RCA.
|
| I hope this list helps others.
|
| Now, I have some questions.
| Has anyone found an online source that tells the features and rates
| them? Or what about "Consumer Reports" or some such thing?
| Please post if you find anything......
|
| One other question. I noticed when I signed up online they did not
| ask me for my email address, just name and mailing address, and what
| type of tv reception I have. My reason for asking this is because I
| need to sign my mother up to get the coupons. She's elderly, and not
| able to go to stores anymore. She does not have a computer or
| understand any of this sort of thing. In fact when I told her she got
| all upset and thought she would be without tv. She lives quite a
| distance from me. so I will have to get her coupons, and buy and
| install it for her. I was wondering if anyone knew if they track our
| URL when we sign up, because I will have to do that for her. Of
| course I will use her name and address, so it's just the URL tracking
| that could be a problem. Anyone know?
|
| Here's the list. As I said, those with a "*" are for both DTV and
| Analog. (If anyone sees those models, please say what store you found
| them, because I live in a rural area and do not have access to any of
| those stores except Walmart, and will have to travel considerable
| distance to get to them.
|
| ------
....snip
From AVSFORUM tests and a Consumer Reports blog, the 4 converters currently
available rank as follows in terms of reception (with "1" being best):
1) Zenith - available at Circuit City & possibly Radio Shack
2) Insignia - should be the same as Zenith, available at Best Buy
3) Magnavox - Walmart
4) RCA - Walmart
I'll be buying based on digital reception capabilities - it doesn't make
long-term sense to buy a box with analog pass-through (which will be
useless in less than a year) if it cannot receive digital signals well.
Jean
| |
| trader4@optonline.net 2008-03-09, 1:25 pm |
| On Mar 9, 11:23=A0am, "Jean" <J...@spam.not> wrote:
> <letter...@invalid.com> wrote in message
>
> news:2987t310l90d9t62vle1pd0a31jne11nil@4ax.com...
> | I saw that they finally have the DTV converters in the stores. =A0I
> | noticed last week a thread on here about them. =A0Someone said that they=
> | could not get the analog signal now, at least not without some wiring
> | changes to the antenna connections. =A0I seem to have lost the thread on=
> | here, so I am starting a new one.
> |
> | I just signed up for my coupons. =A0They expire after 90days, so I
> | wanted to make sure the stores had the converters in stock first. =A0I
> | saw them at Walmart. =A0The 4 stores that carry them are Walmart, Best
> | Buy, Radio Shack, and Circuit City.
> |
> | While looking at all the info, I found the list of approved brands.
> | Some of them WILL pass the analog signal as well as the digital. =A0Here=
> | is the exact copied list from their site. =A0Those with a star "*" will
> | pass the analog signal. =A0I definately want one of them. =A0(The list i=
s
> | below). =A0Walmart only had two of them. =A0Magnavox and RCA.
> |
> | I hope this list helps others.
> |
> | Now, I have some questions.
> | Has anyone found an online source that tells the features and rates
> | them? =A0Or what about "Consumer Reports" or some such thing?
> | Please post if you find anything......
> |
> | One other question. =A0I noticed when I signed up online they did not
> | ask me for my email address, just name and mailing address, and what
> | type of tv reception I have. =A0My reason for asking this is because I
> | need to sign my mother up to get the coupons. =A0She's elderly, and not
> | able to go to stores anymore. =A0She does not have a computer or
> | understand any of this sort of thing. =A0In fact when I told her she got=
> | all upset and thought she would be without tv. =A0She lives quite a
> | distance from me. so I will have to get her coupons, and buy and
> | install it for her. =A0I was wondering if anyone knew if they track our
> | URL when we sign up, because I will have to do that for her. =A0Of
> | course I will use her name and address, so it's just the URL tracking
> | that could be a problem. =A0Anyone know?
> |
> | Here's the list. =A0As I said, those with a "*" are for both DTV and
> | Analog. =A0(If anyone sees those models, please say what store you found=
> | them, because I live in a rural area and do not have access to any of
> | those stores except Walmart, and will have to travel considerable
> | distance to get to them.
> |
> | ------
> =A0....snip
>
> From AVSFORUM tests and a Consumer Reports blog, the 4 converters currentl=
y
> available rank as follows in terms of reception (with "1" being best):
> 1) Zenith - available at Circuit City & possibly Radio Shack
> 2) Insignia - should be the same as Zenith, available at Best Buy
> 3) Magnavox - Walmart
> 4) RCA - Walmart
>
> I'll be buying based on digital reception capabilities - it doesn't make
> long-term sense to buy a box with analog pass-through (which will be
> useless in less than a year) if it cannot receive digital signals well.
>
> Jean
To answer the last part of the question, regarding tracking url's for
the rebate forms, I doubt anyone knows for sure. But I'd wager
99.999% that they don't. It makes sense to track name and address
because that is how they must be distributed and limited by law. I
can't imagine them caring about URL's. It would be a huge boondoggle
and has nothing to do with who gets what.
| |
| Tony Sivori 2008-03-09, 1:25 pm |
| Jean wrote:
> From AVSFORUM tests and a Consumer Reports blog, the 4 converters
> currently available rank as follows in terms of reception (with "1"
> being best): 1) Zenith - available at Circuit City & possibly Radio
> Shack 2) Insignia - should be the same as Zenith, available at Best Buy
> 3) Magnavox - Walmart
> 4) RCA - Walmart
Could you post the links? I checked the avsforum site and didn't see any
front page links to the review.
--
Tony Sivori
| |
| Anthona 2008-03-09, 5:25 pm |
| On Mar 9, 2:04 pm, Tony Sivori <TonySiv...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Jean wrote:
>
> Could you post the links? I checked the avsforum site and didn't see any
> front page links to the review.
>
> --
> Tony Sivori
I don't understand i thought the whole idea of these converters were
to transfer digitally channels through an ota ( analog antennas )..why
would they make the issue more confusing by making converters minus
the anolog connections?
| |
| mwlogs 2008-03-09, 5:25 pm |
| Low-power stations that a lot of bigger cities have are not required to
convert to digital only. If you don't have a converter that will pass the
low-powered analog signals thru, you won't get them. If you don't have such
stations in your area, or don't watch them, it doesn't matter.
"Jean" <Jean@spam.not> wrote in message
news:13t7vv9fuuljta0@corp.supernews.com...
> <letterman@invalid.com> wrote in message
> news:2987t310l90d9t62vle1pd0a31jne11nil@4ax.com...
> | I saw that they finally have the DTV converters in the stores. I
> | noticed last week a thread on here about them. Someone said that they
> | could not get the analog signal now, at least not without some wiring
> | changes to the antenna connections. I seem to have lost the thread on
> | here, so I am starting a new one.
> |
> | I just signed up for my coupons. They expire after 90days, so I
> | wanted to make sure the stores had the converters in stock first. I
> | saw them at Walmart. The 4 stores that carry them are Walmart, Best
> | Buy, Radio Shack, and Circuit City.
> |
> | While looking at all the info, I found the list of approved brands.
> | Some of them WILL pass the analog signal as well as the digital. Here
> | is the exact copied list from their site. Those with a star "*" will
> | pass the analog signal. I definately want one of them. (The list is
> | below). Walmart only had two of them. Magnavox and RCA.
> |
> | I hope this list helps others.
> |
> | Now, I have some questions.
> | Has anyone found an online source that tells the features and rates
> | them? Or what about "Consumer Reports" or some such thing?
> | Please post if you find anything......
> |
> | One other question. I noticed when I signed up online they did not
> | ask me for my email address, just name and mailing address, and what
> | type of tv reception I have. My reason for asking this is because I
> | need to sign my mother up to get the coupons. She's elderly, and not
> | able to go to stores anymore. She does not have a computer or
> | understand any of this sort of thing. In fact when I told her she got
> | all upset and thought she would be without tv. She lives quite a
> | distance from me. so I will have to get her coupons, and buy and
> | install it for her. I was wondering if anyone knew if they track our
> | URL when we sign up, because I will have to do that for her. Of
> | course I will use her name and address, so it's just the URL tracking
> | that could be a problem. Anyone know?
> |
> | Here's the list. As I said, those with a "*" are for both DTV and
> | Analog. (If anyone sees those models, please say what store you found
> | them, because I live in a rural area and do not have access to any of
> | those stores except Walmart, and will have to travel considerable
> | distance to get to them.
> |
> | ------
> ....snip
>
>
> From AVSFORUM tests and a Consumer Reports blog, the 4 converters
> currently
> available rank as follows in terms of reception (with "1" being best):
> 1) Zenith - available at Circuit City & possibly Radio Shack
> 2) Insignia - should be the same as Zenith, available at Best Buy
> 3) Magnavox - Walmart
> 4) RCA - Walmart
>
> I'll be buying based on digital reception capabilities - it doesn't make
> long-term sense to buy a box with analog pass-through (which will be
> useless in less than a year) if it cannot receive digital signals well.
>
> Jean
>
| |
| Mark Lloyd 2008-03-09, 8:25 pm |
| On Sun, 9 Mar 2008 18:22:13 -0400, "mwlogs"
<mwlogs@excite-no-spam-me.com> wrote:
>Low-power stations that a lot of bigger cities have are not required to
>convert to digital only. If you don't have a converter that will pass the
>low-powered analog signals thru, you won't get them. If you don't have such
>stations in your area, or don't watch them, it doesn't matter.
>
Translator stations (these rebroadcast some other station) are exempt
too. However, there seem to be even fewer of those than low power
stations.
[snip]
--
Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com
"So far as I can remember, there is not one word
in the Gospels in praise of intelligence."
--Bertrand Russell
| |
| letterman@invalid.com 2008-03-09, 8:25 pm |
| On Sun, 9 Mar 2008 12:05:50 -0700 (PDT), Anthona <harri85274@aol.com>
wrote:
>On Mar 9, 2:04 pm, Tony Sivori <TonySiv...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>I don't understand i thought the whole idea of these converters were
>to transfer digitally channels through an ota ( analog antennas )..why
>would they make the issue more confusing by making converters minus
>the anolog connections?
There are currently some legal issues involving this. The change in
2009 is ONLY for the high power stations. Low power ones have until
at least 2012 to change. These are mostly in rural areas, but some
are stations like PBS. It was stupid to make them without passing the
Analog signal. Until the change, we have to either keep swapping the
antenna cable, or just accept one or the other. A simple switch on
the convertor would have solved that. I might modify mine by adding a
switch if I cant find one of the ones that can be used both ways. The
other option is to use the converter for DTV and use a VCR tuner for
analog via the AV inputs. Of course if you want to record from a DTV
signal, that would mean changing cables again. Either way, it's real
inconvenient and stupid. Here are some articles about the problem.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr...b9688f860e?pn=2
http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/ptech/02/19/digital.tv.ap
| |
| Jim Yanik 2008-03-09, 8:25 pm |
| letterman@invalid.com wrote in
news:fvv8t39452ndeub14ht2m1qmcut0vjm7df@4ax.com:
> On Sun, 9 Mar 2008 12:05:50 -0700 (PDT), Anthona <harri85274@aol.com>
> wrote:
>
>
> There are currently some legal issues involving this. The change in
> 2009 is ONLY for the high power stations. Low power ones have until
> at least 2012 to change. These are mostly in rural areas, but some
> are stations like PBS. It was stupid to make them without passing the
> Analog signal. Until the change, we have to either keep swapping the
> antenna cable, or just accept one or the other. A simple switch on
> the convertor would have solved that. I might modify mine by adding a
> switch if I cant find one of the ones that can be used both ways. The
> other option is to use the converter for DTV and use a VCR tuner for
> analog via the AV inputs. Of course if you want to record from a DTV
> signal, that would mean changing cables again. Either way, it's real
> inconvenient and stupid. Here are some articles about the problem.
>
> http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr...vision/news/e3i
> d5388aa9b5187ee73cde3cb9688f860e?pn=2
>
> http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/ptech/02/19/digital.tv.ap
>
>
I noticed today that when I changed my TV from Ch.3 converter output to
Ch.9,that the analog station was displayed,but very snowy compared to usual
reception. the same happens for other channels.
Magnavox TB100MW9 converter. The MG9 has analog pass-thru.
It's probably just an input relay and front panel switch that's the
difference.
--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net
| |
| aemeijers 2008-03-09, 8:25 pm |
| Jim Yanik wrote:
> letterman@invalid.com wrote in
> news:fvv8t39452ndeub14ht2m1qmcut0vjm7df@4ax.com:
>
>
> I noticed today that when I changed my TV from Ch.3 converter output to
> Ch.9,that the analog station was displayed,but very snowy compared to usual
> reception. the same happens for other channels.
>
> Magnavox TB100MW9 converter. The MG9 has analog pass-thru.
> It's probably just an input relay and front panel switch that's the
> difference.
>
Heh. I was in a hurry and didn't research it enough, but -MW9 was
apparently the only model the local Wally World carried, unless the
boxes at the bottom of the stack were the other model. Best Buy had the
Insignia model, which I passed on because it was ten bucks more. No
matter- analog pass-through isn't a major problem, I just split the
antenna, and feed the converter signal to the video inputs, with normal
signal going to the RF. On the main TV with the satt box, DVD, VCR, etc,
there was an open port on the mechanical switch box.
I'm pretty happy so far, but obviously need a better set of rabbit ears
or roof antenna, to nail the channel 3 digital signal. All the others
within 50 miles seem to come in okay.
aem sends...
| |
| hallerb@aol.com 2008-03-10, 3:25 am |
|
>
> I'm pretty happy so far, but obviously need a better set of rabbit ears
> or roof antenna, to nail the channel 3 digital signal. All the others
> within 50 miles seem to come in okay.
note digital is either there or not or badly pixeled, that blocky
look.
but at times when analog may have given you snow or ghosts digital may
give you blank screen
| |
| Mark Lloyd 2008-03-10, 3:25 am |
| On Sun, 09 Mar 2008 18:31:52 -0600, letterman@invalid.com wrote:
>On Sun, 9 Mar 2008 12:05:50 -0700 (PDT), Anthona <harri85274@aol.com>
>wrote:
>
>
>There are currently some legal issues involving this. The change in
>2009 is ONLY for the high power stations. Low power ones have until
>at least 2012 to change. These are mostly in rural areas, but some
>are stations like PBS. It was stupid to make them without passing the
>Analog signal. Until the change, we have to either keep swapping the
>antenna cable, or just accept one or the other. A simple switch on
>the convertor would have solved that. I might modify mine by adding a
>switch if I cant find one of the ones that can be used both ways.
Or just use a coax switch.
> The
>other option is to use the converter for DTV and use a VCR tuner for
>analog via the AV inputs. Of course if you want to record from a DTV
>signal, that would mean changing cables again. Either way, it's real
>inconvenient and stupid. Here are some articles about the problem.
>
>http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr...b9688f860e?pn=2
>
>http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/ptech/02/19/digital.tv.ap
--
Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com
"So far as I can remember, there is not one word
in the Gospels in praise of intelligence."
--Bertrand Russell
| |
|
|
|
| Mark Lloyd wrote:
> On Sun, 9 Mar 2008 18:22:13 -0400, "mwlogs"
> <mwlogs@excite-no-spam-me.com> wrote:
>
>
> Translator stations (these rebroadcast some other station) are exempt
> too. However, there seem to be even fewer of those than low power
> stations.
Except in rural areas -- translators are the only transmitters we can
get -- they're from 60-75 miles distant; the "real" stations are 225.
I'm figuring there's a good chance we'll be w/o any reception owing to
the distance. 
--
| |
| letterman@invalid.com 2008-03-10, 1:25 pm |
| On Sun, 09 Mar 2008 22:12:03 -0500, Mark Lloyd
<mlloyd@xmail.com10.invalid> wrote:
>On Sun, 09 Mar 2008 18:31:52 -0600, letterman@invalid.com wrote:
>
>
>Or just use a coax switch.
Now that you mention it, I recall seeing one of them once.
I forgot they made them.
Where might someone buy one? Possibly Radio Shack?
Come to think of it, does anyone sell a A/V switch?
My tv only has 2 sets of A/V inputs. I have a vcr on one and a dvd on
the other. Thus no place to plug the DTV converter. I could switch
between vcr and dvd since I never use both at once. It would just
need to switch the video and two audio RCA jack cables.
It looks like I'll end up spending the extra $40 *or more* (saved with
the coupon), just to get this all connected. I sure as heck dont want
to have to keep swapping cables around.
[color=darkred]
| |
| Mark Lloyd 2008-03-10, 5:26 pm |
| On Mon, 10 Mar 2008 11:49:08 -0600, letterman@invalid.com wrote:
[snip]
>
>Now that you mention it, I recall seeing one of them once.
>I forgot they made them.
>Where might someone buy one? Possibly Radio Shack?
>
I don't need one, having no low power or translator stations I can
get. However, I've seen them for sale in a lot of places that sell A/V
accessories.
>Come to think of it, does anyone sell a A/V switch?
Wal-Mart has some now. I've gotten one at Lowe's. The one I use now is
automatic (switching based on presence of video).
>My tv only has 2 sets of A/V inputs. I have a vcr on one and a dvd on
>the other. Thus no place to plug the DTV converter. I could switch
>between vcr and dvd since I never use both at once. It would just
>need to switch the video and two audio RCA jack cables.
>
>It looks like I'll end up spending the extra $40 *or more* (saved with
>the coupon), just to get this all connected. I sure as heck dont want
>to have to keep swapping cables around.
>
[snip]
--
Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com
"So far as I can remember, there is not one word
in the Gospels in praise of intelligence."
--Bertrand Russell
| |
| nospam.tv@none.com 2008-03-17, 5:25 pm |
| letterman@invalid.com wrote:
> It looks like I'll end up spending the extra $40 *or more* (saved with
> the coupon), just to get this all connected. I sure as heck dont want
> to have to keep swapping cables around.
Don't spend $40 on a switch box.
Sometimes I see receivers that goes on sale for $150. You get a switch
box plus a lot more. You can also look into your local craigslist for
used receivers. You don't need to have extra speakers if you don't
want to, just pipe the output to the TV. A lot of people are selling
their otherwise fine receivers because it doesn't switch the digital
video (hdmi), so you should be able to find something decent for $100
and will work well with your TV.
You can also look at http://www.monoprice.com/ for audio cables and
switch boxes.
Raymond
| |
| w_kang@comcast.net 2008-04-03, 3:25 am |
| there is also a discussion forum where you can post / read others'
reviews on converter boxes. It seems like the magnovox is the most
popular one (since walmart carries them too)
http://www.dtv-hdtv.com/viewforum.php?f=3D6
On 3=BF=F917=C0=CF, =BF=C0=C8=C45=BD=C353=BA=D0, nospam...@none.com wrote:
> letter...@invalid.com wrote:
>
> Don't spend $40 on a switch box.
>
> Sometimes I see receivers that goes on sale for $150. You get a switch
> box plus a lot more. You can also look into your local craigslist for
> used receivers. You don't need to have extra speakers if you don't
> want to, just pipe the output to the TV. A lot of people are selling
> their otherwise fine receivers because it doesn't switch the digital
> video (hdmi), so you should be able to find something decent for $100
> and will work well with your TV.
>
> You can also look athttp://www.monoprice.com/for audio cables and
> switch boxes.
>
> Raymond
|
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