Converter boxes: More info for making the jump to digital TV

Have you gotten your $40 coupons yet? If so, you might be tempted to rush out to your local electronics retailer or online store and buy a digital TV converter box now—before your government-sponsored discount coupons expire in 90 days.

Before you shop, check out our "First Look" at three low-cost set-top boxes we've mentioned previously. From our review of the Magnavox TB100MW9 ($50), Insignia NS-DXA1 ($60), and Zenith DTT900 ($60), there's good news and some not-so-good news you'll want to consider.

The Good News

• All three boxes do a good job of converting digital TV broadcasts into analog signals that will work with analog TV sets.
• They're simple to hook up and use with any antenna that receives UHF TV signals, and they're compact—about the size of a paperback book.
• Using your $40 coupon on any of these boxes drops your total cost down to about $10 or $20—a cheap alternative for those who don't want to buy a new HDTV or pay for cable- or satellite-TV service.

The Not-so-good News

• All three converter boxes will output only the basic TV resolution (480i) through an RF (or "coax")— the antenna input on the back of your TV set—or a composite-video connection.
• None of the three models we tested have any better-quality connections such as HDMI or component video or s-video.
• They all have basic, bare-bones features that will allow you to watch and record live TV.

The last point can be a sticking point—judging by some of our readers' comments. For example, these boxes can connect to VCRs so you can record programs off-air. But none of them can change channels automatically—an important feature if you normally program your VCR to tape multiple TV shows while you're out for the evening.

You'll find the complete details in our First Look on ConsumerReports.org. For more information about digital TV, the coupon program and other related topics, check out our Digital TV transition section.

We hope to soon have more reviews of other converter boxes, including another low-cost box as well as the Samsung DTB-H260F. That converter box should be of interest to those who own so-called "HD-ready" TVs—such as some of our readers who are participating in the DTV forum of our Electronics Forums.

—Paul Eng

Comments

[everett whitney]

TO: Jim - 12 Sept - "Which Indoor Antenna...?"

Sadly, in spite of those glowing claims next to the Boxes of various antennas, totally-reliable digital reception will NOT be the case with many Indoor "HD" or "All-digital" Antennas! Mostly advertising "Hype!"

Analog has been possible w/ set top "Rabbit ears" for the
past 50-60 years ... this will Not be the case with digital, even after those Broadcasts are begun with greater power after next Feb..

A)-First choice - High on the rooftop.

B)-Next - One's Attic, although about 50 % of the entire digital signal will be immediately "lost" due to roof construction materials.

C)- Not attractive at all - BUT - in front of a window, behind a closed drape/curtain, facing the direction of the broadcasting towers.

Some markets will use both VHF & UHF Bands after Feb ...
None of the "Combo" antennas will be sufficiently small to be inside a home ... far too bulky.

One should go to www.antennaweb.org or other web sites - enter the ZIP & address. Found will be listings of what TV Channels / compass headings / distances as well as what strength ( Gain) antenna is recommended by color code.

One "Combo" series would be the Channel Master #3016, 3018 , etc.. Usually sufficient for 25-30 miles whenever mounted outside.

One for UHF only for extreme distances would be the
C.M. # 4228 ... a more compact model which permits mounting within an attic. This must be very carefully "tuned" or aimed during installation, however, and does not lend itself to markets with widely-spaced TV Towers.

Others with slightly less "power" but far more general in their aiming criteria would be the DB-2, DB-4 etc., by another vendor. These can easily be located in front of a window facing the proper direction.

Each may be viewed at web sites ... one of many available is ...
www.solidsignal.com

[Jim Foulds]

Could you please tell me what indoor TV antenna works best.
I can not get cable or satilate. I need to buy a new one.
Thanks

[everett whitney]

TO : Rick - 22 July - " get new HDTV ..."

Certainly, there are huge viewing and audio differences between a new HDTV Vs that via any of the Federal Coupon Converters ...But, IF your reception IS now inconsistent, it will continue to be so, regardless of which model / brand HDTV.

As close as your post indicated, even a proper antenna mounted within a tall attic may well be sufficient improvement in digital signal strength to provide consistency.

Or, IF the TV Towers happen to be widely-dispersed from your address, then a rotor will need to be fitted.

www.antennaweb.org

plus your ZIP & address , checking "digital" will provide the channels, compass directions & what strength (gain) antenna is required.

www.solidsignal.com
is only one of very many web stores available for all antennas , cabling, rotors, etc..

[Rick]

We purchased two RCA boxes several months ago. Both work ok but nothing to get excited about. We live in an area with direct line of site to local TV transmitters (approx. 10 miles or less). We have two TV's hooked into the roof mounted antenna, one through the box and one to the DTV. We notice that the RCA box sometimes drops the audio signal. We turn it off and on and it returns (Like rebooting) We also notice a one second time delay from the DTV and the box. Signal strength and direction of antenna are very important to make the thing work. Picture degradation happens frequently. For those who can afford to, forget the box and buy the latest TV. We see a big difference between the box and the real thing.

[Dolores]

I am dunbfounded that out of 38 converters available on the Fed. list, CR has only rated 3. I have been waiting but now must buy as the time is short. I depend on CR to help me purchase wisely.

[Bob]

"How do you connect a VCR to a converter box."

I also have the Zenith and this is what I did. I connected the coax to a splitter. One outlet goes to VCR IN and the other goes to the Zenith. The Zenith RCA OUT goes to the VCR front RCA IN (R/Y/W). To watch the Zenith I tune to LINE on the VCR. Because of this I splurged and bought a Vizio HDTV...but it blew up and got returned after 1 hour of operation. Alas..... Hope this helps.

[Martha]

2 months left to buy & not enough info! It seems the converter box has to be tuned to the station you want the VCR to record, correct?
So then you can only watch that same program from that TV, correct? Do I have to then buy a second converter to hook to my VCR?

[Kaj Stolt]

How do you connect a VCR to a converter box. I have a Zenith DTT900 box, and a JVC HR-VP58U VCR. So far nothing works, and I have tried pretty much any combination of cabling I can think of. The Box drives a TV beautifully.

[Stephanie Lewis]

I also have coupons that will soon expire. Can you please test and rate more converter boxes on the approved coupon list? Thanks.

[rdel]

Wait for the echostar tr-40 unit to come out, echostar quality plus you can set it up to record when your away.

[Patrick Jankowiak]

I'll wait to find one with S-video jack. That's the best it's going to get. Along those lines, I wonder if inside the boxes, the decoder chip has the RGB and component analog signals, just as no-connects.. where are the technicians when you need them?

[everett whitney]

REFERENCE -- "Missing Word" / My post of 17 Mar -

The word " antenna" should have been added,
as in --- when will ......."UHF Antennas" ---
Sorry & Thank you.

[everett whitney]

Hello -

When will any C.R. testing / review / confirmation of
appropriate digital "UHF' band be released?

Specifically, confirming the lack of acceptable UHF "rabbit ears" or indoor types?

eliwhitney1938@hotmail.com

[Joe]

I also have my coupons, but would like to purchase boxes that allow analog signals to pass through along with the converted digital signal. That way, for now, I would get the best picture without having to change my antena. I am having a hard time finding a retailer in our area that sells this type of box. They all sell the box that only converts digital to analog.
Any suggestions for finding out how to buy a box that is on the government list but isn't sold at Radio Shack, Circuit City, Wal-mart, K-mart, Shopko, Best Buy, Amazon.com, Target, or Sams Club?

[Bruce]

I just installed the Zenith DTT900, and even with a little old Terk set-top loop antenna, I get 20 digital stations that look great, much better than I expected with such a cheap setup. (I did have to fiddle with antenna placement and rotation.)
The digital converted to analog looks better than the original analog on my old 19" analog TV.
Earlier I thought I would need to attach an outside UHF antenna to my house, now I think the indoor UHF antenna works fine for my purposes.
While I have the stations I want, now I'd like to see CR do a review of indoor and outdoor UHF antennas (because the set-top antenna keeps getting knocked off the TV.)
I'm in the Boston suburbs, 13.5 miles north of the antenna towers in Newton Highlands, so fortunately all my broadcast sources are in a narrow directional range.
I have a Rube Goldberg setup: the antenna connected to the DTV converter, which is connected to the VCR, which is connected to the box that chooses between DVD signal and VCR signal, then from that box to the TV. I'm hoping to get a more modern TV, waiting for prices to fall further.

[everett whitney]

To 'John-15Mar' -

All of these various Federal Convertors will only do the very same thing - convert the standard digital O.T.A. signal via RF cable into our very limited analog CRTs.

Perhaps a more "unknown" part of this analog / digital change will be the definite need of using an UHF antenna, rather than the combination or those with only VHF capabilities, especially any still without coax ? Those, too, need to be considered quickly as an integral part of the "package!"
Thanks.

[John]

I have had my converter box coupons for two weeks now. I expected consumer reports to be more on top of this and be able to give me a recommendation between the 40 or so boxes listed on the approved sheet.

Come on CR. Lets get testing!!!