I was going to buy 2 converters, but i was told my coupons were not valid numbers. I have never used them. I contacted the company that issued them and they said there was nothing they could do, but report the problem. They cannot issue new coupons.

I think every one of these articles should start as follows: "If you receive TV from cable or satellite, you can safely ignore the rest of this story. If you receive TV from an antenna, then read on...". Everything I've read says that about 85% receive TV from cable or satellite; the DTV transition only affects those 15% of Americans who get free broadcast TV off-the-air.

The chart would be far more useful with a "Price as of (date)" rather than "price paid". As an example the Tivax STB-T9 is now $70 rather than $50.

These ratings are extremely useful. I have the Tivax and in addition to the features mentioned by CR, it appears to be very well made. I hope an update will include the Apex DT250, which appeared at BestBuy last week for $59 (alongside the Insignia they have been carrying). The Apex includes S-video output and analog pass thru. The useful guide to converter boxes at Wikipidia suggests its components are similar to those in the Tivax that CR rated highly. Another box to watch for is the DTVpal from Dish Network, which claims to have the best program guide (to be released in "late June 2008".

Please test the Channel Master ATSC Digital Converter Box CM-7000 (CECB)

I have 4 analog tv at homes- sony -magnavox-sanyo and rca. What dtv converter box will work with each brand of my tv. I notice there is no one size fits all when it come to these converter bx.

TO: Richard - 04 July - "Different Converters needed for Different Brands of TV?"

Certainly not! One brand of Converter will do any TV brand. Pick out which ever Converter has the features discussed that you need & do use it times four.

These all receive digital O.T.A. feeds & change them back into analog - there is NO Means of any "feedback" etc., for any converter to "know" what brand of TV is receiving that output at all.

Obviously, only the initial (2) will apply to federal coupons - the remaining ones will be at full price, unfortunately.

Has anyone else had a problem with the converter box causing their TV to go to a blank screen when you turn it on???? Our Tv now does not work after hooking it up to the converter box= all you see is a white screen with lines going thru it then it shuts itself off.

Dish network will not let you order the DTVPAL online if you have ever had Dishnetwork. They will wait until you have spent the time to fill out all the forms, including credit card and tell you you must call them first to order. What a waste of your time and inconvenience.

I second David's request for a review of the Apex DT250, which is now available nationwide at Best Buy stores. It has interesting features such as analog pass-through and S-Video output that distinguish it from the pack, and online sources indicate that it uses the same tuner and episode guide as the Tivax.

I also await CR's verdict on the DTVPal, which has caught my attention because of its informative episode guide and unique event programming feature, which can extend the life of VCRs and other analog-tuner recording devices.

Drew, David:

We're testing more DTV converter boxes as fast as we can and will add them to our Ratings as soon as we can.

In the meantime, I did post something quick about the DTVPal on this blog. You can find it here:

http://blogs.consumerreports.org/electronics/2008/07/dtvpal-converte.html

Also, please remember that you'll get THE latest posts about DTV Converters on this blog by clicking on the "Digital Converter Boxes" tag at the end of this post and/or by bookmarking this URL in your browser:

http://blogs.consumerreports.org/electronics/digital_converter_boxes/index.html

Thanks,
Paul Eng
Web Senior Editor, Electronics
ConsumerReports.org

As a long time DISH Network subscriber I was about to order the DTV/pal. They told me it WILL NOT WORK if used in the same room as the DISH receiver. WHAT ?! After talking with a local DISH dealer, it turns out that some of the codes on the DTV/pal remote are the same as the DISH receiver's remote. So, instead of the remotes controlling what they are supposed to, they adversely affect the other unit. Imagine changing satellite channels and having the DTV/pal turn off or other weird stuff like that. Don't they test this before manufacturing thousands of units and going to market. C'mon Charlie Ergen... Get a handle on your company!

RE: DTVPal. Bought one at Ultimate Electronics in Denver for $39.95! Last one in that shipment. Non-professional review: So far, works great. Luv the event timer. It DOES turn the unit on from "sleep" mode so the channel is ready for your VCR to record. Remember: set the VCR channel to 3 as the unit is the channel source. No audio issues. Did have to move the position of my roof antenna to pick up the digital signal, but I suspect this would have been true with any DTA unit. Digital signals are basically all-or-nothing.

I have Dish TV but watch all local channels on antenna . Can I hook up converter box to dish system?

I can get analog tv through the analog box, but can't seem to get my satallite to work when the analog box is hooked up. Can anyone help me figure out the problem out. I have a dvd/vcr, tv, and dish network. How do I get them to work together. My tv, dvd/vcr and dish network work fine together without the analog box.

TO: SUE - 20 July - " I Have DIDH TV...but..?"

You should Not have any Converter ! Remove it from any of the connections, rebox it & try to sell it / give it away to someone that needs it.

ALL persons now on local cable or satellite do NOT need
Federal Coupon Converters.

Cable analog is already guaranteed thru early 2012 ...
Satellite has never been involved at all ... it "automatically" is taken care of.

Converters just involve those persons watching TV with ONLY an antenna -- no other service !

TO: RON - 20 July - " May I connect a Converter to DISH TV?"

No - no converter should ever be connected to either a local cable or DISH feed.

BUT - you Will need a converter for those antenna channels after Feb.. It is explained in detail here,

But - use an "A - B " isolation switch ( manual ones are $10 ), connecting that DISH coax lead to one "in" terminal and that antenna coax to the opposite "in."

The sole remaining terminal will be "out" with a short coax to the TV.

In position "A", the DISH provides the signals --- in "B", the antenna.

Dear CU:

I would like to point out a serious shortcoming with the Tivax DTV converter box recommeded by CU. The problem is on the order of "The Chicken and the Egg."

For everyone's benefit, a little review. The Channel indicated on the TV screen when watching a DTV signal is NOT the channel that the digital information is broadcast on. For example, in New York, WABC-TV is analog Channel 7, The DTV on-screen channel indications are 7-1, 7-2, etc. However, the digital signal is actually broadcast on Channel 45, not Channel 7.

The problem with the Tivax is that it cannot be MANUALLY tuned to a given DTV channel. The only way you can tune to a DTV channel is to have the box do a search and find the active channels. You cannot tune a channel that the box hasn't found on its own.

Here lies the problem: how to you aim your antenna? Although the box has an on-screen signal meter, the meter can't be used unless you are tuned to a DTV channel. You can't tune to a DTV channel unless the box found the channel during an auto-search. But the box won't find a channel during the auto-search unless you already have your antenna aimed! Unless you get lucky and manage to point your antenna very closely to the direction of the station you are seeking, the box won't find anything when it searches for active channels.

In areas where all the local stations transmit from a common location this may not be that big of a problem. If you manage to find one you've found them all. But in areas where each station maintains its own transmitter site - areas where you may have to use a rotor for your antenna - you are left with the Chicken and The Egg.

I checked with Tivax to see if there was a hidden menu item that would allow me to force the box to a given channel, but they replied that there is not and suggested I just "generally aim the antenna in the direction of the station" and do an auto-search. Again, that method is hit or miss at best. After much experiemtning I've been able to get most stations to auto-program, there are still a few in my area that I haven't been able to get the box to tune in.

I suggested to Tivax that they address the problem with a software upgrade, but whether that happens remains to be seen.

Dan Rapak

I have been using Comcast cable TV. It services my area in Northern Virginia with set top boxes and central equipment inherited from Adelphia, which went bust. I've had it with their equipment and am thinking of switching to Verizon FiOS, which is available in my building. (Satellite TV is not a good option for people in my condo building and antenna reception is very limited.)

Unlike cable TV, Verizon told me that I will NOT be able to use my older analog TV with FiOS unless it either goes through a FiOS set top box (that would add to my monthly FiOS bill) or a Digital to Analog Converter Box. What featues should I look for in a digital to analog boxe where the input will be FiOS, not an antenna?

TO: Barry - 17 Aug - " New FIOS Service ...."

In order to avoid endless discussions back / forth with their field Technicians -{ it's your equipment, Not FIOS }- it is quite imperative that for now, you only use their "boxes!"

Before very much longer, you may well decide that what is being missed w/o a HDTV (since you will be paying essentially or nearly the same monthly costs) isn't worth it.

That will mean a totally different "HD" Box & package, again specific and from Verizon.

To Dan Rapak:

I've checked with our engineers and technicians that have had actual hands-on experience with all the DTV boxes in our Ratings.

Here's what we've found:

The Tivax STB-T9 does indeed have the ability to tune into stations that are NOT found by "scan all channels." But, as you note, it requires you to know your local stations' ACTUAL channel number on the UHF band—NOT the "virtual" channel. (For example, in NYC, channel 2.1 is actually UHF channel 56, CBS)

Once you have the list of actual UHF channels for your local stations, do this:

Press the "signal meter" button on the remote to bring up the signal strength meter. Now, press 56 (for example) on the button pad. The box will tune to 56. Assuming the antenna is still in a position where it cannot detect the signals, the meter will show NO signal strength and you won't see a picture. Still tuned to 56, now go ahead and move your antenna to different positions and observe the on-screen meter. If the signal strength in your area is strong enough, and your antenna (indoor or outdoor) is good enough, then at some antenna position you will see the signal strength rise, and when signal strength is sufficiently high, the picture will appear on the screen. The TV program will now be displayed as virtual channel 2-1. Once you've found that channel you may want to repeat the scan-for-all channels to see if that is an optimal antenna position for other channels as well. You might have to repeat this procedure for other channels, adjusting the antenna specifically for each.

Hope that helps.

-Paul Eng
Web Senior Editor, Electronics

To all:

We've updated our Ratings of DTV converter boxes to include 24 more new models, including the long-awaited DTVPal. Please go to this URL:

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/electronics-computers/televisions/digital-tv-converter/ratings/dtv-converter-boxes-ratings.htm

Or go to:

http://www.consumerreports.org/dtv

and see the link to the "Ratings of DTV converter boxes."

-Paul Eng
Web Senior Editor, Electronics

Comments say that DTV will be free with Sattelite or cable? We have DirectTV and are charged an extra fee for local channels - will that end in Feb? Also - any new news on comparisons and ratings? I'd like to know which box most seem to feel is best.

TO: Cathrine - 27 Oct - "We pay extra on satellite for locals-will that fee end in Feb?"

Feb is strictly about broadcasting O.T.A.-analog signals .... has not an iota to do with or about any satellite services.

Sorry, but satellite has always "charged " a separate fee for locals & probably always will !

The FCC has no interest in whatever "fees" are imposed by the two major satellite companies ... IF a customer doesn't "approve" , simply stop after that penalty duration has passed - 18 or 24 months.

P.S. to Catherine - 27 Oct - "Best satellite box ..?"

Not by your company at all, sadly !

Most of the reviews / testing all last season have found the
VIP-722 thru DISH TV to be far & away the "best" performing HD Satellite Receiver available.

I am using a Tivax STB-T9 with my TiVo unit. The Tivo controls the channels via an infrared unit. I have been having a problem with the TiVO dropping or deleting my 10-1 to 10-4 channels. It gives me the "No Signal" box on those channels, but when I do a full auto scan it picks them up again.

SO my Tivo have been recording that No Signal box. It does retain the 10-1 channels for some time, but usually every night it gets deleted. I figured maybe the signal goes offline overnight, but I am wondering if it is the box.

Some more details: I have two of these boxes and tried them both and got the same issue. My other box gets turned off when I am not using it, but the one with Tivo stays on since Tivo needs it to record. This is the one that drops the channels.

Anyone else have this issue? Any advice?

Brian: I have the same Tivax unit (without the Tivo) and have been having a similar problem. For a couple of months I received a host of channels. Recently, I sometimes lose a channel (no signal) if I move to another channel during a commercial. Or, the box is unable to pick up a channel when I turn it on. I have done a rescan only to lose other channels all together. I haven't been able to find a reason (I have a roof antenna) or a solution but wanted to let you know you're not alone with the problem.

Am interested to know if anyone has any suggestions.

I just bought the Insignia NS-DXA1-APT converter at Best Buy and hooked it up according to the directions. There is an annoying problem: every minute or two, there's a skip, or blank: the sound cuts out, and the picture freezes, for just a second. This happens on all the channels, some seemingly more frequently than others. Did I get a defective unit that I should return to the store? or is this a built-in design feature to pressure us into buying a new TV?

TO: Elizabeth - " Converter makes TV cut in / out ...?"

You are experiencing periodic loss of digital Broadcasting signals.

ALL digital reception will be entirely different than analog!
Needed will be an entirely-different antenna, in order to have 100% , consistent / all weather reception.

www.antennaweb.org is a free web site .... input ZIP, check 'digital' but leave all the rest blank! Listed will be your digital channels, Compass directions, distances and by a color-code, which strength or electrical "gain" antenna is recommended.

www.solidsignal.com is (1) of many web sights where all antennas may be viewed.

Most times, digital UHF reception does require the outside mounting - high atop one's rooftop - BUT - there will always be "exceptions! "..... my aluminum-wrapped clothes hanger gets 25 channels ..!"

We just bought an Insignia converter from Best Buy. When we tried to hook it up through our DVD/VCR player, it says we have to turn the converter to the station it is recording, if we want to record a show. This kind of defeats the purpose of setting up your recordings for the week (if I was at home, I'd watch them; how can I change the station each time a new show starts if I'm not home?)

Am I setting this up wrong or misunderstanding this? Is there a different brand of box that won't require this?
Thanks, Donna

TO: Donna - 10 Jan - "NOT ABLE TO RECORD ?"

You need to use TWO converters to record ... one for the TV & a different one to have a second digital tuner so that a different channel may be "recorded" while view another one.

And, a "p.s." --- do NOT be surprised " IF " you also receive notices on some broadcasts that "Copyright Management" or "Do Not Copy" bits within the digital signal or stream stream from the broadcaster prevents successful recording, too ! Our days of endless, unrestricted, dvd recording as with Analog VCR Tapes are all Long-gone / done with !

Hi, In the following post it says "BUT - you Will need a converter for those antenna channels after Feb.. It is explained in detail here," I am wondering where the "explained in detail here" is. My parents have Dish and get local channels via an antenna. They have a converter box, but don't know how to set it up. Thanks! Julie
Posted by: everett whitney | Jul 21, 2008 3:50:27 PM

TO: RON - 20 July - " May I connect a Converter to DISH TV?"

No - no converter should ever be connected to either a local cable or DISH feed.

BUT - you Will need a converter for those antenna channels after Feb.. It is explained in detail here,

But - use an "A - B " isolation switch ( manual ones are $10 ), connecting that DISH coax lead to one "in" terminal and that antenna coax to the opposite "in."

The sole remaining terminal will be "out" with a short coax to the TV.

In position "A", the DISH provides the signals --- in "B", the antenna.

To Julie (jsd):

You can find all about the DTV transition here on Consumer Reports' web sites:

http://www.consumerreports.org/dtv

You can find out about DTV converter boxes here:
Consumer Reports guide to DTV converter boxes:
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/electronics-computers/tvs-services/digital-tv-converter/overview/dtv-converter-box-guide.htm

For help on how to hook up the converter box, see our video:

http://video.consumerreports.org/services/link/bcpid1329233564/bclid1118125802/bctid1788872544

(The BASICS of how to hook up a converter box is shown at about 4 minutes into the video--actually near the end of the clip, since the entire video is only 5 or so minutes long.)

I hope this helps!

-Paul Eng
Web Senior Editor, Electronics

My father-in-law has a Digital Stream converter. Ever since it's installation in Sept. it will work very sporadically. It will not pick up some channels at all (we have done the channel scan and are only displaying those channels which were detected) and some will play for several minutes before 'pixelating' so badly, that it is unwatchable. He very often gets a 'Weak' or 'No Signal' message. We added an HD antenna just yesterday, but it does the same thing.

Could the problem be his converter box? All that I have read says the Digital Stream is at least average; certainly nothing that says it is this poor.

Or could it be his TV (a console Magnavox that is at least 12 years old)?

Thanks for any suggestions!

Or is he simply not getting reception? He is within the city limits of a major city; about 7 or 8 miles from one of the television stations he can't get.

TO: Beth-19 Jan - "Added a Special HD Antenna - BUT -?"

Please DO take that back / request a full refund ! A very popular 'scam' currently ! There simply is NO special unit for "HD" reception whatever .... just Marketing Hype to get your money!

Always use www.antennaweb.org as a very first step before buying antennas .... input Only his ZIP, ck "digital" but leave the rest blank.

Listed will be his digital channels & Most important - which of the (2) transmitting Bands { or Both, for some markets}, the Compass Headings plus - by a color code - which strength or electronic "gain."

Very many safe web stores -- one is www.solidsignal.com
which offers every Brand / each model currently needed. At his under 10 miles distance, part of the issue MAY be the fact that both VHF as well as UHV are being used - OR - the TV Towers in his city are widely-dispersed / separated , rather than all within a single Tower "farm!" That will necessitate a "Rotor Assembly" unit / outdoors, upon the highest part of the roof line .... a daunting proposition for Many !

IF so, give up & consider Instead the newest, limited local cable service ... ours IS just $11.75, especially for Seniors, Nursing Homes, Analog TVs / VCRs, etc ...

Listen! I am a grandma and this whole dtv thing is making me nuts!!!!I don't understand all this ----!They said it was going to be easy.Now I need a new antenna connected to this and that and this connector connected to that and this,and on and on!!!Then when I can't get a signal I have to move the antenna up and down,here and there and get this thingy and that thingy for the antenna!!!I don't have enough space for all this C--P and I don't feel well enough to be bouncing around like a twenty year old engineer just to be able to enjoy the last thing on earth I really can enjoy.I hate all this DTV stuff!!!!!!!!!

TO: Nancy - 11th - " I'm SICK of Converters / Antennas!"

I agree wholeheartedly !

For persons such as yourself, the proposal of continued, consistent, 100 % reliable Over-The-Air TV reception IS past / over / gone! It in the Vast Majority of cases will require a permanent Antenna System mounted outside, high atop one's Roof Ridge!

Instead, talk with the local cable telemarketers, INSISTING that they DO admit to & sell you their new, limited channel Senior Service - - - ours has 18 channels, works all the TVs + VCRs exactly the same as always and will NOT shut down 12 June next ! All companies have it, too.

Total charge = $11.75 / month ...NO Converter, No Maintenance, constant "Fiddling" as you described, either!

Unfortunately there are millions of us who can not get cable. In our area it is satellite or a real bad digital signal. Our local over the air stations will not even grant us a waiver to get national network programs from the satellite as they expect us to install an external antenna that I do not know will even solve the reception problem.

All this caused by the idiots in Washington that want us to believe they know what is best?? At least before digital I could watch programming - maybe not the est picture but at least received it.

TO: Llyod M. - " DTV & Washington Idiots ...?"

Rather than "rant & rave" about things which are now totally beyond anyone's individual control, how about simply re-poating, this time listing the ZIP only, which Will protect your privacy.

With simply that, one might actually offer assistance regarding a proper outside Antenna System which would be constructive as well as beneficial to you ?

DTV should be available to those using such an appropriate system for you to reliably receive new O.T.A.-HD , in spite of whatever you may have been told at the local gossip session / incompetent TV store / barbershop, etc.!

P.S. - - - - The planning for this DTV was NOT done by Washington at all plus was started prior to 1998, in case you might not have known ? Only the implementation was "controlled" & done badly by the bureaucrats.

I have tried to post a question on reviews on digital antennas. It does not seem to make it as I comment that Consumer Reports suggests I try several to see which one works best. Though that is why I subscribe to Consumer Reports.

Have tried two indoor units with limited success. Before spending $$ for an external antenna am still trying to see what is a good indoor unit.

Does anyone know of a site that has reviewed the antennas??

Thanks

LLoyd - the Ranter . . . Indoor Only ?

You never Listen at all ? Hopeless.

Where were you whenever every house had nothing but outside antennas as far as one could look in ALL directions ?

Indoor antennas only "work" after much fiddling as well as for those essentially " ..in-the-shadow-of-their-tv-towers!.."

everett

Everett:

I try to listen but nobody is talking. Within about a 1/2 mile of where I live one house has an an external tower and gets very poor reception. About 1/2 mile the other way they get good reception with their old style rabbit ears.

Maybe you have lots of extra $$ to spend on an outdoor antenna and tower but I do not unless there is no other option. I may have to go that route and I'm not sure it will work. I was also around when roof top antennas with rotators were everywhere. They were a real pain.

It is apparent that no organization has tested the many antennas that are out there and even with an external antenna it may be hit and miss.

I'll ask again. DOE ANYONE KNOW OF A SITE THAT HAS TESTED ANTENNAS?

Thanks,

Lloyd the Ranter

(back) Lloyd - -Usually, those links do not "DO" well

Here is the entire resource site ... beginning @ "step #1" so-to-speak, with additional references along the way.

BUT - do understand that a person CAN expend several HUNDREDS of dollars upon a duplicate of another antenna system which did perform marvelously at location "A" for exactly ZERO results only a very few miles apart !

That's exactly because of the very unforgiving nature of DTV signaling and, in particular, ALL those served by strictly UHF Band transmissions ..... There WILL be a yet unknown % which are NOT going to have O.T.A.-DTV come 12 June, like-it-or-not !

Trying yet again . . . .

http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/16bay.html

Enjoy your new satellite system ! { p.s - those don't always work either, even @ $100-$125/monthly !}

everett

Lloyd - Here are some "engineering plots" of some commercially-available antennas - but - please DO keep in mind that any antenna might NOT work at two different sites ? - - - here -

http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/comparing.html

everett

search youtube and other online videos. I've seen one from a guy who shows how to build a home made antenna that gets better reception than purchased antenna, and cheap and easy to make.

To Terri (and all):

We highlighted one of those videos on our blog. See:

DIY antennas: Build your own DTV antenna!
http://blogs.consumerreports.org/electronics/2009/04/diy-antennas-build-your-own-dtv-antenna.html

BTW... Now that TV stations in the U.S. are broadcasting digitally, how did you fare the June 12 transition? Weigh in at:

DTV transition: Smooth going for most
http://blogs.consumerreports.org/electronics/2009/06/dtv-digital-tv-transition-fcc-june-12.html

Thanks.

Paul Eng
Web Sr. Editor, Electronics