Coupon Eligible Converter Boxes (CECB)

[Jesse]

I just found this forum today when I was searching for the Best CECB to buy with my coupons which I received in the mail yesterday. I am a total newbie to all of this, but I've done some reading on the subject of DTV in the last few weeks since I applied for the coupons. Of course, you all have probably forgotten more than I know on this subject.:) The list of CECBs that came with the coupons has 30+ boxes on it, but from what I've read here, many of them are not on the market yet. Of those available in the stores today, which one (or two) has the best reception - if that's what it's called? I am about 30 miles from the Huntsville, Alabama TV stations which only come in fair to good with the RadioShack U-120R antenna and a 10db amplifier that I bought many years ago and mounted in my walk-in attic. I have read that DTV signals don't degrade gracefully like analog signals do so I feel I need to buy the best CECB available. Which one do you recommend?

Thanks,
Jesse

[Jim Thomas]

Jesse,

You've come to the right place! Here you will get right up front, unbiased information about which piece of equipment is right for the job.

Regarding the best DTV set top boxes (the CECB ones) that are currently available, the Zenith model and the Insignia model (a clone of the Zenith) are the early contenders for the best reception and features available for finding your channels. It might be the easiest for you to read this thread for the Insignia model....

http://www.wtfda.info/showthread.php?t=1893

Also, you may want to look in to purchasing a good UHF antenna, as the majority of DTV stations are on channel 7 (high vhf) and up into UHF. A popular model is the Channel Master 4228, an 8 bay bowtie antenna. I use one to pick up the Denver, Colorado channels, connected to an Insignia converter box.

Here's a good list to consult for the latest activity with the DTV transition...

http://www.rabbitears.info/dtr.php

It lists each television market by market ranking (i.e. #1 is New York City, etc.) and lists each television station in that market and their DTV status. I kind of scrolled through the list, but didn't notice the Huntsville DTV market listed.

I hope this helps some.

[Jesse]

I thought I posted a reply early this morning, but it's now afternoon and it isn't showing up, so I'm gonna try again.

I really appreciate your reply Jim with all of the info. I checked out the post on the Insignia and I'm glad I didn't get the DigitalStream DTX9900 that I saw at Radio Shack last night on my way home from work. Best Buy is a good distance away (with gas being $3.49/gallon currently), but I think I'll try to get there this weekend and pick up an Insignia.

I found Huntsville, AL at number 83 on the rabbitears web site. I was hoping they might give frequencies for the digital signals but I didn't see them. Currently, all of the analog signals in this market are on the UHF band so I thought the digital signal would also be on that band after the switch to digital next year. I saw a post on this forum giving DTV frequencies for a couple of cities in Florida. Does anyone know if that information is readily available for Huntsville, AL?

I have found lots of very useful information on this forum and I thank you all for the posts.

Jesse

[Jim Thomas]

I found Huntsville, AL at number 83 on the rabbitears web site. I was hoping they might give frequencies for the digital signals but I didn't see them. Currently, all of the analog signals in this market are on the UHF band so I thought the digital signal would also be on that band after the switch to digital next year. I saw a post on this forum giving DTV frequencies for a couple of cities in Florida. Does anyone know if that information is readily available for Huntsville, AL?

Jesse,

If you're just wanting to know the assigned DTV channels (RF channel) for each licensed station, that information is available with each listing on the Rabbitears website.

IF you want to know the actual FREQUENCY for each television channel, follow this link to consult a table...

http://www.csgnetwork.com/tvfreqtable.html

[Jesse]

I gave in to temptation and bought the Digital Stream DTX9900 from Radio Shack. This was after reading as many reviews as I could find on it and the Zenith/Insignia. I really like the idea of a 3 day EPG since I don't subscribe to TV Guide. I hooked it up to my antenna and without any adjustments was able to get a far superior picture on all of the stations I had been receiving with analog plus about 6 sub channels that I didn't even know existed. I am very pleased. Now I'm thinking if I put a good antenna with a rotater on top of my 42' former ham tower, I just might be able to pick up Birmingham, Chattanoga and Nashville. Have to think about that for a while. I don't really have much free time until I retire in 2010.

[Jim Thomas]

If you have any inclination to do dxing (looking for long distant signals), this is the place to keep in touch with what's happening with dtv, etc.

If you were a ham in the past, then no doubt you are familiar with long distance reception of radio signals.

BTW, you are entitled to two CECB coupons per household, so if you only received one, you can still request another and then purchase a different model of dtv box.

If you have an opportunity, please post how the DTX9900 performs and which stations you are able to pick up.

[Jesse]

I really can't review the DTX9900 since I don't have a DTV or another converter box to compare it to. All I can say is it was a snap to hook up, scan for signals, and start using it. It is also vary easy to delete unwanted channels. I deleted four sub channels of PBS on channel 36 because they were identical to the PBS channels on channel 25. I was also able to program the remote control to turn my old RCA TV on and off and control the volume. I did have to run the volume of the converter box all the way up to have a decent volume level on the TV. I like the Info button. It displays the channel, station call sign, the day, date and time. It displays the name of the program being aired in case you are flipping thru the channels and they are all on commercial break as usually happens to me. It also displays a color coded signal strength bar.

I do have another coupon but I was thinking I might hold onto it until I see some reviews of the Microprose MPI-500 since it is supposed to have analog pass thru when the box is turned off. Now I'm thinking I don't need that feature. What I do need is a way to record one channel while watching a different channel. I guess until next February, all I need is a signal splitter just ahead of the DTX9900. The only problem with that is my analog signal isn't very good. So if I buy another converter box for the VCR, how do I get the signal from the VCR back to the TV when I want to play back what I've recorded? My TV only has a single RF input.

[Jim Thomas]

I do have another coupon but I was thinking I might hold onto it until I see some reviews of the Microprose MPI-500 since it is supposed to have analog pass thru when the box is turned off. Now I'm thinking I don't need that feature. What I do need is a way to record one channel while watching a different channel. I guess until next February, all I need is a signal splitter just ahead of the DTX9900. The only problem with that is my analog signal isn't very good. So if I buy another converter box for the VCR, how do I get the signal from the VCR back to the TV when I want to play back what I've recorded? My TV only has a single RF input.

Jesse,

Read this comment from Danny regarding recording one channel while viewing another....

http://www.wtfda.info/showthread.php?t=1950&page=2

(comment #18)

[CasualOTAer]

I really can't review the DTX9900 since I don't have a DTV or another converter box to compare it to. All I can say is it was a snap to hook up, scan for signals, and start using it. It is also vary easy to delete unwanted channels. I deleted four sub channels of PBS on channel 36 because they were identical to the PBS channels on channel 25. I was also able to program the remote control to turn my old RCA TV on and off and control the volume. I did have to run the volume of the converter box all the way up to have a decent volume level on the TV.


Jesse, with the DTX9900, remember the following: if you wind up using its composite outputs (RCA jacks), go into the menu and select RF as the preferred output. That's counter-intuitive, but it gives louder audio out on the L and R channel outputs when set to RF instead of composite...

If you haven't already done this, go to http://www.tvfool.com/
and check its predictions for DTV reception at your location. (Note that you can choose either before or after the Feb. 2009 transition.)

TVfool lists both RF and virtual channel numbers. With your DTX-9900, you can directly enter the RF channel number (e.g., for 51, enter ".", "5", "1", "OK"). Then select the signal strength indicator to see how you are receiving it. With my DTX-9900, I need a strength of 30 or better to start getting watchable video and audio.

I've found that with my indoor antenna small changes in its location and orientation make big differences in the received signal strength.