Any recommendations for a cheap DTV converter?

[OnkyoMan]

Hi guys... I've got a $40 DTV coupon burning a hole in my wallet, and I'd like to pick up a cheap DTV converter box.

I'm a big FM DXer, but I'm not really into DXing the TV bands. I would just like to get a cheap, but decent DTV converter box. My local Target, Walmart, and Kmart stores all have them, but I thought I'd ask here to see if there are any favorite models, or at least, any models to stay away from.

Thanks in advance,

OnkyoMan

[Jim1348]

My recommendation is don't go cheap, but just get the Zenith DTT-901 from Kmart. It should be about $50.00.

[Mike-CT]

Ditto the Zenith DTT-901. It's the same box as the Insignia DX sold by Best Buy and recognized as probably the best box for DTV DXing. You can pay much more and get less. I recently bought one for a TV DXer in Montreal who can't get them there.

[cd637299]

Dittos on the Zenith, but by all means, be sure that the coupon is cashed by the expiration date.

cd

[CasualOTAer]

Yes, especially if you decide, instead, to mail order a converter, be sure to place your order 3 or more days before the expiration date. Sometimes they are slow in processing orders through to the point of applying the coupon. That, or some other snafu, could result in the coupon expiring in spite of your order going in before then.

I'd echo the others' response on the Zenith. I have 3 Digital Stream DTX9900's and one Zenith DTT-901. I've also tried a friends' ChannelMaster CM7000. Of those choices (all pretty good boxes), I strongly prefer the Zenith.

While your results may vary, others have had good reliability from their DTT901s. The same can't be said for all CECBs models.

[Phoenix]

I have heard from many (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1029256) sources (http://reviews.cnet.com/tv-hdtv-tuners-receivers/zenith-dtt901/4505-6487_7-33178359.html) that the Zenith dtt901 is one of the best converter boxes on the market... But according to C|Net (http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-tv-converter/) the Dish Network TR40 (http://reviews.cnet.com/tv-hdtv-tuners-receivers/dish-network-tr-40/4505-6487_7-33237855.html) has the best Program guide of anyone on the market.

I have read many review of this device and they seam to agree but the reception is not as good. But according to Dish they have created the DTVPal Plus (http://www.dishnetwork.com/dtvpal/plus_features.shtml) to resolve that. I have two coupons to use can I get some feedback before my purchase.

On a side note do any of them have a digital coax or fiber optic output for a 5.1 receiver?

Thanks so much.

[CasualOTAer]

I have heard from many (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1029256) sources (http://reviews.cnet.com/tv-hdtv-tuners-receivers/zenith-dtt901/4505-6487_7-33178359.html) that the Zenith dtt901 is one of the best converter boxes on the market... But according to C|Net (http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-tv-converter/) the Dish Network TR40 (http://reviews.cnet.com/tv-hdtv-tuners-receivers/dish-network-tr-40/4505-6487_7-33237855.html) has the best Program guide of anyone on the market.

I have read many review of this device and they seam to agree but the reception is not as good. But according to Dish they have created the DTVPal Plus (http://www.dishnetwork.com/dtvpal/plus_features.shtml) to resolve that. I have two coupons to use can I get some feedback before my purchase.

On a side note do any of them have a digital coax or fiber optic output for a 5.1 receiver?

Thanks so much.

You've already checked the AVS Forum (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=186) on CECBs which seems to have the most user feedback about various models, including these two.

I don't know of any coupon-eligible box that has digital audio out. They are intended for use with legacy CRT TVs and the NTIA carefully restricted what they could/could not have in the way of outputs. Hence, no HD outputs, for instance.

I haven't used the DTVPal Plus, but I have used the Zenith quite a bit. The guide on the Zenith is limited. But picture quality is good, as is sensitivity. I like the ventilated metal case better than the DTVPal's plastic case.

Some users (many?) complain that the DTVPal Plus locks up at times, and must be unplugged/replugged to get it going again. That's second-hand info, so take it for that and no more.

Since this is WTFDA, I'll note that the Zenith is rather DX hunter friendly. It's EZ-add is an update scan feature that is useful. But it's "manual tuning" feature is very helpful when hunting for DX. You can step through each RF channel and view the signal level on that channel. Makes it easy to see if anything is lurking just below the EZ-add capture level. Then, you can rotate your antenna or make other changes to try to bring it in.

Some boxes, like the Apex 502A, do not allow manual channel entry and don't even have update scan ability. Ugh.

From what I've read, the DTVPal Plus has a tuner that is better than its predecessor, the DTVPal. Some users rate it's sensitivity as about the same as the Zenith.

For many users, multipath interference is a bigger obstacle to solid ATSC reception than is overall signal strength. This is particularly true for folks who use indoor antennas in urban/suburban areas. People who live 50mi or more from the TV transmitters DO have to be concerned about tuner sensitivity (vs. multipath handling). But the solution is often a better antenna system. The sensitivity differences in CECBs are noticeable, but not huge, IMO.

Some Kmarts stock both the Zenith and the DTVPal Plus (though they often run out of one or both!). You might be able to exchange one for the other there. Once a coupon is used, it is used. But some retailers will allow exchanges of one model for another. (Currently, at Kmart Zenith=$49.99, DTVPal Plus=$59.99).

On that subject, some folks have bought from retailers with liberal return policies WITHOUT USING A COUPON, then they return the unit and repurchase it with a coupon, once they decide its what they want.

I, and many of my friends, have had good luck with the Zenith so far. These CECBs are not the most reliable of consumer electronic products. But the batting average of the Zenith (LG) seems to be very good - so far.

FWIW, currently many stations are lax about populating the program schedule information on their data streams. This means that, while the DTVPal Plus is capable of displaying days of scheduling, you may not always get that information.

[Danny]

Some Kmarts stock both the Zenith and the DTVPal Plus (though they often run out of one or both!). You might be able to exchange one for the other there. Once a coupon is used, it is used. But some retailers will allow exchanges of one model for another. (Currently, at Kmart Zenith=$49.99, DTVPal Plus=$59.99).



Are the boxes currently available at Kmart? Most retailers are out of the Zenith boxes.

[CasualOTAer]

Are the boxes currently available at Kmart? Most retailers are out of the Zenith boxes.

Well, the store near my work had a dozen on the shelf the week before last, but those sold out that same week. The DTVPal Pluses they had ran out the week after that.

If you have weeks left on a coupon, I'd say keep checking back. If your coupon(s) are running out, consider other options.

I just checked and according to the Best Buy web site, at least six of my local stores have the Insignia NS-DXA1-APT in stock. Its the same model as the Zenith, so that's one fall back option.

Folks are likely to snap up the Zeniths at Kmart as they cost $10 less than the Insignia at BB.

The one thing I wouldn't recommend doing is waiting until June to use a coupon. There may not be trouble finding CECBs in stock in local stores, but, then again, who knows what the mfgrs and retail managers will decide about how many to make/stock as the coupon program starts to wind down...

[Danny]

Thanks, Casual. I ordered my DTT-901 boxes on the Internet. A DXer on the WTFDA list says Best Buy no longer plans to carry the Zenith twin, the Insignia.

[CasualOTAer]

Thanks, Casual. I ordered my DTT-901 boxes on the Internet. A DXer on the WTFDA list says Best Buy no longer plans to carry the Zenith twin, the Insignia.

The Best Buy web site lets you check the stock on the Insignia (and the Apex DT502) at your local stores. It shows many stores near in my area still with the Insignia in stock.

FWIW, I just bought another Zenith DTT-901 (Feb. 2009 manufacture) from the Kmart near my work. They had been out for a couple of weeks, but now had some more (6!) on the shelf. I used a coupon a friend gave me so it came to $12.99 with tax.

Moral of the story: it is still possible to get Zeniths and Insignias in local stores. If you only have one Kmart or one BB in reasonable driving distance, you may have a tougher time finding one of these converters there.

Don't panic. But, if their coupons are due to expire soon, folks shouldn't wait to the end to place an online order, if that's what it'll take to secure a CECB.

[Gary Hickerson]

IF you want cheap, then get the RCA. Cheap not good....

Gary H.

[Gary Hickerson]

IF, its Cheap, that you want, get the RCA. Its cheap, Not good. If you use a rotor, on you antenna, forget it, as the RCA, will not remember your scanned chs...

Gary H.
Okla.

[Phoenix]

Well you can always get them at K-Mart and get either the Zenith or a DTV Pal Plus or they still have the DTV Pal Plus at Sears... But FYI, K-Mart doesn't charge any tax...

I have a question about the Antenna. What can you recommended for a good indoor antenna?

[CasualOTAer]

Well you can always get them at K-Mart and get either the Zenith or a DTV Pal Plus or they still have the DTV Pal Plus at Sears... But FYI, K-Mart doesn't charge any tax...

I have a question about the Antenna. What can you recommended for a good indoor antenna?

That's a loaded question. For some folks, a very simple indoor antenna will be adequate. For others, nothing but an outdoor mounted high-gain antenna will do. For most folks, indoor DTV antenna performance depends greatly on where the antenna is placed and how it is oriented. I've had the best results with indoor antennas placed just inside a window that faces the direction of the transmitters. On the other hand, an indoor antenna placed on or near my TV gets me no reception at all.

If you go to tvfool.com and enter your location, what signal strengths does it predict for your location? While there, note whether or not it shows any digital stations on VHF in your market post-transition.

I suggest starting with a low-cost non-amplified indoor antenna on a moderate length of RG-6 coax such that you can move it around the room to find the best spot(s) for DTV reception. Once you know how easy or hard it will be to get solid DTV reception with an indoor antenna at your place, you'll have a better idea of how much antenna you will need to buy.

If you are slightly handy, the 4-bay YouTube coat hanger antenna is easy to make, inexpensive, and works reasonably well for UHF DTV reception. If you try one of those, and can't find an indoor spot where it captures your local stations pretty well, you may have trouble getting good reception with most of the commercial indoor antennas on the market.

If your analog TV reception is currently pretty good, with very little snow or ghosting, start with a simple paper clip antenna, as a test. Unfold a 1-2 inch bare metal paper clip into an L and put that into your converter input jack as a simple vertical antenna. If that antenna brings in one or more stations, then you'll know that a modest cost indoor antenna should be usable in your home.

[OnkyoMan]

Just wanted to thank everyone for the DTT-901 recommendation. I bought one, and it is performing great. From everything I can read on the net, this seems to be generally regarded as the best box for sensitivity.

[Gary Hickerson]

The Best But, In Ft. Smith, AR., has 50 -60 on the sleves. They were out for a month or so, but seem to have plenty, now. The sell for $59.95 and the Apex box, also there, is $54.95....

Gary H.
Okla.

[K4AD]

Thanks Mike, Jim, et all on the Zenith DTT-901 recommendation. For years I chased DX on the HF bands, and AM BC bands. Got into chasing far away low power college stations for the musical variety 30 years ago, putting up directional antennas and collecting and using a myriad of high sensitivity/selectivity tuners over the years. I was aware of this forum years ago, but re-found it after google-ing "converter box sensitivity", I think.

Anyway, got the coupons, found a K-mart with a couple of 901's, ($49.95 Boxes dated Feb. 2009) took em home and hooked the first one up to the living room TV. Searched and located 12 digital channels. This was surprising, as my bedroom TV is a year and a half old digital RCA, and it only found 5, and only gets a lock on 3 of them. Installed the other 901 and BOOM! 12 channels. Using an old CM4228 and cheap vhf/uhf in tandem temporarily installed @12 feet for now.

If anyone else is considering the Zenith DTT-901 or LG Insignia, I would also highly recommend them. And I would add a few other things I like about these models.

1. The added weight of the metal case and internal power supply, makes it much less likely to be pulled off the top of a TV or shelf, by the weight of the attached cables.
2. The internal power supply means you have a regular AC cord, rather than one of those obnoxious "Wall Warts".
3. There is very little delay time of picture display when changing channels. Less than a second I would guesstimate.

Don't like the small remote, and some of the buttons are marked in light blue and are unreadable in low light for us older folks. While I don't intend to "chase DX" with this unit, I can see why it would be a good choice. I just wanted to get as many channels as possible, and it seems to be a very good choice for that as well. When I can get the 4228 up permanently and higher, I look forward to a rescan.

Thanks Again!
K4AD ~Hal

[K4AD]

It is my sad duty to report that one of the two Zenith DTT-901's I purchased bit the big one and quit functioning ALREADY! Just 18 days after purchase. LIGHTNING *may or may not* have been involved, if so nothing else was affected, including the other 901 connected to the same feedline. (Proper grounding rules followed)

Newer microchip stuff. Blech. My Swan MARK II linear (circa 1967?) has always performed flawlessly. lol.

[CasualOTAer]

It is my sad duty to report that one of the two Zenith DTT-901's I purchased bit the big one and quit functioning ALREADY! Just 18 days after purchase. LIGHTNING *may or may not* have been involved, if so nothing else was affected, including the other 901 connected to the same feedline. (Proper grounding rules followed)

Newer microchip stuff. Blech. My Swan MARK II linear (circa 1967?) has always performed flawlessly. lol.

Well, on the bright side, at least it died well within the warranty period. You should be able to get it replaced easily enough. I wonder if you can exchange it for a new one at the store where you bought it? Might ask them.