[OH-KY-IN] Fw: [mvarbb] FW: [Dial] Buying a new digital TV converter box

[Bruce Vanselow N8BV]

--------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <w8lly at sbcglobal.net>
To: "Miami Valley Amateur Radio Bulletin Board" <MVARBB at febo.com>
Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2008 22:31:53 -0500
Subject: [mvarbb] FW: [Dial] Buying a new digital TV converter box
-----Original Message-----
From: dial-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:dial-bounces at mailman.qth.net]
On
Behalf Of Ernie Howard
Sent: Wednesday, February 27, 2008 4:51 PM
To: Dial List
Subject: [Dial] Buying a new digital TV converter box
 
*
From: Dial Radio Club email list
*
 
The digital TV transition (DTV) is now 11 months away. If you use an 
antenna or rabbit ears to receive TV, you may need these new digital TV 
converter boxes. If you have a new TV that says that it has an ATSC or 
DTV tuner, you won't need a converter box. If you have use only cable or 
satellite, you don't need a converter box. But if you have a bunch of 
old TVs sitting around that don't have a new ATSC or DTV tuner, you will 
need a DTV converter.
 
If you haven't applied for your free $40 government coupons, go here and 
do it right away - http://www.dtv2009.gov/ The NTIA (federal government) 
is giving away two $40 coupons to each household to help you purchase 
one of these DTV converters.
 
These new DTV converter boxes have finally hit the store shelves. You 
can use them now, as the local TV stations are broadcasting in both the 
old standard analog format as well as the new fully digital format (with 
crystal clear pictures).
 
Now, which box to buy?????
 
I've been reading reviews on the available Digital TV converter boxes 
that can be purchased with your government coupon. (My coupon is 
expected in the next few weeks according to their website.) Once you get 
a $40 coupon, you will want to know which box to purchase, so below are 
some details. But the short answer is to get the Zenith at HH Gregg. 
That one will cost you $10 + the coupon + tax.
 
So far the boxes that are at the top of the recommended list include 
these two below. They both have remotes that allow you to program them 
to control your TV volume. They both have buttons on the box that allow 
you to change channels without a remote. They both have the ability to 
manually add new stations without doing a full scan. They both are 
reported to have the latest generation ATSC/DTV chips that pull in the 
signals better than what has been on the market. They have electronic 
program guides and lots of other features.
 
Zenith DTT 900,
Manufactured by LG.
It is sold at HH Gregg for $49, Circuit City for $59.
 
Insignia NS-DXA1,
Manufactured by LG, a clone of the Zenith box above
It is sold at Best Buy for $59.
 
The Zenith on sale at Circuit City:
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Zenith-Digital-to-Analog-TV-Tuner-Converte
r-B
ox-DTT900/sem/rpsm/oid/204154/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do
 
The Zenith on sale at HH Gregg:
http://www.hhgregg.com/ProductDetail.asp?SID=9DF8B0651F344B3CA64FAEFF7793
C31
7&ProductID=20363
 
The Insignia on sale at Best Buy:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8624081&st=insignia&lp=11&t
ype
=product&cp=1&id=1199495190393
 
Other boxes that didn't make the top of the list, but may still be good 
enough:
 
Magnavox TB100MW9,
Manufactured by Funai. The remote isn't as flexible, it can't be 
programmed to control your old TV's volume. It doesn't have channel 
change buttons on the box, so if you lose the remote you could be 
stuck. It is sold at all your local Walmart Stores for $49.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=8283870
 
RCA DTA800,
You can only add new channels by doing a complete automatic scan.
Possibly at a Walmart near you, $49
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=8343230
 
Digital STREAM DTX9900
Not much said about this one yet.
Possibly at a Radio Shack near you, $59
 
If you want to read some Zenith and Insignia reviews, here are some 
links to click on.
http://www.hdtvexpert.com/pages_b/Zenith_DTT900%20.html
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=13047439#post13047439
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=13207542#post13207542
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=13109313#post13109313
 
Ernie W8EH


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