DTV converter boxes selling fast?

[yragha]

I bought the RCA Box DTA 800B.

The remote works the TV Volume and not the TV Channels, except to cycle through Ch 3 and Ch 4 and Input.

Can anyone speak for the remote that comes with the other Boxes ??

I've found the RCA DTA 800A to be one of the best IMO.

Controls the volume and channels unlike the Zenith.

Only drawback I see if you can not add channels manually. Scan only.

 

[avtosalon]

The remote for the Zenith unit does control the volume.

And the last time I checked, it allows you to change the channels.

 

[Markxxx]

I threw up a quick site of maps at

http://dtvallocations.com

based on the tables of allocations at the FCC

Channel 13 has the most allocations while channel 4 has only two.

Don't forget since Canada and Mexico aren't going digital any proposal to take channel 5 and 6 from TV would have to be done with the protection of areas close to the border.

As technology grows it may be possible to get a better signal on low VHF.

It'll be interesting to see in Feb as I'm sure the allocations will have to be modified somewhat to make way for interference issues.

But back to the thread. Does anyone know if anyone will ever come out with a converter box for $40.00

I want a free box LOL

 

[tripinva]

I threw up a quick site of maps at

http://dtvallocations.com

based on the tables of allocations at the FCC

I like your site. =) I linked it from my own, actually.

Channel 13 has the most allocations while channel 4 has only two.

Don't forget since Canada and Mexico aren't going digital any proposal to take channel 5 and 6 from TV would have to be done with the protection of areas close to the border.

As technology grows it may be possible to get a better signal on low VHF.

Unfortunately, technology can't make ones and zeroes appear magically and break through noise from lightning and electric motors and power lines and ...

It'll be interesting to see in Feb as I'm sure the allocations will have to be modified somewhat to make way for interference issues.

But back to the thread. Does anyone know if anyone will ever come out with a converter box for $40.00

I want a free box LOL

Echostar's TR-40 (it has some other name now) will be that box. Should be out in the next three months supposedly; we shall see.

- Trip

 

[yragha]

The remote for the Zenith unit does control the volume.

And the last time I checked, it allows you to change the channels.

Hmm, several sites with customer reviews state it does not. Amazon, Circuit City among the sites I've read different opinions stating it does not. Do you own this unit? I hear it's very nice but if it can't control the volume well...

 

[TheRover]

The remote for the Zenith unit does control the volume.

And the last time I checked, it allows you to change the channels.

Hmm, several sites with customer reviews state it does not. Amazon, Circuit City among the sites I've read different opinions stating it does not. Do you own this unit? I hear it's very nice but if it can't control the volume well...

The Zenith remote allows you to change ONLY the "Digital" channels, of course.

But, the Zenith remote does not allow to you to change your TV's "channels".

The RCA remote however, allows you to change your TV's channels. It gives you the option to cycle thorugh channel 3, channel 4, and the video input for your TV (and it may give you channel 0, but I forget).....

See the difference ? ? ?

Both remotes allow you to turn your TV off and on, and allow you to control volume one way or another.

 

[landtuna]

But back to the thread. Does anyone know if anyone will ever come out with a converter box for $40.00

Echostar (Dish) is supposed to be coming out with a $39.95 box in June.

 

[silverthree]

But back to the thread. Does anyone know if anyone will ever come out with a converter box for $40.00

If you live in Texas, supermarket chain HEB sells the Philco TB100HH9 box for $39.95. You end up paying $3.30 after taxes- so it's not totally free.

 

[JayR]

Thought I'd buy a backup box and thought the Zenith might be best. So trotted on down to my local Radio Shack and was promptly told they don't sell Zenith's any longer, only the Digital Stream. I could have held out and gone down the street to one of the other retailers but decided to try out the DS instead.

Good move. Compared to my Wally World Magnavox it is a nicer unit. Smaller footprint. Easier to handle remote. Better graphics on the menus. Displays both the digital and RF channels and has the equivalent of an 's' meter. Video and audio are about identical to the Mag. Has a volume control for the TV. I like it!

Radio Shack had one other surprise though. My previous post spoke of Wally World's way of handling the coupon once the purchase had been made. RS just cuts the card up. If you return the box you get your piece of the cost but not the $40 coupon amount AND you then have no coupon to use to buy another. I thought that was cheap and unethical but no big surprise for the Shack. I am not normally a customer.

I have one coupon left and am hoping Echostar gets their unit to market before the expiration date. It is supposed to be the cheapest at $39.95 and also one of the better units so we'll see.

No complaints on either the Magnavox or Digital Stream yet though.

I went yesterday to my local Radio Shack and purchased two Digital Stream DTV tuners (w/my coupons). They work great. Everything you said about this particular unit is on the money. I used rabbit ears to set up the tuner; with the exception of one channel not tuning in automatically (which I later entered manually), the set-up was easy.

Yeah, you pay a little more than you would at Wally World for the Magnavox model but it's well worth it.