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DTV Converters (Signal strength)

Y

yragha

I just bought a Philco DTV Converter to compare to the RCA (budget) model which I bought for my parents.

How can the signal strength readings be drastically different from one unit to the next?

Here's what I'm talking about...

Channel/ RCA/ Philco
KPRC-2 56% 86%
KUHT-8 29% 36%
KHOU-11 45% 70%
KTRK-13 58% 82%
KETH-14 65% 88%
KTXH-20 42% 28%
KRIV-26 57% 76%
KHCW-39 53% 82%
KNWS-51 53% 70%
KTBU-55 51% 70%

If anyone can clarify I would be grateful, I'm baffled by the discrepancies in signal meters when I haven't moved the antenna at all. Could all the "picture breakups" be due to a specific model. I've had problems with the RCA model at my parents house. It's an unamplified indoor antenna used for this comparison.

Thanks
 
It may be merely a meter measurement issue and unless the picture breaks up probably isn't worth worrying about. If you are really interested in a comparison of the various converter boxes Google 'dtv converter comparison'.
 
I just got my $40 coupon in the mail yesterday. So, does it matter which brand box I should get or are they all about the same? Plus, Im assuming LPTV stations are picking up fine on them as well? I heard that even after the conversion is over with you can still pick up LPTV station on regular analog attenna's.
 
I don't have anything to compare to but I will tell you my parents are very pleased with their Digistream DTX9950 from RadioShack.

Stations that were barely visible (but not watchable) in analog are coming in crystal clear in digital--no signal issues at all.

And if you're in an area that has LPTV stations or translators, simply pushing the OFF switch lets analog signals pass through.
 
yragha said:
I just bought a Philco DTV Converter to compare to the RCA (budget) model which I bought for my parents.

How can the signal strength readings be drastically different from one unit to the next?
Click to expand...

They seem pretty much proportional, with the stations with the best reading on the RCA also being best on the Philco. (with the exception of KTXH which is hard to explain!)

On most of these boxes the signal meter is not measuring signal strength. It's measuring data error rate. So a stronger station that's suffering from interference (maybe from a distant analog?) or multipath (what would be "ghosting" in analog) or noise may show a weaker reading. Anyway, for reliable digital reception you want the highest reading (the lowest error rate) possible - even if that isn't necessarily the strongest signal.

(JoesBros81): Plus, Im assuming LPTV stations are picking up fine on them as well? I heard that even after the conversion is over with you can still pick up LPTV station on regular analog attenna's.
Click to expand...

If they're digital. These boxes do not receive analog signals.

Some of them do automatically bypass the antenna to the connected TV set when you turn the box off. Most don't.

The easy fix for that is to connect the DTV box to the TV with the RCA audio/video cables, and use a splitter to feed the antenna to the TV and the DTV box at the same time. You then switch the "TV/Video" switch to "Video" to watch digital stations and to "TV" (and use the TV's own channel selector) to watch analog stations.

(of course, this doesn't do much good if your TV doesn't have RCA audio/video inputs!)

LPTV stations are not required to go digital next February. They will be required to go digital eventually but at a later deadline. Some may choose to go digital earlier. Channels 33 and 53 have permits to go digital - 33 will "flash cut" (which means they have to turn their analog signal off to activate the digital); 53 has a "companion channel". (which means they can operate in digital and analog at the same time, just like the full power stations are right now)
 
Well I went and picked up my box from Radio Shack yesterday. The only channels Im picking up are: KFDM 6.1 and 6.2 (the CW). KITU has 4 different channels on there as well. The ones I am picking up are crystal clear so Im impressed.
 
JoesBros81 said:
Well I went and picked up my box from Radio Shack yesterday. The only channels Im picking up are: KFDM 6.1 and 6.2 (the CW). KITU has 4 different channels on there as well. The ones I am picking up are crystal clear so Im impressed.
Click to expand...

Was it the Digital Stream?

I've read that those are the most difficult in picking up channels on Amazon I believe and it wasn't rated too highly by Consumer Reports neither if I recall.
 
JoesBros81 said:
Well I went and picked up my box from Radio Shack yesterday. The only channels Im picking up are: KFDM 6.1 and 6.2 (the CW). KITU has 4 different channels on there as well. The ones I am picking up are crystal clear so Im impressed.
Click to expand...

I got the RS box and also have a CM7000 on order. The RS box is NICE and DOES add scan without wiping the previous scan entries! Also you can enter MAPPED channels via the ENTER OR the RF channels via the " " buttons....I can get all the local DTVs with no problem even though the signal strength shows LOW signal on (get this!) 6.1 and 6.2 vs 4.1 and 64.1!!!

WOW!! At one time, it was showing a 19 out of 100 for 6.1 and no pixelzation....the 480i output when fed into my HDTV shows correct in 4:3....where as the HD itself shows 480i shows in 16:9!!!
Picture looks great...flipping between 64.1 and 64.2 shows a difference in quality even though the output is 480i! It has a nice power off and sleep feature AND the remote control worked with my Polaroid HDTV out of the box for power and volume!!! HOW neat was that.....I love it...I thought the CM7000 was the only one that did an add on scan...but the RS does it too....sooooo guess I didnt need to buy the CM7000....ehhh
 
Location:Decatur, Texas
Converter Box:DTVPal Echostar
Antenna:TV40 with a Terk Antenna combined
Channels (these are peaked strengths
2.1 KDTN-DT 99%
4.1 KDFW-DT 98%
4.2 KDFW-SD 98%
5.1 KXAS-DT 100%
5.2 KXAS-SD 100%
8.1 WFAA-DT 97%
8.2 WFAA-SD 97%
8.3 WFAA-3 97%
11.1 KTVT-DT 100%
12.1 KXII-DT 100% (CAUGHT E-SKIPS)
12.2 KXII-SD 100%
12.3 KXII-3 100%
13.1 KERA-HD 100%
21.1 KTXA-DT 98%
23.1 KUVN-DT 100%
26.1 (DONT KNOW) 100%
27.1 KDFI-DT 100%
29.1 KMPX-DT 100%
33.1 KDAF-DT 98%
33.2 LATV 98%
39.1 39-KXTX 100%
47.1 KTAQ-DT 100%
49.1 KSTR-DT 100%
52.1 KFWD-DT 100%
54.1 KLDT-DT 100%
KDTX-DT-DT5 100%
KPXD-DT-DT4 100%
 
I got the GE model (Made in China) yesterday. With the coupon it came to just over $21. I used to never get 55, however on the converter, the reception is great. I get nothing from channel 26 at all. I can still get KRIV by simply changing the channel on the TV to 26. It comes in clears as ever, until, of course when late February 09 comes around. The KPRC channels are much better. Overall, it seems okay. I really didn't have a choice. I bought it at Target. They only have two to choose from. The other had a remote which was no bigger than a Zippo lighter in width and a Bic lighter in length. That was way too small to deal with.

I have the same Radio Shack antenna I had for the analog. However, I am considering the smart antenna device. I do not know anything about the smart antenna, though. Any thoughts on the smart antenna?

I haven't used my other coupon. I have two more coupons coming to my mother's address.
 
Have yet to find a smart antenna anywhere.

I would highly recommend this one...

DB2 Antenna

Indoor/ outdoor antenna that I use indoors and stations all come in near 90% with a preamplifier (75% without) and I live outside of Houston metro. This antenna isn't pretty but it does the job for a great price.
 
Thanks for thew info. However, I really do not want to drill any holes to the outside. Also, I want to be able to do this without a lot of effort.
 
Did you just lean it up against a wall. Also, what about a pre-amp which would boost the signal in?
 
Chuck Tiller said:
Thanks for thew info. However, I really do not want to drill any holes to the outside. Also, I want to be able to do this without a lot of effort.
Click to expand...

That's fine; just wanted you to know that the choice was yours, not the residence Nazis' HOA's.
 
Chuck Tiller said:
Did you just lean it up against a wall. Also, what about a pre-amp which would boost the signal in?
Click to expand...

yep, you can set it anywhere. I liked this antenna cause occasionally it was able to pull in the Victoria stations at 25.1 - 25.4 and this was indoors. I bought 50 ft of cable and set it behind the sofa.

A good preamp is the Channel Master 7777, which is a bit pricey at $69.95. You can get the DB2 sister the Eagle Aspen for $13.95 at SummitSource.com. Same antenna, just a different name... I've had both. SS return policy isn't the usual 30 day or whatever, it's 7 so if you think you might return it go with Amazon.com, etc.

Like I said, without the preamp you'll get all the stations minus ION 49 only because it sits at 5.1 digitally and is virtually impossible to bring in. Without the preamp shouldn't be a problem in town but I'm looking for the best possible signal so I opted for the preamp.

Just my 2 cents.
 
Regarding eskipper's

26.1 (DONT KNOW) 100%

that may have been 26 from Waco (have seen it here in Fort Worth) or if it was TBN maybe the LP in Wichita Falls. (??)
 
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