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If You Get An HDTV Converter Box

L

Laurence Glavin

Guest
My girlfriend had this question amd I didn't hve an answer; maybe somebody out there knows: if you buy one of those HDTV converter boxes to view a digital TV on an analog set, do you also get the subsidiary channels too? People who have full-fledged HDTV sets get not only channel 2 but channels 2.1 and 2.2 if they exist also. If a person uses the government coupon and buys a converter will she get channels 2.1 AND 2.2, for example?
 
Yes, the converter box will receive the -2 and -3 programs on each DTV channel, if the station transmits them.
 
Or in the case of Kebtucky Educational Televison, 6 channels. Beware though...the Zenith model I got from Circuit City will NOT pass analog signals. So all of the LPTV & TV Translator signals you now see (if any) will no longer be watchable unless you physically bypass the converter. Some models do pass analog signals...the Zenith DTT900 does not. The LPTV stations don't have to go digital for a few more years. And for DXers, the analog signals from Mexico & Canada (which also do not need to meet the Feb 2009 deadline) will not be there either. That's a shame...it's an otherwise great, sensitive box with a very responsive Strength Meter that shows signals that are too weak to lock in. Great for tweaking the antenna for best reception.
 
I would be surprised to see LP broadcasters cling to analog too much longer. In many places they are already converting to digital. Where I live, of the three [important] LP stations, two are already digital on separate channels, and the third has the equipment in place to flash-cut on their analog channel (we know this because when their analog went off due to fire one time, they operated digitally for a few days).

Many already have permits to go digital. I think the TBN stations all do and will be flipping the switch at the same time as the full-powered TBN stations do, if not very soon after.

- Trip
 
Use a simple 2-way splitter to feed the antenna to both the STB and the TV. If the TV has audio and video inputs, use them to watch the Digital.

Otherwise, use an A-B switch (about $6 for a manual one, $40 for Radio Shack's IR-controlled one), to switch between the box's modulated output and the antenna.
 
kenglish said:
Use a simple 2-way splitter to feed the antenna to both the STB and the TV. If the TV has audio and video inputs, use them to watch the Digital.

Otherwise, use an A-B switch (about $6 for a manual one, $40 for Radio Shack's IR-controlled one), to switch between the box's modulated output and the antenna.
Click to expand...
Sure, we folks can do that but the lil 'ole granny with rabbit ears isn't going to be up for that task. I was unaware that many LP's were ready to go digital well in advance of their required date. Smart move on their part...
 
Try this...

First, take a splitter and connect the TV antenna to the input and one port to the DTV converter.
Then, take a second splitter and use it as a combiner. Put the unconnected output of the first splitter into one of the ports, and the output of the DTV converter into the other. Put the combined output into the TV antenna input. Set the DTV converter to an uuued TV channel. Now you can get EVERY analog channel on it's normal channel and the DTV channels on the converter's channel.
 
BobOnTheJob said:
Or in the case of Kebtucky Educational Televison, 6 channels. Beware though...the Zenith model I got from Circuit City will NOT pass analog signals. So all of the LPTV & TV Translator signals you now see (if any) will no longer be watchable unless you physically bypass the converter. Some models do pass analog signals...the Zenith DTT900 does not. The LPTV stations don't have to go digital for a few more years. And for DXers, the analog signals from Mexico & Canada (which also do not need to meet the Feb 2009 deadline) will not be there either. That's a shame...it's an otherwise great, sensitive box with a very responsive Strength Meter that shows signals that are too weak to lock in. Great for tweaking the antenna for best reception.
Click to expand...

That is the DTT900's only real fault. It's a great box otherwise, very sensitive. I set both of mine up so that they feed the A/V inputs of the tv's (can use VCR inputs for sets w/o A/V inputs). I split the antenna signal to allow continued analog viewing, which is necessary in my case, as a few Philadelphia stations are not powerful enough for consistent DT viewing. Highly recommend the DTT900 to anyone looking for a quality box. Spring for the extra 10 bucks, it's well worth it!
 
tripinva said:
I would be surprised to see LP broadcasters cling to analog too much longer. In many places they are already converting to digital. Where I live, of the three [important] LP stations, two are already digital on separate channels, and the third has the equipment in place to flash-cut on their analog channel (we know this because when their analog went off due to fire one time, they operated digitally for a few days).

Many already have permits to go digital. I think the TBN stations all do and will be flipping the switch at the same time as the full-powered TBN stations do, if not very soon after.

- Trip
Click to expand...

Yeah HEAVEN forbid "GOD TV" is not seen by those with DTVs!!!!! nothing educational....just PRAISE THE LORD AND PASS THE LOOT!!!
 
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