Comments on: Zenith DTT900 converts digital TV signals to analog, extends life of older TVs

By: jesuschrist

jesuschrist — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 00:19:40 +0000

Don’t waste your money if your reception now is so-so. I get channels 6(abc) 11(nbc)15(fox) pretty good with my antenna, but the digital box cannot pickup any digital channels. I know they are their cause everyone else can get them. Only buy these boxes if you get perfect reception!

By: BL Mac

BL Mac — Mon, 19 May 2008 18:36:49 +0000

Unfortunately Digital output for broadcast is substantially lower than that of regular Analog broadcast. By best estimates about 10% of the former broadcast watts will be “allowed” by the FCC. This is to give (presumably) more broadcasters the opportunity to license in a particular market. This also gives the government more control and more licensing fees for each broadcast channel.

The Bandwidth that is used in Digital is almost 1% (actually 2.65%) of what normal Analog Broadcast took including the FM band.

Now with the capability to broadcast over 2000 channels in such a dense medium it is no brainer to understand why the government has gone this route.

Sorry but you will have to amplify your receiver a lot more than normal to get even a portion of what you received before. What is interesting is that most broadcasters are adding about 3 channels for every Analog they are taking off. If you were close enough to the transmitter you should receive not just 1 channel for channel but up to 5 or 10 channels for every channel you saw before. Mainly because new broadcasters at lower costs and at least 3 channels for every old…… ie Channel 30 becomes 30.1, 30.3 and 30.7. I am trying to figure out how to amplify all my reception too. A lot of growing pains to go through. Most communities are trying to get everyone to go to paid plans it seems (Cable, Satellite, Internet) Viva la Open Source…..

By: Signal2

Signal2 — Fri, 09 May 2008 00:49:40 +0000

I too live in the High desert of So. Cal., Victorville to be exact. I picked up a converter box primarily for use in the RV. I use Directv for service at home and in the RV, but I thought that when I am camped near a big city in range of the new digital tv transmitters, I can tune into the local tv programming using the converter box on my analog TV. Here in Victorville I did not receive any signals at all. I know that the local UHF translator re-transmits some of the LA stations is analog, but I have not heard if they will continue operation after Feb. 2009 in a digital format. I am surprised that you can pick-up any digital broadcast at all. I venture to say that if you lived within 40-50 mile radius of LA, you would pick many more stations as long as you did not have any major terrain obstructions, mtns etc.

By: Joe

Joe — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 16:35:38 +0000

I purchased my dtv box at circuit city, and the box cost $59.99 but with your coupon you should file for it will cost you about $20.00 per box. I can’t tell you exactly being I bought 2 at one time at the same time.

By: gilloz

gilloz — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 03:52:52 +0000

I got my coupons yesterday and picked up my box today. Unfortunately I am not having any luck with my new box. I live up in the high desert of So. Cal and the closes transmitting towers are about 75 miles. My first box was DOA. The second box only receives 2 channels compare to over 2 dozen channels I can normally view on my TV. My antenna is a multi-element Yagi with a pre-amp for a 20db gain. With that strong of a signal you’d think this box would get more than only 2 channels. Does anyone know how strong a signal is required to make this box function normally?

By: Mitch

Mitch — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 02:55:34 +0000

Here’s a website that has all the converter box and coupon information.

By: Dick M

Dick M — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 16:52:41 +0000

Coupons are available today that have a 90 day expiration date for boxes that are not available in stores. Anyone who requests their coupons today may be out of luck when the boxes finally hit the stores. This is another government foul up simialar to the Passport fiasco.

By: Jack Bauer

Jack Bauer — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 23:37:36 +0000

The boxes will be available at your local electronic retailer starting the first half of this year. Right now you just have to wait until they are available. Also they will range from $40 to $70 bucks. Go to https://www.dtv2009.gov/ for more detailed informantion.

By: leon walker

leon walker — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 22:48:47 +0000

where can you find a box today?

By: leon walker

leon walker — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 22:47:05 +0000

where can one purchase a dtv converter box, today, in los angeles, 90301? how much do these boxes cost?

candymanw@yahoo.com