**DTV Converter Boxes Info & Questions** Thread

[Blzer]

I didn't find any kind of thread for this, and I figured it is a little bigger than just only myself being interested or having already shown interest in buying a TV converter box for digital stations (which all TV stations much switch to by June 12, and supposedly most of them did by February 17).

Now, I have a few questions of my own regarding this for people that know:


- For stations that are still set on the analog station, will we not get the digital conversion until analog is shut off for that station completely?

- Obviously not all stations will suddenly go HD, but for the ones that are already HD (say ESPN, TNT, TBS, etc.), will using one of these boxes just give us a "digital" output, or will it also give us the HD feed as well?

- There seems to be a major discrepancy among the different converter boxes in many of the features, picture quality included. Do you all believe there is a good bet that by June there will be far superior conversion boxes, especially with regards to PQ? The most expensive one being reviewed here is only $80, and I'm more than willing to pay for that if I can assure that I will have and want to have it for a long time without wanting another one later down the line (at least in the short run).



Obviously I don't understand too much about this yet, but I just want to know if I can get an HD signal and not just a somewhat cleaner picture. Of course, I need to make the jump eventually... but I just want to take advantage of it now if the current boxes that are available now will grant me what it is I'm hoping to fulfill through this process.

Thanks for anyone that can help, and feel free to ask anything else (in other words, this isn't my personal thread).

[aholbert32]

Re: **DTV Converter Boxes Info & Questions** Thread

I didn't find any kind of thread for this, and I figured it is a little bigger than just only myself being interested or having already shown interest in buying a TV converter box for digital stations (which all TV stations much switch to by June 12, and supposedly most of them did by February 17).

Now, I have a few questions of my own regarding this for people that know:


- For stations that are still set on the analog station, will we not get the digital conversion until analog is shut off for that station completely?

- Obviously not all stations will suddenly go HD, but for the ones that are already HD (say ESPN, TNT, TBS, etc.), will using one of these boxes just give us a "digital" output, or will it also give us the HD feed as well?

- There seems to be a major discrepancy among the different converter boxes in many of the features, picture quality included. Do you all believe there is a good bet that by June there will be far superior conversion boxes, especially with regards to PQ? The most expensive one being reviewed here is only $80, and I'm more than willing to pay for that if I can assure that I will have and want to have it for a long time without wanting another one later down the line (at least in the short run).



Obviously I don't understand too much about this yet, but I just want to know if I can get an HD signal and not just a somewhat cleaner picture. Of course, I need to make the jump eventually... but I just want to take advantage of it now if the current boxes that are available now will grant me what it is I'm hoping to fulfill through this process.

Thanks for anyone that can help, and feel free to ask anything else (in other words, this isn't my personal thread).

-Many stations have started running the digital signal before they turn off the analog signal. It depends on the station.

-Just a digital output. The digital conversion and HD are two totally different things. You will still need to get a HD cable box if you want HD channels like ESPN and TNT

[Blzer]

Re: **DTV Converter Boxes Info & Questions** Thread

Yeah, I've suddenly realized that. Actually, what I found out is that it is analog output, but digital input. So I could potentially get the HD stations, but it will only be displayed in 480i.

Is there any way to get all of the digital stations though, and not just my local ones? From what I'm experiencing, I can only use an antenna and pick up OTA channels. So is there not a way to get something like ESPN through this box?

Thanks for any help.

[mgoblue]

Re: **DTV Converter Boxes Info & Questions** Thread

Yeah, I've suddenly realized that. Actually, what I found out is that it is analog output, but digital input. So I could potentially get the HD stations, but it will only be displayed in 480i.

Is there any way to get all of the digital stations though, and not just my local ones? From what I'm experiencing, I can only use an antenna and pick up OTA channels. So is there not a way to get something like ESPN through this box?

Thanks for any help.

You're confusing HD with digital. This is dealing with the type of transmission of the signal for local stations. You're not magically going to get ESPN (or other pay content) over the air. You need satellite or cable for that (paying whatever they want for the HD service).

If you're currently using cable or satellite, then you don't need to do jack squat for this transition. The boxes are for people who want to recieve over the air (OTA) local stations and still view them on their old tv's.

[Blzer]

Re: **DTV Converter Boxes Info & Questions** Thread

Oh, really? Well I don't have digital cable, I just have analog (granted, a few digital channels via my built-in tuner). So you mean I really don't need this thing then?

Sounds good to me, I guess I was worried about nothin'.

[mgoblue]

Re: **DTV Converter Boxes Info & Questions** Thread

Oh, really? Well I don't have digital cable, I just have analog (granted, a few digital channels via my built-in tuner). So you mean I really don't need this thing then?

Sounds good to me, I guess I was worried about nothin'.

Assuming all those damn Cox cable commercials I've seen that say if you're getting your stuff from the wall then you're ok. I may be wrong, but since your tv has a digital tuner all ready you should should be all set.

The big worry is just for all those old tv's without digital tuners...

[Blzer]

Re: **DTV Converter Boxes Info & Questions** Thread

Oh, well crap-dee-doo, I got all worried about nothing.

Then I'm only hoping that by June 12, ESPN will be showing up digitally (in HD) on my TV... unless I'm once again mistaken.

[mgoblue]

Re: **DTV Converter Boxes Info & Questions** Thread

Oh, well crap-dee-doo, I got all worried about nothing.

Then I'm only hoping that by June 12, ESPN will be showing up digitally (in HD) on my TV... unless I'm once again mistaken.

Are you currently paying for ESPN through your cable company? Do you pay for HD service? If not, then it won't be happening. You have to pay for HD from satellite or cable providers (and I had to get a special HD cable box). You'll get all the locals in HD, but you should be getting that all ready.

The digital transition doesn't mean that cable or sat companies will be giving away HD for free....

[Blzer]

Re: **DTV Converter Boxes Info & Questions** Thread

Okay, it's half making sense now... I think.

[aholbert32]

Re: **DTV Converter Boxes Info & Questions** Thread

Blzer,

Its really simple. You dont need a converter box. You have cable. On June 12 nothing will change for you. Your channels will look the same as they always did. You wont have HD though. You need a cable or satellite HD box for that.

[p_rushing]

Re: **DTV Converter Boxes Info & Questions** Thread

Also, many stations will be switching to a new channel so you will need to rescan at that point

[GAMEC0CK2002]

Re: **DTV Converter Boxes Info & Questions** Thread

Added benefit of a DTV converter box. If you happen to have a HDTV that does not have analog outs for surround sound on OTA channels, you can use the box to get surround sound. Takes a little bit of work (maybe 3-4 min) but worth it if you have a 5.1 or 7.1 setup.