digital tv converter box???

[weluvdizne]

We will be dropping dish tv and going with the free tv. Wondering which converter box to buy? I'm guessing that like everything else, you get what you pay for. Anyone have one they recommend or advice on what features I should look for? I'd greatly appreciate any pointers. Thanks so much.

 

[PrincessSteph]

I don't have any advise, but our converter box is a Digital Stream that was purchased at Radio Shack prior to conversion. The only problem we have had was that the remote control broke - easily solved.

 

[JB2K]

It's not like one has a lot of choice as retailers usually only carry one brand of digital converter boxes (since there is no longer the demand that once was).

Question to OP: is your TV old (pre-2005) or new? If your set was manufactured after 2005, chances are you won't need the box, to begin with.

 

[WDWisTheBest]

It's not like one has a lot of choice as retailers usually only carry one brand of digital converter boxes (since there is no longer the demand that once was).

Question to OP: is your TV old (pre-2005) or new? If your set was manufactured after 2005, chances are you won't need the box, to begin with.

You are correct. If the set belonging to the OP is manufactured after 2005, then a digital converter box is not needed.

 

[weluvdizne]

We actually have 2 tv's. One is ancient and the other, I think, is new enough not to need the converter box. What do I have to do to try it? Do I just disconnect it from the dish? Do I need an antenna? Sorry, but I have no idea here, we've had cable or dish forever and I am just sick of sending our money to them! Thanks for all your help!

 

[happily single]

I just returned a digital box that I bought from Best Buy. I beleive they only carry one brand and it was "Apex". Bought it and didn't realize I also needed an atantae(sp). While trying to figure it out I had a chance to look at the on-line reviews and not one person recomended it.

Radio Shack did carry another brand for about $59.99.

 

[PrincessSteph]

We do have an antenna (rabbit ears) on our tv. It is nothing special, but we get a decent picture.

 

[sam_gordon]

We actually have 2 tv's. One is ancient and the other, I think, is new enough not to need the converter box. What do I have to do to try it? Do I just disconnect it from the dish? Do I need an antenna? Sorry, but I have no idea here, we've had cable or dish forever and I am just sick of sending our money to them! Thanks for all your help!

Unless you are extremely close to the broadcast towers, you will need some type of antenna. These will range in cost from ~$10 to $100+. It all depends on the range from your house to the broadcast towers. To find that out, go to http://www.tvfool.com. You put in your address, it gives you a chart showing the available channels, how far away they are, and in which direction.

If you are in a city of license (ie: the TV station says 'Buffalo', and you're in Buffalo (or at least it's county)), rabbit ear antennas MIGHT work. The further you are away from the towers, the more work, and potentially more cost you'll find.

 

[cglaura]

Do you happen to be a Netflix or HuluPlus subscriber?

My mom bought me the Roku box for Christmas. I am loving it! I found a bunch of tv shows from the past to watch...Doogie Howser, 30 Something, X-Files. Tons of movies too, though not the most recent, those you have to get the physical dvd. But there are alot of streaming movies to choose from. I have the unlimited streaming and 1 dvd at a time plan, around $10.50/month.

The Hulu Plus I'm getting used to. The navigation seems cumbersome to me. I'm not sure yet if I will keep it past the free 1 month trial. It is $7/month. But has tons of tv shows too, and recent airings of them too. Just not sure if I want another $$ to pay each month.

The box was around $50. I just got the lowest end model. It works great, and I have an ancient 1980s-90s honking crt too

This is off topic a bit, but for Comcast people out there, I found out that basic cable + performance internet is actually $2 less per month than just internet. You get a "bundle" discount even with basic cable...mine together is $57.45...internet alone is $59.95. Crazy!

Anyway, sorry to got OT, but just throwing out the Roku idea in case you were a Netflix person already

 

[seashoreCM]

All TV's require an antenna to get free over the air programming.

You just need the antenna and the converter box to hook up your old TV without cable or dish.

A small number of converter boxes automatically switch channels at different times of day (you specify when) so you can record shows on different channels. Your DVR or VCR stays tuned to the same channel (usually Video In or 3 or 4) but needs matching setting for date, time and length of recordings.

For an old TV with just antenna connection and yellow video jack, the cheapest converters costing about $30. will do. They also make more expensive converters, typicaly $75. to $200. with component video and/or HDMI outpus and high definition video output.

 

[Kirby]

We have two different ones, an APEX which we do not care for and a Zenith which we really like.

 

[MissAndrea]

As far as the antenna thing, we'd rigged tinfoil on ours and hid it behind the TV. I know, it sounds ghetto, but I promise we aren't rednecks. We decided to buy an antenna, and my hubby bought a really good one, and it didn't work near as well as the foil. So we are back to it!

 

[disneychrista]

I just checked out that signal checker and I would get NO network TV channels with an antenna.

 

[sam_gordon]

If you are 60+ miles from the nearest tower that doesn't surprise me. If you are within 30 miles, there should be no issue (unless you're down in a hole). 30-60 is sort of a grey area that you'll need to work on.

If you'd like, PM me your address & zip code and I'll take a quick look and see if there's anything I see obviously wrong.