Trying to go TVless-best converter box

01-10-2010, 10:30 AM	#1
Bill7 Member   Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: NW Minnesota Posts: 109	Trying to go TVless-best converter box Well, dishless at least. I know we missed out on the coupon stuff. Older TVs need the digital converter, correct? Our "big" TV (32 in) is a minimum of 12-15 yo, but still gets great picture. Which are the good converter boxes? Is quality an issue with some? Thanks!

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01-10-2010, 07:57 PM	#2
gregzoll Average Joe/ex-Navy IC3     Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Midwest - Central Illinois Posts: 9,273	Trying to go TVless-best converter box Consumerreports.com and also you can check out AVSforums.com. Consumer reports is the best biased opinion out there.

01-10-2010, 10:12 PM	#3
Bill7 Member   Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: NW Minnesota Posts: 109	Trying to go TVless-best converter box Thanks... I went to the .gov site, and according to their maps, we should get good-very good reception. Thanks again, Bill

01-11-2010, 07:45 AM	#4
gregzoll Average Joe/ex-Navy IC3     Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Midwest - Central Illinois Posts: 9,273	Trying to go TVless-best converter box Antennaweb.org is another site that helps in knowing strength. Keep in mind, Digital in some areas is a weaker signal, so even if you have a high tower, and large enough antenna, some far distant channels may not always come in, and will Pixelate.

01-11-2010, 08:04 AM	#5
DangerMouse the Musigician     Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: I'm right here! Posts: 10,404	Trying to go TVless-best converter box Quote: Originally Posted by gregzoll Consumer reports is the best biased opinion out there. boy, you can say that again..... DM __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]Click To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. to see some of my original magic tricks and trick boxes!

01-11-2010, 12:06 PM	#6
pyper Member   Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 949	Trying to go TVless-best converter box I noticed all the converter boxes I could find locally have only a composite output, but composite doesn't work well with my TV, which has an HDMI input. I got a DVD recorder with a digital tuner. No converter box necessary.

01-11-2010, 12:22 PM	#7
jerryh3 Member   Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 1,802	Trying to go TVless-best converter box Quote: Originally Posted by pyper I noticed all the converter boxes I could find locally have only a composite output, but composite doesn't work well with my TV, which has an HDMI input. I got a DVD recorder with a digital tuner. No converter box necessary. Your TV has a HDMI input but not a digital tuner?

01-11-2010, 01:11 PM	#8
gregzoll Average Joe/ex-Navy IC3     Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Midwest - Central Illinois Posts: 9,273	Trying to go TVless-best converter box That would be because if a set has a ATSC or QAM tuner, you do not need a ATSC OTA converter box.

01-11-2010, 01:18 PM	#9
pyper Member   Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 949	Trying to go TVless-best converter box Quote: Originally Posted by jerryh3 Your TV has a HDMI input but not a digital tuner? Yes. For some period of time before they finalized the digital broadcast standard they were selling HD sets with analog tuners and HDMI input.

01-11-2010, 07:34 PM	#10
gregzoll Average Joe/ex-Navy IC3     Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Midwest - Central Illinois Posts: 9,273	Trying to go TVless-best converter box They still do. All sets still come NTSC/ATSC/QAM tuners.

01-11-2010, 08:41 PM	#11
jerryh3 Member   Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 1,802	Trying to go TVless-best converter box Quote: Originally Posted by gregzoll They still do. All sets still come NTSC/ATSC/QAM tuners. What question are you answering?

01-11-2010, 10:27 PM	#12
gregzoll Average Joe/ex-Navy IC3     Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Midwest - Central Illinois Posts: 9,273	Trying to go TVless-best converter box Look one above the one that you are questioning.

01-12-2010, 05:24 AM	#13
jerryh3 Member   Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 1,802	Trying to go TVless-best converter box Quote: Originally Posted by gregzoll Look one above the one that you are questioning. OK. I thought you meant that they ONLY come with analog tuners.

01-12-2010, 07:55 AM	#14
gregzoll Average Joe/ex-Navy IC3     Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Midwest - Central Illinois Posts: 9,273	Trying to go TVless-best converter box TV sets have not come with Analog only tuners for around 5 years now.