Our digital converter box has a coax connector labled “in from antenna” and a different type of input for a smart antenna, what are these?

Liz recently asked a question on TVConversionHelp

I have received my coupons and am now waiting to get my converter boxes,there is a waiting list, however when I saw one (rca) I noticed it has a coax connector for “in from antenna” and a different type of input for a smart antenna, what are these? Is the coax for my outdoor pole antenna? Where would I get a “smart Antenna” and if over the air antenna’s will no longer be functional, why the coax input?



Hello Liz,

I’ve just recently heard of this smart antenna option being available on Converter Boxes. I’m going to post something directly from Wikipedia that best explains what a Smart Antenna setup is.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_antenna
In 2008, the United States National Telecommunications and Information Administration began a major effort to persuade consumers to purchase digital television converter boxes.[1] Through this effort, many people have been exposed to the concept of smart antennas for the first time. In the context of consumer electronics, a “smart antenna” is one that conforms to the EIA/CEA-909 Standard Interface, such as the model DTA-5000 marketed by Sylvania.[2]

My honest opinion? I’d stick with a regular antenna setup (and I consider myself….somewhat tech savvy).

Anyway, to answer your coax question, yes, you can hook up your coax cable from your outdoor antenna to the converter box. The honest truth about regular antennas and DTV antennas is that they are basically one and the same. Other than some tricky marketing, there isn’t anything that’s different about an advertised DTV antenna and an antenna not marketed as a DTV antenna.

Good luck and let me know if this helps.

Jay


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    Comments

    One Response to “Our digital converter box has a coax connector labled “in from antenna” and a different type of input for a smart antenna, what are these?”

    1. George on October 14th, 2008 8:24 am

      I live less than 5 miles outside Washington, D.C., and recently purchased the Apex DT250A converter box. A good set of rabbit ears (VHF/UHF loop) works generally OK - BUT must be adjusted from time to time even when a “relatively” stable signal from a given local digital broadcast station falls in the “good” range. The signal strength meter almost constantly indicates minor (sometimes larger) changes in strength, but then unexpectedly the signal drops to zero for no apparent reason(s) and the picture “freezes” or is lost completely. Will a “smart antenna” (like the RCA ANT2000) really help me (if I can even find one) or will it suffer the same issues? If not the RCA ANT2000, then is there any other “smart antenna” which would actually work better? Some reports I’ve come across indicate the ANT2000 works at least to a degree, and others indicated it didn’t do anything better than a $3 dollar set of “rabbit ears.”

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