Recent DTV Forum Questions: My TV isn’t on the DTV List - My Coupon was Declined - Converter Box Returns
Here are some recent questions and answers from our DTV Forum,
My TV was built in 1992 and is not is not on the list I recieved w/ my coupon. I tried to look it up on the web I ended up w/ things that had nothing to do with it. I use rabbit ears and am hopeful the box will help w/ the channels I can’t get at all or well.
Find the Answer Here: DTV Answer
i tried to use my coupon on the last day, (today, 8-19-2008) and it was declined. the retail store i went to had converters on the shelf. what gives? am i just out the $40? coupon won’t be any better after expiration date will it?
Find the Answer Hee: DTV Answer
Today I went to Best Buy and purchased two DTV converter boxes. In addition to the two coupons I had to pay $48.86 additional. When I returned home my wife said that the value of each card is $40.00 and I didn’t have to pay anything. I find out now that Best Buy only carries a higher quality converter box and that’s why the extra cost. I returned to the store and returned the two boxes and got my $48.86 back. However, they could not return the two government issued cards because they were already possessed. Now they have $80.00 of my money that they will not return to me. The government letter containing the two cards says that they cannot be replaced. What should I do, if anything ?
Find the Answer Here: DTV Answer
Converter Box Help: I’m having problems connecting the box to my TV?
A recent question was emailed to us about connecting a converter box:
I purchased the Insignia conversion box at Best Buy and followed the directions to connect but it doesn’t work. I got no signal. I tried calling Best Buy but they don’t answer their phone. The back of my TV has three connectors — red, white and yellow, plus an antenna connector. I also put the battery in the remote that can with the converter box. I plugged everything in but nothing happened.
I’ll suggest a few things here that’ll seem simple about your digital-to-analog converter box, but it’s best to start from scratch.
#1 Make sure the adapter for the converter box is plugged to an outlet and the converter box is powered on.
#2 Make sure the three prong red, white, and yellow connector cord (also known as an RCA connection) from the converter box output is connected to the TV input correctly. (For those of you with a coax connection, you will use a single coax cord instead.)
#3 Your TV will need to be set to a certain channel to be able to view what the converter box is outputing. Try testing different TV channels like channel 2,3, or 4? Sometimes, some TV’s have to be set to different channels than the standard channel 4.
#4 Just thought of this one. Is there an “Input” button on the remote of the TV? If so, try pressing it a couple of times. If you have the connectors connected to the VCR input on the TV, it may require you to press the input button on the remote to select the required input for viewing.
I’ve found some installation videos that you may want to take a look at when you get a chance. After hooking up about five of these boxes now for various friends and family members, I’ve only had two converter boxes function perfectly after installation. The other three had reception issues.
Recent DTV Questions: New DTV but bad digital reception? Converter for VCR?
Queston #1: New DTV but bad digital reception?
Hi,
We recently purchased a new Digital TV and currently use it with rabbit ears. We get pretty good analog reception. We DO NOT have cable. Whenever we switch it to the digital channels our digital reception stinks and is very intermittant (NO SIGNAL) or very pixilated. When the changeover comes in Feb. will we have to get cable in order to get good digital reception?
Mags
Answer: Hi Mags, unless you live more than 125 miles from a broadcast tower, it’s highly doubtful that you’ll have to get cable.
You may have to invest in a powered antenna ($15-$25) to see if that helps with reception. I suggest purchasing one from a store that has a good return policy just in case the antenna doesn’t help. TV reception can be affected by trees, buildings, and weather so you may want place your antenna in a location to avoid for such obstructions.
I had a situation quite similar to yours before I added a powered antenna to my DTV. On my setup at home, I purchased a brand new high defnition Mitsubishi 1080P flat panel television set with a built in digital tuner (no converter required). When I plugged the TV in I was quite shocked to find that it only received half of the digital channels available without an antenna.
After doing some research, I found that the television broadcast tower was located less than 10 miles from our house! I went online and purchased a $40 antenna, and after hooking it up, 95% of the channels were now coming through. So I sent that antenna back, and purchased a heavier duty antenna, and haven’t looked back since.
Let us know what you decide to do when you get a chance.
Question #2: Converter for TV connected to VCR used to watch VCR movies Only?
have a T.V. set that will only play VCR’s, no channels- i keep so the grandkids can have each their own program- will i need a converter box for that one? AM getting one for the t.v. that recieves channels. thank you - sally
Answer: Hello Sally, great question!
If you only use this television for viewing VCR tapes, you will not need a digital converter. If you should ever decide to upgrade to a DVD player you still will not need a digital converter box either.
The only instance where you would need a digital converter box would be if you were using the TV to view television broadcasts/channels over-the-air (through an antenna).
Thanks again for visiting and let me know if you have any other questions,
Jay
DTV Forum - Join the Growing Community
With the recent amount of questions pouring in about DTV and the digital transtion, we here at TVConversinhelp have decided to open a new website: DTV USA Forum
Join for free, and participate in the growing community dedicated to sharing information and resources related to digital television to the following topics:
DTV 2009 (The Digital Transition) - Ask questions or comment on the switch to digital television in the following categories: Government Coupon Questions, Converter Box General Questions, Converter Box (Reviews - Ratings - Specific Questions), DTV Reception, and anything else related to DTV.
Cable and Satellite Providers - Discuss and/or ask questions about your cable or satellite provider (such as Cox Communications, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Direct TV, Dish Network, Insight Communications, and all other cable and satellite providers…)
Television Sets (DTV, HDTV, etc.) - Are you thinking about purchasing a newer television set? Get information and advice from this section on the many different types of television sets (such as flat screen televisions - LCD or Plasma - or if you’re considering a more traditional television like a rear projection crt or dlp type set, we’ve got you covered)
All Other Home Entertanment Equipment - With the many different type of DVD players and audio home entertainment equipment on the market, it can be quite confusing to make a choice! We have a whole section of this part of the forum dedicated to video games (ie: Wii, XBOX 360, PS3, PS2, etc.) as well.
Television Programming - Destined to be a popular spot to chat about your favorite ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, or any other favorite network television show.
How do I connect a converter box to a TV with screws on the back?
Mark recently posted a question:
We have an old tv that we have used “rabbit ears on”. The antena wire “rabbit ears” are
attached to the tv with two screws on the tv set.The converter box we just bought is to “plug” into a set with RCA Connections. Is there another addapter plug we can buy?
Hello Mark, and thanks for visiting,
After days of searching, I think I’ve found a solution for you!
The type of screw type connectors that you have on the back of your analog television are called 300 ohm leads. I believe you can purchase a Coaxial Cable Push-On Balun 75 - 300 Ohm Adapter (Here’s a link to one, I haven’t verified this actual shopping site, so buyer beware, but I’m sure you can find one at your local radio shack or online retailer (Here’s a link to an online retailer that sells one http://www.summitsource.com/coaxial-cable-pushon-balun-75-300-ohm-adapter-with-quick-f-connect-matching-signal-transformer-balum-75300-ohm-p-5650.html)
You’ll want to connect the converter to the coax connection on the adapter, then connect a 300 ohm flat wire stripped or wire spade lugs under screw terminals on the adapter and then on the television and tighten.
Let me know if this helped!
Jay
Digital Converter Box Installation Help Videos (and help with connecting to a VCR)
Here are some great digital converter box installation videos I’ve found on youtube. If you’re on a dial up connection, you may have to wait a few minutes for the videos to load after you press play.
This first installation is a basic digital converter box to an analog television set. The converter box model is a RCA DTA 800 which has the typical inputs/outputs that most other converter boxes come with.
This second video explains how to connect your digital converter box to a VCR or DVD recorder. Again, the converter box model is a RCA DTA 800 with the typical inputs/outputs that most other converter boxes have.
DTV Answers: Where are the Converter Boxes? Weak Signal? Can I Install The Converter Box Now?
In an effort to answer all of the recent questions about DTV and the digital transition, TVConversionHelp will start combining email questions into one single answer/post.
Question: I applied for and received two coupons for the converters. It plainly states on the coupons that they expire on 07/11/2008. Today, July 9, we attempted to purchase the converters. When we did find a store where they were available, the clerk scanned the cards and told us they were no good.
Answer: Demand has really exceeded supply with these converter boxes! The last 5 emails I’ve received have been about the lack of available options for purchasing converter boxes as well. My only suggestion as of right now would be to possibly purchase from an online retailer.
In your case, it’s probably already too late. You’re going to have to try contacting someone at www.dtv2009.gov with your complaint about the coupons.
Question: Based on what I have seen of DTV over the two months I have been trying to switch over from analog, it stinks on ice.
After I put the converter boxes (Zenith DTT900s) in line with our two television sets, roughly half the stations came up as “no signal” and the signal put out by the rest was so inconsistent that the signal strength bar would go from maybe the 1/3rd point to marginally good and back every few seconds. First thing to go is the audio. Next, the picture freezes and then breaks down into pixels.
Is this all I can expect from DTV?
Answer: I feel your pain! We live in the metro area of Arizona, and have to physically get up and move around the antenna placed behind our television cabinet every once in a while to receive a good signal for digital television. This next weekend I’m planning to route a coax cable to our attic, and relocating the antenna up there as well. Lots of work for a supposedly “easy” change over.
According to most online news articles/reports, research indicates 54 percent of OTA households may have to upgrade their antennas to continue receiving an off-air signal post transition and it looks like there are no plans to increase the signal strength coming from the broadcast towers. In fact, a story from Boston.com is claiming that cable and satellite service providers are going to benefit greatly after the Digital Television switchover.
Unfortunately, there is no single fix all solution for the signal strength issue. Your best bet will be trial and error with placement of antennas.
Question: Can I install a digital converter box now? Have trouble getting to back of the TV set (I’m 74 yo) and I don’t want to go through it twice.
Answer: Hello, yes, if you install your converter now, you can begin to watch Digital Television immediately.
Most all TV stations and cable providers have already begun broadcasting both analog and digital television, which allows consumers the choice to upgrade ahead of the February 17th, 2009 date. Recent articles are reporting close to 100% of all TV networks are broadcasting in both Analog and Digital.
My TV converter box coupons have expired, what can I do?
A recent email from a TVConversionhelp viewer asked:
My TV converter box coupons expired on June 10, 2008 while I was on vacation and I didnt realize that they had expired what can I do?
Hello,
Unfortunately, it appears from this news article at Consumer Reports(http://blogs.consumerreports.org/electronics/2008/04/dtv-converter-c.html) that the government is unwilling to budge on extending the 90 days given to consumers for using the coupons. If you don’t feel like clicking on the link, here’s a highlight from the article, “Coupons expire 90 days after issue, and if you haven’t used them by then, you’re out of luck. You can’t request a replacement.”
Your best bet though is to contact the government Coupon Program through the following ways:
Call the Coupon Program 24-hour hotline 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009).
Deaf or hard of hearing callers may dial 1-877-530-2634 (English/TTY) or 1-866-495-1161 (Spanish/TTY). TTY Service is available from 9 AM - 9 PM Eastern Time Monday through Friday.
Good luck and let me know if there’s anything I can do to help. You can always voice your opinion about DTV and the converter box coupon program on our forum. Forum Link: http://www.dtvcouponhelp.com/viewforum.php?f=16
Jay
