Tips For Choosing a DTV Converter Box
Time is ticking away. There are only 224 days left until the end of most analog television broadcasts, and many of you still aren’t ready.
“TV is about to become complicated,” said Phillip Swan, author of TV dot COM: The Future of Interactive TV and founder of TVPredictions.com.
Consumer concerns over buying and installing converter boxes that will allow televisions to pick up the new digital signals are coming in force, said Swan and Joel Kelsey, policy analyst for Consumers Union.
“We’re hearing a lot of confusion in the marketplace,” Kelsey said.
Over 1 million of the $40 DTV coupons offered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration have expired without being used, according to the NTIA website. (The coupons have a 90-day expiration date by law.) These coupons are available to help offset the cost of purchasing a DTV converter and are available to all households in the US.
Many consumers also are finding out (often too late) that many big box retailers only stock one or two of the coupon eligible boxes which leaves no room for comparison shopping. Lots of stores are also not carrying enough stock to satisfy consumer demand leaving folks out of luck once their coupons expire.
And some are finding they need an upgrade to their antenna once they buy the converter boxes to get some of the channels they had over the air before, Swan said.
Buying a DTV converter box
Here are a few good tips on how to choose a digital converter box:
Don’t wait. You need to begin start shopping immediately after ordering your coupons, which take two to three weeks to be mailed. This will give you time to find the best model to meet your needs so you can be prepared once your coupons arrive. Be aware that coupons expire after 90 days. One million coupons have already expired without being redeemed.
Be aware of the features you need. If it’s important to you to have a good program guide, a universal remote control or a button on your remote to choose whether you want your programming in full screen or letterbox, you must keep those features in mind when reading reviews or shopping.
Shopping online gives you more choices. “We ended up buying a lot online because it was the easiest way,” CU’s Kelsey said. Many big-box retailers have only one or two brands available at their stores, while online retailers will have many more brands and models so you can find the features you need at a price that fits your budget. This can also help save you money buy not burning gas to drive around the stores in your area shopping for boxes.
Get an Energy Star rated product. Digital converter boxes that have earned the Energy Star label by the Environmental Protection Agency consume no more than 8 watts of electricity in “on” mode and 1 in “sleep” mode. They also automatically power down after four hours or less of user inactivity. Look for the label to confirm that it has met program qualifications.
Install your converter box before upgrading your antenna. Don’t buy a new antenna until you have determined whether you need it. If you live far from the broadcast tuners and are not receiving all of your desired channels with the converter box, consider getting a smart antenna, Sedmak advised. To see whether you may have poor reception, go to antennaweb.org and type in your ZIP code. The Web site provides a mapping program from the Consumer Electronics Association and the National Association of Broadcasters that locates the proper outdoor antenna to receive your local television broadcast channels. SummitSource.com also carries a HUGE selection of antennas so you can receive crystal clear HDTV broadcasts for free.
Best converter boxes
Consumer Reports recently rated the best TV converter box in a variety of areas, including the quality of the program guide, whether it has a universal remote control, whether it makes adding new channels easy and whether an AV cable is included. The models that ranked at the top for best picture quality, defined as those capable of images that come close to DVD quality are the following:
The Sansonic FT300A, which retails for $54.95 and the Philco TB 100HH9, which retails for $59.95. Both of these units are available at many online retailers for your convenience. (By Aaron McCann, a 15 year veteran of the technology and media industries)
What is Digital TV and the Benefits ?
What is Digital TV?
Digital TV represents an alternative method of transmitting the pictures and sounds that make up a television broadcasts. Programme information is converted and compressed into a digital format, using much less space on the airwaves than an analogue transmission. The signal is reduced to a binary code (the same as in a computer) therefore the quality and consistency of the signal can be improved over the analogue equivalent.
Broadcasting programmes in this way enables multiple television channels to be carried in the space used currently by a single analogue channel, making more channels and features available to viewers. Digital images are also much clearer and sharper than standard analogue images, and can broadcast programmes in a widescreen format. Some of the extra capacity in the airwaves is used by digital broadcasters to send extras such as Electronic Programme Guides (EPG) and other interactive services.
Digital signals can be received by standard TV aerials, satellite dishes or fibre-optic cables. All signals sent to a household are decoded by either a separate receiver, or a receiver that is built into a television set. The separate receivers are commonly known as set-top boxes, and sit outside your current television set. A TV set that has its own digital receiver is called an integrated digital TV set, mostly referred to as an iDTV set.
What are the benefits of Digital TV?
Better picture quality and reception
Digital TV is a new, more versatile form of sending information. Using the digital model, signals are more compact than the current analogue system; this allows for multiple channels to occupy the same air space that a single analogue channel currently resides in. Digital television benefits from a better image and sound quality than analogue TV, and reception is less affected by the weather.
A greater number of channels
The streamlined nature of digital broadcasting means that more channels can be received through the standard TV aerial. There are still many channels which still cannot currently get Five on terrestrial switchover will see the digital signal boosted, providing more people with more choice and more channels.
and interactive features
The space-efficiency of the digital signal also allows for extras like interactive services, such as TV schedules, to be streamed in parallel with the standard channels. Most set-top boxes support an electronic programme guide (EPG), an on-screen TV guide which provides information on the programme you are currently watching, such as start/finish times and when the next programme is due to start.
Many EPGs also have features tailored for hearing and visually impaired viewers, including audio description, subtitles, on-screen signing and talking EPGs. Digital subscribers with Sky or Virgin can take advantage of other interactive services such as TV shopping, emails, games and banking.
To ensure that these benefits are enjoyed by all…
…the Government is committed to achieving switchover between 2008 and 2012 ensuring universal access to high quality free-to-view and subscription television. This will happen region by region, with estimated dates for switchover clearly defined so that viewers are aware of when the old signal will be turned off in their area.
Can I record Digital TV?
Using a Scart lead, you should be able to record programmes broadcast on digital TV using a VCR in the same way you would normally. Some VCRs will be unable to make use of features such as time-shift recording with digital transmissions.
Many digital receivers have the ability to record and store digital TV on their own internal hard drives – these types of set-top boxes are Digital Video Recorders, or DVRs. DVRs are also sometimes called PVRs (Personal Video Recorders) there is no difference between a DVR and a PVR, they are simply different names for the same thing.
Some DVRs, such as the Sky+ box, allow viewers to pause and rewind live TV as well as record for watching at a later date. The amount of live TV that can be saved on a DVR varies, depending on the brand. The capacity of a DVR is usually measured in the number of hours of live TV that can be stored.
What is HD TV?
Digital users will also be able to receive High Definition TV, or HDTV. HDTV sets can display greater detail than normal. An HD image is sharper and more lifelike, and creates a better impression of depth than a standard image.
There are currently two types of HDTV sets; ‘HD Ready’ and ‘HD Compatible.’ The HD Ready logo ensures that the TV has the minimum screen resolution and compatible HDMI or DVI sockets in order to receive and display HDTV. HD Compatible sets have to have the necessary HDMI or DVI sockets to receive digital but don’t have to have the required display resolution to display HDTV.
Having an HDTV set also allows you to enjoy the superior picture and sound quality afforded by new high-definition video formats such as HD DVD and Blu-Ray. Source: http://www.digital-tv.co.uk
Choose digital tv converter box
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10 Best Digital TV Antenna
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Digital TV Make Frustrate?
Since the digital transition last month, Olga Nava said she has had nothing but problems with her television.
After deciding to purchase a digital converter box instead of paying for cable, the San Antonian said she has gone through two antennas, with neither having much luck finding a signal.
“I’m not going to spend any more on an antenna,” she said Friday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on West Commerce Street, where volunteers offered advice and help to senior citizens still confused about the conversion to digital signals. “I don’t like the digital. To me, they made a big mistake.”
Nava was one of several who regularly attend the senior citizens center at the church for lunch, bingo or dancing. But on Friday, the day’s activities were dedicated to helping them understand the digital transition that took effect June 12.
Melissa Palacios, DTV project coordinator for the William C. Velasquez Institute, said many people in San Antonio still don’t have a strong television signal. The deadline, she said, to apply for a coupon to purchase a digital converter box is Friday.
“The FCC funded nonprofit community action groups to help with DTV because we know the community best,” Palacios said. “It’s a good thing because this has been a bit of a search-and-rescue mission with many people still having problems.”
Palacios said the FCC believed San Antonio was well-prepared for the digital TV transition, but senior citizens and Spanish-speaking citizens continue to have problems with their converter boxes, obtaining government coupons or understanding what has happened.
The South Texas Resource and Assistance Center also had representatives at the event, offering to help with coupon applications and signing up people who need their converter boxes installed.
STRAC will continue to help with installation after the Friday deadline, officials said.
Despite months of preparation, information about last month’s transition didn’t reach many senior citizens and Spanish-speaking communities, said Imelda Morales, San Antonio’s campaign coordinator for the Leadership Conference for Civil Rights.
“Someone helping you in person is different than hearing it on the radio or seeing it on TV,” Morales said. “This is very foreign for them and they need real people to help them.”
For more information, call the LCCR at (210) 237-5119. For free installation, call STRAC at (830) 393-7888.
Source: mysanantonio.com
Digital TV Converter Box Resources
Try your converter box as soon as you get it home to start watching digital television immediately and to troubleshoot potential problems. The Web sites below offer help in identifying and solving potential issues. If you are having problems with reception, call your local broadcast station. For general information about the DTV transition, visit www.dtv.gov or call 1-888-CALL-FCC (voice) or 1-888-TELL-FCC (TTY).
www.dtv.gov – DTV related consumer resources, outreach tools, publications, news, and more can be found here.
www.digitaltips.org – Visit the Consumer Electronics Association’s Web site which includes a “Quick Start Guide” to install a TV converter box and other useful tools.
www.dtvanswers.com – DTV Answers offers more information about television’s analog shut-off, including resources to help choose an antenna, converter box details, videos and more.
www.ceretailers.org – Visit the Consumer Electronics Retailers Coalition and download a special “Consumer Guide” on the DTV transition.
www.dtvtransition.org – Take an online quiz to find out if you are ready for the DTV transition or access an extensive list of online DTV resources.
www.getreadyfordigitaltv.com – Useful information and television spots provided by the National Cable & Telecommunications Association.
www.ncta.com – The National Cable & Telecommunications Association Web site.
www.lptvanswers.com – A helpful resource on low-power television stations. Find low-power stations in your area and download a guide to low-power issues.
Study on digital-to-analog converter boxes
Dallas – A recently released tracking study on digital-to-analog converter boxes from Digital Tech Consulting (DTC) found that nearly 7 million units shipped during the second quarter of 2009.
The market research firm said the results were actually “healthier than expected.”
An update to the study shows that nearly 45 million D/A converter boxes have shipped into retail outlets from the beginning of the coupon program through the second quarter of 2009.
“Given the high number of coupon applications received in June and the first part of July, it is likely that several million more will ship through year end,” stated Myra Moore, DTC principal.
With the largest portion of the transition now complete in the largest market in world, DTC said that more activity waits D/A converter box makers. With the exception of Germany, The Netherlands and a handful of smaller Western European countries, the rest of the world has yet to pull the analog TV plug, DTC observes.
Some 79 percent of the countries in the world have yet to start commercial digital terrestrial TV (DTT) transmissions, although 42 percent have pledged to do so in the near future.
Still, no one market offers the same potential that U.S. transition did and not all countries have made a digital TV system conversion a priority at this time.
However, DTC pointed out, companies selling DTT receivers “don’t have to worry about the well going dry just yet. From 2010 to 2013, some populous and/or prosperous countries are scheduled to shut off their analog systems — among them Canada, the U.K., France, Ireland, Italy, Spain and South Korea.”
A significant number of countries are now testing, building, or planning a system, DTC said.
“Equipment suppliers will just have to work a little harder to tailor solutions to individual countries that will likely make their jobs harder by building systems that will vary slightly from country to country,” Moore observed. “Plus, the transition has already been completed for the U.S., which has 100 million TV households. Not many of those kinds of TV household penetrations left in the world — oh, except for China.”
For information on acquiring the full report, contact Myra Moore at myra@dtcreports.com. Source
Get your digital TV converter box coupons
July 31 is the deadline to apply for the $40 discount on converter boxes for analog television sets, the Commerce Department says.
Been staring at a blank TV picture since June 12, when broadcasters switched to all-digital?
That’s a likely sign the television is of the old analog type and can’t process digital signals without a converter box. The federal government has been issuing $40 coupons that nearly offset the price of the boxes, which are available online and in many consumer electronics stores.
But next week could be your last chance to get in on the discount program. The Commerce Department says it will accept applications for coupons only through Friday. Applications are taken online at www.dtv2009.gov, and each household can receive a maximum of two coupons.
If you use a cable or satellite service for television and plan to stay with it, you don’t have to worry. Those services are already providing the conversion.
If you have a fairly new TV set, it’s probably digital already; if so, no box is needed.
The folks in need of converter boxes are those with older, analog sets who get their TV via over-the-air broadcasts. Source: latimes.com
