Converter boxes for new HDTV sets -- which is the best one?
Tockk
remember who) sent me 2 coupons worth $40 each to buy 2 set converters.
Actually, they're plastic cards the size of credit cards, but who cares?
Anyway, I bought a TV antenna from these people last summer for cheap (it
works great), and I'm on their spam list. They've got 6 to choose from.
Anyone know which would be the best to get?
http://www.solidsignal.com/cat_display.asp?main_cat=03&CAT=Digital%20Converter%20Box
Thanks,
-Tock
Fake ID
Probably the CM-7000, for S-Video, whenever it gets around to being
certified. If your TV is really that recent, do you even need a
converter box?
m
Tockk
"Fake ID" <no-...@sonic.net> wrote in message
news:47d617b2$0$36329$742e...@news.sonic.net...
Thanks for the vote . . .
I dunno what S-Video is, but I remember back when the cassette tape was new.
I have a couple TVs -- one is about 5 years old, the other about 12, both
are going strong, and I'm disinclined to spend $900 on another one,
especially since I don't watch that much, and what I do watch isn't worth
paying for.
Anyways, thanks again . . .
-Tock
Logan Shaw
> "Fake ID" <no-...@sonic.net> wrote in message
> news:47d617b2$0$36329$742e...@news.sonic.net...
>> In article <7wlBj.22667$R84....@newssvr25.news.prodigy.net>,
>> Tockk <to...@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>>> Anyone know which would be the best to get?
>>>
>>> http://www.solidsignal.com/cat_display.asp?main_cat=03&CAT=Digital%20Converter%20Box
>> Probably the CM-7000, for S-Video, whenever it gets around to being
>> certified.
> I dunno what S-Video is, but I remember back when the cassette tape was new.
> I have a couple TVs -- one is about 5 years old, the other about 12, both
> are going strong, and I'm disinclined to spend $900 on another one,
Well, do either of those TVs have an input on the back labeled S-Video?
If they do, that's why you might want a converter box with an S-Video
output.
Basically, in order of quality going from best to worst, the various
ways of hooking up a video-producing device to a television are
these:
DVI or HDMI (generally, only digital TVs have these inputs)
Component Video (three cables for the video -- one red, one green, one blue)
S-Video
Composite Video (one cable for the video that carries
all of red, green, and blue; hence the name composite)
RF (usually a screw-on coax cable; requires tuning to ch. 3 or 4;
you often hear the term "RF modulator" associated with this)
Obviously, if you care about picture quality, the higher up the
list the better. You might also want to consider what inputs are
already used for something else (like DVD player, VCR, or whatever)
and which ones are still available.
If I recall correctly, HDMI and RF are the only ones that can also
transmit audio, so if you use any of the others, you need to also
run 2 cables for the sound (or 1 cable if you're doing monophonic
instead of stereo, but your TVs are probably new enough to be
stereo). That means the composite video will turn from 1 cable
into 3, as will the S-Video, and the component will turn from 3
into 5, when you add in the cables for audio.
- Logan
larry
Only problem is that you can't use the fed coupons. Only
converter boxes with rf ch3/4 and/or composite video output
qualify. The set manufactures lobbied to prevent upgrading
with the $40. Otherwise we'd all be gettin atsc usb sticks
and keepin the change ;-)
-- larry / dallas
is anyone selling the qualifying boxes for the $40.00?
walmart is at $49. i still think tv stations will be giving
away free boxes once the fed money runs out.
also, the boxes are software upgradeable, wonder if the
boxes might do more once out of the feds watch?
AllEmailDeletedImmediately
"larry" <f...@foobar.com> wrote in message
news:EfxBj.22713$R84....@newssvr25.news.prodigy.net...
snip
> Only problem is that you can't use the fed coupons. Only converter boxes
> with rf ch3/4 and/or composite video output qualify. The set manufactures
> lobbied to prevent upgrading with the $40. Otherwise we'd all be gettin
> atsc usb sticks and keepin the change ;-)
it think it says on the card that you can't get any money back.
> is anyone selling the qualifying boxes for the $40.00? walmart is at $49.
> i still think tv stations will be giving away free boxes once the fed
> money runs out.
>
> also, the boxes are software upgradeable, wonder if the boxes might do
> more once out of the feds watch?
like what?
Tockk
Composite video will be fine by me.
One question, though. I noticed that one of the units has a remote
control. Does this mean that if I don't get a unit with a remote control,
then the remote control that I have right now won't change any channels --
that I'll have to get up out of my easy chair to flip from PBS to CBS?
Fake ID
Tockk <to...@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>One question, though. I noticed that one of the units has a remote
>control. Does this mean that if I don't get a unit with a remote control,
>then the remote control that I have right now won't change any channels --
>that I'll have to get up out of my easy chair to flip from PBS to CBS?
IIRC, all coupon eligible converter boxes will have a remote. If you're
lucky, the box's remote will also control the TV because all its remote
will be good for is power and volume. All channel changing will be done
on the converter box, which may not have buttons on the box itself so
getting out of your easy chair will be futile.
m
Jim Prescott
larry <f...@foobar.com> wrote:
>Only problem is that you can't use the fed coupons. Only
>converter boxes with rf ch3/4 and/or composite video output
>qualify.
For converter boxes eligible for the fed coupons:
- RF & composite outputs are required
- S-Video is optional
- component, DVI, HDMI, USB are prohibited
There is a good summary of the features on the various boxes at:
http://www.freelabs.com/~whitis/electronics/dtv_converters/
--
Jim Prescott - Computing and Networking Group j...@seas.rochester.edu
School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University of Rochester, NY