I am in North Hollywood, CA and just got my coupon and am going to pull the trigger and set-up a digital converter in our guest bedroom. It just doesn't pay to - uh... pay for either a new digital TV or an additional DirecTV box. Any house guests - when we have them - will have to contend with OTA.
SO - any recommendations as to which box I should consider since the supplied list is rather extensive and real clues otherwise? Certain features I should look for?
I already have a Radio Shack "Amplified Indoor Antenna - UHF/VHF/FM" in that room (that works to little or no avail). Given my location in the city is there a box that will likely do better than others? A roof antenna is really not an option - again since I just don't see knocking myself out for setting up a room that gets minimal use during the year.
Thanks for your advice (and my apologies if this has already been flogged to death in this NG)
noseph...@aol.com wrote: > I am in North Hollywood, CA and just got my coupon and am going to pull > the trigger and set-up a digital converter in our guest bedroom. It > just doesn't pay to - uh... pay for either a new digital TV or an > additional DirecTV box. Any house guests - when we have them - will > have to contend with OTA.
> SO - any recommendations as to which box I should consider since the > supplied list is rather extensive and real clues otherwise? Certain > features I should look for?
> I already have a Radio Shack "Amplified Indoor Antenna - UHF/VHF/FM" in > that room (that works to little or no avail). Given my location in the > city is there a box that will likely do better than others? A roof > antenna is really not an option - again since I just don't see knocking > myself out for setting up a room that gets minimal use during the year.
> Thanks for your advice (and my apologies if this has already been > flogged to death in this NG)
> NP
One of the best converter boxes is the Zenith DTT901 which is sold at Circuit City. Very quick on the channel scan, good performance for weak signal stations, has a manual RF tuning feature where you can enter the actual broadcast channel of a station and displays the signal meter which is handy for tweaking the antenna aim.
If the antenna is not working very well, try moving it to the window or higher up in the room if you can. Radio Shack "Amplified Indoor Antenna - UHF/VHF/FM" does not tell me which model. Radio Shack sells a number of indoor antennas.
Alan F <afigga...@xxverizonx.net> wrote: >noseph...@aol.com wrote: >> I am in North Hollywood, CA and just got my coupon and am going to pull >> the trigger and set-up a digital converter in our guest bedroom. It >> just doesn't pay to - uh... pay for either a new digital TV or an >> additional DirecTV box. Any house guests - when we have them - will >> have to contend with OTA.
>> SO - any recommendations as to which box I should consider since the >> supplied list is rather extensive and real clues otherwise? Certain >> features I should look for?
>> I already have a Radio Shack "Amplified Indoor Antenna - UHF/VHF/FM" in >> that room (that works to little or no avail). Given my location in the >> city is there a box that will likely do better than others? A roof >> antenna is really not an option - again since I just don't see knocking >> myself out for setting up a room that gets minimal use during the year.
>> Thanks for your advice (and my apologies if this has already been >> flogged to death in this NG)
>> NP
> One of the best converter boxes is the Zenith DTT901 which is sold at >Circuit City. Very quick on the channel scan, good performance for weak >signal stations, has a manual RF tuning feature where you can enter the >actual broadcast channel of a station and displays the signal meter >which is handy for tweaking the antenna aim.
> If the antenna is not working very well, try moving it to the window >or higher up in the room if you can. Radio Shack "Amplified Indoor >Antenna - UHF/VHF/FM" does not tell me which model. Radio Shack sells a >number of indoor antennas.
> Alan F
Agreed on the Zenith. The Channel Master CM-7000 also gets good reviews, although I haven't tried one. Few stores carry it.
You have a slew of stations, both digital and analog, about 20 miles roughly east of you. An indoor antenna might work for that if there isn't too much blocking the signal. To orient yours, pick one or more analog stations from that location and adjust for best picture. If you can get them OK, maybe with some snow, you should be good for digital. Nearly all of those digitals are UHF now, but a few will switch to high VHF in February.
I'm leery of set top amplified antennas. Most of the amps in them are junk. The one in yours may be doing more harm than good. Certainly that's true if the antenna's amplifier has a higher noise figure than the first stage of the Zenith's tuner, which it probably does. If you have poor results with an amplified antenna, try an unamplified one.
You probably don't want to invest in a larger antenna just for the guest room, but it might be worth putting one in the attic or elsewhere to feed all the TVs in the house even though you have DirecTV. There must be some broadcasts that DirecTV doesn't give you, and you might find the broadcast quality is better.
Indoor reception is highly dependent on house construction. Aluminum siding or stucco walls will knock it way down (it's not the stucco that's the problem, it's the chickenwire it's applied to). Newer energy-efficient window glass often cuts the signal, as does a metal screen. Try holding your RCA antenna outside an east-facing window; if reception improves greatly, your house is the problem.
> I am in North Hollywood, CA and just got my coupon and am going to pull > the trigger and set-up a digital converter in our guest bedroom. It > just doesn't pay to - uh... pay for either a new digital TV or an > additional DirecTV box. Any house guests - when we have them - will > have to contend with OTA.
> SO - any recommendations as to which box I should consider since the > supplied list is rather extensive and real clues otherwise? Certain > features I should look for?
> I already have a Radio Shack "Amplified Indoor Antenna - UHF/VHF/FM" in > that room (that works to little or no avail). Given my location in the > city is there a box that will likely do better than others? A roof > antenna is really not an option - again since I just don't see knocking > myself out for setting up a room that gets minimal use during the year.
> Thanks for your advice (and my apologies if this has already been > flogged to death in this NG)
I also recommend the DTT901 (updated version of DTT900). Very good. Best Buy's Insignia branded converter is just a rebadged DTT900/901.
The 901 offers passthru and maybe a slightly better tuner.
-- If there is a no_junk in my address, please REMOVE it before replying! All junk mail senders will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law!! http://home.att.net/~andyross
> >noseph...@aol.com wrote: > >> I am in North Hollywood, CA and just got my coupon and am going to pull > >> the trigger and set-up a digital converter in our guest bedroom. It > >> just doesn't pay to - uh... pay for either a new digital TV or an > >> additional DirecTV box. Any house guests - when we have them - will > >> have to contend with OTA.
> >> SO - any recommendations as to which box I should consider since the > >> supplied list is rather extensive and real clues otherwise? Certain > >> features I should look for?
> >> I already have a Radio Shack "Amplified Indoor Antenna - UHF/VHF/FM" in > >> that room (that works to little or no avail). Given my location in the > >> city is there a box that will likely do better than others? A roof > >> antenna is really not an option - again since I just don't see knocking > >> myself out for setting up a room that gets minimal use during the year.
> >> Thanks for your advice (and my apologies if this has already been > >> flogged to death in this NG)
> >> NP
> > One of the best converter boxes is the Zenith DTT901 which is sold at > >Circuit City. Very quick on the channel scan, good performance for weak > >signal stations, has a manual RF tuning feature where you can enter the > >actual broadcast channel of a station and displays the signal meter > >which is handy for tweaking the antenna aim.
> > If the antenna is not working very well, try moving it to the window > >or higher up in the room if you can. Radio Shack "Amplified Indoor > >Antenna - UHF/VHF/FM" does not tell me which model. Radio Shack sells a > >number of indoor antennas.
> > Alan F
> Agreed on the Zenith. The Channel Master CM-7000 also gets good > reviews, although I haven't tried one. Few stores carry it.
> You have a slew of stations, both digital and analog, about 20 miles > roughly east of you. An indoor antenna might work for that if there > isn't too much blocking the signal. To orient yours, pick one or more > analog stations from that location and adjust for best picture. If > you can get them OK, maybe with some snow, you should be good for > digital. Nearly all of those digitals are UHF now, but a few will > switch to high VHF in February.
> I'm leery of set top amplified antennas. Most of the amps in them are > junk. The one in yours may be doing more harm than good. Certainly > that's true if the antenna's amplifier has a higher noise figure than > the first stage of the Zenith's tuner, which it probably does. If you > have poor results with an amplified antenna, try an unamplified one.
> You probably don't want to invest in a larger antenna just for the > guest room, but it might be worth putting one in the attic or > elsewhere to feed all the TVs in the house even though you have > DirecTV. There must be some broadcasts that DirecTV doesn't give you, > and you might find the broadcast quality is better.
> Indoor reception is highly dependent on house construction. Aluminum > siding or stucco walls will knock it way down (it's not the stucco > that's the problem, it's the chickenwire it's applied to). Newer > energy-efficient window glass often cuts the signal, as does a metal > screen. Try holding your RCA antenna outside an east-facing window; > if reception improves greatly, your house is the problem.
> Del Mibbler
MANY thanks, Del, for the cogent and thorough explanation. Looks like I'll try and get the DTT901 and follow your suggestions.
| > I am in North Hollywood, CA and just got my coupon and am going to pull | > the trigger and set-up a digital converter in our guest bedroom. It | > just doesn't pay to - uh... pay for either a new digital TV or an | > additional DirecTV box. Any house guests - when we have them - will | > have to contend with OTA. | > | > SO - any recommendations as to which box I should consider since the | > supplied list is rather extensive and real clues otherwise? Certain | > features I should look for? | > | > I already have a Radio Shack "Amplified Indoor Antenna - UHF/VHF/FM" in | > that room (that works to little or no avail). Given my location in the | > city is there a box that will likely do better than others? A roof | > antenna is really not an option - again since I just don't see knocking | > myself out for setting up a room that gets minimal use during the year. | > | > Thanks for your advice (and my apologies if this has already been | > flogged to death in this NG) | > | > NP | | One of the best converter boxes is the Zenith DTT901 which is sold at | Circuit City.
Be aware that Circuit City is close to bankruptcy and has just announced it's pulling out of a number of markets and closing 155 stores. Not sure how LA area is affected but all stores in Phoenix area are closing with liquidation starting tomorrow. They had a ton of Zenith converters in the store I was in last week and I picked one up. According to what I hear of the liquidation, they will only accept cash or CC's, NO COUPONS, checks or gift cards so I wonder how they will price the converters for liquidation.
iws wrote: > | > I am in North Hollywood, CA and just got my coupon and am going to pull > | > the trigger and set-up a digital converter in our guest bedroom. It > | > just doesn't pay to - uh... pay for either a new digital TV or an > | > additional DirecTV box. Any house guests - when we have them - will > | > have to contend with OTA. > | > > | > SO - any recommendations as to which box I should consider since the > | > supplied list is rather extensive and real clues otherwise? Certain > | > features I should look for? > | > > | > I already have a Radio Shack "Amplified Indoor Antenna - UHF/VHF/FM" in > | > that room (that works to little or no avail). Given my location in the > | > city is there a box that will likely do better than others? A roof > | > antenna is really not an option - again since I just don't see knocking > | > myself out for setting up a room that gets minimal use during the year. > | > > | > Thanks for your advice (and my apologies if this has already been > | > flogged to death in this NG) > | > > | > NP > | > | One of the best converter boxes is the Zenith DTT901 which is sold at > | Circuit City.
> Be aware that Circuit City is close to bankruptcy and has just announced > it's pulling out of a number of markets and closing 155 stores. Not sure how > LA area is affected but all stores in Phoenix area are closing with > liquidation starting tomorrow. They had a ton of Zenith converters in the > store I was in last week and I picked one up. According to what I hear of > the liquidation, they will only accept cash or CC's, NO COUPONS, checks or > gift cards so I wonder how they will price the converters for liquidation.
3301 INDUSTRY 1600 S AZUSA AVE CITY OF INDUSTRY CA 91748 422 COMPTON 120 EAST COMPTON BLVD COMPTON CA 90220 235 CONCORD 2030 DIAMOND BLVD CONCORD CA 94520 236 DUBLIN 7153 AMADOR PLAZA ROAD DUBLIN CA 94568 449 ESCONDIDO 1138 WEST VALLEY PARKWAY ESCONDIDO CA 92025 4303 FAIRFIELD 1560 GATEWAY BLVD FAIRFIELD CA 94533 4230 NORTH FONTANA 16685 SIERRA LAKES PARKWAY FONTANA CA 92336 4243 FOOTHILL RANCH 26542 TOWNE CENTRE DRIVE FOOTHILL RANCH CA 92610 4300 FREMONT 43706 CHRISTY ST FREMONT CA 94538 1628 MERCED 3275 R STREET MERCED CA 95348 3749 MIRA LOMA 6397 PATS RANCH RD MIRA LOMA CA 91752 4228 MORENO BEACH 27610 EUCALYPTUS AVE MORENO VALLEY CA 92555 4229 MORGAN HILL 1007 COCHRANE RD MORGAN HILL CA 95037 3394 MURRIETA 24390 VILLAGE WALK PL MURRIETA CA 92562 3766 EAST PALO ALTO 1731 E BAYSHORE RD PALO ALTO CA 94303 3402 PITTSBURG 4300 DELTA GATEWAY BLVD PITTSBURG CA 94565 3312 POMONA 2735 S TOWNE AVE POMONA CA 91766 3374 HILLTOP 4100 KLOSE WAY RICHMOND CA 94806 426 RIVERSIDE 10255 MAGNOLIA AVE RIVERSIDE CA 92503 238 SAN RAFAELS 330 BELLAM BLVD SAN RAFAEL CA 94901 413 SANTA BARBARA 3761 STATE STREET SANTA BARBARA CA 93105 1629 SANTA MARIA 1535 SOUTH BRADLEY RD SANTA MARIA CA 93454 3303 THOUSAND OAKS 600 WEST HILLCREST DR THOUSAND OAKS CA 91360 4301 VISTA 1715 HACIENDA DRIVE VISTA CA 92081
In article <3pQPk.48185$sh3.38...@newsfe01.iad>, nos...@nospam.com says...
> Be aware that Circuit City is close to bankruptcy and has just announced > it's pulling out of a number of markets and closing 155 stores. Not sure how > LA area is affected but all stores in Phoenix area are closing with > liquidation starting tomorrow. They had a ton of Zenith converters in the > store I was in last week and I picked one up. According to what I hear of > the liquidation, they will only accept cash or CC's, NO COUPONS, checks or > gift cards so I wonder how they will price the converters for liquidation.
Best Buy's Insignia branded converter is a rebadged Zenith.
-- If there is a no_junk in my address, please REMOVE it before replying! All junk mail senders will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law!! http://home.att.net/~andyross
In article <M4Cdnddwva3XhZLUnZ2dnUVZ_hadn...@giganews.com>, Alan F <afigga...@xxverizonx.net> wrote:
mit der machen snipage.......
> If the antenna is not working very well, try moving it to the window > or higher up in the room if you can. Radio Shack "Amplified Indoor > Antenna - UHF/VHF/FM" does not tell me which model. Radio Shack sells a > number of indoor antennas.
> Alan F
Based upon the suggestions of this group I did get the Best Buy "Insignia" box (which was noted as being a rebrand of the highly recommended Zenith rig) and I must say it was insanely easy to set-up and get working. I am genuinely appreciative of the promptness of the group's responses and the level of detail and knowledge.
As you'll note from above I am using this in conjunction with a Radio Shack # 15-1878 indoor antenna. It does a good to very good job, but not a great job as it took some wiggling to get a good position and I need to readjust it somewhat to help certain stations.
As I posted earlier, I am not looking to mount a roof antenna for a 20" TV in the spare bedroom. As such, does anyone have a recommendation for a better indoor low profile antenna that might uniformly do better than the aforementioned Radio Shack piece?
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