RE: Windstorm
We were one of the 700,000 customers without power here in SW Ohio on Sunday. We didn't get our power back until Wednesday afternoon. Being prepared is important. Having our camper with all it's gear in the backyard is a good backup plan, but having the extra generator in the garage is priceless.
We were the only house in the neighborhood with lights for three days.
Winds were measured at 70 mph here in our town.
RE: new tv converter box
RE: bat wings.....
This his keeps coming up. Yes there are a VERY FEW old batwing antennas that don't work well at UHF. VERY FEW. If you have one, does it pick up channels 2 through 13 (VHF) ok? Does it pick up channels 14 on up (UHF) ok? If it does you are OK.
If an antenna works for UHF/VHF analog TV right now, it will work for digital (DTV) and high definition (HDTV). The antenna does not have anything to do with digital or analog. Unless it is a poor performer on UHF (channels 14 on up). This is because most DTV stations are on UHF. A few are on VHF (channels 2 to 13).
RE: how to use digital converter box?
Yes to all three. Most stations have multiple program channels and the picture will much clearer than analog. That's my experience.
RE: Sticky: Digital TV FAQ's
I bet this thing works well inside of an all metal RV. NOT.
A $10 set of rabbit ears from Walmart will work just as good, and you can adjust them.
The picture frame antenna was showcased on NBC's "Today Show"
When the wife and I decided to retire after 50 long years of working for someone else, we knew what we wanted to do for the rest of our lives together, own an RV and travel the country. We were so excited when we went out to buy our very own vacation on wheels. We loved it and couldn't wait to get on the road.
Finding High Definition With an RV Antenna
I knew there must be a way for me to get high quality HD picture on my RV television but I just didn't know where. I went on the Internet and searched for anything I could think of, high definition recreational vehicle TV, HDTV on recreational vehicle and HD on RV. Nothing worked until I searched for HDTV Antenna.
At last, I found what I needed to make my dreams come true, an HDTV antenna that would make my television the best in high definition. The guy on the website I found really knows what he is talking about. He was so excited on his website because he found an HD antenna, which gave him unbelievable reception and clear pictures, clearer than what you get with a digital cable company!
The Picture Frame RV Antenna Miracle
The only thing that I was concerned about was I didn't want some huge, crazy looking antenna on the top of my beautiful paradise on wheels. Again, this guy's website shot me in the direction of a picture frame antenna. That's right, it blew me away when I first started reading about it. It looks just like a picture frame and you hang it on the wall INSIDE your RV!!!
The next thing I knew, I clicked on the link from this guy's website and bought it. I knew that it was something I had to try. In about a week, I had my high definition TV antenna picture frame and it was hanging on my wall.
The Best Trip I EVER Had
I just got back from an amazing trip to Niagara Falls. My wife and I felt like we were on our second honeymoon. It took us 15 hours to get there and it felt like we only drove for 5. Thanks to my beautiful HDTV which now has reception no matter where we drove AND a picture quality that you would never believe. I cannot express to you how happy my wife and I are about this investment. We thank Jeff for RV Picture Frames and the HDTV antenna manufactures who made this picture frame miracle.
RV Antenna Miracle
RE: HD converters
Yes there are HD converters. I have one. It is a Samsung SIR-T451 digital tuner. And yes it will work on any TV, but will only 'display' high definition (HD) if connected to a HD television. That one cost about $179. (If you are going to spend that kind of money, just by a new TV with the digital tuner built in.)
But what he wants is a DTV (digital TV) converter box that works on 'Standard Definition' (SD). These are the ones that the government will give you a $40 coupon to purchase. They are in stock in Best Buy, Circuit City, HH Gregg, Walmart and Radio Shack around here. All of these stores have them for either $49 or $59. All of the boxes will allow any TV to tune the new digital stations. Some have extra features like universal remote, etc.
Apply for your $40 government coupons here: http://www.dtv2009.gov
Get your coupons before they run out!
RE: More digital TV conversion questions
You received some bad information at the TV store. The store that you went to probably didn't have any to sell. There is lots of misinformation out there.
They did start making some DVD/VCRs without tuners, BUT they do have models with both the ATSC (digital) and NTSC (analog) tuners. I have one, it's made by Panasonic. My son has one, it's made by Magnavox.
Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Circuit City and others have recorders with tuners.
RE: converters again
WA8YXM - Sorry, they all don't have pass through, even when off. I've read many reviews on the www.avsforum.com web site (and other places) about the different converter boxes. MOST do not have pass through.
I've tested my Zenith DTT900 and it does not pass through anything when off.
As others have said, the list on the NTIA web site has little stars next to the ones that do have pass through.
https://www.ntiadtv.gov/cecb_list.cfm
Jeepfreek - If I read it right, it sounds like the way you are planning to hook up will get around the lack of pass through on the DTV box. That is exactly how I have mine hooked up. I use a two way splitter. It works. When I want to watch digital, I select aux in (line in) on the TV instead of a channel. When I want to watch the old analog stations, I just select a channel on the TV. It works pretty simple that way.
RE: INSIGNIA DIGITAL TO ANALOG TV CONVERTER
By the way, the Insignia detailed manual is available here in PDF format.
http://ezdigitaltv.com/support-files/ns_dxa1_manual.pdf
http://www.ezdigitaltv.com/Insignia_NS-DXA1.html
RE: INSIGNIA DIGITAL TO ANALOG TV CONVERTER
The Insignia also has another 'twin'. The Zenith DTT900. The Zenith can be found around here a Circuit City ($59) and HH Gregg ($49).
LG manufactures these units. The contents of the package of the two Zeniths that I bought are the same as Professor95 shows with the Insignia. From what I have seen, the menu system is identical, the remote is the same and the internal electronics are the same. Only thing different is the name on the box, etc.
It is nice to have the remote from the Zenith DTV box programmed to control the TV volume too.
The easy add is nice. I have stations north and south of me. EZ Add allows me to do an initial scan in one direction, the do the EZ Add to get the stations in the other direction.
The only thing lacking from these units is the analog pass through. But there are several ways around that using splitters or switches. In my RV I just use a splitter so both the TV and the DTV converter can be connected to the antenna. Then I use the A/V jacks from the box, plugged into my TV.
RE: Analog to Digital TV Adapter
The simple answer to the setup with the video selector box is to just purchase a DTV converter with pass through. Place the DTV box at each TV. It will pass through the analog TV signals, the DVD/VCR, the park cable TV and even a satellite hook up.
You can purchase the Philco model TB100HH9 from www.solidsignal.com
This unit features analog pass through.
http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?PROD=TB100HH9
I understand that this box has to be on and have pass through selected via a menu to pass the analog signals. You might do some more research on the government coupon elegible receivers that list having pass through. There might be a better one.
All these elegible boxes have pass through:
Philco TB150HH9
Philco TB100HH9
Magnavox TB-100MG9
DIGITAL STREAM DX8700
DIGITAL STREAM DSP7700T
ECHOSTAR TR-40
I found the manual for the Philips. Please look at page 19 and see how to switch on the Analog pass through:
http://www.funai-corp.com/6pdf/om/TB100HH9.pdf
RE: Analog to Digital TV Adapter
All of the government approved converters have both coax in/out as well as RCA video/audio cables. With the coax, they will output on either channel 3 or 4.
If you have a TV and VCR and just want to view digital, hook it up with coax like this:
Antenna -> DTV converter -> DVD/VCR -> TV
RadioShack.com has some nice support files for the Zenith DTT900 hookup. They have done the work for us, with details on the various ways to connect. They also detail the part numbers needed for splitters and switches if needed.
How to set up your converter box for both analog and digital with antenna jacks:
http://rsk.imageg.net/graphics/uc/rsk/Support/ProductManuals/dtv_bypass_rf.pdf
How to set up your converter box for both analog and digital using the RCA jack A/V connections:
http://rsk.imageg.net/graphics/uc/rsk/Support/ProductManuals/dtv_bypass_av.pdf
How to set up your converter box for with a satellite receiver:
http://rsk.imageg.net/graphics/uc/rsk/Support/ProductManuals/dtv_combine.pdf
I'm still looking for a link to the owner's manual in PDF for the Zenith DTT900 that I have.
RE: Digital T V Converter
I've been enjoying watching the digital stations for a couple of years now. I had a 'high def' tuner that I would hook up to my 'low def' TV in the camper. That gave us lots of clear channels to watch!
RE: Analog to Digital TV Adapter
You may or may not need analog pass through. Analog pass through allows you to either switch off the DTV converter or switch the input to receive analog stations.
If you place your DTV converter in line between the antenna and your TV antenna input, most boxes won't 'pass through' the analog signals to the internal TV tuner.
Right now with both the old analog stations on the air along with the new digital, you may want to receive both. After the change over next February, there will still be some low power stations on the air using analog too. There will be at least one independent station in my area that will still be analog for a while. They will eventually go digital, but the FCC hasn't set a time table for them.
You can get around this lack of pass through by using a 2 way splitter on the antenna to attach both the TV and the DTV box. Then use the box's video/audio output jacks to plug into your TV 'line input'. This setup will allow you to use the tuner in the TV to tune the low power analog stations and then switch to 'line input' on your TV to use the DTV box to tune the new digital stations. That's how I have mine set up.
RE: Analog to Digital TV Adapter
do all of those you recommend have the analog pass thru feature? when I checked the govt. list (which of course I have misplaced) IIRC only 4 of the models there did.
bumpy
There are only about 5 models that have analog pass through. The Zenith and Insignia do not. The Magnavox and RCA from Walmart do not either.
The complete list of coupon eligible DTV converters is available here:
https://www.ntiadtv.gov/cecb_list.cfm Those with pass through have a star next to them. There are only 4 brands that have pass through on some models.
To assist you in finding retailers that are selling the coupon eligible DTV converters, check this site: http://www.ezdigitaltv.com/Converter_Box_Retailers.html
One with analog pass through, the Philco TB100HH9, is available on line at Solidsignal: http://www.solidsignal.com I have not seen this one or read much about it. It is more expensive than most of the others.
You can also read some DTV converter box reviews and comparisons here:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=980052
Ernie
RE: Analog to Digital TV Adapter
"Most" TVs with the new tuner will say one of the following, DTV, SDTV, EDTV, HDTV, or ATSC Tuner. The new TV tuner format is called ATSC, the old TV format is NTSC. If you can't tell by looking at the labels on the TV, activate the menu system and see if it says that it will scan for digital TV stations.
The best reviewed digital TV converter boxes are the Zenith DTT 900 and the Insignia NS-DXA1. The two from Walmart (Magnavox and RCA) have some important features missing, like rescan of channels. The Zenith can be found at Circuit City and HH Gregg. The Insignia is a Best Buy brand. Go to their web sites and read about them.
I chose the Zenith to purchase after much research. My $40 government coupons came this week so I have been playing with mine.
RE: OH *#%$@ - ALL DIGITAL Television
I've seen a lot of this "you need a NEW digital TV antenna" stuff going around. Don't believe it!
Don't be suckered in to buying a new antenna. Just get the DTV converter box, hook up the coax to the box and then the box to your TV and have fun watching.
I got my FREE $40 government coupons this week and bought a Zenith DTT 900 converter at HH Gregg for $49. Out of pocket expense was $9.95 + tax each. MUCH cheaper than buying a new TV. :) It works great, stations are clear and will work with my OLD Wineguard batwing on the Jayco.
By the way, stay away from the Magnavox and RCA at Walmart. They will NOT allow you to add channels after an automatic scan. Every time you do an automatic scan it will start from scratch erasing the previously memorize channels. So if you need to re-aim your antenna to get additional stations in a different direction, you may have to do an automatic scan every time you move it.
The Zenith DTT 900 from HH Gregg ($49) and Circuit City ($59), and the Insignia ($59) from Best Buy will allow 'rescan' to add channels from a different direction. They will also allow manual entry. The Insignia is a clone of the Zenith. As a plus, the remote on these two units can be programmed to control your old TV. (The Magnavox can't). These boxes can be plugged into your TV with the video/audio jacks, or be connected to the antenna jack and appear on channel 3 or 4 on your TV. Very simple hookup.
By the way if you want to see what stations that are available in your area or the area that you camp, check out antennaweb. http://www.antennaweb.org It will show all stations (analog and digital) in your area.
Ernie
RE: Battery Shutoff Switch Installation - Negaitve or Positive?
Getting shocked by touching both terminals on a 12v DC battery? Yea, right.....
Mythbusters here we go...... Yes, that myth has been busted.
Now if you short some metal tools across the terminals, you may have a big problem. Don't try that at home.
I found an inexpensive battery cutoff switch at www.HarborFreight.com and bought two.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=92688
Yes they do work. It is small enough that you can mount it inside most battery cases and have the head stick through to the outside. The 'key' comes loose, but they give you two in case you loose one.
