hershey
Albuquerque,(fulltime) NM, USA
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oldyeller wrote:If I buy the converter box at Wal-Mart then what else do I need for cable reception? I can buy a portable dish...do I need to subscribe to Dish Network or other plan?? Not able to get reception on cable most places.
Thx
O.Y.
If you buy the converter you will be able to watch TV by a simple batwing or similar antenna. Nothing else is needed. Of course you have to be in an area that you can receive over the air broadcast just like you do now.
If you choose to use a Dish network or Direct tv Satellite system, you don't need the converter for that.
Cable and Satellite viewing will not change.
hershey - albuquerque, nm
Someday Finally Got Here
My wife does all the driving - I just get to hold the steering wheel.
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wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
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I got the Best Buy house brand.
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N9MB
Indiana
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I purchased a couple of Coship N9900T converter boxes and they work great with the Winegard bat wing antenna, beautiful picture and no more ghosting.
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younchem
Lafayette, LA
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I have the Magnavox TB100MW9 TV converter box from Wal-Mart and there were some installation issues.
My RV setup senses if there is a cable signal. If not then the roof antenna is active. The TV converter box would not pass the cable signal through the box or even recognize the cable signal. After hooking it up as expected, the only way it would work is when the cable line is not attached to the RV and I would then receive over-the-air signals.
To get it to work I had to split the line in and create a cable TV bypass around the box which hooks to the TV at a splitter wich goes the other direction to the converter box. I had to use two splitters. When the cable is attached I get cable TV; when it is not I turn on the converter box and get over-the-air signals. If the converter box is on and the cable is attached there is interference from two incomming signals. So the converter box has to stay off when the cable is attached. You would think that the box would recognize cable TV signal but it does not.
The over-the-air picture quality is superb. However, not all local stations are broadcasting digitally yet so I only get half the local channels. Some boxes have analog pass-through to allow you to see both analog and digital over-the-air signals. This one does not.
After using the government coupon the box cost about $10.00. Since the older TV in the RV is in like-new condition I just coundn't see replacing it.
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franknsandy
USN-Retired, Skippers, Virginia
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Joined: 07/23/2007
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The batwing will not convert to analog.
The local station did a test on air yesterday and went to full digital for about 30 seconds so we could test our TV'S. I was suprised to find out none of mine worked. I have two flat screen tv's. One is two years old and the other is only two months old (and it is HD). Neither TV received the digital signal from my batwing. I just ordered the coupons from the link above and they replied that they will be shipped in about three weeks, then I will only have the 90 days to redeem them.
I plan on only using one converter and splitting it to both TV's. If that does not work, then I will use both boxes. I am hoping to keep one as a backup.
Frank
Frank n Sandy
USN-Retired
96 Dolphin Diesel / 2002 Saturn
Fulltiming since 2004
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dav5942
Stuart, FL
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Joined: 05/24/2004
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younchem wrote:I have the Magnavox TB100MW9 TV converter box from Wal-Mart and there were some installation issues.
My RV setup senses if there is a cable signal. If not then the roof antenna is active. The TV converter box would not pass the cable signal through the box or even recognize the cable signal. After hooking it up as expected, the only way it would work is when the cable line is not attached to the RV and I would then receive over-the-air signals.
To get it to work I had to split the line in and create a cable TV bypass around the box which hooks to the TV at a splitter wich goes the other direction to the converter box. I had to use two splitters. When the cable is attached I get cable TV; when it is not I turn on the converter box and get over-the-air signals. If the converter box is on and the cable is attached there is interference from two incomming signals. So the converter box has to stay off when the cable is attached. You would think that the box would recognize cable TV signal but it does not.
The over-the-air picture quality is superb. However, not all local stations are broadcasting digitally yet so I only get half the local channels. Some boxes have analog pass-through to allow you to see both analog and digital over-the-air signals. This one does not.
After using the government coupon the box cost about $10.00. Since the older TV in the RV is in like-new condition I just coundn't see replacing it.
In addtion to the above problems we have found the Maganvox has audio problems with some TVs.
2007 Newmar 42' Mid Engine w/Fatboy,ATVs-in Garage,lifted Jeep(s) in tow, Hog Valley Florida(a diamond in the rough),'09 Alaska again!
2007 Tour Alaska Fishing '08 Tour Grandchildren Newmar Mid Engine
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JaycoRickJoan
Rogers, AR
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Joined: 01/08/2006
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I had read in an earlier thread that some of the older bat wing antennas, do not work with the digital signal. Maybe someone could chime in with more defined info. If I recall the unpainted batwings do not work (older) and painted batwings (newer) worked.
Rick & Joan
Rogers, Arkansas
2005 32ft Jayco Eagle TT
2005 GMC Sierra 2500HD
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younchem
Lafayette, LA
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I have an Antenna Tek antenna on the roof and their web site clearly indicates if the models are HDTV ready.
See http://www.antennatek.com/products.html
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w8eh
SW Ohio
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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).
New 2006 Jayco 23B HTT
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wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
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Got an Insigna at Best Buy (House brand) watching it as I type
Plan on geting a Philco (Also a Funi or however they speil it) at ABCWarehouse possibly tomorrow, more likely Tuesday (Schedule conflict) This one, I'm told, will have pass through
It will go on the test install in place of the Insigna till I can photo the screen in failure mode on the insignia and then the once I get an insigina that does not freeze up every week I'll put the Philco in the VCR chain in the RV
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business
John is Near Kenwood TS-2000 housed in a 2005 Damon Intruder 377
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