Help with Digital TV converter boxes!

As of September 1, this year, Canada's major TV channels will switch to DTV. Our retailers are chicken-sh!ts when it comes to carrying a decent range of Converter boxes equipment.

I know the new TVs come with the basic technology built-in, but we want to use a Ceiling Mounted Panasonic media projector, shot on a wall-mounted movie screen. Also, we don't want cable, because the companies overcharge, charge you for contract cancellation and offer junk programming. So... We'll be using two quality heads on the TV antenna tower, and a digital radio head to pickup some US channels. Also, some smaller TV channels aren't changing to Digital, out here in the Prairie boondocks.

This is a Canadian forum on DTV.
http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=108740

RCA's product isn't proving too reliable, up here, priced around $95. Zenith's runs around $138 and has the Analog signal pass-through (RCA's doesn't), and another brand, sold by now bankrupt Best Buy (Insignia) is also know as APEX, made by Zoran Corporation.

Can't even find the RCA unit on their site.

http://zenith.com/products/set-top-atsc-digital-to-analog-converter-box/

http://www.zoran.com/Zoran-Powered-Apex-Digital,46

I went to Future Shop, where they were selling the AccessHD unit at around $54, while it sells in the US at $28 from the company. Problem is that it doesn't allow Analog Passthrough. Can't find any reviews either.
http://www.accesshd.tv/

I want something under $200, from a good company that knows its stuff. Unfortunately, our retailers are too cowardly to carry reliable products.

 

Norm, good luck with the switch over.
At my house in Vermont, cable doesn't go out that far, so we have to use a dish. That is a constant thorn in my side. The thing never, never works for me; always says no service or something like that. The only way we can get it to function properly is for someone under 30 to grab the remote and push the right buttons. It always works for them, but I guess it must sense I'm of the generation that can't figure out diddly on a puter, so the silly thing has some fun in not turning on for me.
I hope you have better luck.

 

Snooter, the problem for me is finding one of the better grade converter boxes up here. I'm leaning toward a Zenith unit or the Zoran unit "APEX DT250".

RCA doesn't even list theirs in their support pages. Surprising since they've been the pioneers in antenna gadgets since Noah was a pirate in Iraq!

 

Done! I'm going to buy the Zenith unit: DTT901

Found their US site:
http://www.zenith.com/dtv/analogtv.html

And the reviews are all good:
http://www.zenith.com/dtv/reviews.html

They go for $150 up here.
http://www.amazon.com/Zenith-DTT901...Code=wsw&tag=smartebizsolu-20&creative=380801

I'll check for Grand Forks prices, in ND.

 

Just found this on Amazon.com, reviews section.

http://www.amazon.com/Zenith-DTT901...dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

I just hate replacing equipment that doesn't last or won't serve me for more than 3 years.

The Canadian 'Zenith', LG Electronics, doesn't even list them. I guess we'll get it from Amazon. I haven't renewed my passport, so I can't go to the US, until I do.

 

I have an RCA one, don't waste your time on it.

 

I'm reading some of the tech on these black magic boxes. Seems the Zenith DTT901 is setup with what they call a 6th Generation chipset. So is the Centronics/Insignia/Apex (same mfr-private branding), most of the others are 5th Generation.

Not likely to see a 7th Generation box, because when Canada and Mexico change over, there won't be too many of the old sets on the market anyway. 6th Generation chipsets do a better job of filtering multi-directional signals and keep them cleaner on-screen.

The Zenith unit, doesn't do High Definition (HD). BFD! You can't miss what you've never seen, right? Still considered the best all around converter.

You guys in the USA got incentives to convert. Our government waited until yours was all in, and then just Told us - My Way or No Way! How redneck is that, eh?

"Quite frankly my dear, I don't give a dam!"

With the box, I'll get one US channel (Fox), and my usual local junk TV - in both Analog and DTV, until they get the bugs out.

 

Anyway, this page (for us Canuks) lists who sells across Canada, MINUS Manitoba and Saskatchewan - the forgotten nether-regions.

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=164

This site lets you figure out what channels you can get, and how far away they are, in Canada and the USA. Its a US service site for North America.

http://www.tvfool.com/

 

My wife and I bought a DigitalStream. It wasn't that expensive at the time and we have had a good luck with it. I don't know if there even around any more or if you can find them up there or not but I figured I would just chime in real quick and offer my on the subject.

 

I saw one listed in KIJIJI, in eastern Canada.

I've found quite a few folks who must've bought the Zenith box, and then switched to a new HD TV. So they're selling them cheap (Under $50). New price is around $150. Hope to hear from them soon.

 

What is this High Def you speak of? Here's one of my sets.

 

Kind of like a computer monitor's clarity or pixel size. The finer/smaller they are, the better the picture. With Digital TV signals you can get up to 1080 pixels per inch. Typical monitors run at 800 X 600 or the next size up (1o24 X 768). Tighter dots for clearer image.

 

I know, I know. I used to be an electronics salesman. I just think HD is overrated!

 

I guess you have to have Hi-Def eyes to enjoy Hi-Def TV. I don't, so I can't.
Got it on my TV, but I'm always watching the 'regular' channels.

 

I'm OK with being able to see individual pixels. But I can't stand watching standard def TV on anything bigger than 32". And that's a CRT TV. LCD TV I can't go bigger than 26" or so. So if I'm to have a TV on my living room wall that is larger than my arm is long, I better get HD programming and a Blu-Ray player or something.

Anyway, I'm glad you found a unit that works. We have Motorolas with our cable company (Time Warner) and they run hot, use a lot of power, and the non-DVR ones aren't very sturdy. Both of them died and had to be replaced. We've only had the cable on for 3 weeks or so. The DVR unit gets so hot it makes my cell phone shut itself off if I leave it on top. I actually use it to keep food warm on my desk while I work, and I use it to melt Sonic Slushes so they can make it up through the straw. And my wife records hours on end of Criminal Minds and NCIS and Without a Trace with it. My kids use it to tell time.

And the paint on my desk bubbled up under it. After 3 weeks. Mmmhmm...yeah...