TV Converter Box Digital to Analog

[rockintom]

Just a note to share my experience in installing this unit today. The box I used was a Winegard model RCDT09A (with pass thru) which I purchased from Camping World. Watch out cause they have in stock the previous model that doesn't have the pass thru feature, which is the same price of $59.95. Installing this thing was an absolute no-brainer....making it work is another thing. Instructions are lacking some info. After hooking it up I had no picture whether the box was on or off. After jacking with it a while I thought about calling the CS 800# but they were closed. I just kept playing with it and got it to work. Here's some basics that I stumbled upon. Hope this helps someone down the line. BTW..Portland, OR area has 5 local stations and after installing the digital box I now get 17...nice, clean, clear pictures.

1.Put your TV on Ch. 3
2.Do all the normal things you do when you use your manual antenna like raise your antenna, turn your TV to the "TV" mode (not cable) and set the Winegard Entertainment box to "TV Ant" (again not cable).
3.You must do a channel scan on the converter box to get a picture.
4.You have to fine tune (turning your antenna around) to get a strong enough signal to work with the digital just like you did with the analog.
5.After you install the digital box you will have a great/clean picture or one that is very choppy/garbled (if it is borderline on good enough to pick up as digital) or you get a "no signal" meaning the station is just too weak to give a good picture. Again try turning your manual antenna before deleting that channel.

These are just a few things I found, and most were not in the instructions. Good luck! Hope that helps! rockintom

[rockintom]

Just a note to share my experience in installing this unit today. The box I used was a Winegard model RCDT09A (with pass thru) which I purchased from Camping World. Watch out cause they have in stock the previous model that doesn't have the pass thru feature, which is the same price of $59.95. Installing this thing was an absolute no-brainer....making it work is another thing. Instructions are lacking some info. After hooking it up I had no picture whether the box was on or off. After jacking with it a while I thought about calling the CS 800# but they were closed. I just kept playing with it and got it to work. Here's some basics that I stumbled upon. Hope this helps someone down the line. BTW..Portland, OR area has 5 local stations and after installing the digital box I now get 17...nice, clean, clear pictures.

1.Put your TV on Ch. 3
2.Do all the normal things you do when you use your manual antenna like raise your antenna, turn your TV to the "TV" mode (not cable) and set the Winegard Entertainment box to "TV Ant" (again not cable).
3.You must do a channel scan on the converter box to get a picture.
4.You have to fine tune (turning your antenna around) to get a strong enough signal to work with the digital just like you did with the analog.
5.After you install the digital box you will have a great/clean picture or one that is very choppy/garbled (if it is borderline on good enough to pick up as digital) or you get a "no signal" meaning the station is just too weak to give a good picture. Again try turning your manual antenna before deleting that channel.

These are just a few things I found, and most were not in the instructions. Good luck! Hope that helps! rockintom

[Bill Adams]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">3.Turn OFF your antenna power booster while using the converter box or you'll get a very grainy picture. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
This is contrary to the way the Winegard antenna should work. Without power to the antenna you will always get less signal. Is it possible that you have connected the converter between the roof top antenna and the video control center? The correct connection would be AFTER the VCC (Out to TV1 or TV2) for proper operation.

[rockintom]

Oh my, Bill....you are so correct and I thank you for pointing out my mistake. I had the converter box in front of the VCC. After I switched it to be behind it, I did get very light specks (noise) on the TV screen, but not bad. I recheck all my connections, so don't know what it could be except the converter box. Still one heck of a cleaner pic than the old analog.

I will correct my post....again thank you! rockintom

[Bill Adams]

It sounded wrong, glad to help. Now, how to you watch different channels on different TV's?

[Still Working "NOT"]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Bill Adams:
It sounded wrong, glad to help. Now, how to you watch different channels on different TV's? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Bill

Since Sir KnowItAll would have problems with this question , you use a converter box on each TV set.

[Bill Adams]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Bill

Since Sir KnowItAll would have problems with this question , you use a converter box on each TV set. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I know! I have posted this information in the past. I just thought I would throw the question out so others might consider what they need to do before they do it.
By the way, Sir KnowItAll? What does that refer to?

[Still Working "NOT"]

Bill,

Sir KnowItAll = rockintom

I was sure you knew the answer.

[Ray,IN]

I understand rockintom's instructions. I'm confused though,(normal), I thought these "boxes" converted digital to analog(opposite thread title) so my older TV can use the signal????

[Still Working "NOT"]

Ray,

Your right. Sir KnowItAll does have the title stated in a confusing way. It should be converting digital to analog.

You know how he is. "Backwards." We will never get him straightened out but we still like him.

[rockintom]

Well I guess you guys got me again. This was really a test to see if anyone caught it.....yeah right. You guys keep me on my toes, big time.

Go ahead and put another hash mark next to my already tarnished name! Oh, woe is me!

[MakinSmoke]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Oh, woe is me! </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I am so glad you are here even if you do suck up to the moderators.

[rockintom]

Why?....I'm a jerk!

Aparently needed another posting #....gotta try to suck up to MM! Yes a suck up and a jerk!

[redcow]

Tom,

I figured out why you did this project. " Installing this thing was an absolute no-brainer"

Really, the reason I made this post was because I see I have made 100 posts and I want to catch up with Rockin.

Jim