digital converter box and size of picture

[Ed S]

Have not replaced my tv's yet and went to buy a digital converter box and was told that the size of picture will be reduced with the box. I was at Best Buy and they had a older tv set up and sure enough there were black areas on all sides of the picture reducing the size of the picture. Can someone tell me if this is true or maybe only with certain boxes and not all.

Thank you
Ed

[John-D]

A lot depends on your the cuss-some-more, or is that customore

On the Insignia converter (Best buy House brand made by Lucky Goldstar and also marketed under their ZENITH label) you have some options

For this post I will assume that your TV is an older one, like mine, NTST, or 4x3 aspect ratio.. Just now I"m looking at a FULL SCREEN picture

If the show is being broadcast in 4x3 format (This was) then my convertes (All 3 of 'em, all different makes, including one INSIGNIA, which I"m watching now) are set to give me a FULL SCREEN picture

If it's broadcast in HD, then I get what's called "Letter box" which means there is a black band top and bottom.

Now if I had a wide screen (16x9) television then .. I'd have the option of making NTSC programs (4x3) "Pillar boxed" (black on the sides)

But I had the option to use the smaller size (Black all the way around on SD video) or full screen

The default was the smaller size

I changed it

[GaryKD]

Hi Ed,
My converter boxes are from GE. The picture on the screen depends on how the broadcast is coming to the converter box, like John-D posted. The GE box takes care of resizing the picture automatically. I get everything from full screen to the black around the edges, like you posted. Along with what John-D posted. There may be a way for me to manually change this, but I'm happy with the box taking care of this for me.

[TandW]

How did you obtain coupons for your motorhome in addition to coupons for the home?

[John Hilley]

On the Insignia you can change the picture size with the zoom key on the remote to make it full screen.

[Ed S]

TandW,

I did not need any boxes for the stick house but thought I would need for the rv. I ordered coupons on line about two months a go and rec'd last week. Now I am thinking of just replacing the tvs. I wanted a 32 in up front but would be a major task to install and make nice and to have it on the outside of cabinets I am afraid I will hit my head and bump into it all the time since I do enter and exit often. Just will go with the size that fits in the current opening.

Ed

[Ed S]

John thanks for the info but I do think I will just buy new tv's

[TandW]

$1500 worth of new tv's don't get me down the road. I need coupons!

[Outbumn]

So, we have an RCA converter box in the coach livingroom and need another for the bedroom. But, we can't get anther RCA (Out of production). Which models do you like?

[GaryKD]

Hi Outbumn,
The converter boxes are a commodity technology. None of the conversion is rocket science. Make sure you get one with the pass thru feature. Other than pass thru, I'd buy the cheapest one I can find.

[John-D]

What models do I like

I have 3 here and I'll rate 'em

Access HD (An off brand) I have been unable to control it with an external computer (DVR) and it is the least senistive (Most likely to give me a "NO SiGNAL" or WEAK signal indication, I also do not like the weak signal banner plastered on teh picture the way they do it.. Recommendation: Avoid

Insignia, also sold as ZENITH, This is a Goldstar product and I have never been LUCKY enough to have a Goldstar product I was fully satisfied with HOWEVER.... This one sure comes close 99% The major flaw is if you let it set too long with out making some change you have to unplug it and plug it back in.. I am able to control it with the REPLAY TV (Thus fixing the problem by simply using the replay to change channels several times a week) problem solved. This unit has some uncommon features like the ability to output true MONO sound (Useful in this house) or stereo your choice.

DTV-PAL PLUS This is an Echostar product and well worth investigation

TI too is controllable by the Replay, though I do not have mine doing it yet. But this unit is increadable feature wise One of them is an 8 day program guide (most have 2 hours) the ability to populate the program guide even if NOT tuned to the channel and the ability to automatically change channels

This one will work in partnership with any DVR or VCR.. Simply tell DVR to record say 8-9pm Monday and then you tell the box to show the program on at 8pm Monday and.. it does.. That simple

If I were to get another.. it would be a 2nd DTV pal plus

www.dtvpal.com

[ctcamper]

I just bought two Artec T3AP units from here:
http://www.digital-tv-converter.net/...n=Custom&ID=48

6.95 for shipping and 0.00 unit cost with coupons.
I picked them as they are powered by 12v input. My analog tv in the rig is also 12v so this will work out well.

[greyeagleb]

I bought one recommend by Consumer Reports, a Tivax STB-T8 and I bought it off of Amazon.com for 49.99 or 9.99 after using my coupon. It has a pass thru feature and it also has an aspec ratio button. In normal I have a black box around my screen, but in zoom it disappears. If I use the other it looks distorted where 'zoom' does not.

Bill

[Bruce H]

I bought two DVTPal's some time back for $60 each, less coupons my cost was $20 however I see Consumerdepot.com sells them for $30. I do agree with John D they do seem to be better than most. The on screen menu is great. When on the road it loads up programing for that area.