Digital Converter Box "Shoppers Guide"

[DriVer]

I am camping at the moment in Powhatan, Virginia. My neighbor said that he is hitting all the commercial network channels with his digital box. I believe he said it was an Insignia box that he got from Best Buy.

I have a Magnavox from Wal*Mart and although it works "sometimes" I can't scan one of those network channels with my converter box and I have a "Wingman". My antenna is pointed almost in the same direction toward Richmond.

Are these boxes actually better than one another technology wise?

[Bill Adams]

Has your box ever received as many channels as you think it should? Are you certain that it is hooked up properly? Have you checked to see if you are getting 12+V DC at the head of the Winegard antenna?

[two2go]

The reviews I have read only rate picture quality, not signal strength. Consumer Reports had Magnavox models rated above Insignia. I have a RCA box in the house, and I get more channels than on my digital TV in the motor home parked in the driveway. But I attribute that to my roof antenna. I got a Wingman for the coach and did see a bit more signal strength when camping in a fringe TV area.

[wa8yxm]

One never knows if one is getting all of them till one goes to the web site and checks.. alas, I don't have the site handytwo

I have boxes. one Insignia (Made by LG, which means it has an issue) and one DTV-PAL + from Echostar.. If I were to recommend one it would be the echostar unit DTVPAL.COM as I really like the user interface on it.. plus like all echostar products it has absolutly the best antenna pointing software I've seen (though once again you need a web page to take full use of it)

I'm not exactly a fan of LG products like the Insignia/Zenith

Though I do admit. so long as I occasionally swat it's bug, it works great

[5ducksinadodge]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wa8yxm One never knows if one is getting all of them till one goes to the web site and checks.. alas, I don't have the site handytwo I have boxes. one Insignia (Made by LG, which means it has an issue) and one DTV-PAL + from Echostar.. If I were to recommend one it would be the echostar unit DTVPAL.COM as I really like the user interface on it.. plus like all echostar products it has absolutly the best antenna pointing software I've seen (though once again you need a web page to take full use of it) I'm not exactly a fan of LG products like the Insignia/Zenith Though I do admit. so long as I occasionally swat it's bug, it works great

I clicked on the link and it appears that they are all sold out on whats listed on that site. I as well like Echostar's products as I have Dish sat at the house. My coach that I purchased recently needs one installed, so this is a very helpful thread. thanks

[wa8yxm]

When I last checked on the DTVpal site (Couple of days ago) they were sold out on 2 out of 3 models.. The one I have is the one they have (the one in the middle)

The one on the right woudl be nice too but coudl not afford that one and it's not coupon eligable

I see I already gave my opinion of the LG/Zenity/Insignia box

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Adams Has your box ever received as many channels as you think it should?

In my home market I seem to be able to hit several channels. I am interested in getting a box with good technology and if at all possible a transmitter pointing utility that works.

The way the Magnavox box tunes it's just so difficult to get it right the first time. I have to rescan at every detent on the antenna base to see if I can get any additional channels. What's worse is the scan tool closes and goes out of the setup to "View" so I have to re-key in the commands before I can rescan.

I'll cheat if I can. I'll observe the general direction that everyone else has their antenna pointing to and start there.