DTV $10.00, 10 minutes

[Don The Ham]

I used my DTV coupon to purchase a Zenith DTT900 for $10.00 with the government supplied coupon.

In my Winnebago Entertainment system:
1. Removed the 'antenna in' cable from the VCR/DVD and connected it to the converter box 'from antenna'.
2. From the antenna/satellite/cable switch box added a coax cable from the 'aux' connector and connected this cable to the converter box 'to TV' connector.

Antenna switch box settings, 'VCR/DVD to antenna' and TV used set to 'AUX'.

I loose recording to VCR/DVD but seldom used the feature. DTV system works great. With the switch system, I can use the DTV converter with other TVs in the motorhome. I use the motorhomes IR link so that the converter box remote control can be used with all TVs in the motorhome.

Using the antenna switch box you can compare DTV with analog easely.

[Don The Ham]

I used my DTV coupon to purchase a Zenith DTT900 for $10.00 with the government supplied coupon.

In my Winnebago Entertainment system:
1. Removed the 'antenna in' cable from the VCR/DVD and connected it to the converter box 'from antenna'.
2. From the antenna/satellite/cable switch box added a coax cable from the 'aux' connector and connected this cable to the converter box 'to TV' connector.

Antenna switch box settings, 'VCR/DVD to antenna' and TV used set to 'AUX'.

I loose recording to VCR/DVD but seldom used the feature. DTV system works great. With the switch system, I can use the DTV converter with other TVs in the motorhome. I use the motorhomes IR link so that the converter box remote control can be used with all TVs in the motorhome.

Using the antenna switch box you can compare DTV with analog easely.

[hamguy]

Don the Ham,

I don't follow your terminology (getting dense in my old age). I checked Rad Shk yesterday and found that the converters are 'block' types so you don't have to tune at the converter and still use the TV remote to change channels.

That said, can't you just disconnect the antenna connection at the 'distribution center' and connect it to the converter Input and then run a short cable from converter Output to the distribution center? I need someone to check my thinking and a fellow ham is perfect, HIHI

[John66]

The 'converter box' is just a digital tuner. So, what you will get out of one of the base model units is Red/White/Yellow audio/video signals and a standard antenna output which has the audo/video signals 'RF modulated' to channel 3 or channel 4 (switch selectable).

To hook one of these up, you either run the audio/video RCA plugs to an AUX input in your system OR you connect the antenna cable you currently have to the input of the the box and take the output of the box to where ever the antenna cable goes now. This can be the input of a VCR or TV, or a distribution switch box.

You set your TV to 3 or 4 or AUX and control the channel with the remote which came with the converter box.

Once you do this, though, you probably will not be able to receive analog TV, since most of the units do NOT pass the analog system through to the output of the box.

I suppose you could put in a splitter before the box and a combiner after, so both the digital and analog signals would be available.

[hamguy]

I was told that you still tuned the TV set since the converter box was a block converter. If is isn't, I will pass. I didn't look at the converter and have been unable to find one with specs!

[Bill Adams]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">I was told that you still tuned the TV set </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
That is incorrect. You will set your TV to channel 3/4 (or the like) and change channels from the converter as this is the only box that knows what the digital channels are.

[Don The Ham]

Some additional info that may aid this 10 minute conversion of adding a Digital TV Tuner conveter box.

My distribution box is a Winegard Entertainment Select system.

The Winegard unit has an unused "AUX" connection. A coax cable that comes with the converter is used from the Wingard "AUX" to the converter box "To TV" output.

The coax antenna connection removed from the VCR/DVD now connects to the converter box "from antenna". This disables recording with the VCR, but I seldomed used that feature.

YOU CAN NOT PUT THE CONVERTER BOX BETWEEN THE ANTENNA AND THE DISTRIBUTION BOX, IT WOULD BLOCK THE DC POWER TO THE ANTENNA'S MAST HEAD AMPLIFIER.

Setup for the converter box may vary per the manufacture. Typically tune TV to channel 3/4, then use the converter box's supplied remote to control channels, audio, picture size, view the program guide etc.

Winegard Switch settings:

NORMAL ANALOG TV: For over the air TV &gt; TV section set to TV ANT

DIGITAL TV: For over the air DTV &gt; VCR section set to TV antenna and TV section set to "AUX"

Converter works great, I had 4 analog stations and 11 DTV stations during our last trip to the lake. I did need to switch to analog to receive Georgia Public TV, their DTV was not operating.

Hamguy, neat feature with these boxes is that you can enable a 'signal strength' meter with sound to help aim the antenna. I picked the Zenith DTT900. This is an LG designed unit.

[Don The Ham]

Spec information on Zenith:

http://www.zenith.com/dtv/dtt900.html

Good sites for TV antenna aiming.

http://www.tvfool.com/

http://antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.aspx

[FlyingDiver]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by hamguy:
I was told that you still tuned the TV set since the converter box was a block converter. If is isn't, I will pass. I didn't look at the converter and have been unable to find one with specs! </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Not a block converter. The difference between old analog TV (NTSC) and new digital TV (ATSC) is not the frequency (which a block converter could handle), but the format of the transmitted signal itself.

joe

[FrontRangeRVer]

I wanted to bump this post to the top because of the clear and concise installation instructions by "Don The Ham" (which I have now deemed "Don the MAN")

[ISLAPP]

Yep, hooked mine up the way Don said and works great. I do want to get another one that has analog pass thru to hook up to the rear tv at some later date. But for now, using the one for both Tv's. Can operate on analog or digital this way.
Mike

[CSX4350]

Do these converter boxes allow you to have a native 16:9 letterbox format, or do they chop the ends off for a standard 4:3 format?
I ask because I have one 16:9 flat screen that, for some odd reason, has an NTSC tuner but not a DTV tuner. I am debating between a converter box and a new TV. Since this TV is in the MoHo, I do use the tuner because I can't get local channels on satellite while traveling. If the TV was in the house, it wouldn't be an issue.

[FrontRangeRVer]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by CSX4350:
Do these converter boxes allow you to have a native 16:9 letterbox format, or do they chop the ends off for a standard 4:3 format?
I ask because I have one 16:9 flat screen that, for some odd reason, has an NTSC tuner but not a DTV tuner. I am debating between a converter box and a new TV. Since this TV is in the MoHo, I do use the tuner because I can't get local channels on satellite while traveling. If the TV was in the house, it wouldn't be an issue. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

The Winegard converter box that I have does allow you to choose which screen format you want. I believe they all will.

[FrontRangeRVer]

I also wanted to add that this hookup will allow analog "pass thru" along with digital so you can receive the stations that aren't going digital in February.