Author Topic: TV doo-ja-ma-hing-ee jibby-doo converter (Read 790 times)

Questor · « **on:** July 07, 2009, 03:33:21 PM »

Somebody turned on our TV and found that it doesn't work anymore because it probably needs a converter box. What's the cheapest way to get one? Someday there may be something on TV that we want to watch, like storm coverage or something.

Except for some TV at hotels I think the last time I watched TV was in '95 (that's 1995 in case clarification of the century may be needed.) But my wife is a real addict. She sometimes watches TV every month or two.

Tommyt · « **Reply #1 on:** July 07, 2009, 03:45:41 PM »

YOUR Government is giving them away (don't you feel all Fuzzy and safe now)
thats what I heard I'll look for it tomorrow I'm tired now
try a search of free converter (you may find Obama in the converter search)
Oops thats reverter

Questor · « **Reply #2 on:** July 07, 2009, 03:50:33 PM »

TommyT:

Thanks. I'll check into it. It sure makes sense, though. What's government without an opiate for the masses?

By the way, that number at the bottom of your salutation looks a little low.

CannonKrazy · « **Reply #3 on:** July 07, 2009, 04:23:28 PM »

Quester if you cant find one at a local store I have one that I'm not gonna use. Send a PM if you are interested

powderman · « **Reply #4 on:** July 07, 2009, 04:43:52 PM »

Ah yes, the digital converter box. Before the new and improved digital tv that was shoved down our throats we got 12 channels crystal clear. Before the switch I bought a new antenna, biggest one walmart had+ an 18 db booster box. Now I get 4 channels, we lost 8. Digital signals are very weak and inconsistent compared to the analogue we used to have. On channel 11, one of the 4 I now get, the signal went from no signal at 1 pm, to a 92% at 10 pm. It varies greatly, I am VERY dissatisfied. My antenna has a claimed 65 mile range, without the booster, we are only 40-45 miles from their transmission towers. Digital is the pits. Some of my neighbors only get 1 or 2 channels. Dang, I feel better, been hoping somebody would post about this. POWDERMAN.

>:

CannonKrazy · « **Reply #5 on:** July 07, 2009, 05:04:36 PM »

Quote from: powderman on July 07, 2009, 04:43:52 PM

Ah yes, the digital converter box. Before the new and improved digital tv that was shoved down our throats we got 12 channels crystal clear. Before the switch I bought a new antenna, biggest one walmart had+ an 18 db booster box. Now I get 4 channels, we lost 8. Digital signals are very weak and inconsistent compared to the analogue we used to have. On channel 11, one of the 4 I now get, the signal went from no signal at 1 pm, to a 92% at 10 pm. It varies greatly, I am VERY dissatisfied. My antenna has a claimed 65 mile range, without the booster, we are only 40-45 miles from their transmission towers. Digital is the pits. Some of my neighbors only get 1 or 2 channels. Dang, I feel better, been hoping somebody would post about this. POWDERMAN. >:

I know exactly what you are talking about. I live about 75 miles from the closest TV station and I went through the whole process of hooking up the newest and strongest antenna with a booster. The day of the change I turned it on and started programming the box thinking TV was moments away. I was beyond ticked off after 2 hours of working on this set up when the service rep told me I was way out of range. I went through the programming twice more thinking I might have done something wrong without any luck. Needless to say three days later I had TV service through my phone company.

Rustyinfla · « **Reply #6 on:** July 07, 2009, 05:43:10 PM »

I didn't convert and don't plan to. I'm just plain done with TV. We'll watch a few movies from time to time or the wife will watch a fw programs on the computer.

Questor · « **Reply #7 on:** July 08, 2009, 01:27:47 AM »

That's interesting. We didn't get good reception on more than a couple of channels with analog. Maybe we just won't even bother with the converter. Our only purpose for having it is to watch rented movies and a few that we own, and occasionally my wife watches (watched) a show. Nobody seems to miss it much.

powderman · « **Reply #8 on:** July 08, 2009, 02:24:18 AM »

One station I wrote about this said that 45 miles would be a real stretch for any digital signal. Another was shocked it didn't work. POWDERMAN.

magooch · « **Reply #9 on:** July 08, 2009, 03:12:57 AM »

Ain't it strange that you can get a ton of AM and FM radio stations without any special antena, or cable, or satellite, or microwave dish? Somehow, you can get computer video on a laptop computer, straight from a satellite without being hooked up to anything.

We've been on cable ever since it came to our area about three decades ago and now with the new improved digital signal, we've had more trouble than it's worth. I'm going to give the cable company a shot at making it right, but it seems to me that something just ain't right about this new technology.

Singleshotsam · « **Reply #10 on:** July 08, 2009, 03:49:18 AM »

I sent off for the "free" converter coupon. Came in and I went to Best Buy to redeem it. The only one's they had were 20 bucks more than what the coupon gave me... which was $30 or something. Went home and hooked it to the antenna. My channels went from 4 to sometimes 1... I was pissed off big time. So I called up the cable company and had them come and hook me up. Screw the Feds and their digi-tv.

Questor · « **Reply #11 on:** July 08, 2009, 03:59:18 AM »

Magooch:

Ain't it even stranger that conservative talk shows are on the high end of both the AM and FM bands, which do not carry as well as stations at the low ends of the spectrum, like public radio?

Questor · « **Reply #12 on:** July 08, 2009, 04:01:04 AM »

Do you happen to know the difference in cost between TV cable + internet and just the cable internet? Maybe instead of buying a new TV and converter we just go with cable instead? I need the cable internet for work, so maybe adding the TV service won't be too costly.

powderman · « **Reply #13 on:** July 08, 2009, 02:54:07 PM »

The companies that made these converter boxes are making a killing off the federal govt. The govt is paying $40 for each box X millions of them sold., mine is a magnavox. A neighbor has the same antenna I do and gets less than I do. His son lives next door to him and has a NEW digital tv and gets it all. I am beginning to believe there is a plan to get us all to buy cable, dish, etc. I personally can't afford it, but somebodys getting rich off this inferior garbage. If you have a new tv you DO NOT need a converter box. Seems like this was designed simply for city folks, those of us in the country are just out of luck. POWDERMAN.

CannonKrazy · « **Reply #14 on:** July 08, 2009, 02:58:58 PM »

Quote from: Questor on July 08, 2009, 04:01:04 AM

Do you happen to know the difference in cost between TV cable + internet and just the cable internet? Maybe instead of buying a new TV and converter we just go with cable instead? I need the cable internet for work, so maybe adding the TV service won't be too costly.

Originally I had a home phone and high speed internet. After the digital change I looked at a package through the phone company. I was already paying 75 bucks for phone and internet. With just a few bucks more I went with a package that gives me all local stations and about 100 additional channels. I didn't bother with any of the movie channels like HBO Showtime or Cinemax.

Brett · « **Reply #15 on:** July 08, 2009, 03:48:09 PM »

These guys have good prices and the Chanel Master CM7000 is very highly rated.
I got two (one for each of my boob tubes) and am very happy with them. My final out of pocket cost for both boxes was around $6 after the Gov. coupon. There is a link (at least there was when I ordered a few months ago) to the Gov. coupon program sign up form.

www.Solidsignal.com

powderman · « **Reply #16 on:** July 08, 2009, 04:03:38 PM »

BRETT. It said, channel master not available. The price now says about $70 each. I wonder what the difference is??? Mine is a magnavox. I can't afford cable or satellite or a new, BIGGER, antenna. Reckon those of us in the country are just out of luck. POWDERMAN.

LONGTOM · « **Reply #17 on:** July 08, 2009, 05:34:25 PM »

I sent in for two coupons and had them within a few weeks.
We needed three but two is all they will send you.
Went to the local CIRCUT CITY that was going out of business and picked up three off brand boxes for $92.00. The government paid $80.00 of this.
Brought them home and when the time came I hooked them up in about 20 minutes each.
Our house antena and booster is over 12 years old.
We live about 85 miles from the Washington DC area and was getting about 11 channels with analog.
We now get over 40 channels with the new boxes and they are perfectly clear.
They are just like satalite though, they will go out on a really bad weather day.
Other wise they have been fine so far.
Maybe I was just lucky!

LONGTOM

Questor · « **Reply #18 on:** July 19, 2009, 12:44:14 PM »

I broke down and got Mrs. Questor the TV converter. Here's what worked for us:
1) Sent away for the 40 dollar coupon and got it.
2) Went to Best Buy. They sell only one model of converter. I asked the lady there about whether I could be sure that we would get channels because the converter boxes have such a bad reputation. She said it depends on your antenna. I said I don't have an antenna, and she showed me the options.
3) I bought the converter box and the RCA 360 degree inside the house antenna.
4) Total cost, after the coupon was applied, was $73.
5) Got it home and it worked better than expected. Position of the antenna is pretty important. It took maybe ten minutes to get it all hooked up and working.
6) End result is that we get much better reception than we ever got with analog. I'm happy with it.

Thanks to all who helped me figure out how to do this. I appreciate it.

jimster · « **Reply #19 on:** July 19, 2009, 02:54:41 PM »

"Went to the local CIRCUT CITY that was going out of business and picked up three off brand boxes for $92.00. The government paid $80.00 of this."

The government didn't really pay...they have no money. It was your money/my money that paid for it. I'm sure we all spent a lot more than what it cost too. Matter of fact, people paid for this that don't use it at all. We all chipped in.

Brett · « **Reply #20 on:** July 19, 2009, 04:22:16 PM »

Quote from: powderman on July 08, 2009, 04:03:38 PM

BRETT. It said, channel master not available. The price now says about $70 each. I wonder what the difference is??? Mine is a magnavox. I can't afford cable or satellite or a new, BIGGER, antenna. Reckon those of us in the country are just out of luck. POWDERMAN.

Wow!

Just checked the web site myself. Sure glad I ordered when I did.