CECBs are low-profit devices, but it's strange that NTIA-certified "big box" retailers don't have "live demos" of the CECBs in actual use.

Excuses, excuses....it just reminds me of how much retailers have cut corners on service in this day and age.

Sounds like its because they are all a big piece of cr*p. :)

Dead boxes
Distorted Audio
Visible EPG "data" lines

etc...

Sounds like its because they are all a big piece of cr*p. :)

Dead boxes
Distorted Audio
Visible EPG "data" lines

etc...

Demonstration of the Zenith on anything except a TV or stereo with subpar speakers would indeed be detrimental to sales.

I'm also seeing the "data" lines, sporadically, on one local station.

Most retailers don't even have an antenna to hook up to, and using rabbit ears would only show people how many problems there are with those. Maybe after smart antennas become more widely available, they'll start demos (if their boxes can use them, that is).

So far I'm very happy with the microgem, but so far it isn't offered at b&m.

it's strange that NTIA-certified "big box" retailers don't have "live demos" of the CECBs in actual use..

Most have agreements with Directv, Dish, Cable, or have their own in-house
demo material displayed. There are a myriad of reasons for this..some of it has to do with copyright and public exhibition rules. Besides, display of an upconvert of OpFrah, Jurry Spranger, or Maury "hoodabaybeedaddie" Povich on a low-margin / loss-leader converter doesn't sell high-profit margin HDTV's.

An antenna inside a warehouse with steel all around and a variety of Class A electronics devices likely won't do too well. To put an antenna on the roof would mean actually investing time and money into the effort.

Radio shack stores tend to be pretty small, maybe you could talk one of their managers into doing a floor demo (taking the the antenna outside) if you promise to buy the antenna as well as the CECB.

An antenna inside a warehouse with steel all around and a variety of Class A electronics devices likely won't do too well. To put an antenna on the roof would mean actually investing time and money into the effort.

Radio shack stores tend to be pretty small, maybe you could talk one of their managers into doing a floor demo (taking the the antenna outside) if you promise to buy the antenna as well as the CECB.
First, I doubt many devices for sale in a Best But are Class A devices. That's for commercial use only, if I recall correctly. Home stuff is Class B.

As far as investing the time to put up an antenna, don't the Sat Radio boxes work inside. I know a Circuit City near me has a repeater installed just for that. The antennea for the Sat reciever has to be outside for that, and the repeater amp has to be inside.

Nothing set up at the Radio Shack I went to, but they told me which box they preferred (Zenith). The owner added that if I had any problems to call, that he went out yesterday and helped someone who was having trouble setting theirs up. So see, there still is real customer service somewhere in America. He also told me I wouldn't need anything more than his $20 indoor antenna; I already had indoor antennas, though.

A Wal-Mart in Bakersfield has an RCA CECB demoing their in-house digital channel on a tv that doesn't need a box.

Because my employer (to those in the northern half of the Dayton Ohio area - I apologize for my coworker, Jamil) has them next to the DVD/VCR Units, and thus not near a coax port - although only half of the coax ports work anyway......

CECBs are low-profit devices, but it's strange that NTIA-certified "big box" retailers don't have "live demos" of the CECBs in actual use... Given the huge U.S. Government subsidy for the DTV Transition, I've also noticed a lack of "live demos" of CECBs at public places such as public-library lobbies, community centers and courthouses. The whole DTV Transition would be far less mysterious to millions of Americans if they could see working real-life proof that CECBs actually work with regular TVs and antennas in real life applications.

For the retailers it could sway consumers to buy the new hdtv instead because they would see how much better the new tv is picture wise, thereby gaining higher dollar sales.

I don't see what the issue is...

It's a "box" to convert OTA digital to analog for old/obsolete TV's. Why do you need a "demo"?

If one already has an HDTV, cable, satellite, FiOS ... why do "you" need a demo.

Or... if it's someone that has none of the above, is a "demo" really necessary? Will they know the difference? ... or care?

Sheesh... the majority of B&M stores don't properly demo/display HDTV's let alone a simple "converter box". :)

This is the very reason why I wish they'd just split the CECB box discussions into a separate subforum.

It seems like too many people expect too much from these government subsidized boxes and what they're meant to accomplish. When they come here looking for answers, they also see the threads about the better, full-featured, MUCH more expensive HDTV tuners, and they think they should be getting something closer to that.

I really wish they would just split the discussion off. It's gotten too huge and taken over the "HDTV Hardware" subforum now. They are two completely different things. I didn't think so at first, because it's all just ATSC reception, and the same principles apply, but it's really two, totally different demographics.

This is the very reason why I wish they'd just split the CECB box discussions into a separate subforum..

Agreed 100%. :)

"but it's really two, totally different demographics." Yea, mostly newbies. :rolleyes:

I agree with the separate forum idea. I'm on here just for CECB info. In a couple of years, I'll be here about HD stuff. It seems that some threads have had both mixed together with resulting confusion.

This is the very reason why I wish they'd just split the CECB box discussions into a separate subforum.

It seems like too many people expect too much from these government subsidized boxes and what they're meant to accomplish.

That's quite right!

Hey mods... how about a forum that's specific to the DTV transition and a subforum for CECB's? :D

"but it's really two, totally different demographics." Yea, mostly newbies. :rolleyes:What I'm a little worried about is when some of these newbies with bratty, bitter, strongly-entitled attitudes meet up with the yearly swarm of immature kiddies that hits the forum when they get out of school soon. :eek:

(Plus, we've got the big election coming up this year.)

What I'm a little worried about is when some of these newbies with bratty, bitter, strongly-entitled attitudes meet up with the yearly swarm of immature kiddies that hits the forum when they get out of school soon. :eek:

You mean there's a difference? :D

Everyone is a "newbie" (god, I'm sick of that word) at some point in their life. I'm very grateful for the folks who keep this in mind.

Moderator, if you're reading this, please either move the CECB topic to its own forum, or simply forbid it altogether.

Everyone is a "newbie" (god, I'm sick of that word) at some point in their life. .

Yes, I agree with you.And most of us don't mind helping out with newcomers. However some here seem hellbent on proving their niaveness through repeat usage of the newbie motto (by asking the same questions already answered many times):

"TYPE first,THINK second, READ third" :)

Besides, display of an upconvert of OpFrah, Jurry Spranger, or Maury "hoodabaybeedaddie" Povich on a low-margin / loss-leader converter doesn't sell high-profit margin HDTV's.

That was hilarious!:D

I agree that the DTV transition should have its own forum. It's gotten too big for this one. I have interest in both (S)DTV and (H)DTV, and to keep down the confusion between the two, they should be separated. How about it, Mods?

Brad

This is the very reason why I wish they'd just split the CECB box discussions into a separate subforum.

I really wish they would just split the discussion off. It's gotten too huge and taken over the "HDTV Hardware" subforum now. They are two completely different things.
Given how AVS tries keep everything categorized, I have been surprised that SD box talk has ever been allowed in the 'HDTV Hardware' section. It should have been anticipated that there would an interest in CECBs, and a section created. If they create one now, it's better late than never. ;)

This is the very reason why I wish they'd just split the CECB box discussions into a separate subforum.

It seems like too many people expect too much from these government subsidized boxes and what they're meant to accomplish. When they come here looking for answers, they also see the threads about the better, full-featured, MUCH more expensive HDTV tuners, and they think they should be getting something closer to that.

I really wish they would just split the discussion off. It's gotten too huge and taken over the "HDTV Hardware" subforum now. They are two completely different things. I didn't think so at first, because it's all just ATSC reception, and the same principles apply, but it's really two, totally different demographics. Agree. This particular subforum has become "grand central station" for DTV transition discussions.

Congress created this mess by by failing to letting the marketplace eliminate NTSC analog broadcasting. Congress could also have allowed the FCC to impose steep "user fees" on bandwidth-hogging NTSC broadcasters to encourage them to move on to DTV.

In a market-based regulatory regime, ATSC DTV, both standard and high-definition, would supercede NTSC as quickly as DVD replaced VHS as the primary pre-recorded movies consumer format.

CECBs are low-profit devices, but it's strange that NTIA-certified "big box" retailers don't have "live demos" of the CECBs in actual use.The Best Buy in Skokie, Illinois -- the one in Village Crossing, that is: I don't know about the one in Orchard Place -- has an Insignia box going as a demo.  There must be an actual OTA signal to it, as you can change the channel and see the correct programming for a given local digital channel at that time.

The Best Buy in Skokie, Illinois -- the one in Village Crossing, that is: I don't know about the one in Orchard Place -- has an Insignia box going as a demo.* There must be an actual OTA signal to it, as you can change the channel and see the correct programming for a given local digital channel at that time. Hope to see more live demos like that - given the non-tech-oriented target audience for the NTIA CECB program.