Picked up two of the Insignia ND-DXA1 Digital-to-Analog Converter for Analog TVs at my local Charlotte BestBuy today. I briefly got to play with the unit before shipping it out, will post more info this weekend when I get time to play with the 2nd box.

I saw the Insignia CECBs in stock yesterday at a BestBuy near Seattle.

This evening I found the Insignia NS-DXA1 in stock at the Best Buy in Kokomo, IN. I bought one out of curiosity to compare it next to the Magnavox TB100MW9, purchased last week at Wal-Mart (Avon, IN).

Reception-wise, the two seem to be very similar. The Insignia allows you to watch and use the signal meter PRIOR to the station decoding, which is not possible with the Magnavox.

It appears the Insignia was designed by LG, because the menu/signal
meter/etc. are almost identical to my older LG LST-3100A. The Insignia
allows you, through the MENU button, to bring up the signal meter and then scroll through the true RF channel numbers, one after another.

Some of the additional controls via the remote: TV POWER; SAP; VOL +/-; CH up/down; FAV; MUTE.

Some of the MENU features: TV Aspect Ratio (Set By Program, Letter Box, Cropped, Squeezed); Auto Off (Off, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours); Audio Output (Stereo, Mono)

OSD pics posted below:

1) DISPLAY button
2) SIGNAL button
3) MENU button > then OPTION
4) MENU button > then SETUP > then MANUAL TUNING

Steve

Goldrich: thank you for the review and screen shots!

What do these things cost and what does this have to do with the coupon? Can you get these for free? Sorry fo be such a newbie but the title does seem to imply an alternate discussion. Here where you get one (OK, it did that, BB) but none of the other details. I guess they may be under a different thread...time to search I guess

>What do these things cost

Last report was $59.99

>and what does this have to do with the coupon?

It's on the list of converters that you can use a $40 off coupon with
See http://www.dtv2009.gov


>Can you get these for free?

No

See
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=980052

Does this box have an S-video output?

No S-Video.

Pictures are here:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=cat13506&type=page&skuId=8624081&productId=1199495190393&viewtype=backView&h=387

How does this differ from the Zenith DTT900? They are both from LG, right?

How does this differ from the Zenith DTT900? There are both from LG, right?

This receiver is simply a rebranded DTT900.

Haven't finished my review yet. The unit has the Sanyo Tuner brick, have not been able to ascertain which chip it uses.

EPG is basic just like the RJtech and The Magnavox. Only shows current and next event of the channel you are viewing.

I was looking around & waiting for them to show up. Thanks to this forum you help choose one. The Insignia NS-DXA1 @ Bestbuy for $59.99 , compare to Walmarts has the Magnavox TB100MW9 for $49.99 <- this only has an sdtv tuner. Please correct me if I'm wrong.:cool:

They're both only SDTV outputs. CHoose it for yourself.

... compare to Walmarts has the Magnavox TB100MW9 for $49.99 <- this only has an sdtv tuner. Please correct me if I'm wrong.:cool:

All of the coupon elgible converters only have SD analog outputs (RF & composite, S-video is optional). No other video outputs are allowed.

All of the coupon elgible converters can receive all digital OTA broadcasts, including "HD" ones.

It's in the government's specs. http://www.ntia.doc.gov/dtvcoupon/DTVmanufacturers.pdf

Relating to my post above http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=13050632&postcount=3, and after having a chance to compare it with a few other DTV receivers and with various antenna connections/locations, I'm quite impressed with this Insignia box.

It's much better with strong local signals and/or multipath issues than my various older STBs. I am located just 3 miles from the tower of one of my local DTV stations, and it's cranking 1000kW. With the Insignia, as well as the new Magnavox, I can rotate my outdoor antenna (2-Triax Unix 100 UHF antennas horizontally stacked @ 30 ft. with the CM 7775 on the line) in almost any direction and still receive the station. With my other older receivers, antenna aim is VERY critical for this and other local stations. These new receivers are much more forgiving when it comes to signal issues (too strong, too weak, interference, multipath).

Yesterday, the Insignia was able to decode an area station (50kW @ 1,092 ft.) @ 80 miles while one of my best, but older, DTV receivers could not. And earlier this morning, the Insignia was able to very briefly decode a DTV station (WLFG-DT-49 [68.1], Grundy, VA) @ 307 miles, while my best DXing receiver wasn't able to decode it. I caught a screen shot of the signal meter screen with the station's call letters via my Hauppauge WinTV-D, but missed the very brief decoded video.

The EPG works very well and easily. And if you like to scan for stations, this one will allow you to scan, and then if you need to turn your antenna to receive stations from another direction, it will allow you to perform follow-up scans without deleting the previously scanned stations. Nice feature.

For the money, this is a great little receiver. More later.

Steve

How is the picture quality of the Insignia NS-DXA1?

Relating to my post above http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=13050632&postcount=3, and after having a chance to compare it with a few other DTV receivers and with various antenna connections/locations, I'm quite impressed with this Insignia box.

It's much better with strong local signals and/or multipath issues than my various older STBs. I am located just 3 miles from the tower of one of my local DTV stations, and it's cranking 1000kW. With the Insignia, as well as the new Magnavox, I can rotate my outdoor antenna (2-Triax Unix 100 UHF antennas horizontally stacked @ 30 ft. with the CM 7775 on the line) in almost any direction and still receive the station. With my other older receivers, antenna aim is VERY critical for this and other local stations. These new receivers are much more forgiving when it comes to signal issues (too strong, too weak, interference, multipath).

Yesterday, the Insignia was able to decode an area station (50kW @ 1,092 ft.) @ 80 miles while one of my best, but older, DTV receivers could not. And earlier this morning, the Insignia was able to very briefly decode a DTV station (WLFG-DT-49 [68.1], Grundy, VA) @ 307 miles, while my best DXing receiver wasn't able to decode it. I caught a screen shot of the signal meter screen with the station's call letters via my Hauppauge WinTV-D, but missed the very brief decoded video.

The EPG works very well and easily. And if you like to scan for stations, this one will allow you to scan, and then if you need to turn your antenna to receive stations from another direction, it will allow you to perform follow-up scans without deleting the previously scanned stations. Nice feature.

For the money, this is a great little receiver. More later.

Steve

Since you have the Magnavox and Insignia (LG), can you tell which one is better at decoding? Also, which one locks on to the signal faster? In other words, which one would you channel surf with? I have the RCA DTA 800B and channel surfing is quiet painful, especially when you don't get a signal.

Since you have the Magnavox and Insignia (LG), can you tell which one is better at decoding? Also, which one locks on to the signal faster? In other words, which one would you channel surf with? I have the RCA DTA 800B and channel surfing is quiet painful, especially when you don't get a signal.

So far, it seems that the decoding abilities of the two are virtually the same. When the two units were connected to the same antenna via a 2-way splitter, the two decoded the same station at virtually the same time. The Magnavox and the Insignia are very much on the same page in this area.

When it comes to channel surfing, I much prefer the Insignia because I can see the signal meter prior to the station decoding. In this area, the Insignia operates almost totally like my older LG LST-3100A STB. Also, the signal meter is much faster and responsive with the readings than the Magnavox.

The Insignia also makes it quite easy to add or delete channels and subchannels from the channel list.

Steve

How is the picture quality of the Insignia NS-DXA1?

When compared to other receivers via the composite outputs, it looks the same to me. I've had it connected to three different monitors.

I'm with Steve on the Insignia. Having it, the RJTech (Mustek) and the Magnavox thus far, I'd take the Insignia/Zenith with the RJTech second.
I like the Insignia/Zenith remote the best thus far.

Correct me if I'm wrong? but isn't the insignia an atsc tuner?

Thanks for clearing that up , but what about atsc tuners?

Correct me if I'm wrong? but isn't the insignia an atsc tuner?

All of the coupon elgible converters have ATSC tuners. If they didn't have an ATSC tuner, they wouldn't be able to receive digital OTA broadcasts.

Does it let you tune channels by the actual RF channel number, whether or not prevoiusly scanned in?

Does it let you tune channels by the actual RF channel number, whether or not prevoiusly scanned in?

Yes, it does! I really like this option, especially when DXing. Sorry I didn't point this out before. Unlike some DTV receivers, this one does not require you to initiate an auto scan prior to viewing any channels. Stations can be scanned and added or deleted from the unit's channel list, or you may manually add them by simply entering the true RF channel number.

Steve

I'm with Steve on the Insignia. Having it, the RJTech (Mustek) and the Magnavox thus far, I'd take the Insignia/Zenith with the RJTech second.
I like the Insignia/Zenith remote the best thus far.

I assume the Zenith/Insignia remote will power on/off the TV and control the TV's volume. Does it come with a pretty comprehensive set of TV codes? Will it "learn" codes?

Brad

I assume the Zenith/Insignia remote will power on/off the TV and control the TV's volume. Does it come with a pretty comprehensive set of TV codes? Will it "learn" codes?

Brad

Yes, the Insignia will power on/off the TV and control the volume (above in post #3).

The manual lists over 100 TV brands that are capable of being programmed with the right code. I haven't tried it, but the manual makes it sound easy to program. It states:

"...the remote control sends a manufacturer code (between 1 and 45) to the TV."

Steve

Yes, the Insignia will power on/off the TV and control the volume (above in post #3).

The manual lists over 100 TV brands that are capable of being programmed with the right code. I haven't tried it, but the manual makes it sound easy to program. It states:

"...the remote control sends a manufacturer code (between 1 and 45) to the TV."

Steve

Thanks, Steve. 45 codes doesn't sound like very many, though.

Brad

Yes, it does! I really like this option, especially when DXing. Sorry I didn't point this out before. Unlike some DTV receivers, this one does not require you to initiate an auto scan prior to viewing any channels. Stations can be scanned and added or deleted from the unit's channel list, or you may manually add them by simply entering the true RF channel number.

Steve

Cool. That's good to know.

Can it tune an rf channel if there's already a virtual channel with that number?
For example, could one check rf 9 if there's already a 9-1 that's an rf somethingelse?

Cool. That's good to know.

Can it tune an rf channel if there's already a virtual channel with that number?
For example, could one check rf 9 if there's already a 9-1 that's an rf somethingelse?

You would have to live in an area where you receive distant stations, otherwise what you are saying is there are two stations transmitting on the same frequency.

Stations might broadcast digitally on RF channel # 20 (for instance), and then the tuner will map the channel to 9.1 (for instance). 9.1 represents the analog station number. There would not be a digital station transmitting in the same area using RF 9 unless the FCC beleives it is far enough away to not cause interference.

I've heard it is possible though for people to recive a digital transmitting on the same frequency as an analog, but it is rare.

Once I was able to receive channel 25 UNC-TV in North Carolina, analog, and WTVR-DT RF 25, virtual 6.1 from Richmond. The stations are over 150 miles away from each other.

Post transition, there will be many instances of one station mapping to a virtual channel number while another station uses that RF channel number. Quite a few in the San Francisco DMA. Their current analog channel 44 (I don;t know it's call letters or affiliation) has digital channel 45, which maps to virtual channel 44-1. They are staying on RF 45 post transition. Analog channel 2 KTVU FOX currently has an out of core digital channel. It is moving to RF channel 44 post transition. I would guess that post transition the only way to tune KTVU will be to enter 2-1 and that it would have to be scanned first, but the other station could be selected by entering either 44-1 or 45-1 (if your device allows actual RF tuning).

You would have to live in an area where you receive distant stations, otherwise what you are saying is there are two stations transmitting on the same frequency.

Stations might broadcast digitally on RF channel # 20 (for instance), and then the tuner will map the channel to 9.1 (for instance). 9.1 represents the analog station number. There would not be a digital station transmitting in the same area using RF 9 unless the FCC beleives it is far enough away to not cause interference.

I've heard it is possible though for people to recive a digital transmitting on the same frequency as an analog, but it is rare.

Once I was able to receive channel 25 UNC-TV in North Carolina, analog, and WTVR-DT RF 25, virtual 6.1 from Richmond. The stations are over 150 miles away from each other.

I don't live in such an area. I do like to play when the atmosphere opens up and dx signals are viewable. Come 2/09, it would be cool to easily check an rf channel number when a local has that virtual number.

I don't live in such an area. I do like to play when the atmosphere opens up and dx signals are viewable. Come 2/09, it would be cool to easily check an rf channel number when a local has that virtual number.

It's unfortunate Hampton Roads and Charlottesville's TV frequencies share some frequencies. For the ones that don't share (for now), I too enjoy watching when the atmosphere is right, i.e. 15 WHRO, and 43.

Posted by DrBri99:
Stations might broadcast digitally on RF channel # 20 (for instance), and then the tuner will map the channel to 9.1 (for instance). 9.1 represents the analog station number. There would not be a digital station transmitting in the same area using RF 9 unless the FCC beleives it is far enough away to not cause interference.
The above is not correct. A digital station transmitting on channel 20 and remapping to channel 9 has no effect on any digital channel operating on channel 9. In fact, a digital station on channel 9 could map to channel 9 also. Then you'd have two channel 9.1's. You'd be able to receive both of them.

The above is not correct. A digital station transmitting on channel 20 and remapping to channel 9 has no effect on any digital channel operating on channel 9. In fact, a digital station on channel 9 could map to channel 9 also. Then you'd have two channel 9.1's. You'd be able to receive both of them.


yes, you are technically correct, but why would a station call themselves channel 9 unless they are currently broadcasting analog on channel 9?

things will change after the transition with some channels moving back to the same frequency as their call number and others staying on a different frequency, but for now, if an analog and a digital are on the same frequency, there is going to be interference and your tuner may not pick up the digital signal.

going back to the original question, when you go into tuning mode, can you tune an RF # directly (that is already mapped to the same virtual number)? I'm assuming after it is mapped, and you type in the RF number, it will tune to the mapped number.

with the DVD recorder's I've owned this was how the tuner set-up worked.

Saw about 15 Insignia boxes on the shelf at a Dearborn, MI Best Buy today...

Posted by DrBri99:
yes, you are technically correct, but why would a station call themselves channel 9 unless they are currently broadcasting analog on channel 9?
There are a couple of reasons this could happen. The digital station may be new, without an analog counterpart. As long as no channel 9-1 exists in the station's DMA, they would be free to remap to 9-1. Another reason could be the station wants to adopt the branding from the local cable co. channel. Analog OTA 13 may be on 9 on cable.

There are areas where you may receive two stations remapped to the same channel. When I used to live in Ohio, I could receive channel 4 from Indy and channel 4 from Columbus. I presume they both remap their digital to 4-1. In the area I now reside, it may be possible to receive 5-1 from Colorado Springs and 5-1 from Cheyenne, WY.

Hope that helps clarify this.

How the box stores the table of PSIP channel numbers and actual channels may also come into play. I have an Accurian box that normally receives 40.1 on RF channel 2 (WTWC Tallahassee). At some point, due to tropo, I received WJSU from Anniston, AL, which is on channel 9, but maps to 40.1 as well. If I enter channel 9 on the remote, up comes the video and audio for WTWC.

I'm sure it will be fixed when I clear out the memory, but it appears this box doesn't like multiple instances of the same mapped channel number. There are probably only a limited number of locations where this would be a regular problem.

Duplicate PSIP channels could be a problem if translators are allowed to use their parent channel's number for the PSIP ID. I grew up in a town with translators, and our house was on a hill, so we could receive both the originating station and the translator. Anyone know what the rules are for translators?

I' m hoping to use one of these boxes to extend the life of a ReplayTV 5000.
Has anyone managed this?

The replayTV has the ability, through an IR transmitter, to control a DISH or D*TV, (using the Replay's Guide Data for the satellites) and record their output via composite input on the Replay....never tried this, as I am OTA only.

Thanks,

I would likely try the Digital Stream box from Radio Shack for that, because my Accurian, which is just a rebranded Digital Stream (that was sold through RS), can be controlled with an IR blaster by a Pioneer code. Can't go to the subchannels, though.

How the box stores the table of PSIP channel numbers and actual channels may also come into play. I have an Accurian box that normally receives 40.1 on RF channel 2 (WTWC Tallahassee). At some point, due to tropo, I received WJSU from Anniston, AL, which is on channel 9, but maps to 40.1 as well. If I enter channel 9 on the remote, up comes the video and audio for WTWC.

I'm sure it will be fixed when I clear out the memory, but it appears this box doesn't like multiple instances of the same mapped channel number. There are probably only a limited number of locations where this would be a regular problem.

I just read an email from a new owner of the Insignia box (in SC) and he stated:

"I also noted that it displays both remapped ch 7's & subchannels for
Charleston (WITV-DT)
and Jacksonville (WJCT-DT), similar to the RS Accurian STB."

Not enough tropo this time of year here in IN to test this on the Insignia. I did experience the same situation with my RS Accurian STB a couple years ago.

Steve

This evening I found the Insignia NS-DXA1 in stock at the Best Buy in Kokomo, IN.


I purchased the Insignia on 2/14/08 from Best Buy. I've posted an evaluation focusing on its closed caption features at the following thread that I created on evaluating converter boxes for users of closed captioning:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=997022

The box has crashed twice within a week after being on for at least a couple of hours. After several hours of the box being on, I also noticed a synchronization problem with video and audio that wasn't present with the same program on my HDTV. (The actor's speech would stop but his/her lips would keep moving...) Closed captions also became delayed.


Some of the MENU features: TV Aspect Ratio (Set By Program, Letter Box, Cropped, Squeezed); Auto Off (Off, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours); Audio Output (Stereo, Mono)


It's puzzled me that the button says Zoom but there isn't an option labeled "zoom." The "Cropped" is apparently the Zoom option.

Initially, it had seemed to me that the converter box didn't seem to be switching to the right view mode on its own. It's confusing that there's no clear "default" mode. After switching to Letter Box mode, however, I haven't noticed that problem. I guess the Letter Box mode is the safest mode to be in, but this isn't clear to first-time users.

Dana
Rockville, MD

I purchased the Insignia on 2/14/08 from Best Buy.

I have had no problems with mine, I keep one on all the time for transmitter monitoring. I will turn on CC now and let it go to see what happens.

I have had no problems with mine, I keep one on all the time for transmitter monitoring. I will turn on CC now and let it go to see what happens.

Thanks, Bob. I've been using the digital captioning, so make sure to use that as that's what most CC users would probably use.

My settings, which you might want to duplicate as I think they'll be the best way to use CCs on this device, are:

Size: Large
Font: Font 0
Text Color: White (default)
Text Opacity: Solid (default)
BG Color: Black (default)
BG Opacity: Translucent
Edge Type: Uniform
Edge Color: White

(Some people may want to turn the BG Opacity to solid.)

Dana

I let my Insignia run for 24 hours now with 608 CC1 turned on. No problems, unit is still fine and lip sync is good.

I have now switched it to 708 Service 1 and will let it go for another 24 hours using default settings.

If ok then will try with Dana's settings.

Can someone please clarify if these tuners will receive digital HD OTA channels and/or digital sub-channels that some local stations broadcase along with there digital HD channel?

Thanks.

fafner

Can someone please clarify if these tuners will receive digital HD OTA channels and/or digital sub-channels that some local stations broadcase along with there digital HD channel?Thanks.fafner

yes

My settings, which you might want to duplicate as I think they'll be the best way to use CCs on this device, are: Dana

Ok, My Insignia was fine still just now, so have switched to Dana's settings
and will monitor.

Ok, My Insignia was fine still just now, so have switched to Dana's settings
and will monitor.

It's been pointed out in another thread that how some stations transmit digital captions can crash the receiving device. This happened for a Tivo 3 in the Portland, Oregon area.

I think the Insignia crashed the first two times with digital captions from the myNetworkTV channel (my 20) in the DC area. It crashed again yesterday receiving digital captions from the WJLA broadcast of "Forrest Gump."

In the first and third cases causing the crash, I think the broadcasts were for old movies that originally had analog captions, so there could have been some reconversion of the analog captions to digital, and in the second case, the program was a rerun of an older Law and Order program so there might have been some reconversion of captions going on there as well. Maybe that makes a difference for the transmission of digital captions.

Thus I'd suggest turning the channel to your local myNetworkTV (it'll be called my20 or something like that) or possibly your local ABC channel, especially to reruns of old movies, and turning on the digital captions to see what happens.

Dana

Between late last night and early this morning, thanks to a little tropo enhancement, several of the Cincinnati DTV stations (just over 100 miles from my location) were in ( and out at times). Using my outdoor antenna setup (2-Triax Unix 100 UHF antennas horizontally stacked @ 30 ft. AGL and the CM 7775 preamp) which is quite directional, and then splitting the signal via an indoor 2-way splitter, I fed the Magnavox TB100MW9 and the Insignia NS-DXA1. With the Cincy stations, the Insignia was almost always a little ahead of the Magnavox in locating, decoding and diplaying audio/video. With the local stations, the two units were almost identical with the same process.

Then I moved the Insignia next to my two-year-old Sony 60" 1080p SXRD projection TV (KDS-R60XBR1) with built-in digital tuner. Using the Sony's split screen feature, I connected the Insignia to the Sony so I could watch (monitor) both receivers on one big screen. The $59 Insignia was making the Sony look stupid, with both distant and local reception. The Insignia was always decoding the weak Cincy stations ahead of the Sony, and then when the signal strength would drop a little, the Sony was almost always the first to drop the audio and video. And with local stations, including one whose tower is only 3 miles away (WTHR-DT-46 @ 1000kW), the Insignia was MUCH better at dealing with multipath. I could rotate the outdoor antenna in various directions and only occasionally see a few dropouts and/or pixelation with the Insignia, while the Sony would quite frequently display "No Signal." An indoor antenna produced virtually the same reception results with locals.

Steve

Has anyone been able to get BB to honor the 10% USPS Movers' Guide coupon (good for purchase of "audio and video accessories") on purchase of the Insignia CECB?

I picked up a NS-DXA1 on a trial basis today. I cannot get it to respond to the IR blaster connected to my Toshiba RD-XS32 HDD-DVR (2004 vintage). Anyone else able to control the Insignia via IR blaster? The Tosh manual doesn't list codes for LG or Insignia, but I tried the Zenith codes, for both DBS and Cable Box.
--Gary

I bought Insignia from BB. It is a good box. I tried 3 different TVs and could not program the codes from the remote to OFF/ON the tv. I like a signal meter that gives a number, not BAD/GOOD. I re-sold this unit to a elderly widow and made a YouTube antenna for her. She loves it.
When I had it hooked up to my old bigscreen, the stereo sound was excellent!

I picked up a NS-DXA1 on a trial basis today. I cannot get it to respond to the IR blaster connected to my Toshiba RD-XS32 HDD-DVR (2004 vintage). Anyone else able to control the Insignia via IR blaster? The Tosh manual doesn't list codes for LG or Insignia, but I tried the Zenith codes, for both DBS and Cable Box.
--GaryHad the same problem with my Sony RDR-HX900. Someone here told me it uses a DirecTV code - I guess the LG satellite box code that works with it is from an LG Direct box. I haven't gotten around to trying it yet, but try those.

I bought the Insignia converter box from Best Buy to play around with and I've been very impressed by the tuner. As stated by others above, it works great for weak signals, signals with multipath, strong signals; whatever is thrown at it, it makes a picture out of it. It's more sensitive than the OTA receiver in my Dish 622 and the receiver in my Sony XBR4.

The box has other nice features too... good signal meter, manual tuning of stations, auto scan that does NOT erase you old list... it adds to it, zoom, CC, and a cute remote.

Now we need to find a receiver that works this well and outputs HD!

Larry
SF

I'd suggest turning the channel to your local myNetworkTV

Anyone know if the RF pass through Insignia is out yet? I wonder if the sound problem is fixed on the APT? Someone with the Zenith dtt900 got Zenith to fix the sound problem free, anyone try this with the Insignia.

Lots of good info in this thread, but I've read up and found out about the sound issue.

This seems like a good box minus the audio issue.

I'll probably wait a little longer to get the coupons, for the TR40 to come out, hopefully future versions of this Zenith/Insignia fix the audio issues...

I bought two of the NS-DXA1 Insignia boxes. One works fine, the other has closed captions on even though the menu says they are off. Has anyone else experienced this problem and found a way to reset the closed captions?

I bought two of the NS-DXA1 Insignia boxes. One works fine, the other has closed captions on even though the menu says they are off. Has anyone else experienced this problem and found a way to reset the closed captions?

Check to make sure your TV set itself isnt set for captioning. You could try unplugging the unit for a while. Other than that, I would say its defective and needs to be returned to Best Buy.

Check to make sure your TV set itself isnt set for captioning. You could try unplugging the unit for a while. Other than that, I would say its defective and needs to be returned to Best Buy.

Thanks, that was the problem. I didn't think to check that the composite output might carry the CC information to the TV.

Thanks, that was the problem. I didn't think to check that the composite output might carry the CC information to the TV.


Legally, it HAS to, or else it's not compliant with FCC rules for captioning.

Question: What type of power plug does it use? I hope it is not the huge brick/box size that hogs two plug spaces. :)

Question: What type of power plug does it use? I hope it is not the huge brick/box size that hogs two plug spaces. :)

Power supply is internal, so small plug.

Power supply is internal, so small plug.Thanks! I was wondering because all my power strips are pretty much full except one plug. Darn those big plugs that take up two spaces.

Anyone know if the RF pass through Insignia is out yet? I wonder if the sound problem is fixed on the APT? Someone with the Zenith dtt900 got Zenith to fix the sound problem free, anyone try this with the Insignia.

Over in the Zenith DTT900 thread in this forum, users have reported that the audio issue has been fixed in the April 2008 manufactured units. Anyone have an April 2008 Insignia box where we can see if the audio issue is fixed in the Insignia box as well (with the same date). :cool:

Bumping for above question.

Anybody know if BB has boxes with the audio fix?

I stopped by the local BB yesterday and there were lots of the Insignia boxes available. They were dated from December 2007 to March 2008. They had no April 2008 boxes. I don't know if the fix that seems to be in the April Zenith boxes would also be in the April Insignia units.

Checked BB today. They had stacks of November and December 2007 boxes. Nothing newer.

I bought a BB box today. Lots of boxes (100?) - all dated Jan '08. Running signal through the RCA inputs and I do not see any audio problems. The boxes comes with volume at 100%, so I turned mine down to 50%. Don't know if that matters or not. I got a lock on a station 70 miles away with very, very old nonamplified RCA rabbit ears - stable signal too. I'll have to try it on the rooftop antenna.

I picked up an Insignia box today at BB. They had two Feb 08 builds and the rest were Mar 08. I bought one with the full understanding that I'll be able to exchange it for a later build when they become available.

It's for the bedroom TV which is simple stereo but to check the audio, I connected it to my HT system. It has the hissing sibilance problem quite badly when the broadcast material is DD 5.1 and the receiver is set to Pro Logic but not so bad if set to DTS Neo mode. I didn't really hear it at all if set to plain stereo or direct mode. It sounds just fine through the bedroom tv.

Funny thing about BB... the clerk knew nothing about the audio problem. He said they've sold hundreds of them and have not had any returned yet. He checked the corporate "forum" for employee feedback and Q/A on products and found no info on problems or any discussion on potential recalls, etc. with the Insignia box. The only item was a single unanswered question by a one employee wondering if and when the audio would be resolved.

Edit: The tuner in this box appears to be far superior to my Tivax STB-T1 as far as relative signal strength and strongly locking a station with not much antenna but the picture quality is not so great compared to the Tivax with component video output.

I set mine up today, and after playing with it I find there is no way to see all of a 4:3 image on a 4:3 TV. I set the box for 4:3 TV. When watching a program broadcast in 4:3, this is what I see: When the box aspect ratio is set to either "Set by Program" or "Letterbox," there is black around all four sides, like looking at a smaller screen. However, the picture has a slightly horizontally elongated appearance. A 4:3 image is 1.33:1. I measured the "4:3" image shown on my screen, and it comes out to 1.62:1. This is proof of the elongation I see. Now, if I try to use "Cropped" mode, the picture then does fill the entire screen, but it cuts a bit of the left and right side of the image off. When I turn my other HDTV widescreen TV's on and view the same 4:3 programs, I get the expected black bars on left and right, but I see a true 4:3 image, with no program material missing from the left and right. In some cases, critical information is, well "cropped" off from the sides.

What is worse, some channels, such as one of our weather channels, which is broadcast in 4:3, will not even allow you to change to letterbox so at least you can see all the information on the sides. If you try to change the aspect ratio, you see a message to the effect, "The aspect ratio cannot be changed on this channel." So I can only see a cropped 4:3 image with missing sides. So, what's up with this Insignia? Is this even confined to the Insignia, or is it an imperfection in all CECB's? I have not heard anybody else notice this problem. I guess it becomes a moot point in 2009 and hopefully eventually all broadcast goes to 16:9, but right now it is irritating!

One last question: What is the difference between "Set by Program" and "Letterbox" aspect ratios? I never see any difference on any program material, ever. When I watch a channel that switches between 4:3 and letterboxed program material, it does not switch aspect ratios automatically when set to "Set by Program," so what is the use of this setting?

I am sorry I wasted a $40 coupon on this without "pre-buying" it at full price to try it first, as I cannot return it and try another brand at another store, since you lose the $40 rebate when you return it.

Turbo DV8 -

Some stations deliberately stretch their own 4x3 material to a 14x9 ratio, in order to reduce the black bars on the CEO's new 108" widescreen TV 'cause he doesn't like 'em. The zoom control on your box is designed to perfectly fit 4x3 pillarboxed material on your 4x3 screen, but it can't do anything about a 14x9 formatted picture caused by your local station's stupidity.

In any case, all converter boxes will do the same thing, and it is not a defect of the box.

Time to start writing some ugly letters to your local broadcaster. It took a serious letter-writing phone-calling public-humiliating campaign to get KABC here in LA to fix it. Hopefully it won't be so much trouble on your end.

Secondly, yes there is material cut off the sides, as there always is when you watch analog on the same TV. The NTSC standard calls for overscan. In other words, the outer 5% of the picture isn't designed to be seen, and is there mainly as buffer for TVs with improperly centered pictures. If words or graphics are being cut off, that's another phone call to your local station. Also not a defect of your box.

Someone else will need to answer the "set by program" thing. So far as I can tell, it's a vestige of some of LG's HD products, which I'm sure use much of the same firmware.

Some stations deliberately stretch their own 4x3 material to a 14x9 ratio, in order to reduce the black bars on the CEO's new 108" widescreen TV 'cause he doesn't like 'em. The zoom control on your box is designed to perfectly fit 4x3 pillarboxed material on your 4x3 screen, but it can't do anything about a 14x9 formatted picture caused by your local station's stupidity.


Thanks, narkspud. So, is this to say that they do this 14:9 thing only on the DTV 4:3 broadcasts? Because when I watch the same program broadcast on another (analog RF) 4:3 TV simultaneously, the sides are not cropped off on the analog set.

When I first turn on my Insignia, the picture has a subtle-but-noticeable pulsating flicker, with slightly darker horizontal bands that slowly rise in a fashion similar to if the vertical hold is slightly off. (Those were the days!) It is faint, and I did not even notice it the first time, but every subsequent time I have noticed it. It gradually goes away within 2-3 minutes, once warm. The next time I went to turn the system on, I first warmed up the TV before turning the box on to eliminate the TV as culprit, and the banding/flickering still occurred. Plus I tried the box on a different TV from a cold start, and it did the same thing. Has anybody else noticed this subtle flickering during the first few minutes of turning on the box?

Also, is my understanding correct that if my Insignia has the audio problem, it will not be an issue if I only use the box with a mono TV? I do know that if I have the box set for stereo and play it on my mono TV, the audio output drops dramatically, but if I set the box for mono, the volume jumps way up. I do not know if this is part of the Insignia/Zenith audio problem. Believe it or not, I have had a hard time pinning down exactly how this audio problem is supposed to manifest itself. Could anyone provide a link to a germane thread on the subject? Thankyou.

[QUOTE=Turbo DV8;13982907]When I first turn on my Insignia, the picture has a subtle-but-noticeable pulsating flicker, with slightly darker horizontal bands that slowly rise in a fashion similar to if the vertical hold is slightly off. (Those were the days!) It is faint, and I did not even notice it the first time, but every subsequent time I have noticed it. It gradually goes away within 2-3 minutes, once warm. The next time I went to turn the system on, I first warmed up the TV before turning the box on to eliminate the TV as culprit, and the banding/flickering still occurred. Plus I tried the box on a different TV from a cold start, and it did the same thing. Has anybody else noticed this subtle flickering during the first few minutes of turning on the box?
QUOTE]

I noticed the same 2 min. flicker with my Zenith.

I guess it becomes a moot point in 2009 and hopefully eventually all broadcast goes to 16:9, but right now it is irritating!


If you think next year everything will be 16x9 (i.e., high-def), you are going to be very disappointed...stations will switch to broadcasting in DIGITAL, but a lot of the programming will continue to be standard definition, which is 4x3...

Also, is my understanding correct that if my Insignia has the audio problem, it will not be an issue if I only use the box with a mono TV? I do know that if I have the box set for stereo and play it on my mono TV, the audio output drops dramatically, but if I set the box for mono, the volume jumps way up. I do not know if this is part of the Insignia/Zenith audio problem. Believe it or not, I have had a hard time pinning down exactly how this audio problem is supposed to manifest itself. Could anyone provide a link to a germane thread on the subject? Thankyou.

If your Insignia suffers from the left channel audio problem, it can be audible regardless of the mono/stereo settings on either your converter or the TV, though I found it to be a bit less noticeable with the converter set for mono.

Volume with this converter does increase noticeably when its output is set for mono. Don't let that worry you, as it's perfectly normal for the Insignia (and its Zenith counterpart).

The left channel problem is discussed at great length in the huge thread about the Zenith DTT900 converter, which has the same internal design as the Insignia. Below is a link to the first mention of the audio issue that I could find, from early March.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=13325723#post13325723

Below is a download link to an audio excerpt which suffers from the problem:

http://www.mediafire.com/?yuvynylztuv

There are two brief audio clips in the folder--one is left channel only, and one is right channel only. The audible defect (a high-pitched chirping type of noise that fluctuates as words are spoken) is in the left channel file. Note, though, that, the quality of your speakers and even your hearing may make this difficult or impossible to hear, as the interference begins at a fairly high frequency of roughly 11 khz

If you think next year everything will be 16x9 (i.e., high-def), you are going to be very disappointed...stations will switch to broadcasting in DIGITAL, but a lot of the programming will continue to be standard definition, which is 4x3...

There's still black & white programming....How many years has that been? :D

When I first turn on my Insignia, the picture has a subtle-but-noticeable pulsating flicker, with slightly darker horizontal bands that slowly rise in a fashion similar to if the vertical hold is slightly off. (Those were the days!) It is faint, and I did not even notice it the first time, but every subsequent time I have noticed it. It gradually goes away within 2-3 minutes, once warm. The next time I went to turn the system on, I first warmed up the TV before turning the box on to eliminate the TV as culprit, and the banding/flickering still occurred. Plus I tried the box on a different TV from a cold start, and it did the same thing. Has anybody else noticed this subtle flickering during the first few minutes of turning on the box? Yes, I've noticed the flickering on my Zenith. It does gradually go away.

Thanks, narkspud. So, is this to say that they do this 14:9 thing only on the DTV 4:3 broadcasts? Because when I watch the same program broadcast on another (analog RF) 4:3 TV simultaneously, the sides are not cropped off on the analog set.

Yep. Only on DTV. The analog is a separate feed.

Picked up two of the Insignia ND-DXA1 Digital-to-Analog Converter for Analog TVs at my local Charlotte BestBuy today. I briefly got to play with the unit before shipping it out, will post more info this weekend when I get time to play with the 2nd box. Will Best Buy offer an APT-compliant version of their Insignia-branded CECB, similar to the Zenith-branded DTT-901?

Insignia NS-DXA1-APT (with Analog Pass Thru) has passed FCC Unintended Emissions Test
and is on the Energy Star Qualified Product List....but has not yet qualified for NTIA's CECB List.

I have a very stupid question. Everyone seems so excited about APT and finding boxes that have this feature. If all stations are required to go digital as of February next year, won't the APT feature be useless then? Or are there still going to be low power stations allowed to broadcast? If so, are those stations that special that people still really want to tune in to them?

Or is there another feature of APT that makes it so special that I am just missing?

Thanks!

atrac, yes you are right the low power stations don't have to be digital by next Feb. It isn't hard for stations to say "all full power stations" but they are sloppy. DS gets a kick out of "your tv will not work" too.

I get something like 3 booster stations for one analog station. What that tells me is that the booster is there because someone would not otherwise get the main signal.

But the crime is that some LPs are the last bastion of independent stations. If I believe the major networks, I will believe all stations are now digital and not even know to look for the Indy channels.

Or is there another feature of APT that makes it so special that I am just missing?For some, there is another.  Boxes that implement passthrough the way the Philco TB-100HH9 and Magnavox TB-100MG9 do can send the digital station to which they're tuned out the A/V outputs and pass the antenna input out their RF outputs at the same time.  That way you can feed two devices -- where one has only an NTSC tuner or no tuner, while the other has an ATSC tuner or it has an NTSC tuner but it's tuning in an analog signal -- from the same antenna at once.

Since the Insignia NS-DXA1 is a clone of the Zenith DTT900, I expect that the NS-DXA1-APT will be a clone of the DTT901, so it won't be able to perform such a function.

I have a very stupid question. Everyone seems so excited about APT and finding boxes that have this feature. If all stations are required to go digital as of February next year, won't the APT feature be useless then? Or are there still going to be low power stations allowed to broadcast? If so, are those stations that special that people still really want to tune in to them?

Or is there another feature of APT that makes it so special that I am just missing?

Thanks!
Only the 1,747 FULL POWER stations are required to shut down analog in Feb2009.

There are actually FOUR times as many (about 7,400) analog Low Power,
Class A and Translator stations NOT REQUIRED to transmit DTV by Feb2009:
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/DTVandLPTV.html
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/dtvcoupon/LPTVmap.html
As of Feb, only about 2,000 had submitted DTV transition plans....
probably more by now....can't seem to find a more recent number....

1. Due to irregular terrain, in many rural (mostly Western) parts of the country,
major networks use several low power repeaters to greatly extend their coverage area:
http://www.opb.org/digital/rural/
Eventually, most of the major networks using LP repeaters should transition
to DTV broadcasts....whenever they pull together enough funding....
ATSC delays in defining and testing distributed DTV network concepts
has also delayed DTV repeater hardware implementation schedules.
[Let someone else be a guinea pig for Distributed On-channel Repeaters.....]
[And since there's no rush, might as well wait for the more robust
Mobile & Pedestrian upgrade to ATSC to go into production....]

2. In many locations across the USA, low power stations are primary sources
of foreign language, religious and "other" (e.g. school, shopping) broadcasts.
Currently, there is NO FCC REQUIREMENT to transition these to DTV...

3. Some viewers distribute analog TV throughout their house for a variety
of reasons, incl. front/rear door surveillance, Dish DVR output to "TV2"
and some simple "multi-room" distribution of DVD, DVR, PC and other signals.
[Continue watching/listening to D* program when you move to the bedroom....]
[Isolation Filters are used with the Modulator to block leakage via antenna.]

APT permits the user to toggle between DTV and the analog source
without getting up to manually throw an A/B RF Switch.
Alternatively, an RF Splitter could be used, but 4 dB loss is likely to
kill reception for the LOW POWER channels....duh....

atrac, yes you are right the low power stations don't have to be digital by next Feb.

But the crime is that some LPs are the last bastion of independent stations. If I believe the major networks, I will believe all stations are now digital and not even know to look for the Indy channels.

In the area where I'm located (in the west), in addition to the religious and Spanish language channels that will continue in analog, we get FOX and CW on low power translators. Without APT, we lose two major (or semi-major anyway) networks.

According to tvfool we have ten analog channels available here (I didn't even know there were that many). After DTV conversion, even with the additon of the multi-cast channels, we have *eight* useful digital channels. I don't count the 24-hour repeat of the 30 minute local newscast on one channel, nor the 24-hour repeat of the weather as "additional" worthwhile content.

But even if you count those, we've lost original programming on several channels. Our PBS station has the most multi-cast channels, but two of those simply repeat, at different times, the same programming that is on the primary channel.

We lose rather than gain due to DTV. Granted, I don't watch most of the analog channels but as TalkingRat says, that isn't the point. The government shouldn't be allowed to shutdown this channel of communcation from the little guy.

Only the 1,747 FULL POWER stations are required to shut down analog in Feb2009.

There are actually FOUR times as many (about 7,400) analog Low Power, Class A and Translator stations NOT REQUIRED to transmit DTV by Feb2009:
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/DTVandLPTV.html
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/dtvcoupon/LPTVmap.html......

APT permits the user to toggle between DTV and the analog source without getting up to manually throw an A/B RF Switch. Alternatively, an RF Splitter could be used, but 4 dB loss is likely to kill reception for the LOW POWER channels....duh.... Excellent points. Additional points about analog pass-through:

About 3% of American viewers live in communities near the Mexican border. This includes San Diego, El Paso, Laredo, and Brownsville. Local Mexican stations will support NTSC for a few years - keep in mind Mexico's economy is less affluent than the US and the need for a "analog TV shutdown" is less pressing.

About 2% of American viewers live in communities near the Canada border. This includes Detroit, Buffalo, and Bellingham. Local Canadian stations will support NTSC for at least three years, and possibly longer via low-powered transmitters. Here, an affluent but much less densely-populated nation doesn't face the same political urgency for a massive government-forced "analog TV shutdown". NTSC is being phased out more gradually in Canada.

America's LP, Class A and Translator transmitters will gradually be phased out. Unfortunately, Congress' decision to auction off such a vast amount of airspace to the cell phone industry (14 of the 18 channels were auctioned off, only 4 retained for public-safety purposes) is going to create surprisingly jammed airwaves for the remaining LP, Class A and Translator stations.

I see in various roundups that this box (and the APT version) seem to have originally come with a Samsung tuner, but was later changed to LG. Is this correct? If so, when did it happen? Can you tell from the manufacture date? I'd like to get one of the LG versions, which hopefully also corrects the audio problem. My local BB has stacks of them, but most were manufactured between December and February, and none after March.

-Chris

Last month my local BB had a boatload of March boxes and two or three earlier boxes. Now, they've sold all those and restocked with December and January boxes.

I see in various roundups that this box (and the APT version) seem to have originally come with a Samsung tuner, but was later changed to LG. Is this correct? If so, when did it happen? Can you tell from the manufacture date? I'd like to get one of the LG versions, which hopefully also corrects the audio problem. My local BB has stacks of them, but most were manufactured between December and February, and none after March.

-Chris

Other than the brand name, Zenith and Insignia are identical. Sanyo or LG tuners are found in models produced into late March or early April when the Sanyo turners were phased out. Left channel audio problems (when using the composite audio outputs with the converter box set to stereo audio and when TV stations are broadcasting in DD 5.1) were corrected during late March production but the exact date/serial number for that fix is unknown. April production should not exhibit the audio problem.

During April production Zenith transitioned from the DTT900 model to the DTT901 model that has analog RF pass through. LG tuners are used for all analog RF pass through models. It is expected that Insignia production will also transition to the analog RF pass through but that model has not yet appeared on the NTIA coupon eligible list nor have these models appeared in Best Buy stores.

So the April-or-Later mfr date for the box NOT having the Left Channel Bug holds true on the Insignia, too?

The nearest BB is ca. 35 miles away, and last time I was there they had a nice pile of boxes with February 2008 dates...... I've got a Rat Shack in town, but word on the DTT-901 thread is that the stores won't have 'em until mid-July. You can order a 901 off the RS website now....but you can't use a coupon. Sigh.

The audio problem is in the LGDT1111 big chip....NOT the RF tuner.

We hope the new Insignia DS-DSA1-APT (with APT) will come with new software to fix
the audio bug....whenever it receives CECB approval and becomes available in stores.

Like all electronics, will the price drop on these converter boxes around the holidays or after the masses have already purchased them in Jan? I received my coupon card already and it is about to expire but later I could get more from friends that have cable and don't need theirs. I hate to spend $20 for every TV I own when it doesn't add any channels or other value. It may be worth putting all of those $20s towards a HD TV and get a great picture. Maybe the government set the price for $60>?

There will always be last minute buyers to keep the price up. There is lots of pent up demand right now, just waiting for boxes that have been on the CECB list for months. It's as close to price fixing as you can legally get.

Yes, you could get more coupons later from cable friends, if they order before the first batch of coupons is gone. Digital does add subchannels, but whether you get more or fewer stations depends on where you are. It sure is a nice picture, thouth. You can't combine coupons, it's one coupon per CECB-approved box, and HDTV is not in the program. The government did not set the price, although paying the first $40 did give mfgrs incentive to build boxes.

My bet would be sometime Summer '09 or later that the prices start dropping and these things start going to outlet stores like Big Lots. Reason: The CECB program will be over, the digital transition will have taken place and most everyone needing a box will have bought one, the more technically inclined will have gone full HD and newer generation tuners will come out rendering these current then older boxes obsolete with no one wanting to pay non-coupon price for a digital "converter" for their old TV.

Shopping for a unit for my parents and decided on the Insignia. A month ago Austin area BB had 50-60 boxes per store from Nov 07 to March 08. Checked again two weeks ago to look for April units, but it looked like inventory wasn't moving. Just went today (since the coupon expires Sunday) and two out of three stores were sold out. Had to buy a January 08 model. Coincidentally a coworker said that he went with his mom to a BB and the salesman was pushing them saying, "It doesn't matter if you have cable, you need one of these!" My coworker had to leave because he got so bent out of shape trying to convince the guy he was all wrong.

So either BB pushed a lot of units off on under informed customers or there were a lot of people like myself hoping something better would show up before their coupon expired. Either way this whole thing has been a mess. I'll end up getting a coupon of my own when/if something better is available so I can give it to my folks. I wonder if the April units show up next week if I can return my "defective" unit? Hmmmm.

Like all electronics, will the price drop on these converter boxes around the holidays or after the masses have already purchased them in Jan? I received my coupon card already and it is about to expire but later I could get more from friends that have cable and don't need theirs. I hate to spend $20 for every TV I own when it doesn't add any channels or other value. It may be worth putting all of those $20s towards a HD TV and get a great picture. Maybe the government set the price for $60>?

Don't forget that there is a limited number of coupon cash available. I thought I read recently that $33M of coupons have gone out, but on $1.5M have been used. At some point there will be a rush on them and possibly use up the funds. Does anyone know where you can monitor this?

Don't forget that there is a limited number of coupon cash available. I thought I read recently that $33M of coupons have gone out, but on $1.5M have been used. At some point there will be a rush on them and possibly use up the funds. Does anyone know where you can monitor this?

https://www.dtv2009.gov/Stats.aspx

A reviewer at the Best Buy (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8624081&productCategoryId=abcat0104000&type=product&tab=7&id=1199495190393#productdetail) web site made this statement, suggesting that the Insignia's remote was more user-friendly than the Zenith DTT-900:
Once I found out that the Insignia was really a Zenith clone, and especially, once I saw the photo of the Insignia's remote control, and noticed that the channel buttons were on the RIGHT, I was sold.

What Best Buy essentially did is took the Zenith box under their own brand name and IMPROVED it. And WOW! What an improvement! Has anyone compared the two remotes? Additionally, has anyone found if a larger remote (similar to the big remotes used for current-model LG LCD TVs) will work with the Insignia or Zenith CECBs?

I have read all of the posts here on the NS-DXA1 and it seems noone has definitively said it has an analog passthru. I feel the unit could be a good one to get but then I want that passthru. I have until mid July to use my coupon and it pisses me off that there is any kind of expiration date on it; I wonder who's brilliant idea that was? I guess you can count on the government to screw up everything and find a way to f... over the little guy again the way it normally goes.
I thank everyone for the reviews and will probably get this model before my coupon runs out. Its a shame I will probably not be able to get one with a passthru for analog.

Has anyone compared the two remotes? Both have the channel buttons were on the RIGHT
They are identical looking remotes.
http://www.freedtvshop.com/fdtv/converters/pics/dtt900rem.jpghttp://www.freedtvshop.com/fdtv/converters/pics/nsdxa1rem.jpg

I don't know if they use identical IR codes but have a strong felling they do.

I have read all of the posts here on the NS-DXA1 and it seems noone has definitively said it has an analog passthru.It doesn't have analog passthru
If you can find the Zenith DTT901* it does.

There has been no Insignia with analog passthru added to the NTIA list yet.

You might also have time for the MicroProse MPI-500PT* if it gets amended to the list before your coupons expire.

These will be the only two LG based CECBs with analog passthru that I know of.
I have no idea what happened to the Insignia NTIA request for it's passthru version.

It is strange that all three were sent for approval and only the Zenith got it so far.

BestBuy [what an oxymoron..] in 20902 had about 75 of them; all were older [Nov-Jan]. I got a Feb. unit, set aside in a crunched carton.

I chose this unit for its volume/mute controls, and mono-audio output.

It works, but I am astonished what a PITA it is to change channels.

A) Use the up/down toggle. OK, but there's the delay for decoding. You shall soon unsubscribe all the damn weather radar subchannels.

B) FAVorite button lets you mark a subset of the channels. But once you hit it, you do NOT use the up/down toggle. Instead you use the upper, merry-go-round up/down, and the bullseye for enter. Note there's a preview image in the background as you do.

C) Manually enter a channel dash subcarrier bullseye again.

On the plus side, the random walk did "find" my TV power, so I can usually just use the DTV control. But the shutoff timer does not turn off my set, just the DTV.

OK, more like the $59.99 Question: Has anybody found one of these with a manufacture date of April or later?

Both have the channel buttons were on the RIGHT
They are identical looking remotes.

I don't know if they use identical IR codes but have a strong felling they do.

The remotes are identical. The Insignia remote controls every function of a DTT901.

OK, more like the $59.99 Question: Has anybody found one of these with a manufacture date of April or later?

After the March boxes ran out in early June, the BB stores in my area are only restocking with November 07 through January 08 boxes.

BTW; I plugged the audio into a set of amplified computer speakers instead of my TV set. While it's a little short on gain [both gains near 100%]; it's quite good quality...for TV.

Don't know if that means mine has improved audio out or not....

I have scanned this thread and not found an answer, maybe I missed it.

Has anyone found what set of remote codes this CECB uses, so that they can program a brand X (in my case, Sony) remote control to control this CECB?

Thanks.

I have scanned this thread and not found an answer, maybe I missed it.

Has anyone found what set of remote codes this CECB uses, so that they can program a brand X (in my case, Sony) remote control to control this CECB?

Thanks.

In your Sony remote's "code list" try the activation code(s) Sony has assigned to LG or Zenith for SAT/DTV/WebTV or perhaps CABLE. That advice should be found in the Insignia user manual. That advice is found in the Zenith DTT90X user manuals.

Universal remote control manufacturers determine their own "codes" that activate and emulate the product control signals used by OEM manufacturers. If there are "remote control codes" common to different brands of universal remotes it is probably because the brands are produced by the same manufacturer.

Philips branded remotes assign the activation code 0340 to a Panasonic DVD player whereas RCA branded remotes assign one of these activation codes 3355, 3394, 3395, 3406, 3407, 3437, 3438 and 3443 to the same Panasonic DVD player.

A elderly lady called me this morning with a problem on the NS-DXA1 I installed for her in April. The box had locked up with jibberish CC covering most of the screen. I told her to unplug it for a few seconds. It powered right back up. After church I dropped by to check it out. I rescanned the channels with EZ add. The tuner seems a little weak. It detected a signal on RF #34 but could not lock it in. Her RCA box in the bedroom captures it OK. Both use my U-Tube antennas. Zip 61260

On the Zenith DTT901 thread WackyPacks has just reported obtaining an Insignia analog pass through model of June 2008 production at a Best Buy store:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14314129#post14314129

I have been having a power-up glitch on two new APT converters from both Insignia and Zenith. If my box has been sitting a while powered down, and I then try to turn it on via remote, the unit does not respond unless I press the ON button several times. Once powered up, it will turn off and on with only the usual one-second lag. I have both a new May-build Zenith DTT901 and a May-build Insignia NS-DXA1-APT that exhibit this same problem. My April-build DTT900 and a few other DTT900's I have tried do not exhibit this. Has anybody experienced this power-up glitch on any of the new Zenith/Insignia APT boxes?

So I have an Insignia; but need a 2nd unit for the VCR.

What can I get that
won't clash, remote-control wise, with the Insignia.
Has volume and mute controls; in case I want to use it on the tube.
maybe has SVIDEO.
is inexpensive and available.


Suggestions?

I have had this unit for over 2 months and it just started doing something strange. It will change the zoom ON ITS OWN and change channels (2 up) ON ITS OWN. Then it abruptly lost the TV remote code making me have to reprogram, all while the battery is fine, and there are no other similar units in the house (that may be controlling from another room).

I have had this unit for over 2 months and it just started doing something strange. It will change the zoom ON ITS OWN and change channels (2 up) ON ITS OWN. Then it abruptly lost the TV remote code making me have to reprogram, all while the battery is fine, and there are no other similar units in the house (that may be controlling from another room).

Try taking the batteries out of the remote. See if the weird behavior continues or stops while the batteries are out. It may have nothing to do with your remote, but at least you could rule that out. Are there other infrared remotes in the room of any sort?

..and there are no other similar units in the house (that may be controlling from another room).How about nearby neighbors?

How about nearby neighbors?

Re Neighbors with a similar unit causing interference.

While it "could" happen with a IR remote that is unlikely, especially considering the unit will change the zoom ON ITS OWN and change channels (2 up). Sounds like low batteries /bad remote/improper positioning of unit, or a unit going bad.

A tip off it might be the remote is the remote abruptly losing the TV remote code- and having to be re-programed.;)


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Sounds like low batteries..A tip off it might be the remote is the remote abruptly losing the TV remote code- and having to be re-programed.;).


Reminds me of when I worked at rat shak..customers just couldn't believe the NEW batteries they bought at fartmart on sale could be bad..:rolleyes: