Memorex MVCB1000

Well, if it's like the Tivax after auto scan there is a list of channels found.
Thats where you can add them from this list.

Also you can go to real rf channel by keying in number I believe. and if its
viewable it will get added to that list? Think im right on this.

Only thing i dont like about this box you cant just go up and down through the rf real channels manually in options set up. you have to find them on auto scan or get them
through key pad manually.

Hope that makes sense.

These observations on the Tivax, of course.


John

I just bought one. It does have analog pass-through when it is powered off! Which is what I was hoping. Like a VCR.

I had to try it to verify that. Analog pass-through is not mentioned anywhere on the box, or in the "manual". In fact, the "manual" even mentions you may have to use a splitter if you want analog. The "manual" and other addenda are poorly translated to English. In some cases, it's very difficult to even make sense out of the "English". Maybe I should send a copy to Jay Leno.

Other than that, the box is great so far. I was glad to find it. A couple differences from the Tivax are that it does not have RS232 nor a smart antenna interface.

I do recommend it.

Try this: Put the box in standby mode. Cut the power to the box. Start up the power again. Does the box turn on (like the Tivax) or does it come up in standby mode?
This is important because it looks like there won't be a box with a timer available before at least mid July.

Did the TiVax manual say that when it's not going to be in use, you can "plug it out"? lol

The analog stations looked just as good as ever to me. I didn't notice any degradation at all. They almost looked better.

Actually it might have looked better. They use low gain pre amp in there to make up for the loss in the pass through. :P


John

Does anyone know if this box has a heat sink the the Tivax does?

I purchased the Memorex MVCB1000 from Rite Aid drug store about a week ago. The price was $69.99 ($29.99 plus full price sales tax after the $40.00 government discount). In this week's Rite Aid sales flyer (7/11 -7/17, Los Angeles, CA), the Memorex is priced at $59.99, and the store refunded $10.00 plus tax back to me, when I went in with the flyer and my receipt. Anyone interested in this box should be aware of the lower price. It may be the new price, but it also may only be on sale this week or for a limited time. I'm not sure if the Memorex is being sold by other retailers.

The box is said to be a clone of the Tivax converter. While I haven't seen the Tivax picture, which was well-rated by Consumer Reports, I am very pleased with the Memorex picture quality. It scanned channels, easily. I have more channels, now, but I also can't get a major channel (ABC). I guess I need a better antenna. There is analog pass-through, as previously mentioned.

The Memorex box does NOT function like the Tivax, when the power is shut off and turned back on. Starting in "standby", it goes to "standby", when the power is turned back on.

The remote fits well in your hand, but it functions somewhat sluggishly. It's not as responsive as I would like. You have to really press the buttons, and it has to be pointed directly at the box or commands aren't received. It runs on two AA batteries.

As mentioned, previously, there is no RS232 or smart antenna interface.

The box, itself, is black, and the casing is, primarily, metal with a plastic front. It is well-ventilated (top and sides), and it doesn't seem too hot to the touch during operation. It automatically shuts off after four hours of operation. That may be a setting that can changed. I'll have to read the manual.

All in all, I think it's a good box. Of course, being without timer control is a major flaw. I see myself purchasing a High Definition TV or DVD recorder with digital tuner in the near future. Somehow, I think that was exactly the government's plan, when they devised the whole converter box program.

jtmtj

In Aug or Sep 2008 I had bought this MVCB1000 from my local Riteaid store and immediately I was dissatisfied with it for the following reasons:

1. The volume output via the rf coax cable is lower than what it should be. The volume control (via this box is set at maximum) but I must increase the volume level of the tv set to approximately 3/4 setting. This is to get comparable volume level for normal listening. My normal volume setting of the tv is usually at 1/3 to 1/2. This means that if you turn off the converter that the volume will "blast" out the static when it goes "off air". Sorry, but that is not right. It could damage the speaker of the tv set and is not good for the hearing. Just a matter of poor design.

2. The signal level display on this unit is a simulated led bar graph which shows (I think it was 6) bars as --- --- --- --- --- ---. Most stations showed as being next to the highest for signal strength. I found if a station was less than that level that it seemed to be of insufficient strength for usage with the tv, i.e., the digital station would not be receivable. Again, it is my opinion this unit is lacking in sensitivity.

3. If power to the unit was lost, (unplugged from AC outlet or other power failure), the converter box would lose the stored stations, thus a person would have to re-scan for stations. Again, this is a poor design, stations are stored in volatile memory rather than non-volatile memory.

I only had the one converter card and I desired to return this unit to the store because of its poor quality. The total price was $69 less the $40 card value my cost was the difference. I talked with the store manager and the assitant manager immediately after I purchased the unit and explained my complaints. They said I could only get my own cash back. I explained that I wanted to get another unit elsewhere (to try) and said that the government card was kept by them. I also explained that the government assitance card was poorly implemented in that a consumer would have no consumer protection rights.

The card program should have been implemented so that if a unit was poor quality that a credit could be placed back into the card. That could have been done still using the two month time limitation as it has.

I asked the store to enquire with RiteAid Corporation about a full refund wherein I would be purchasing another unit elsewhere to try out and to hopefully be satisfied with. Several weeks went by and they did not get any response from corporate. I said that I would be willing to picket. More time went by. Finally the manager conceded to refund the total unit cost (value of card plus my cash paid = total cost of unit). That was the manager's decision at the store and I am very greatful. Commendable of the manager to support a customer and what is only right.

I went to another store after having reviewed online some comments about the Zenith DTT901 (May 2008 mfg date). I had also read reviews about the DTT900. I found that the DTT901 was sold at C.C. (store name shortened).

The DTT901 was priced at the same $69. I phone the local store and they said they had the 901 in stock. Upon arrival at the store they only had the DTT900 on display with lots of them on the shelf. I was almost upset not seeing the 901 but I asked a clerk about the 901 and she said that they had them only in the back. (Bad thoughts.... guess they wanted to clear out the 900 model first....).

I paid cash for the total cost of this unit. Same as what RiteAid refunded to me, plus one penny.

In comparison the Zenith DTT901 is a much better unit. I had been led to believe that the remote control for this unit was a Universal Remote in that it would control the volume and other items on my set, but it only controls just power on/off of the tv set (but that is ok, I guess).

Quality of the DTT901 is much better than the Memorex MVCB1000.

The DTT901 with its volume (of the converter box at maximum) properly gives a volume output on rf cable output that is the same as normal reception (example, if I turn off the converter box the volume of an analog station is normal). In other words, I don't have to crank up the volume of the tv set to the abnormally high 3/4 volume setting in order to hear a digital program (I just keep my tv set volume at it's normal setting). Better design.

The signal level display for reception is also improved. It is a tri-colour bar graph with range showing from/to bad-----good range. Along with the visual display of signal it gives an audible beeping sound from slow speed beeping for lower strength to faster beeping for stronger signal. This could be an aid to one person adjustment of an antenna. It also seems to be more responsive and shows more variation of the signal. Again, this is a better design.

Reception seems to be better with the Zenith DTT901. It seems to tolerate lower quality signal levels of stations, thus I seem to have better reception of more stations.

It also has other features such as a tv guide that will show current and next program for the stations, but one must at least tune to a station first for that guide to show what's on and upcoming (reasonable, as each station sends out their own programming info over the air).

I have a second nearly identical tv set, (both are older 13 inch sets, I live full time in a motorhome) and I can watch digital tv on both sets. There does not seem to be any degrading of signal at the bedroom tv which is about 28 feet from the front tv. (A tv/ant/vcr signal switch box is utilized.) Whereas I can simultaneously watch the same program on both tv sets with this converter box also tells me that its rf output level is good.

Additionally, the DTT901 retains its list of stations in non-volatile memory so if you lose AC power to the converter box it does not lose the stations stored. Again, a better design.

In general I am very satisfied with the Zenith DTT901. It is a much better unit than the Memorex MVCB1000. There could be better converter boxes out in the market but they may also cost more.

I must also (again) commend that store manager for making the rightful and fair decision to refund the full cost for the poor quality Memorex unit. And I will also again comment that the DTV converter box program could have been more properly implemented to have included the capability to have the limited time $40 card be re-credited with its value in order to enable easier returns of poor quality units thus ensuring better consumer protection.

Hope that this information and review is helpful to others.

Seems like RiteAid doesn't have a very good exchange policy for the CECB unit they carry. Even thought it says on the dtv2009 site about exchanging?

https://www.dtv2009.gov/FAQ.aspx
"Frequently Asked Questions
Using a Coupon
16.Can I exchange my TV converter box for another one?
If the retail store permits exchanges, you can exchange the converter you purchased for another coupon-eligible converter box."

Actually I think that the manager and asst at the individual RiteAid store handled the matter appropriately and properly with consideration and compassion for the consumer and consumer rights.

There was no other model converter available at the store at the time, thus in order to try out the other brand (Zenith) at the other store, it of course meant that I went to that other place.

In this case the Memorex unit was of poor quality in my opinion and the store manager acted properly. Corporate, though, either didn't respond or was slow, etc, so the manager took it upon himself to do only what was right.

As I had written, the Zenith DTT901 proved itself to be a much better unit. One small nuisance with the Zenith, by default it has a timer set to turn off the box after 4 hours... after it shut-off that first time I checked the menu and I found that option, can be set to less time or function disabled. Set it to the latter. Very pleased with this unit.

Thanks for that feedback link, about the exchanges allowed (shown at the dtv site) but that is only useful and valid "IF" a store is selling more than one brand or model. A consumer could be out of luck and be stuck with a poor quality unit and could have to spend more dollars if they have used their coupon(s) and have a piece of junk. The government should have considered this aspect (consumer protection) and have allowed credit back to the card if within the 90 usage period, not unlike buying something with your credit/debit card or not unlike returning a food item bought with an electronic ebt food card. Credit(s) can be applied back to those cards. The government did not consider (proper) consumer protection and did not implement their program properly for that aspect.

I commend the store manager too. He did the right thing for John Doe.

I believe that the NTIA requires CECB's to be sent from the factory with the shutoff preset to four hours.