Zenith (LG) DTT900 CECB - Page 6

There's one major flaw in that argument: that would assume that they receive the signal in analog format after the cutoff (which, according to everything the FCC or Congress has said, will, barring last-minute extensions, will be flatly impossible). Except for smaller cable companies, I know of none that relies entirely on antenna towers to receive OTA for retransmission; most have a (digital) alternate backhaul feed (for example, Comcast in Prince George's County (MD) uses both microwave and fiber-based backhaul, primarily leased from, of all people, *Verizon*). Also, Comcast in metro Chicago transmits *nothing* in analog whatever (Comcast Greater Chicago is an all-digital cluster, and one of at least two within Comcast's footprint).

Unless specified by the retransmission contract or other contract, digital-to-analog conversion is not a requirement anywhere past 2009. If it were, then wholesale digital conversions like Comcast's in metro Chicago couldn't happen.
(There *are* more such conversions planned, and most of them have nothing to do with SDV. Why else is Comcast launching a massive HD STB push (all new Comcast triple-play customers get one HD STB free + all non-premium HD programming free) in the former mid-Atlantic region (Philadelphia, PA to Richmond, VA)?

Composite will give you better video quality AND let you have stereo audio through the red and white RCA jacks.

PGHammer is right. A lot of people are confused by the "2012 requirement". Cable companies are NOT required to carry any analog signals...only to provide customers with an analog signal at the TV set (using a set top box or whatever). Which they won't stop doing after 2012, of course...so the date has no practical significance.

Let's keep in mind that a cable provider maintaining analog channels and digital ones, burns up a lot of available bandwidth. So why would a cable company not want to switch to all digital as soon as possible or allowed by FCC?

We're still gettin' the 2-77 analogs from Comcast in my suburban Chicago location.

Because it costs a lot to buy digital cable boxes to all customers that are currently analog-only, then it costs the customer a monthly fee for the box. Although the cost for boxes may go down very soon because of OCAP kicking in and allowing a lot of companies to sell cable boxes. The other hitch in going all-digital is that some folks just don't want a box for each TV in their house, period.

Any converter boxes with this feature? I have an old CRT with a blind IR receiver. If the box's remote controlled the volume I could keep this TV out of the dump for a few more years.

TIM

The Digital Stream model mentions having a sleep timer..... ????

What's there to be nervous about? Maybe the fact that the sales folks in their stores knowing very little will further confuse consumers. The store chains should look forward to this - there's lots of potential sales.

The concern all retailers are having is what is the demand going to be? When will inventory be available? Which converters to stock? Did anyone mention defects or returns? What is the profit margin going to be on the Echostar at an MSRP of $39.99 as opposed to the Zenith’s MSRP of $69.99. Which one will my customers want? Just how difficult is it going to be to manage this $40.00 coupon program?

I was told by a Comcast rep last summer...and this past week...suburbs are going off in February 2009. If not sooner. RCN cable in Chicago goes all digital next month; it's a smaller company that serves Chicago and a few suburbs, I think.

It's funny - so many reviews online assume the antenna crowd is a bunch of old folks scared of technology.
Apparently, not everyone thinks so. Check this out: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=972197 . A DVR for us antenna people! My wife has been asking for one of these so it may be in my future.

The only thing they are nervous about is not being able to sell their HDTVs when their customers realise they can get a converter box for almost nothing and keep their old TVs.

+1

Would it be best for me to just stay away from the few boxes that feature S-Video output and get the Zenith to ensure that I'm getting LG's sixth-generation 8-VSB chip? I'd just have to buy a S-Video adaptor from Radio Shack: Model#NX-550, Part#55017211

This site won't let me post the Radio Shack link.....

My TV only has one S-Video input though. RIP S-Video DVD player, looks like we're going to have to go composite....lol

Thanks!

What's wrong with using composite from your converter box to your TV ?

Exactly... The picture quality would be the same, if not better by keeping it composite all the way.

Thanks for the advice Avio. I'll just stick with S-Video for my DVD player and not buy the RS S-Video adaptor. I actually DO have another composite input available on my TV for my digital converter.

I seem to be sold on the Zenith/LG chip converter unless another manufacturer comes out with a digital box featuring S-Video output that uses the same LG chip.

It's going to be nice to recieve a clear picture on NBC to watch latenight.

I will "stay tuned" to this thread/forum for the latest news. As you can see, I don't post much, but I do come here to read-up on my A/V needs.

Thanks everyone!

I have a question. I bought a new Philips DVD Recorder with built-in DVR HDD late last March it also came with a Home Theater system. It only has a NTSC and something I think called PAL tuners.

Does anyone know if I will be able to use it with the converter box or am I out of $400+ dollars in a little under 2 years of use?

Thanks.

Sure you can use it with a converter box - you'll just have to tune the digital OTA signal with the converter box then use either the RF input (most likely channel 3/4 like a VCR) or the A/V inputs (composite video or s-video, depending on what outputs your converter box has) for stereo.

Or you can buy another DVD recorder that has an ATSC tuner.

Or, if you are using cable - do whatwvwe the cable company tells you.

Thanks I have DirecTV but still use a big outdoor antenna for local channels as where I live (elevation) I can pick up two different cities broadcasts thats especially good for watching news/weather and syndicated programs as well as PBS stations for diffrent programing.

Buying a new DVD recorder is out of the question at this time as its working great and I really like the Hard Disk Drive more than anything to pause/rewind live TV without having to subscribe to a service.

Don't forget: If you go with Scooper's advice, you have to figure out some way to change the channel on the converter box. You could of course do it manually, but then, if you go out, you could only record one channel per night. The other way that's been mentioned is to use an RF-blaster if your DVD recorder supports one, and if you can figure out the RF codes for the converter box. This could be harder than it sounds. :-(

I had hoped that there might be programmable converter boxes that would "automatically" change the channel at the correct time, but this doesn't seem to be happening.

-barry

You should have waited - Philips came out with an HDD equipped DVDr just a couple of months later that included both ATSC and QAM tuners - and it's only $300.

Well am I wrong or are there not going to be more high-end converter boxes with more bells & whistles? I thought they were going to have a cheap bare bones version (i.e. coupon program version) and a non coupon version say in the $100+ range with more stuff likes say a VCR or DVD recorders etc...

If it has recording - it doesn't qualify for the coupons.
If it has HD or digital outputs - it doesn't qualify for the coupons.

Isn't Phillips now owned or at least partnered with LG Electronics? I remember see the term Phillips-LG many times. If that is true, I wonder if the Phillips box uses the LG 6th generation tuner chip. I also assume, but would like clarification, that the DVR-tuner combo is 480i resolution output only. I don't think it is a full HD tuner.

IB

Whenever they get around to releasing BLU-RAY (or HD-DVD) Recorders,
then you'll see HD capable DVR Recorders....

In the meantime, a PC (or DVCR) with an ATSC Tuner provides OTA HD record capability.

And Echostar/Slingbox just announced the (low cost) TR50 ATSC HD-DVR:
http://ces.cnet.com/8301-13855_1-9840910-67.html
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=972197