Product Description The RCDT09A with analog pass-through converts digital over-the-air signals to provide your analog TV with analog signals.
Customer Reviews:
Newbie's first impressions of digital tv and this box.January 4, 2009 0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Firstly, you can take advantage immediately of the new digital transition. Extra channels are already up and running. The FCC allowed each station to broadcast up to four stations at a time. Here in So Cal PBS now has an all Spanish broadcast, NBC weather & sports rebroadcasts. So there will be programs/stations that your cable subscription just won't cover. Here are a couple of links to get you on your way to making a decision:
http://www.nbclosangeles.com/station/digitaltv/
click on the first PDF and you might figure out how to get the Consumer Reports ratings for the convereter boxes. Apparently what's availible now on Amazon are one's with the best picture. But digital pictures are ghost-free so the pictures will look better regardless.
https://www.dtv2009.gov/FAQ.aspx
This should help a little to alot as well.
As for functionality/set-up of this particular unit let's just say reading the instructions was not even a consideration. You hook your antenna F connector to the box, hook the included F cable from the box to the TV, plug the included 'wall wart' ie voltage adapter to the ac source & converter box, once you have a green led glowing, push menu on the very ergonomic remote control and have the box automatically look for digital stations. If you had to put up with snowy pictures in the past you should be impressed with the difference in picture quality. However, pictures from extra weak signals will stall & pixelate. Satellite transmissions did the same thing so this anomaly should be rather familiar to long-term tv watchers.
There is also composite audio/video rca jacks for hooking up to an AV receiver, so you should get Dolby digital fidelity, However surround 5.1 sound would come from an optical/digital co-ax jack which this unit does not have, and I don't think any Government paid units have s/pdif jacks either. The AV receiver would do simulated surround sound which should suffice should you so choose to engage. But good ol' plain ol' stereo still has it's merits, trust me. Clarity might be one virtue.
This 'not being sold right now' unit also has pass-through. Just turn it off and the old familiar analog stations should come through to the tv even though the box is off. After February they won't be there; however.
Like I indicated, remote is as simple as it gets but I like it. Batteries for it included.
I don't expect this review to be viewed much, but hopefully the links will get you going in the right direction.
Good Luck. I think you'll like the transition.
Excellent Digital Converter Box from a Trusted BrandDecember 4, 2008 17 out of 22 found this review helpful
This is a great converter box; I liked the first one I bought from Amazon so well I bought a second one just like it a month later. Winegard is a well-respected brand, known for their RV-related TV products (stowable TV antennas, digital satellite antennas, etc.). As a freelance writer, I've reviewed many of their products over the years and knew this would be a good gamble.
The box is much more attractive than comparably-priced RCA boxes available at WalMart and other retailers & the attractive grey finish is a perfect match for our Sony Trinitron TV. The box is super-easy to set up and features a highly intuitive on-screen menu that's easy to use. We love it--elegant simplicity & a great Amazon price! Don't forget to get your government coupon to receive your $40 discount at checkout...
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Onkyo HT-SR800 Black Home Theater System $335.96 - $499.00 from 2 stores. User rating:4.0 out of 5.
Neatly Covering All A/V Formats, Precisely Tailored for Your Home
When it comes to all-in-one home theater, the HT-SR800 has made a clean break from the pack. You're looking at packaged home theater that neatly integrates your high-definition entertainment and your HDTV through an HDMI channel that transports video with a resolution all the way up to 1080p. Ably supported by component video switching, the HT-SR800 will handle most of the A/V components or formats currently available, as well as the spectacular quality of high-definition discs. Also, reinforcing the convenience of matched components, this package is the first to use an Audyssey room-correction technology specifically designed for integrated systems. The options - XM Radio (including 5.1 surround sound radio with Neural Surround decoding) and iPod integration-can really extend your reach, making the HT-SR800 one of the more complete home theater packages available.
Special Features-
HDMI Pass Through (2in/1out , 1080P compatible) - A separate audio connection is necessary
"Audyssey 2EQ" Auto room calibration w/Microphone
XM and Sirius satellite radio ready
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