Review: Zenith DTT901 DTV converter box

Just used my gubmint'-issued $40 credit and bought the box (at a local Circuit City). Got the only one they had, the Zenith DTT901. Now I'm wondering whether I should have shopped around first.

My main complaint is that the picture quality ain't great. I saw another converter box at a friend's house that looked really good on their tube; this one isn't all that sharp or punchy, kind of grainy. Definitely not as good as the analog picture I get from those stations with the strongest signals. (On the plus side, not only do I get lots more channels than I got before, but the picture quality is at least consistent among all of them, even if it's not the greatest.) I'm assuming this has something to do with the DAC chipset or the RF modulator in the box.

Box was super-simple to set up. I'm not thrilled with the user interface: there's a "favorites" function that's kind of annoying to use. You can put the most-watched stations in a "favorites" list, then hit the FAV button to access them. Problem is, the on-screen menu has a very short timeout, so if you linger too long on one station, it goes away and you can't pick from the list without hitting FAV again (plus it bumps the selection up each time you hit FAV; definitely not the way I would have designed that function).

The remote doesn't turn my TV on and off, but that's probably just because the TV is so old. (There's a list of 45 manufacturers whose sets can supposedly be used with the remote.)

Not big deals, since I don't really care that much about TV anyhow. I'd be curious to hear similar reports on other converter boxes.

Oh, and the box was $60, so I paid $20.

Reply to
David Nebenzahl
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Can you access consumer reports online, an interesting thing is 2/3rds are not the good ones, the rating is what you describe, poor picture.

Reply to
ransley

That zenith is rated in second tier, only online is first tier, let me know if you want more info on these boxes/

Reply to
ransley

...

Well, that's better luck than I've had so far -- nuttin' is coming in thru the RCA DTA800 I got. It was the only one on the shelves locally and by dallying, I had waited until it was the day the gubmint credit expired. (I've not tried yet to see if can somehow get a second thru the online wizard). It was 40+ so tax and a little was all was out, though.

I haven't yet done the experiments w/ the antenna, cable run, etc., -- in fact I just finished a maintenance job on the hydraulic system of the lift so I can now tomorrow get up there and futz around doing things like direct connection off the antenna, thru the necessary cable, orientation, etc., and see if there's any hope w/ the antenna as it is on the present tower. Since the lift goes 40-ft, if needed I can take it off the current tower and carry it on up higher and see if that will help.

Do wish I had two or three other boxes to compare at the same time, though, to be able to see if it's piss-poor box or just sol from signal strength.

The online sites say we're _supposed_ to be in at least fringe strong-enough signal area, but what do they know?

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Reply to
dpb

dpb wrote: ... Oh, one more thing...in analog pass-thru mode the signal was significantly poorer, to the point of being virtually unwatchable.

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Reply to
dpb

Just used my gubmint'-issued $40 credit and bought the box (at a local Circuit City). Got the only one they had, the Zenith DTT901. Now I'm wondering whether I should have shopped around first.

My main complaint is that the picture quality ain't great. I saw another converter box at a friend's house that looked really good on their tube; this one isn't all that sharp or punchy, kind of grainy. Definitely not as good as the analog picture I get from those stations with the strongest signals. (On the plus side, not only do I get lots more channels than I got before, but the picture quality is at least consistent among all of them, even if it's not the greatest.) I'm assuming this has something to do with the DAC chipset or the RF modulator in the box.

Box was super-simple to set up. I'm not thrilled with the user interface: there's a "favorites" function that's kind of annoying to use. You can put the most-watched stations in a "favorites" list, then hit the FAV button to access them. Problem is, the on-screen menu has a very short timeout, so if you linger too long on one station, it goes away and you can't pick from the list without hitting FAV again (plus it bumps the selection up each time you hit FAV; definitely not the way I would have designed that function).

The remote doesn't turn my TV on and off, but that's probably just because the TV is so old. (There's a list of 45 manufacturers whose sets can supposedly be used with the remote.)

Not big deals, since I don't really care that much about TV anyhow. I'd be curious to hear similar reports on other converter boxes.

Oh, and the box was $60, so I paid $20.

Reply to
David Nebenzahl

Remember that at or shortly after the cutover date, most of those digital signals will get a lot stronger. Most of the current digital signals are transmitting from secondary antennas at quite low power levels.

Reply to
Pete C.

Most of the digital signals are currently transmitting a lot lower than their final power levels. What you're seeing is the characteristic of digital transmissions where they can recover the data at quite low signal levels and if they can get the data you get a clear picture. With analog transmissions your picture gradually degrades and you get a lot of snow when you get down to those signal levels.

Reply to
Pete C.

"Pete C." wrote in news:490b9e58$0$21513 $ snipped-for-privacy@unlimited.usenetmonster.com:

Have heard that several times. Good news for me. I get a bunch of stations but some nights they are weak and you get that pixeling. Most of the time they're crystal clear. This is on a DTV with no converter.

Reply to
Red Green

On 10/31/2008 4:10 PM Pete C. spake thus:

I wonder about that: previously, I could get only the closest broadcast stations, some of them not very well. With the converter box, I get a lot more stations, including some farther away ones (like San Jose; I'm in Oakland), and they all come in pretty clearly. And this is with the same set of rabbit ears as before. So aren't the digital signals actually stronger? Or are they just inherently clearer because of the frequency band they're in?

Reply to
David Nebenzahl

I don't know that is or isn't true of these--they've not put out any information regarding that point I'm aware of...

I've asked for info from two of the three; no response so far. :(

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Reply to
dpb

It totally depends on how they decided to implement things. In the case of my market two of the five stations are running with temporary installations with a lower antenna and much lower ERP than they will have after the cutoff. The other five installed permanent equipment and what you see now is what you will see after the cutoff. I know this because my buddy does facilities engineering. Sometimes you can get answers if you call the station and manage to talk to someone besides the normal staff.

Reply to
George

Yes...

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Reply to
dpb

It's on the FCC.gov site.

Reply to
Pete C.

. Seems like there should be online sites that review and compare converters. Anyone seen any?

-- bud--

Reply to
bud--

used my gubmint'-issued $40 credit and bought the box (at a local

Consumers Reports rated about 25, and the ones with best picture are online sold, not at stores.

Reply to
ransley

used my gubmint'-issued $40 credit and bought the box (at a local

Here are the top rated 5 in 1st tier with best picture near DVD qailty, from #1, Tivax STB-T9, Lasonic LTA 260, Sansonic FT300, Access HD DTA 1010D, Microgem MG 2000, Channel Master CM 7000. No store carries a name brand rated in Best group. Since you will live with it for years judging HD get the best, Radio Shacks are in 3rd tier. 2nd tier is your local store, so use that 30 day return policy soon.

Reply to
ransley

Pete C. wrote: ...

You have a more precise link?

I found several references to the "may be broadcasting w/ lower signal" but all simply said "contact the broadcast station" of somesuch. Which, of course, if I had gotten any response therefrom, I'd already know the answer... :(

I _did_ get the lift back together yesterday, but by then what w/ spending some time w/ the pheasant hunters (yesterday was Opening Day) and other required stuff the wind had gotten breezy enough I didn't much relish the idea of trying to mess w/ the antenna so put the evaluation task off...

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Reply to
dpb

It is not true that all stations will be increasing power in February. Here is a response I got from a tech at channel 3 (CBS) in Burlington, Vt.

"In fact we will decrease power slightly, need to by law."

---MIKE---

Reply to
---MIKE---

On 11/1/2008 7:25 AM bud-- spake thus:

CNET has some; here's their review of my Zenith:

formatting link

Reply to
David Nebenzahl

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