Hooking up your NEW Digital Converter box........
 

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I TRIED doing this yesterday and it SEEMS that the existing rabbit ears antenna input connector is too big for the converter box connection. I tried and tried but it is just too big. The little pin inside is what I'm talking about OR am I just giving up too easily?? I get very frustrated with this technical stuff BUT do you think they actually would DO this on purpose so you HAVE to buy a new rabbit ears antenna?? I think this was planned if this is the case. I know when I ordered the actual box they tried to sell me NEW rabbit ears, which I didn't buy since the ones I have work fine, or SO I thought.

I was aware there are going to be tests on different channels to let you see if you ARE ready for the switch over to digital, well, I failed mine last night on PBS. Of couse I did, I couldn't hook it up. So I am asking anyone who already HAS their converter box ooked up if they had a problem with their existing rabbit ears connection.

And by the way. When I actually went to a store to use the $40. off coupons I got from the government, THEY HAD EXPIRED!!! They are only good for 90 days after they are sent to you so BE AWARE!! LOOK at your coupons if you have them, there IS an expiration date. Which I think is STUPID!! I was very upset. WHY would they put an expiration date on them. You KNOW you are going to have to use them and so do they. I think it's some kind of Scam the public isn't aware of.

I gave up and bought a new TV.
Plus a bad thunderstorm messed up our UHS channels on the old TV.
It was 9 yrs old anyway - son wants it - still works fine just won't get channels 32 & 49 - but he has cable so should be fine for him.

Your antenna should fit - I think they are all standard size - is the little wire thing bent a bit?? or just push a little harder.
I tried 2 TVs and a new DVD/CD with digital tuner and some of them I had to work a bit to get the antenna connected.

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Yes - My coupons supposedly got sent:rolleyes: - but I never got them...
and I resent a request - they replied you got them now they are canceled.

So i sent an appeal but got no answer...:mad:

Anyway then I just bought one of the 40.00 {Venture??} converter box to see how it worked- did not like it at all.

Has a tiny remote that you have to use with it - can't use the TV remote
Is slow to get the channels and change channels
Drops the channels --when it dropped the channels the box would turn off so you would have to turn it back on and find the channel again....:(
Plus another power thing that you need to plug in...

We were going to wait until the "after holiday" sales to get the new TV but the thunderstorm changed that plan..


PS
When you get yours hooked up let us know how it works for you.
and tell the brand so others will know which brands work well or OK and which do not..


** the digital channels are being broadcast already - along with the analog - we are getting both.**
The digital signal does drop once in awhile but the TV will search and pick it up right away as soon as it finds it again. {takes only a few seconds and very rare}

No, I don't think it's bent but I will give it another try after I am rested, and hydrated. ;)

Is your antenna the kind that threads on or just pushes on to the plug. If it threads on it may just be a pain to get the threading right. I wouldn't think that it would be the plug because we have a dollar store one in the living room and in the bedroom we have new ones that came out especially for the converter boxes.

Don't rely on me though, if the dang thing don't fit then it don't fit. Give it a good push though.

You'd THINK. :o

Do you have a hammer and some duct tape?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...onthefloor.gif Why yes I do. You think that'll help?? http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...onthefloor.gif

Well..................you may feel better but I doubt it will fix the problem.

We used to have a bumper sticker on the tool box at work that said "If it jams, force it! If it breaks, then it needed replacing anyway."

I read in the instructions that the box connections can go through your DVD Player. :confused: It looks like I'll have to give that some serious effort unless I want to change the connections everytime I want to watch a movie. :o Oh Lordy, Lordy. http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/im...nsb/tongue.gif

Hook up your Digital Converter box

images link - should be some pictures of how to do it - to TV or to DVD
http://images.google.com/images?um=1...=Search+Images

Oh and here is a rating site of the converter boxes- it might come in handy for someone.
Wish I found this listing before I tried the cheap Venture brand:(
But I was able return it to the store..

http://site.dtvboxanswers.com/reviews

This is the one I have: Zenith DTT901 Rated the best.

And as I said before my coupons were past the 90 day expiration date so I had to pay full price. :mad: WHY they put an expiration date on them is beyond me. :mad:

Okay mine isn't even listed on the ratings list lol. I will tell ya the TV we have in the living room that we just bought doesn't pick up channels for $*!#. I have to watch tv in my room where we have an actual box. It reminds me of having satellite dish only worse.

I think we should get a converter box for our digital TV.

I tell ya the cable companies are going to make a fortune come February.

I still don't have it right. We have the converter box and I don't know how many remote controls! All to be able to watch and hear! I am going nuts!:thud::Ponder: I have tried and tried and , before I lose my sanity, I decided that is that!

:o i think i'll just read a book.

no way can i handle one more remote control or another huge universal one with a gazilion buttons you can't even read with a magnifying glass. :rolleyes:

I KNOW!!! :mad: You'd think with so many people who don't have 20/20 vision they'd make remotes with bigger letters and numbers. They have larger numbers now on phones and digital clocks what the hell is going on with the remotes??? :mad: Oh and BIGGER BUTTONS!! :mad:

Also I was thinking about this the other day. Some of the directions on foods. I mean first off, you can't hardly FIND the directions then when you DO find them they are in such tiny letters I have to use my glasses AND a magnifying glass in bright sunlight or under a darn sunlamp to read it. :mad:

Now let's see. I have

1 remote for the tv times 3 then a remote for 2 DVD players then another remote for a separate VCR. A remote for 2 air conditioners, a Radio/CD player and another stereo. GEEZE!! :eek: That's 9 all together and it's just me here. :eek: I can only imagine what'd be like with a housefull of people especially teenagers, Holy CRAP!! :eek:

I am going to get one of these converter boxes today (they finally got them in at sears). By cheap brand what do you mean? I am probably going to end up with a crappy one. And You can request more than one coupon? Why didn't I know this? grrr....
From what all of you are saying it sounds like these boxes are bears to set up. Mybe I'll just go downstairs to my aunts and watch her brand new Aquos TV.
Oh well. I think the gov. should have given us all coupons to buy new TV's. lol.

Macophile, I bumped up the site that has the converter boxes rated.

You can still request your second coupon, I'm pretty sure.
Doesn't hurt to try it.

Hooking the boxes up isn't too difficult, just depends on your comfort level.
If you have a lot of additional components it's more wires but if you sort them out and connect one by one you should do fine.

Most TV manuals, as well as the converter boxes have pictures and a guide telling how to connect/set up.
And you can always do a search for images of how to connect if you get stumped:)

I tried a cheap/bad box - Venture {40.00} Return it to the store if it doesn't work well for you - I did.

Old TV, new cable converter box, old VCR - question