On May 11, 10:20=A0am, Wes Newell <w.new...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> On Sun, 11 May 2008 08:38:10 -0700, Ant wrote:
> > Hi all.
>
> > It is time for me to pick and buy DTV converter model(s) with the $40
> > coupons I got from the government. The expiration date is 5/27/2008
> > (after Memorial Day) and pefect timing to play with the new purchases
> > (not perfect for limited model selection -- DOH!). I have MANY
> > questions. :(
>
> > After readinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_CECB_units,
> >http://www.freelabs.com/~whitis/electronics/dtv_converters/,
and a few
> > newsgroup posts, I am still confused on which model(s) to get for TV
> > setups I am going to hook up to. I read that Zeinth model is good, but
I=
> > don't think that will work with my setup due to lack of analog
> > passthrough and I believe I need this for my setup based on the above
> > freelab link. Also, EchoStar has timers/scheduler, but that's in June
> > 2008 (too late). Please note that I am a TV expert (just call me a
> > newbie/n00b!). I also do NOT need TV guide (EPG) for converter boxes,
> > but I need a remote control, stability, should be able to handle hot
> > temperatures (heat waves in my room can go up to 90 degrees(F)),
>
> I bought 2 of the RCA DTA800 units from walnart. They are making them
with=
> passthrough now but I don't know if they are out yet either. Passthru
can
> be easily accomplished without the unit having it built in even if your
TV=
> only has one rf input. Think about it. Split input to box. Now take the
> other side of that split and tie it back to the output of the box with a
> reverse splitter. Take that to the TV. Your passthru is to turn the box
> off. You might be able to use the passthru without turning it off but
> normally the output of the box will be =A0so strong it will drown out
the
> other channels. Of course if your TV also has AV inputs you wouldjust
hook=
> the box up using them and take the split rf lead direct to the TV RF
input=
..
>
> > Currently, I have these setups:
> > 1. An over decade old 20" CRT TV (only has a coax antenna/cable input
> > and the old To****ba VCR [almost a decade old] is connected to it
instead=
> > of my shared two splitter bowtie antenna; there are no other inputs
and
> > outputs I can see). On the VCR, I have it hooked to the TV, a bowtie
> > antenna, and up my Windows PC's video card for inputs (an old ASUS
> > non-ATSC TV card only for VCR and other composite video input
> > recordings) and output (fullscreen videos).
>
> I have never seen a VCR without AV inputs, so use a 3 way splitter from
> the antenna going to the PC, the converter box, and the VCR rf input.
Now
> hook the VCR's RF out to the TV. Hook the AV out of the converter box to
> the AV inputs of the VCR. That's all there is to it. Your VCR acts as
the
> passthru. Select internal tuner, or AV input depending on what you want
to=
> watch.
>
> > 2. An old bigger CRT TV with
> > composite inputs and outputs, an old external VCR, a not so old
external=
> > DVD player, and rabbit ears (will probably replace since they don't
seem=
> > to do well with digital feeds). There are no plans to get cable and
> > satellite TV services. Just pure over the air (OTA).
>
> Do it simliar to above. No problem, but there's more than one way
because
> you have more connections to the Tv.
>
> --
> Want the ultimate in free OTA SD/HDTV Recorder?http://mythtv.org
> My Tivo Experiencehttp://wesnewell.no-ip.com/tivo.htm
> Tivo HD/S3 comparedhttp://wesnewell.no-ip.com/mythtivo.htm
> AMD cpu helphttp://wesnewell.no-ip.com/cpu.php
Manual bypass instead of pass thru is a real pain especially if
one has problems with a weak signal.
The Zenith box while lacking the im****tant pass thru feature
seems to work well on the digital signal even when
subject to really nasty interference from high power lines.
The converter box form Radioshack has more features
though it also lacks pass thru.
I have my doubts as to how well a converter box will work with
an old VCR. That is my next project.
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