"David" <someone@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:Lh1Wj.337$qH4.142@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> "Del Mibbler" <mibbler@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
> news:0apg2451msb02sts6hj549lnt8prfo6b2j@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > "trigonometry1972@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
|"
> > <trigonometry1972@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote (in
> > part):
> >>
> >>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.
> >
> > Re****tedly the Zenith DTT901 will have passthrough as well
> > as a fix
> > for the DTT900's widely-re****ted audio problems. But it's
> > not
> > available yet (June, maybe), nor is it on the approved
> > CECB list.
> >
> > Del Mibbler
>
> I have a DTT900 Zenith box (Feb '08 manufacture) and there
> is indeed an audio problem on the baseband audio from the
> RCA jacks. It appears they apply the 75 micro-second
> pre-emphasis to the audio as required by the NTSC standard
> for the channel 3,4 modulator, but also send the
> pre-emphasized audio to the RCA baseband outputs. The error
> is in both channels (not just the left channel as re****ted
> on some forms). The board layout allows an easy fix for
> this. The series impedance between the audio driver and the
> output jacks is 4300 ohms composed of 1K and 3.3K resistors.
> You need to shunt the audio outputs with 0.018 microfarad
> capacitors to get the response flat. If you are handy with
> soldering surface mount capacitors, there are places on the
> top of the board to mount them. If not, you can solder
> leaded capacitors directly across the audio outputs or use
> external capacitors.
>
I tried calling 1-877-9-ZENITH (the customer service phone number shown on
the sticker located on the DTT900 box and also on the front of the
manual).
Zenith customer service responded very quickly with a repair
authorization.
Specifically, I re****ted to them what sounded like an audio problem with
two
separate DTT900 converter boxes (February 2008 manufacture), especially
with
"S" and "F" sounds being very high pitched, sometimes sounding like a high
pitched hiss, and sometimes almost sounding like a clink sound. This audio
issue seemed to occur both from the RCA outputs as well as the coaxial RF
output. I also found that this issue could be heard in both the left and
right channels (which also tends to get mixed into the center channel when
using Dolby Pro Logic II), not just the left channel.
Their solution was to get the serial numbers of both converters and assign
them case numbers, one case number per converter. The followup
instructions
were also to write the case number on the top the four sides of the
packaging box (*not* the converter boxes themselves) for each converter
assigned a case number. Once they have sent the postage-paid labels for me
to send the boxes back for repair, all I need to do is put the converters
in
the marked packaging boxes, along with a copy of proof of purchase. Of
course, then I will have to wait for the repaired boxes to be sent back to
me, but at least I didn't have any issues getting the repair
authorization.
[Now, I still have a multipath issue in one room that needs to be dealt
with
after the converters are fixed, but that's an indoor antenna issue at this
time, not a problem with the converters themselves. When the antenna
position does deliver a stable picture, the DTT900 outputs stereo audio
that
extracts into 5.1 surround sound when using a Dolby Pro Logic II sup****ted
receiver. The picture quality (even when windowboxed on all four sides as
received from the broadcast side and when the box is set to the Set By
Program or Letterbox aspect ratio Zoom setting) is even more flawless than
analog cable seems to deliver. The box also provides Letterbox, Crop, and
Squeeze zoom settings to change the aspect ratio, as additional options to
the Set By Program aspect ratio setting. Plus, the zoom setting seems
remembered per channel, and works as long as a channel doesn't have a
restriction that presents a message similar to "Aspect Ratio Cannot Be
Changed On This Channel", upon attempting to change the aspect ratio.]
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