Where can I buy a Zenith DTV converter?

[[email protected]]

I keep reading that the Zenith DTV converter is one of the best.
Because I live in a rural area, I am limited to Walmart with their RCA
and Magnavox brands. However, I'm willing to drive to one of the
larger cities if I can get the Zenith. My problem is what stores
carry that brand? I know the nearest large city has Best Buy, Sears,
Target, Kmart, and a few other possible stores. Does anyone know
which stores carry the Zenith? Also, is there just one Zenith model,
or are there more? If I cant find this brand, are there other really
good converters?

I'm in a fringe (rural) area, and need one that will really pull in
stations. I do have one converter already, an Apex brand. It was one
of the early models. I cant say anything really bad about it, other
than the remote buttons being too small, but I went from getting 8
analog channels to only 4 channels on digital. I'm hoping another
brand will do better.

Thank U

LM

 

[Rich Webb]

I keep reading that the Zenith DTV converter is one of the best.
Because I live in a rural area, I am limited to Walmart with their RCA
and Magnavox brands. However, I'm willing to drive to one of the
larger cities if I can get the Zenith. My problem is what stores
carry that brand? I know the nearest large city has Best Buy,

Best Buy's Insignia brand converter (at least, the NS-DXA1-APT that I
picked up) is a Zenith on the inside, with some tweaks to the look &
feel of the menus and on-screen displays. Works great, no complaints.

Only downside, for some folks, may be that the schedule only shows now
and next. On the plus side, you can tune to *all* digital channels, not
just ones that are present on an auto-search, so there's the possibility
of tuning to a known but not seen channel and tweaking the antenna to
pull it in.

 

[Allodoxaphobia]

On Mon, 09 Feb 2009 07:15:51 -0600, [email protected] wrote:

........ On the plus side, you can tune to *all* digital channels, not
just ones that are present on an auto-search, so there's the possibility
of tuning to a known but not seen channel and tweaking the antenna to
pull it in.

Is that really true? I have the Zenith DTT901 -- which is the one I
think we're speaking of here.

After the scan setup, I 'click' to 13.1 and I view the programming
broadcast on TV Chan 24. Then I 'click' to 9.1 (un-assigned -
"No Signal") and what frequency/TV Chan does the unit switch to?
And, if I 'click' to 9.2 - 9.3 -- what?

I believe with tropo propagation, I could (at times) view (some of) the
Denver area stations. But, I'm not confident that 'clicking' up their
assignments would put me on their operating frequency.

Inquiring minds,
Jonesy

 

[alchazz]

Is that really true? I have the Zenith DTT901 -- which is the one I
think we're speaking of here.

After the scan setup, I 'click' to 13.1 and I view the programming
broadcast on TV Chan 24. Then I 'click' to 9.1 (un-assigned - "No
Signal") and what frequency/TV Chan does the unit switch to? And, if I
'click' to 9.2 - 9.3 -- what?

I believe with tropo propagation, I could (at times) view (some of) the
Denver area stations. But, I'm not confident that 'clicking' up their
assignments would put me on their operating frequency.

Inquiring minds,
Jonesy

Each time you click on a new station, your converter box scans the range
of frequencies where 9.1, for example, is supposed to be. Then it locks
in on it when it finds it. That's one reason why changing stations is
slower in digital than in analog which had only one frequency.

Al

 

[DocDice]

I keep reading that the Zenith DTV converter is one of the best.
Because I live in a rural area, I am limited to Walmart with their RCA
and Magnavox brands. However, I'm willing to drive to one of the
larger cities if I can get the Zenith. My problem is what stores
carry that brand? I know the nearest large city has Best Buy, Sears,
Target, Kmart, and a few other possible stores. Does anyone know
which stores carry the Zenith? Also, is there just one Zenith model,
or are there more? If I cant find this brand, are there other really
good converters?

I'm in a fringe (rural) area, and need one that will really pull in
stations. I do have one converter already, an Apex brand. It was one
of the early models. I cant say anything really bad about it, other
than the remote buttons being too small, but I went from getting 8
analog channels to only 4 channels on digital. I'm hoping another
brand will do better.

Thank U

LM

Try this mail-order link.
Doc..


http://xrl.us/befi7n

 

[Rich Webb]

Is that really true? I have the Zenith DTT901 -- which is the one I
think we're speaking of here.

After the scan setup, I 'click' to 13.1 and I view the programming
broadcast on TV Chan 24. Then I 'click' to 9.1 (un-assigned -
"No Signal") and what frequency/TV Chan does the unit switch to?
And, if I 'click' to 9.2 - 9.3 -- what?

Good question. There are sites (http://www.tvfool.com is one I've used)
that list the actual and virtual channel information. Try both? My guess
is that the virtual channel number over-rides the actual one but only
after the PCIP data is decoded. Perhaps there are some boxes that allow
selective tuning of one or the other?

 

[[email protected]]

Each time you click on  a new station, your converter box scans the range
of frequencies where 9.1, for example, is supposed to be. Then it locks
in on it when it finds it. That's one reason why changing stations is
slower in digital than in analog which had only one frequency.

Al

No it doesn't. It goes to the actual channel number from its lookup
table from when it 'scanned'. It doesn't do a 'new' scan. It has to
wait for the 'sync' data to begin decoding the data stream. Look near
the end for "VSB Modulator"

http://hdtvprimer.com/ISSUES/what_is_ATSC.html

The actual channel list is

http://www.nab.org/AM/ASPCode/DTVStations/DTVStations.asp

G²

 

[[email protected]]

Is that really true?  I have the Zenith DTT901 -- which is the one I
think we're speaking of here.  

After the scan setup, I 'click' to 13.1 and I view the programming
broadcast on TV Chan 24.  Then I 'click' to 9.1 (un-assigned -
"No Signal") and what frequency/TV Chan does the unit switch to?  
And, if I 'click' to 9.2 - 9.3 -- what?

I believe with tropo propagation, I could (at times) view (some of) the
Denver area stations.  But, I'm not confident that 'clicking' up their
assignments would put me on their operating frequency.

Inquiring minds,
Jonesy

You can often (not all receivers support this) punch in the actual DTV
carrier frequency and the unit will then get the analog channel number
from PSIP. Channel list here.

http://www.nab.org/AM/ASPCode/DTVStations/DTVStations.asp

G²

 

[William Sommerwerck]

I got a Zenith DT-901 at RadioShack last year. The current model is the
DT-901A, though I don't know what the difference is.

 

[William R. Walsh]

Hi!

I keep reading that the Zenith DTV converter is one
of the best.

It seems to work well and run cool. Reception is more than good
enough. The on screen fonts are legible, and the remote seems to be
usable in the dark.

As to the RCA and Magnavox converters...the RCA I would definitely
avoid. It's far too limited and acts as though it does not have enough
processing power. It also can't accept manual addition of channels
later--a problem if you have a very directional TV antenna that might
need to be rotated so you can get all the stations in your area.

I've put a few of the Magnavox units out so far, and they work
acceptably well. The display text is pretty good quality. My only
concern is that they are made by Funai, whose quality track record
is...shall we say...on the dubious side. Other than that, the only
real drawback is that you can't work the unit from the front panel--it
only offers remote control.

There are two Zenith models that I know of--the DTT900 and the DTT901.
Both are identical in looks, but the DTT901 offers analog passthrough
when it is turned off.

If there is a Radio Shack in your area, they stock the Zenith
converter as well as a Digital Stream branded unit. The Digital Stream
unit is really, really nice. It has a comprehensive program guide,
receives well, can be operated (at least to change channels) from the
front panel and was clearly designed by people who Thought Of Things
That Might Be Good Ideas--for example, the red LED that shows up when
the unit is off but receiving power actually dims...great if you have
the unit in a bedroom.

William

 

[William R. Walsh]

Hi!

Good question. There are sites (http://www.tvfool.com is
one I've used) that list the actual and virtual channel
information. Try both?

My guess is that the virtual channel number over-rides
the actual one

This is likely to be firmware dependent. I can say for certain that
the Zenith DTT-901 will let you punch in any channel number and it
will try to tune it. If you type in the "real" channel number of a
broadcasting station and it differs from the "virtual" or "commonly
accepted" channel number used by that station, the virtual number is
displayed when the unit locks on and starts playing TV programming.

William

 

[William Sommerwerck]

Honestly all of those boxes seem like junk to me. Are there

any that aren't just cheap crap made in China? I know Zenith's
name was bought out years ago.

I can't speak for the absolute quality (sensitivity, image quality) of the
DT-900, but it's a nice product. It's cosmetically attractive and /looks/
well-made, and is easy to use (it practically sets itself up). It is not
cheap crap or junk.

I don't blame you for not wanting to buy Chinese products, but American
businesses are more interested in immediate profits than attempting to
compete using American labor.

 

[David Nebenzahl]

I actually did some research about Zenith. They were bought out by LG, a
Korean company. I know LG makes some farily good products, so I can
understand why this is a well made converter. I'm always aprehensive when I
see an old defunct American brand name on a new piece of equipment.

About the American companies, that is an unfortunate truth.

We (the U.S.) have forfeited whatever manufacturing capabilities we once
had in the downward rush to the bottom line, and have nobody to blame
for this but ourselves.


--
Personally, I like Vista, but I probably won't use it. I like it
because it generates considerable business for me in consulting and
upgrades. As long as there is hardware and software out there that
doesn't work, I stay in business. Incidentally, my company motto is
"If this stuff worked, you wouldn't need me".

- lifted from sci.electronics.repair

 

[William Sommerwerck]

I actually did some research about Zenith. They were bought out

by LG, a Korean company. I know LG makes some farily good
products, so I can understand why this is a well made converter.
I'm always aprehensive when I see an old defunct American brand
name on a new piece of equipment.

My cell phone is an LG. The company is actually Lucky Goldstar, a name not
likely to inspire confidence in American customers.