Piggie

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wcalifas831

I have a model 800B and 800B1L and both have been working fine and have not died on me like some people have mentioned. Is there anyone out there that has had any of these RCA digital conveters for a year or so? If mine dies on me I'll try and see if I can add a different power source to it to make it work. Anyone out there want to say how much time they've had one of these converters before it died on them or how long they've had it running fine?

wcalifas831

In case anyone loses the remote to these RCA converter boxes all you have to do is program a universal remote in the (sat/cable) box as an RCA and use that function to control the digital converter box. I tried it and it worked perfect.

bobbie

I also have two of the RCA Model DTA800 boxes and both just shut down after about five minute oof use. They sg=hut down and will not go back on until being unplugged for about five minutes or so. The amber light is still one, meaning it hss power to the unit, but the unit wil not respond to either the remote of switch on the box.
Wal mart advised me that this was true in about 70% of the boxes they sold. Ideas?

wcalifas831

How long have you had your boxes for? Mine are still working fine, so I'm wondering what the average life span of these boxes are considering some of them may last a few months to a year if that.

bobbie

These two boxes failed the very day they were removed from the originall packaging, and both acted the same way.
Started fine, went through the set up and scan, very good picture, and then failed to work after less than five minutes.
The amber light stayed on, indicating good power supply, but the green light refused to light again, until unplugged for a while then had to start form scratch again, including scan. Five more minutes and out again.
While in Wal Mart to try to return these units (they are out and have been for weeks), I had a conversation with another disgusted user that had already turned in nine, (9) of these same boxes with exactly the same problem, and the sales rep stated that the return rate of the magnavox was even worse.
Wal Mart will refund only the cash paid, less taxes and less the voucher amount, meaning they get to keep the $40.00 amount plus the return allowance from the wholesaler. Good deal for them, terrible for the unwary consumer.

wcalifas831

what a bummer to see that so many of these boxes end up being defective at such a high rate. I think people should start calling the better business bureau all over the country to report such nonsense from these companies that make such shotty electronics. Has anyone out there had one of these RCA models last them a year or longer? I'd be interested to find out knowing that I have these same models.

Eureka

Run from the RCA & Magnavox converter boxes. Neither one will always find weaker signals that other boxes can lock onto with ease. And two friends have had RCA boxes die after a couple of months or so...

Although there have been a few failures, the Zenith (Insignia brand at Best Buy) converter boxes seem to hold up better than either RCA or Magnavox. And I've often seen the Zeniths lock onto weak channels that no other converter box or TV tried could find.

The Zeniths are still available at sears.com for $49.95. I know of no other source for new ones, except eBay.

Eureka

Additional note on the Zeniths: I read on another forum that they (and their "Insignia" clones) are no longer being made. If you want one, I would get it now.

I've noticed eBay prices on some Zeniths actually going up lately.

DTVuser2009

I really dislike the Zeniths. i just threw mine out. what happens with the Zeniths is that if the signal fluctuates in any way (even if it's still a good signal) the box will give up and pixellate and the signal meter will go then to red and stay there until the box is powered off and then back on. i call it 'red zoning' and the Zenith and DigitalStream both are victims of it. that and they need signals higher than 75% to maintain a picture and not red zone.

I just got a Magnavox box. it's a later model (black instead of grey) and i am very happy with it. i put it in the living room and tested it out. with my current antenna setup i don't see my stations 'moving around' any longer. it was a problem with the DTVPal Plus because that box also needs a higher signal and it kept going below 50% on the DTVPal and caused problems. the Magnavox box also allows a permenant zoom in the menu, so unless a program is actually broadcast in windowbox or letter box it will ALWAYS fill the screen. that and it keeps a picture at a signal as low as 19% in VHF!!! VHF!!!

So far i'm happier with that one vs. any of the others. in fact, i'm so happy with it and it's ability to pull in the weakest signals that i'm also replacing the DTVPal, Apex, and whatever's left of the Zenith (i tried to throw it against the shop wall but it survived intact....!!!) with these Magnavox boxes. whatever was a problem must have happened with their previous models, which were grey in color.

The RCA DTA boxes are always hot, and they get hotter than i've thought normal. i think they get so hot that they fail from that. not unlike a CPU with a improper cooling unit in a PC. mine locked up and never held a signal and then would turn on but no Opereating System from it. as in no screen.

Wal-Mart has the newer Magnavox boxes all over the place. they stopped shipping out RCA boxes long ago.

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