Winegard Rc-dt09 evaluation

Sparks · 10-10-2008, 10:34 AM

I bought one of the Winegard RC-DT09 converter boxes as well as some other brands. I have noticed the RC-DT09 is being referred to as a battery powered box in some places on this forum. That is the exact model number of the one that I have and I do not see any indications of it being battery powered.

This is the box that I bought with a government coupon that was about to expire so it was sort of a spur of the moment purchase. I would have saved the price difference if I would have just let the coupon expire. This box turned out to be defective and by the time that I hooked it up to discover the defect it was to late to return it. It had a 90 day warranty on it.

The defect is that it will not automatically find and it will not accept a manual entry to receive more than three channels of the same number. I can get 20-1, 20-2 and 20-3 but it will not tune in or accept 20-4 that comes in fine with my other box and with my HDTV on the same antenna. It will also not accept the -4 or -5 of another channel.

This box also has no program guide feature at all. It lacks the analog pass through feature so it must have a switch on it so that I can use the satellite box or tune to a low power analog channel. I certainly expected better than this from Winegard.

Assuming that I just happened to get one of the few defective units built. The plus side of it is that this is a smaller more compact box that will not take up as much room. It seems to change channels and do a scan for channels a little faster than some of the other boxes that I have used. It has a very small remote control that also takes up less room. The remote will only operated the converter box and has not got the feature to operate or even turn the TV set on and off. It seems to pull in the distant stations better than some of the other digital tuners. It produces a decent quality picture and sound.

Jay · 10-10-2008, 10:41 AM

Great review Sparks! I think you have to purchase the "battery kit" seperately for the DT09.

Aaron62 · 10-10-2008, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sparks

The defect is that it will not automatically find and it will not accept a manual entry to receive more than three channels of the same number. I can get 20-1, 20-2 and 20-3 but it will not tune in or accept 20-4 that comes in fine with my other box and with my HDTV on the same antenna. It will also not accept the -4 or -5 of another channel.

This box also has no program guide feature at all. It lacks the analog pass through feature so it must have a switch on it so that I can use the satellite box or tune to a low power analog channel. I certainly expected better than this from Winegard.

Assuming that I just happened to get one of the few defective units built. The plus side of it is that this is a smaller more compact box that will not take up as much room. It seems to change channels and do a scan for channels a little faster than some of the other boxes that I have used. It has a very small remote control that also takes up less room. The remote will only operated the converter box and has not got the feature to operate or even turn the TV set on and off. It seems to pull in the distant stations better than some of the other digital tuners. It produces a decent quality picture and sound.

Great review, and I've highlighted something that you mentioned for anyone thinking about buying this converter box. It's a huge negative for this box considering the fact that most new converter boxes sold have a great electronic program guide.

Also, Sparks, I've found this link: Winegard Direct.com - Winegard 9-Volt Battery Pack For RCDT09/RCDT09A Converter Boxes (RC-BP9V) | Winegard [RC-BP9V] dgtvconv Converter Box power power power supply battery pack battery pack batter operated cnverter box rcdt09a rcdt09 rc-dt09a batter

Looks like the battery pack for the Winegard is almost $20! That's almost half the cost of the converter box.

attagirl · 10-16-2008, 11:33 AM

So out of curiosity what was the price before the coupon used. I would like to get a generally price range if I can. I would also like to get some more information on this. Where would I find that.

Sparks · 10-20-2008, 08:11 PM

Hi,

I bought the Winegard RC-DT09 at Stark Electronics (www starkelectronic com/index htm) select 'TV Antenna Product Index' then select 'Digital Converter Box'. You will notice that they have replaced the original model with the RC-DT09A that appears to be the same with the analog pass through feature. Prices are $59.95 and $69.95 for the A model before the $40.00 coupon.

You will also find the Channel Master CM7000 converter box on that same page for $63.95 before the coupon credit.

I have bought new antennas and other products from Stark by phone in recent years without any problems. They have always shipped the merchandise to me within 24 hours.

These products are not available locally here in SW Minnesota, except for whats at WalMart. The local TV shops that I have been to do not handle them and push Dish Network or DirecTv. They say the a converter box will not work in this area and that is obviously not true. I am in the worst reception spot behind a ridge and all of the channels that anyone in this area should get come in just fine for me. They want the residuals from the Satellite service when they sell that service.

The RCA converter from WalMart does not work well in this area. I have hooked them up for neighbors when they bought them. The Zenith DTT901 and the Channel Master CM7000 both work well this area of the converter boxes that I have seen. Channel Master does not have analog pass Through.

When I ordered my Winegard box I was trying to beat the expiration date on my coupon so I did not spend enough time researching it. The Zenith box that I really wanted was not available anywhere that I could find at that time.

Sparks · 11-02-2008, 01:52 PM

Since so many of you are viewing my evaluation of this product. I want to be fair about it and as I said in the evaluation. The one that I bought is defective and that this brand of DTV converter might normally function much better than what mine did.

I have contacted the customer support people with Winegard by email and offered to evaluate their newest version if they want to send one to me for that purpose. I also offered to return it once I have completed the evaluation.

We will see what they do. It would not surprise me to learn that they really do not care. When I get an answer, if I get an answer. I will update this thread.

Sparks · 11-03-2008, 07:09 PM

To my surprise, I got a response from the Winegard national sales manager and a new RCDT09A model is on its way to me for evaluation purchases. I should have it in a day or two and I will put it to use. I will of course followup with a new evaluation of this item.

In the response to me from the sales manager with Winegard he mentioned the following about the converter box -

"Winegard did not design this receiver as just about every receiver box is being built in China. We evaluated multiple different models and found this receiver tuner to be very good and also the compact size was important as one of our big industries is the RV market".

Aaron62 · 11-07-2008, 02:57 PM

Awesome stuff Sparks, thanks for keeping us posted.

Sparks · 11-08-2008, 03:47 PM

I got the new DTV converter box from Winegard. They shipped it out to me immediately and I have had it hooked up for a couple of days to evaluate it. I started a new thread with my evaluation of it. I listed it as: Evaluation of the Winegard RCDT09A DTV converter (replaces RCDT09)