The Zenith DTT901 digital to analog tuner or converter, is as far as I know the same as the DTT900 other than the 901 also has the analog pass through feature. Analog pass through will allow the viewer to see the low power repeater stations that are not going to change to digital. You can do that without having to flip any switches or change any wires to go from digital stations to analog stations and back. Analog pass through makes the installation much easier if you want both analog and digital capability, even if you do not need both you may later.

If you are considering your first DTV converter or if you have never used one, this means that all of the digital channels that come through your converter box would be viewed on your channel 3 or you can select channel 4 if that is your preference. When you turn off the converter box that has the “Analog Pass Through” feature, you can now view your analog channels as you always have with the analog tuner that is built into the TV set. As you probably already know; when most of the analog channels are turned off in February 09. There will still be some low power TV stations that will continue to transmit on the analog channels as always in some areas.

This Zenith brand name box that is marketed by LG Electronics is the one that is my personal preference of all of the DTV boxes that I have installed or used. It is easy to hook up and very simple to get through the initial channel scan and begin watching digital TV. It also has the “EZ Add” feature that makes it easy to add additional channels without losing the channels that you already have it set to receive. It comes with a 22 page booklet of installation and operating instructions. The Zenith box has a toll free phone number on the top of the converter box itself and on the front of the operating instructions, for assistance with connection or operation of the box.

The DTT901 has all of the typical features such as closed captioning, parental controls and ratings with a feature for operator generated password protection so that you can lock out certain channels or whatever. The 901 is energy star rated. It includes the feature to turn itself off after a preset period of time. It can also be set to stay on until it is manually turned off. The front of the converter box has an on/off indicator light and switch. It also has the channel selection switches on the front. It is possible to turn it on and change channels if the remote control is damaged or misplaced. The rear of the box is ready for connection with antenna wire connection. It also has the RCA type audio and video connections on the back of the box. The RCA type connector wire is also included. It has the Electronic Program Guide (EPG) feature for the channel that you are viewing at the time. It will give ratings, program name and description of the program that you are watching and the next upcoming program on the channel that is being viewed. The EPG will only function if the station that you are viewing transmits that information.

All of these settings and more is available by simply pressing the ‘Menu’ button on the remote control. The Menu is easy to follow and navigate with directions at the bottom of the screen. It is much easier to do it than it is to explain it.

The RCA type connections could be used if you’re TV or VCR is equipped with the RCA type connections. This would allow for a video signal to your TV or VCR in place through the antenna wire. The RCA connections also provide for a connection to a stereo TV, VCR or sound systems.

If you are not familiar with the use of the RCA type connections then do not let it confuse the issue. A simple hookup with the antenna wire only is sufficient for a good picture and easy hook up. I only mention the RCA connections because they are a feature of this and of most if not all digital to analog converter boxes.

A nice feature is the “Zoom” button on the remote control. This button allows you to instantly change the picture size and shape to fit the program you are watching. Changing the size and shape will normally be done automatically if the program being viewed has the information for this feature available on that transmission. It automatically works only when the TV station is broadcasting that information to your digital tuner. When this information is not available it is very handy to use the remote controls zoom feature (as Zenith calls it) to quickly adjust the picture yourself. This feature is not available on the remote control of all brands of converter boxes.

The remote control can also be used to turn the TV set on and off if the TV can be operated by remote control. This may not apply to all TV sets. It should work with most of them. The remote can also be used to control the volume through the converter box not through the TV set. This makes it handy if your TV cannot be operated with a remote control.

A signal strength meter can also be turned on and off with the remote control. This meter is handy for finding the optimum antenna aiming to the TV tower that you are viewing. The complete DTT901 specs can be viewed on the Zenith web site at; (double click to view) Zenith - Converter Box - Digital TV Tuner Converter Box with Analog Pass-Through

The Zenith DTV converter box is the easiest to setup and operate of any of the converter boxes and digital tuners that I have installed and used. It has also been reliable and has never lost or forgot a channel that it is set to receive as I have seen with some other DTV boxes and tuners. This is also one of the boxes with a tuner that does an excellent job of pulling in the weak and/or distant channels and it also produces a good quality picture.

To answer a question that often comes up. This or any digital converter box will allow the viewer to see a high definition or HD program. You will not see it as high definition and the picture will be shorter that normal so that the height of the picture will be in proportion the width of the picture that is being viewed on the analog TV. That is because the HD screen and HD programs are always in a wide screen format. It is still a very good digital picture.

Of the converter boxes that I have seen or used this is the one that I would recommend to anyone. It does everything that I need for it to do. The Channel Master Converter box has a more complete electronic program guide. That is more than offset by the Zenith analog pass through feature and the stable channel retention of this Zenith unit.

This is the same box that you may have seen hooked up on PBS. A couple of the guys from the This Old House program are doing a program in a one half hour spot on the Digital TV Transition. I caught one mistake that they made. At one point one of them said that you cannot see a High Defection or HDTV program with the converter box and an analog TV. I think that was just is mistake of wording on that script that they followed. As I mentioned two paragraphs ago, you can in fact view a HD program with probably any brand converter box on the traditional analog TV.

Once you have decided what brand and model of converter box to buy. If the one that you want is not readily available, do some more research before you buy the brand that is more convenient to find. Some of my neighbors asked what they should get. I gave them the choices of what will be best for them in their situation in this area. They did not find the ones that were suggested and they just bought what was on the shelf. I do not mind if they do not want the brand and model that I prefer. It is their loss since they ended up with converter boxes that will not even work on some days. Make an educated buying decision since it will cost little if any more to have a DTV converter box that works properly.