Many times when we get a question about loss of digital channels and poor reception I wonder what kind of DTV converter box or digital TV they are using. Some tuners in both TV sets and in the converter boxes do better than others. This is referring to the tuners ability to pull in the signal. Digital TV is ether a good picture or no picture at all. There will not be a good picture without a strong enough broadcast signal from the TV station.

I searched the internet and other places for information on how well the various DTV converter boxes stack up against each other. The information concerning this that I came up with is listed below. The information as to how well many of the converter boxes do is information from sources other than my personal experiences and from this forum. The ratings are sort of an average of each unit that I was able to find information about. I cannot say the information below came from any one source. I do not have first hand information of any of the converter boxes other than a few of them that I have evaluated and wrote a review about. These reviews are in the Reviews Section of this forum at: Converter Box Reviews, Ratings, and Specific Questions - DTV USA Forum

Probably hundreds of converter boxes exist. This is a list of those that are listed as the biggest sellers according to the various places that this information came from.

Rated as having the best reception - Is best for all areas especially rural and fringe areas

--Tivax STB-T8
--Zenith DTT901 This model replaced the DTT900
--Tivax STB-T9
--MicroGEM MG2000
--Sansonic FT300A
--Channel Master CM-7000
--Winegard RC-DT109A This model replaced the RC-DT109

Rated as having good reception - Is best for metro areas and the suburbs

--Artec T3AP Pro
--DTVPal More than one model available - Check it out at DTVPAL.COM
--Zentech DF2000L
--Zinwell ZAT-970A
--Zinwell ZAT-970
--Artec T3A Pro
--GE 22729
--GE 22730
--Coship N9988T
--Digital Stream DTX9900
--Magnavox TB100MW9

Rated as poor reception - areas with strong signals from all stations viewed

--RCA DTA800B

Even though the ratings of this RCA unit are listed as poor, another moderator on this forum, ‘cowboyup4christ’ works with and installs this model in deep fringe areas. He feels that it does Ok in the poorer reception areas. With this the poorest rated box operating in an acceptable manner. Those rated as good and best should do even better. On those days of poor reception that we occasionally have this converter may not maintain the programming as well without flaking out if it were used in the fringe areas.

i'm not a very technical person so forgive me if this is a dumb question. but I wonder why there is such a difference between converter boxes and reception? even if they're connected to the same antenna?!?!

it is all about the tuner and its sensitivity even digital tvs some have better tuners than others.

Exactly, that's why it's worth it do some research before you go out and buy a converter box or especially a TV.

Great post, and now it's been stuck to the top.

__________________
Jay

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