Common problems with DTV converters, reception, and solutions

[MrPogi]

Unplug. Open the box and check for damaged caps.
They look like this:

(Notice the one on the left is good)
If you are competent, you can replace them.
If it's not the caps, or if you can't replace the damaged components, You can get a new one. Try this:
Mediasonic HW-150PVR HomeWorx ATSC Digital TV Converter Box with Media Player and Recording PVR Function/HDMI Out (Black)

It will not only convert to analog, but function as a basic recorder if you add a USB drive.

Or, just bite the bullet and buy a new HDTV. prices are really good now.

 

[Tiff.B]

I had to get a converter box because my university decided to change signals, and my TV no longer could pick it up. So, I bought one of those iView boxes. First four days, it was awesome. Then it developed this habit of suddenly blacking out and a grey box would coming saying it was searching. The picture would come back for like a sec, and then black out, gray box, all that again. If I hit the menu, and then go to program edit, the picture would move to a little box on the right, but would fine. But once I exited out of there, you know the drill. It didn't do it with the network channels as long as they didn't specifically say DT next to the channel name. Anyway, the only thing that seemed to fix the problem was to Auto Search for channels again. That takes 15-20 minutes, but then it all comes back. Unfortunately, all the personal things I did it, getting rid of unwanted channels (we have like 20 sports channels now), and moving channels I like closer together for easier access, yeah, all that's undone, and I have to do it all over again. It's super annoying especially now that instead of just happening every few days, it's every day. And instead of always happening at the same time, which was 5:11am, now it's any old time it wants. What the heck is wrong with this thing?

 

[MrPogi]

I had to get a converter box because my university decided to change signals, and my TV no longer could pick it up. So, I bought one of those iView boxes. First four days, it was awesome. Then it developed this habit of suddenly blacking out and a grey box would coming saying it was searching. The picture would come back for like a sec, and then black out, gray box, all that again. If I hit the menu, and then go to program edit, the picture would move to a little box on the right, but would fine. But once I exited out of there, you know the drill. It didn't do it with the network channels as long as they didn't specifically say DT next to the channel name. Anyway, the only thing that seemed to fix the problem was to Auto Search for channels again. That takes 15-20 minutes, but then it all comes back. Unfortunately, all the personal things I did it, getting rid of unwanted channels (we have like 20 sports channels now), and moving channels I like closer together for easier access, yeah, all that's undone, and I have to do it all over again. It's super annoying especially now that instead of just happening every few days, it's every day. And instead of always happening at the same time, which was 5:11am, now it's any old time it wants. What the heck is wrong with this thing?

You may have a defective box, or...
You say they just switched to digital. So there is a good chance it is not the box. I personally have problems with a few of my local broadcasters. They seem to reset their PSP info and it messes up the info stored in the box.

I would return the box if possible if still in the return period. If the problem still occurs, I would contact those at the University to figure out what THEY are doing wrong.

 

[Tiff.B]

Thank you! I bought a different box from a different company a few days ago, and same problem. So, i think you're right about it being a problem with the university. Thanks again!

 

[Travo13x]

converter box problem

My box was working great until I was messing with settings on it and my son hit a button on remote now it just has a black screen for 2 seconds then goes to the fuzzy grey screen I dunno what happened

 

[Guest]

After a power surge, the converter box will not turn on at all. I've unplugged it, replugged it, even changed to a different converter box, but I can not get it to come on at all. Surge protector is fine. I held the on button for 10 seconds, but still got nothing. Any suggestions? It' is connected to an analog tv.

 

[Crstdrvn]

Digital Stream DTX 9950 Nightmares

I have 2 digital stream converter boxes with Mohu Leaf antennas. No problems for years, just the occasional channel update needed.

Suddenly my TV in the living room went black. Couldn't get anything. Got out the manual and trouble shooted, checked all connections, disconnected, waited, reconnected...Still nothing. And the remote wouldn't work, even after fresh batteries. Worked fine previously.

I finally called the company (not very helpful) and after a "soft reset" they told me it was the remote, so I ordered another per their recommendation.

So, I decided to temporarily move my other working converter box to the living room tv while waiting on the new remote. The converter box would automatically start in digital mode and when trying to switch over to analog, my screen would go black. Over and over. And then the manual button on the box wouldn't work and the remote (with fresh batteries) wouldn't work.

So I finally moved it back to the original tv and now that one, too, is doing the same thing! It worked fine right before I turned everything off and robbed it of its box for temporary use in the living room.

What the heck is going on? It will not stay in analog mode at all. When I put it in analog mode it immediately goes black and then nothing works, not the remote, not the manual buttons, nothing!! I can do a channel scan in digital mode but I get no channels. And the screen goes black in the middle of the channel scan. This happens whether on ch 3 or channel 4. (Yes, I even tried switching the converter and tv to channel 4).

I am so frustrated right now!!!
Any help appreciated!

 

[Guest]

I have the same problem with vertical adjustment on my TV. There is no vertical control on TV. I cannot see the screen to make adjustments because it rolls all the time. Have also lost color. I am getting the audio and video but can't stop the rolling. Has it got something to do with the HDMI or USB buttons? Tried pressing "exit" multiple times in succession. Didn't work.

 

[Guest]

I got this box given to me and I don't have a pin number what can I do

 

[Fringe Reception]

D2A Converter boxes do no require a PIN number.

 

[Guest]

Digital Stream Remote Repair

My Digital Stream remote slowly over time became less and less reliable when pushing buttons and so I finally took the remote apart. I found that the membrane off gassed a slimey gooey oily film which covered the back of the membrane and surface of the circuit board contacts. I washed off the slime from the back of the membrane and wiped the contact surface with Deoxit until all traces of the slime was gone. Snapped the remote clamshell back together and voilà, remote worked perfectly !

 

[Unregistered]

troubleshoot Motorola DTV Digital to Analog Converter Model TB110MW9A

Box turns on with the remote and the channels seem to change, but the video signal is a distorted.
Just wavy patterns with nothing intelligible and no sound.

 

[Guest]

I have a converter thay won't get out of the installation guide

 

[Guest]

Things most people dont know about DTV that make them THINK their box is bad

Something to keep in mind is that the conversion to digital had NOTHING to do with getting you better reception.
The conversion to digital TV was an elaborate scam on the people of the US.

With analog TV signals can degrade and you get "snow" but the program is still viewable.
With digital, you either get it full or you get nothing.
There is no "in between" like you have in analog.

The digital conversion decreased transmitter outputs.
Theoretically this would leave room for more stations, THEORETICALLY.

Being digital, they could hide a number of other things.
In the old days, channel 2 was between 54 & 60 mhz.

In digital, "channel 2" is just a name and the REAL channel ID is never seen by viewers.
This also meeans that they can change a transmitter frequency but as long at the station sends out a signal
"Hey Im still channel2", your box will still find it, usually without having to do another scan.

In the 90s, someone decided that the FCC needed to actually generate a profit for the US Govt.
Before that, you applied to the FCC for a frequency, and most of the cost was in the lawyers doing the paperwork.

Now radio frequencies are SOLD outright.

This tagging of stations with "virtual channel names", enables the FCC to just order everyone to change frequencies
(and BUY their new freq) without the viewers knowing that the freqs have been changed.

The other quirk in this whole thing is that if a station has either thge first channel in the list or the last, they are on the edge of the band.
If they decide to sell their frequency to another service, this is legal and it removes one available channel from the whole band.
When they decided to move the band again, the new band will be smaller (have fewer channels).

Eventually, the band gets smaller and smaller, due to this "churning".

The ultimate goal is to eventually kill "over the air" broadcasting.

Between the lower power, the fact that its "all or nothing" digital, and the possibility of moving channels around without viewers ever realizing,sometimes a channel will mysteriously go away without there being a problem in the box.

-texx, Technical Staff KECG-FM

 

[Guest]

Simple remote help

Every few months, my remote quits working even though volt meter says batteries are good.
It finally turned out I needed a damp q-tip GENTLY applied to the IR LED on the front of the remote.

Household dust was crudding up the IR LED.
Be gentle and dont use chemicals that could make things worse.

Also, if sunlight is shining directly on the IR sensor on the device, it can "blind" it to the signal from the remote.
Once drapes are adjusted to eliminate this "glare" from the sun, the remote works a lot better.

-texx, Technical Staff KECG-FM

 

[Guest shericefaria149]

My converter box was working fine but now it tells me no signal on every Channel. When I rescanned it still tells me no signal. Every so often it will get a channel in. The one in my living room works fine?

 

[Fringe Reception]

Check the cable connecting it to your antenna.

 

[Guest]

One Remote Used for TV & Converter Box No Longer Working for TV

I have converter boxes attached to 3 TVs, and have used the converter box remote to turn on/off both the TV and the converter box via different buttons. Several months ago the functionality of using the remote to turn on/off the TV disappeared, and I need to turn the TV on/off manually. This seems odd given that this has happened to all 3 TVs. I have changed the batteries in the remotes. Any ideas?

 

[Avs]

How do you exit the menu screen after you scan the channels? Its stuck on the language screen and I cant back out

 

[Fringe Reception]

How do you exit the menu screen after you scan the channels? Its stuck on the language screen and I cant back out

Avs,

It depends on the brand/model of your converter box. There is a usually button marked 'return' or 'home' or 'menu'. An option is to unplug it from its power source and it may return to normal operation when you restore power to it.