which DTV coverter to get?

[Sounds Good]

i have an old Apex 27" sitting around... it doesnt have a tuner built in and i think i am going to use the government coupon and get a DTV convert for it so i can watch OTA HDTV...

i was looking around and i notice they only hook up to the tv vie RCAs... that is hardly HDTV...

are there any with HDMI or DVI out? maybe that is soon to come?

 

[Adam]

I haven't seen any of the units that are part of the government rebate program that have HDMI, or even s-video or digital audio output. You can get outboard digital tuners that have HDMI, though. Samsung has a unit, but I forget the model number. Panasonic has a DVR/DVDR unit that also has a digital tuner and HDMI, but those cost around $300.

The thing to consider is whether or not your TV can handle that type of input. Can your 27" Apex TV take one? My TV can take s-video at best, so the video part wasn't a concern to me. I just don't like the lack of digital audio outputs, because I'd sure like to take advantage of the 5.1 surround.

 

[Thunder18]

Hate to burst your bubble...

According to this site:
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/frnotices/2007/DTVFinalRule_2e.htm

The only boxes eligible for the convertor coupon are those that strictly to digital to analog conversion. They basically take the new digital signal and output it over typical analog connections like s-video and standard rca(this does not include component video even though technically that is analog, or DVI/HDMI). The purpose of the program is to allow those that can't or won't afford a newer tv with a digital or atsc tuner built-in. Fact of the matter is that many SD tv's have digital tuners now as they have been mandated for quite some time now. They will do the digital to analog conversion without the help of a stand-alone box. You won't be able to use the convertor coupon on any type of digital convertor box that outputs HD.

You can get to the list of eligible convertor boxes here:
https://www.dtv2009.gov/Boxes.aspx

 

[Sounds Good]

i just looked, and it has dvi/d

i think i might look into the dvd, dvdr with built in tuner... i was going to get a dvd player anyhow.. its going in the nursery..

 

[bandphan]

i was looking around and i notice they only hook up to the tv vie RCAs... that is hardly HDTV...

And that Apex is hardly HD

 

[GlocksRock]

I got the gov. coupons and got 2 of the Zenith converters, and they work great... plus HH Gregg had them for $50 where everyone else had them for $60, so they were only $10 each after the coupons... can't beat it.

 

[allargon]

This being audioholics, make sure your Zenith/LG/Insignia converter is after April in terms of build date, as the older ones have issues with the left channel audio. (I have two Insignia boxes.)

The best eligible box most would agree is the ChannelMaster. Unfortunately, the most widely available B&M that carries it is Fry's. Fry's kind of missed the boat on their coupon eligibility!

Avoid the Magnavox (popular at Wal-Mart) and GE (popular at Target) boxes at all costs. Those two truly suck.