Typical DTV connections. This is an example from the RCA DTA800 converter.
(which, by the way, I've been very pleased with)
Using digital conversion boxes on analog TVs is sometimes seen as a last resort – a poor person’s way to keep using their “old fashioned” analog TV sets. But, as described in “Save money with free Digital TV”, broadcast digital television is just as good as cable or satellite TV – just with fewer channels. Plus, you get high definition for free (most cable and satellite services charge a premium for HD service). So switching to broadcast TV can save you hundreds of dollars a year.
If you have a high definition TV with a digital tuner, all you need is an antenna. If you are using a digital TV converter box, here’s a tip for improving your picture quality:
Most converter boxes have two outputs – an RF output (which uses a coax cable that connects to your TV’s antenna input), and a audio/video (AV) output (with three connectors, one for video and two for audio).
If your TV has a video input, it will always give you better quality than the antenna input. This is because using the antenna input adds two conversion steps that reduce video quality and add noise to the signal. Most converter boxes do not include the AV cable, but they are readily available online or at any store that sells electronics.
Comments
You really should clarify - when you talk about getting "high definition for free". These converter boxes pick up the new digital signal - but don't give you a HD picture. The output is still analog. You may pick up more channels (depending on the station and your location) but your perceived picture quality is not going to improve
The DTV transition is no trouble at all if your cables are correctly bipolarized. Go to Screen 47 of the DTV Converter Box On-Screen Installation Guide and use the resident GPS to correctly align your antenna for each channel (allowing for local ionospheric conditions) and ARRRGGGHH!
Technical reference:
notionscapital.wordpress.com/2009/06/12/tv-d-day-usa/
Dan,
When someone is going to come out with only the signal conveter from Digital to Analog? I am not referring to $45 boxes. I am looking for pure signal changer, for example, this unit will allow new digital signal to analog and then I can split that cable and attach to main distribution of the house so all my old tv works again. I don't want to put converter box on each tv set. I hope you'll understand what I am talking about. you can write me if you have solutions at spatelone@yahoo.com
True - you only get high definition for free if you have a high definition digital set. However, in my experience you will likely see a noticeable improvement in picture quality even on an analog set if you use the AV cable. There are two reasons for this: First, you have a perfect video signal (resistant to noise and interference). Second, you completely avoid noise and distortion introduced by modulating and demodulating the video signal to an FM channel.
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