Converting to HDTV: A viewer's tale of woe (part 1 of 3)

January 6, 12:06 AMMedia Industry ExaminerJudah Freed

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Zenith Digital TV Tuner converter box  (Model DTT901).

To check reception of local HDTV broadcasts, I used an FCC coupon to buy an analog-to-digital converter box. All went well until I started looking for an indoor antenna that could receive the local DTV signals in Denver. That's when the nightmare began.

My tale of woe started two weeks ago. After shopping online and at several retail stores here in Denver, I finally purchased from Radio Shack the Zenith Digital TV Tuner converter box with analog pass-through (model DTT901). Zenith is a known brand (allied with LG Electronics), so I was willing to spend $20 beyond the $40 coupon from the FCC.

At home, I plugged in the converter box between an old RCA VHF/UFH rabbit ears/loop indoor antenna and my VCR, which routes through a DVD player to a standard-definition analog TV (3:4 aspect ratio).

Using the converter box remote control to activate the on-screen set-up menu embedded in the box software,I discovered a program navigation guide along with other features as a choice between how the picture is displayed, such as letter box format or cropped for full screen.

I began scanning for signals from Denver digital broadcast channels. In particular, I wanted to access KWGN-TV2 (CW), KCNC-TV4 (CBS), KRMA-TV6 (PBS), KMGH-TV7 (ABC), KUSA-TV9 (NBC), KBDI-TV12 (PBS), KTVD-TV20 (MyTV), KDVR-TV31 (Fox), and KPCX-TV 59 (Ion). 

Among these nine stations, I knew at least four were multi-casting secondary channels.

I particularly wanted to receive KRMA's how-to Create channel (6-2), KUSA's WeatherPlus channel (9-2), KBDI's documentary channel (12-2) and world news channel (12-3), plus KPCX's Qubo cartoon channel (59-2) and IONLife channel (59-3).

Receiving all nine station with secondary channels was my baseline for success. Any other channels I could pick up would be an added bonus.

(Continue to Part 2)
 

For antenna advice: www.antennaweb.org
 

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