Converter box will i need a converter box to watch tv from my antenna when everything is changed over to digital

It depends on the tv itself, all newer TVs will just need an antenna but if the tv does not have the newer digital tuner in it (you can find out by googling the tv model number) You will need a converter box.

Hello,

1. If you are using the composite video output, double check that your antenna is connected to the converter's antenna input and not the output.

2. If you are in a remote area that gets signals through translators, there might not be any digital signals to receive.

Is the antenna connected to the input of the converter box? There should be a screw on connector on the back, the antenna connects there.

If you have the antenna connected properly, have set the conveter to scan for channels, and you were able to watch TV with the rabbit ears before you got the box, the box may be defective....!!


Thank you!!!

PLease post back for further assistance..


Regards!!...

so first tv is analog ?you need a second converter box if you want to be able to watch different channels at the same time on the two analogue tv'sYou could put an antenna splitter in .So could put an antenna splitter in on .antenna to feed to second analogue to digital converter box.Also depends on signal strength may need to amplify antenna signal - check tv antenna mast head amplifierthe tv signals are digital only most likely

converter output be careful check second tv has hdmi input as converter output has to match what tv can cope with.

Hi.I assume you can watch some channels, using your indoor digital antenna. As far as I know, you need an intermediate "box", or interface between the cable TV coming in, and the decoder. This has to be installed by the cable company. Between the decoder and the interface, there are two connections. One signal connection and one UTP wire connection for communication between both units.At least, that's how it works in Belgium and most other countries.

If neither TV has a digital TV tuner, you will only be able to watch one channel on both TVs with one converter box. You will also need some sort of RF repeater if you want the person in the second room to change the station without moving the box. You will need a splitter/amplifier connected to the converter box TV out. (I'll assume you are using the coax out.) If you will only watch one TV at a time, then use an A/B switch on the converter box TV out.

If one of the TVs has a digital tuner, put the splitter/amplifier between the antenna and the converter box and the TV with the digital tuner.

Note: amplifier/splitters and switches do fail. If you get a "no signal" message, take out the splitter and connect the converter box directly to the antenna or one of the TVs depending on your set up.

I hope this helps.

Cindy Wells
(I use an A/B switch between the antenna and the TV and converter box for feeding an old VCR/DVD recorder.)

Yes, Even FreeView, requires a "Decoder" Box with an external Antenna attached, and the signal is fed from that, to the TV through the AV, External Inputs, ON TV, essentially making it a monitor, for the "Decoder" The Channels, Volume, are changed on the "Decoder".

You may have several problems. If you are using a indoor antenna, upgrade to a outdoor antenna. The indoor antenna has to be adjusted every time you change a channel. If you plan to sit in a chair and never move when watching tv, you may be able to pick up a channel or two. Get a UHF/VHF antenna from a home improvement store. The big box electronic stores are selling a digital antenna. There is no such thing. The antenna doesn't know if the signal is digital or analog, it just picks up uhf and vhf signals. The other problem could be that the box is bad if it is not saving the scan. I would check the antenna first from what you said though.

Hook your Insignia box between your antenna and your television. You still need the antenna.

The only way you can tape a different show than you're watching is to do as you have done: purchase a second converter box and connect it to the VCR as you did with the TV. You can pick up a device called a splitter which will allow you to divide the antenna signal between the two boxes.

There are some problems with the splitter arrangement. If you need to adjust the antenna position to get a good signal on one channel, like the one you want to watch, that may mean it isn't in the best position for another, like the one you want to record. You might need two antennas for the best performance.

Also, you can't program recording on different channels at different times unless you'll be home to change channels on the converter box. The VCR will only find a signal on channel 3 or 4, depending on how you set up the box, and you'll always record on that channel. The TV channel you record will be chosen by the converter.

Finally, you need to connect both the VCR and the converter box to a single antenna connection on your TV. There are two ways to do this. One is to use a splitter again. Normally they are used to split a single antenna input to two ouputs, but they can also combine to inputs into one output (basically you just use it backwards). Connect the ouputs from the box and VCR to the splitter's output connectors, and then go from the splitter's input connector to the TV antenna connector. This arrangement may not give the best picture quality, though. An alternative is to use an "A/B" switch, which allows you to choose which source connects to the TV.

It sounds more complicated to hook up than it actually is. It is more complicated and less flexible to use this setup than it was before the switch to digital broadcasting, but they call this "progress."

Hope this helps. If you need more information, just post a followup comment!

I have my handheld Casio TV-980 up and running with a converter box. All I needed (in addition to the converter box and standard rabbit ears [UHF/VHF] antenna) was an adapter with an F jack on one end and a 1/8" plug on the other (Radio Shack catalog # 278-257, about $5). The 1/8" plug on the adapter goes in the external antenna jack on the TV, and the other end connects to the coaxial cable that goes to the TV (RF out) jack on the converter box. The adapter would have been a little cheaper at my local, independent electronics store, but they were sold out.
 
If your antenna has flat 300 ohm wire connections, you'll need a balun (Radio Shack catalog # 15-1297, about $8) to connect it to the coaxial cable that goes to the Antenna (RF in) jack on the converter box.
 
I’ve tried 2 different converter boxes with the handheld TV, and they both work well: Insignia (Best Buy’s house brand, same as Zenith) and RCA (from Target, same as Venturer), so any government coupon-eligible converter box should work.
 
A few other tips:
 
1. I always turn on the converter box before I turn on the TV. The cpnverter box seems to take control better that way.
 
2. When I turn on the TV, the tuner doesn’t automatically go to channel 3 or 4 (where it should be set when using a converter box), and the picture quality is poor. If I use the tuner on the TV to get to channel 3 or 4, the picture quality is vastly improved. I have to do that every time I turn on the TV.
 
3. Placement of the antenna is very important. I like to watch my handheld TV when I'm on the computer, and the reception is better the further away from the computer the antenna is located. I'm actually using a 6' coaxial cable for the antenna, but I could also have used 2 shorter cables with a coupler that has an F jack at both ends (Radio Shack catalog # 278-304, about $3).
 
If your battery-operated TV does not have an external antenna jack, instructions for connecting it to a converter box can be found at
 
http://www.digitaltvtrainer.com/national/showme-battery-tv-converter
 
There are a few battery-operated converter boxes available, but for do-it-yourselfers, this web page also contains instructions for building a 12-volt converter box power supply.