DTV converter boxes: What to look for

Not all digital-to-analog TV converter boxes are created equal—or at least, that's what Sound & Vision discovered when it put three popular models to the test. Find out some of the factors to consider before plunking down your cash.

The background: Come next February, all U.S. TV stations will switch from analog to digital broadcasting. So if you're still using an old-style analog TV with rabbit ears or a rooftop antenna, you'll need a DTV converter box come February 17, 2009, or no more "Wheel of Fortune."

The good news is that a few DTV boxes (about $50 to $60 each) are already on sale, more are on the way, and government coupons worth $40 each (two per household) are available for the asking.

Anyway, the editors at Sound & Vision pitted three early DTV set-top boxes—the Digital Stream DTX9900, the RCA DTA800, and the Zenith DTT900—against each other, and while all delivered easy setup and razor-sharp pictures (we're not talking HD images, mind you, just rock-solid SD pictures, provided you're getting good reception), each came with their own idiosyncrasies, some more innocuous than others. Indeed, the story covers some crucial points that'll be relevant no matter what DTV box you end up buying.

For example, while Sound & Vision reviewer Brent Butterworth found that the various remote controls were hit-and-miss; one had big, easy-to-press buttons, while another came saddled with too-tiny controls. So, lesson No. 1: Don't buy a DTV box without giving its remote a test drive first.

Another consideration: How the particular boxes handle widescreen programming. Most likely, you'll be using a DTV converter box with a standard 4:3 analog TV set, which means you'll need to decide whether you want wide, 16:9 programming letterboxed or cropped. Butterworth found that while the Digital Stream and RCA boxes let you choose a setting across all channels, the Zenith device forces you to tweak the setting for each and every channel—a good thing if you have specific preferences for each channel, a bad thing if you'd rather choose a setting once and for all. See how the DTV box you're considering handles widescreen channels (as well as other settings) before you cough up your coupon.

Also, while DTV stations can broadcast fairly detailed programming information—including show descriptions and schedules of concurrent and upcoming shows—not all DTV boxes display this information in the same way. Some boxes will automatically show you what's on and what's up next each time you change the channel, while others require the touch of an "Info" button; meanwhile, bargain-basement boxes might not give you a programming grid at all.

Check out the full Sound & Vision review for more details, plus winners and losers. Meanwhile, when (and if) you're shopping for a DTV converter of your own, be sure to go for a demo first—see how the on-screen programming grid looks, handle the remote, and poke around the settings menu before you buy.

Related:
S&V Shootout: 3 DTV Converters [Sound & Vision]