Q. A friend in Centralia, Illinois area (southern) just told me she got her first converter box and received 4 clear PBS stations and some fuzzy local ones--prior to that she had no reception beyond 2 very fuzzy channels w/rabbit ears. A friend of her's suggested she put up an external antenna to get even better reception.
A. The Consumer Reports article referenced by theone78 is a good reference, but it doesn't really seem to address tuner sensitivity, and instead concentrates on picture quality. That's an OK criteria for use in strong reception areas, but if you're in a remote area, having the best tuner is critical. From articles and testimonials I've seen, the Zenith and Insignia converter boxes seem to have exceptionally good tuners.
But you also need a good antenna, preferably a roof-mounted on, or at least an attic one. Rabbit ears just won't cut it for distant reception with digital TV.
But you also need a good antenna, preferably a roof-mounted on, or at least an attic one. Rabbit ears just won't cut it for distant reception with digital TV.
where would I connect a TV antenna amplifier ?
Q. I recently bought a television antenna amplifier. I do have a hdtv converter box, where do I install the amplifier? before the convert or box or after.also
can I run two TVS off one converter or box?
can I run two TVS off one converter or box?
A. Ideally, the only good place to install an antenna amplifier is at the antenna itself. If you're talking about an indoor antenna, it goes between the antenna and your digital converter (if that's what you have). Generally, amplifiers are ineffective with indoor antennas unless they are an integral part of the antenna design. But you can try it.
On a digital converter, you could connect one TV via the coaxial output jack and another via the A-V jacks. You could also try connecting the coaxial output jack to a 2-port splitter and then running coaxial cable to the antenna connectors of two TVs.
The downside of operating two TVs from one digital converter is that both sets will only get the same channel--whichever digital channel you've selected with the digital converter's remote. Your TV is left on the same channel full time (analog 3 or 4, depending on the output of your converter).
Also, be advised that your digital converter is not an "HDTV converter box." The output of the converter is analog SD only. You need an HDTV to get HD.
On a digital converter, you could connect one TV via the coaxial output jack and another via the A-V jacks. You could also try connecting the coaxial output jack to a 2-port splitter and then running coaxial cable to the antenna connectors of two TVs.
The downside of operating two TVs from one digital converter is that both sets will only get the same channel--whichever digital channel you've selected with the digital converter's remote. Your TV is left on the same channel full time (analog 3 or 4, depending on the output of your converter).
Also, be advised that your digital converter is not an "HDTV converter box." The output of the converter is analog SD only. You need an HDTV to get HD.
How can I connect an HDTV Converter Box to the Attic / Roof Antenna?
Q. My mom has about 5 TVs in her house, and one antenna in the attic. I know that she needs one converter box per TV. But how do we connect the converter boxes up to the attic antenna?
(for the TV in my apartment, I simply connected the rabbit ears antenna into the converter box, and the converter box into the TV).
I'm not a very "handy" person, so if the language could be kept simple and a step-by-step answer provided, I would be very grateful!
(for the TV in my apartment, I simply connected the rabbit ears antenna into the converter box, and the converter box into the TV).
I'm not a very "handy" person, so if the language could be kept simple and a step-by-step answer provided, I would be very grateful!
A. Is the attic antenna already connected to the TVs?
If they are, you just disconnect the wire from the tv, connect the wire to the converter box, and connect the converter box to the TV.
BTW, the converter boxes are SDTV, not HDTV.
If the antenna is not connected, you'll need to run wiring from the antenna to the TVs. If it's an old antenna, you might need some kind of converter to match the TVs' RF in. If both the TVs and the antenna have 75-ohm coax cable (the thick round ones), all you'll need is some lengths of cable, and a signal splitter. If both the TVs and the antenna have 300-ohm antenna wire (the flat two-wire kind), all you'll need is some wire and a signal splitter. If the TVs have 300 ohm and the antenna is 75-ohm, or vice versa, you'll need some converters.
The variations are too numerous. You can pick up a Dummies book that shows how to wire your house for antennas that comes with some coax cable, some F-connectors and a coax stripping tool. It's called Cable and Satellite Wiring for Dummies, but it will work with an antenna.
If they are, you just disconnect the wire from the tv, connect the wire to the converter box, and connect the converter box to the TV.
BTW, the converter boxes are SDTV, not HDTV.
If the antenna is not connected, you'll need to run wiring from the antenna to the TVs. If it's an old antenna, you might need some kind of converter to match the TVs' RF in. If both the TVs and the antenna have 75-ohm coax cable (the thick round ones), all you'll need is some lengths of cable, and a signal splitter. If both the TVs and the antenna have 300-ohm antenna wire (the flat two-wire kind), all you'll need is some wire and a signal splitter. If the TVs have 300 ohm and the antenna is 75-ohm, or vice versa, you'll need some converters.
The variations are too numerous. You can pick up a Dummies book that shows how to wire your house for antennas that comes with some coax cable, some F-connectors and a coax stripping tool. It's called Cable and Satellite Wiring for Dummies, but it will work with an antenna.
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