Need Advice on HD Converter Box

[fjl]

So I've been watching on the tv about upgrading to an HD converter box. I applied and requested two coupons. After they arrived I headed to Best Buy and saw they had an HD box specifically for the coupons. An Insigna NS-DXA1. Bought it took it home and tried it out. I'll admit the picture is a lot better than what I used to get.

But I have a few problems with the box itself. For one, its not programmable. No options to set a channel to change to or to turn on at a specific time. Another problem I have is that the Closed Captioning is off by a few seconds. What I mean is that a person speaks and the closed captioning text comes on like 3 seconds later. This doesn't happen when watching it from normal tv reception.

I still have one coupon left, so for my next HD box I want to buy a better box that eliminates the annoyances of the previous HD converter box. What HD converter boxes do you guys recommend?

[BORIStheBLADE]

Are you talking about the digital boxes for when they switch over to digital?

[AcidArmitage]

yea he is. I need a suggestion because i need to get one that is tiny and can fit in my car

[WunderCade]

Point of fact #1
If you already subscribe to a Cable or Satellite service, the receiver box you already have is sufficient. You do not need a converter box.

Point of fact #2
These converter boxes are only required if:
- You receive your stations using only an antenna (old school).

AND

- Your television is NOT a digital television.


Many people think they need the digital converter when they do not, because they are not familiar with the technology.

[fjl]

Well my tv's are non digital and use analog radio signals for tv reception, and no I don't have cable or satellite so I do need a converter box.

So those of you who may know about them which brand/models are good buys that will handle what I need?

[AcidArmitage]

I'm connecting mine to my head unit in my car so i dont have to by the $300 gonna-be-useless tv tuner... does anybody know if newegg or amazon is compatible with the coupons?

[shardian]

The best one you can get is the one Circuit City sells.

I got the Walmart Magnavox one when the coupons first came. WTF were they thinking when they did not put ANY buttons on the unit. If I lose my remote, I can't even turn the damn thing on! And the remote sucks.

I'll be picking up the Circuit City one as soon as they get another shipment in.

[gonzo90017]

The best one you can get is the one Circuit City sells.

I got the Walmart Magnavox one when the coupons first came. WTF were they thinking when they did not put ANY buttons on the unit. If I lose my remote, I can't even turn the damn thing on! And the remote sucks.

I'll be picking up the Circuit City one as soon as they get another shipment in.

Do you have any info on these?

[shardian]

Do you have any info on these?

Each store only has one brand of the coupon boxes. The Zenith is Circuit City's box

Circuit City Zenith Converter Box

[MonMotha]

Due to the nature of ATSC (the digital broadcasting standard), reception in a moving vehicle is nearly impossible.  From what I've seen, this is not a limitation of the receivers but rather an issue of the modulation used.  So, if you put one of these in your car, it'll work when you're not moving, but when you are driving down the right, don't expect reliable demod.

[AcidArmitage]

oh that sucks... ill test it out for ya when i get it. Even so, 10 bucks for TV in ur car not moving aint bad

[JimmyU]

CNET has a couple of reviews of boxes here, here and here.