Anyone using a converter box to get HDTV via antenna

[scottmandue]

I'm thinking of dumping my satellite TV and going with an antenna.

Thing is I am still using my big ol 36" analog CRT TV (the thing just won't die!).

Do I need a converter box to get HDTV via antenna?

If so is anyone out there have a converter they like?

I'm kinda spoiled with the high quality I get from satellite and worry about what I will get with an antenna.

TIA

[Oh Haha]

We had a converter box but have since gone back to cable. We were missing the larger slection of channels offered by cable.

If we still have one of the boxes you can have it. Let me ask my wife if it's still around and I'll get back to you.

The reception was good without any interruption of the siganl even in storms.

[Scott R]

I use one on an older TV that I use just to watch the traffic report on in the mornings. The picture is great, no setup needed for me, plugged right into the TV and the antenna.

[nota]

I have a sony sat+dtv-HD box on a old sony wega 1080i crt

the picture is 1080i better then the sat's 720
only universe/ATT has 1080 I just switched to ATT service

the dtv over the air is very picky on ant pointing IF you are far from the transmitters
over 30 miles you need a big rooftop ant
and heavy rain can block signals as do big trees/building or hills

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by nota

I have a sony sat+dtv-HD box on a old sony wega 1080i crt

the picture is 1080i better then the sat's 720
only universe/ATT has 1080 I just switched to ATT service

the dtv over the air is very picky on ant pointing IF you are far from the transmitters
over 30 miles you need a big rooftop ant
and heavy rain can block signals as do big trees/building or hills

I need to check with AT&T.

I'm not far from the transmitters... but... there is a big hill between them and I so traditionally don't get any signal.

[gr8fl4porsche]

I have a digi converter box for my garage TV and it works fine with an antenna.

The rest of my system is antenna fed thru Tivo boxes and it is top notch. A quality antenna makes a huge difference. I use DB8's. Amazon.com: Antennas Direct DB8 Multidirectional HDTV Antenna: Coolies: Electronics Well worth the money.

Anything not available from standard TV is obtained through the internet and streamed via my PC as the Tivo boxes are also multi-media devices.

[Pazuzu]

Unless times have changed, there was only one HD converter box available, by Samsung.

I have one. It works great. I used it exclusively for about 4 years plugged into my HDTV CRT. That TV is spectacular, but came out in short period of time between the advent of HD and the regular use of built in HD tuners. Since so few TVs fit in that list, no one bothered to make HD over the air tuners.

[Oh Haha]

Scottmandue,

We don't have the extra box I thought we did. Sorry.

[Skytrooper]

In the "lodge" (1/3 of my unattached garage) I have a 25" analog TV with the converter box and a rooftop antenna I got off CL. I get 14 stations. It is great for watching games with my buddies.

[rouxroux]

We're using an RCA converter box in our old Class A RV...Do not watch TV enough in it to justify a sat. system, and I'm amazed at the number of digital channels we get in most areas. Took out the old VCR unit and replaced it with a converter and a DVD player. That's enough for us. Had the old Winegard crank-up antenna on top of the RV, works just fine.

[83_Silberpfeil]

Converter boxes change signal from digital (from broadcaster) to analog (into your TV). If you CRT is not HD, there's really nothing you can do to get good/quality HD --- other than buying a new HD capable TV.

An external over the air antenna will help you get better/more digital signal --- but again, if you don't have HD capable TV, then you're not going to get quality HD TV.

The best way is to buy a HD capable TV --- like a 1080p, then buy an over the air outdoor (roof mounted) antenna. Your picture will be so good for the regular network channels --- no cable or satellite service providers can touch it. This is because cable signals are very compressed then decompressed, satellite signals are less compressed, over the air signals even less.

Ask me how I know