Dilly-dallying around, are you? Even if you haven't
taken the time to secure a digital converter box for the impending
2009 analog shutoff just yet,
RadioShack has a box incoming that may tickle your fancy. The Digital Stream DTX9950 not only enables your antiquated set to receive OTA signals long after the February 17, 2009 switchover (
Wilmington, North Carolina notwithstanding), but it also features an analog pass-through. According to the company, said feature will "enable consumers who watch full and low-power TV stations to do so without the need for a splitter or A/B switch to a digital-only converter box." Better still, this one is NTIA approved, meaning that your
$40 government voucher can be used on the $59.99 device if it's still valid as of this week.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Burrens @ Jun 5th 2008 5:09PM
So the analog pass through is only good until the shutoff date right?
Sam @ Jun 5th 2008 6:02PM
It is not only good until the shut off date:
"If you receive over-the-air TV signals from a low-power TV station that does not have to switch to "all digital" next year, you will still be able to receive those analog signals after the Digital to Analog Transition if you have a converter box with analog pass-through." Taken from EZ Digital TV website.
http://www.ezdigitaltv.com/Analog_Pass-Through.html
EQC @ Jun 5th 2008 9:34PM
Any word on the famed EchoStar TR-40 (also known as the "DTVPal")??
AFAIK, that is the one many people are waiting for. Features include:
-estimated $40 price at retail, so free (except for tax) with a voucher
-analog pass-through
-VCR/event timer capabilities.
Months ago, I read it would be out in "june or july" but haven't heard much since then...
http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/22/echostars-tr-40-dtv-converter-box-not-available-til-june-jul/
rob @ Jun 6th 2008 1:27AM
as part of the tv crew on a low-power independant tv show, the station manager has a connection with a store owner who said that they're expecting the tr-40 in their store june 15th... don't quote me on that date though...
EQC @ Jun 6th 2008 2:59PM
awesome! thanks!
Bob Leffingwell @ Jun 14th 2008 11:59AM
I just received an email from the company I ordered the DTVPAL from cancelling my order because they found out that the converter will sell for $59.99 instead of $39.99 and they have been left hanging by the distributer on the date the converters would be available. I would be very careful about ordering the DTVPAL.
Susan Griffith @ Jun 7th 2008 5:02PM
I have read that the Digital Stream converter box remote will not work with a JVC television. So, my question, does a different brand of converter box & remote work with a JVC television? Which one(s)?
Wayne @ Jun 8th 2008 12:37AM
Will this one work in an RV without removing it part of the time. where sometimes you will be using the antenna, and other times you will have cable TV at the park.
Eva @ Jun 19th 2008 12:54PM
trying to find codes to program the DTX9950 Digital Stream to my universal remotes?????
Kathy @ Jun 24th 2008 3:12PM
What DS remote code do I need for Konka TV that is a hand me down from someone who gave it to me around 2002? Not listed in the DS9950 manual
Kathy @ Jun 28th 2008 12:06AM
Does the DTX9950 work with a VCR timer? I like it so far, but went to program a tv station &.. it came out mish mosh.. I was able to record by just hitting the "record" button on my VCR remote. Why won't this box let me program my VCR. I see this as the end ! Any help?
Chris @ Jul 15th 2008 4:41PM
The DTX9950 has a "Power Down" timer that turns off the box automatically after a preset time (1, 2, 4, or 8 hours). It factory defaults to 4 hours. To make sure it it still on when your VCR is recording, you'll need to set the Power Down timer to "off". Set it via the Menu -> Function -> Time -> Power Down -> Off (see page 11 of the users manual). After you do this it will stay on all the time (with increased power consumption), so remember to turn if off when you're no longer using it.
Kathy @ Jun 28th 2008 12:45PM
Does the DTX9950 work with a VCR timer? I like it so far, but went
to program a tv station &.. it came out mish mosh.. I was able to
record by just hitting the "record" button on my VCR remote. Why
won't this box let me program my VCR. I see this as the end ! Any
help?
Lisa @ Jun 29th 2008 2:25PM
I can't get the DTX9950 remote to code on my Magnavox 19MDTR20. This is a TV/DVD/VCR combo. I'm having to use the original remote to turn the TV off and on, then I can use the DTX9950 universal remote to change channels, etc. I've tried all the codes that came with the box and also I've tried the 105 times trick. Am I doomed to 2 remotes for this particular TV?
Ray @ Jul 3rd 2008 12:37AM
I have a DTX9900 and have a DTX9950 on back order.
It appears like I can not record one channel and watch another at the same time on the 9900.
Is this a problem on these? Or am I doing something wrong? I connected the output from the 9900 to the VCR input and the VCR output to the TV, just like the manual shows.
If this can not be done, why did they only give 2 rebates per household?
Terence @ Jul 10th 2008 1:52PM
There will be standard low power station out there after Feb 09. There was a law suit and that is why we have pass through converter boxes.
Chris @ Jul 15th 2008 4:53PM
This is a good product, but be aware that if you are using the Digital Stream DTX9950's built-in channel 3 (or 4) RF modulator and you have a Stereo TV (or VCR) you will NOT receive stereo sound (just plain old monophonic sound). To get stereo sound with your Digital TV picture you'll need to use the three RCA jacks (composite video, L & R audio outputs) on the back of the box. It is likely that the other converter boxes that you can buy with your $40 government coupon are similar in this regard. As other user's have reported, setting the "Preferred Connection" to "Line Out" drops the audio signal level by about 10 db for some unexplained reason, so if you want a reasonable output level similar to what you're getting with analog TV, I suggest that you keep this at its default "CH 3/4" setting. Doing this will give you a good audio level at the RCA jacks, which you might want to lower just a bit using the DTX9950's volume control to about 16 (out of 20) for the very best results. Doing this will give you good sounding stereo recordings with your VCR, DVD-R or when viewing on your TV. Although using the built-in channel 3 (or 4) RF modulator makes it easy to hook-up the DTX9950 when you first get it home, connecting to the three RCA jacks will not only give you an improved picture but it also delivers the best audio to your equipment at the same time.
carol @ Jul 20th 2008 8:40PM
How do you add channels
Ed @ Jul 22nd 2008 5:26PM
I just got one of these at Radio Shack. I live near NYC and get excellent analog signals now. (roof top antenna about 9 miles from Manhattan) After I hooked it up and did the channel search, the box found ZERO channels. I called the customer service number in the manual and the guy said that there is only one really weak station broadcasting digital TV in the NYC area?? Is this really the case or is my box defective. I can't believe NYC only has one digital channel brodcasting as of today (July 23, 2008)