Digital Stream Digital-to-Analog Converter w/ Pass-through

Comments about Digital Stream Digital-to-Analog Converter w/ Pass-through:

We have had two of these connected to a rotor antenna, ever since the digital program first started. We also have a new digital tv to compare them with.

This tuner has a feature that the digital tv does not that makes all the difference: you can rotate the antenna to various positions and rescan for available channels, and the tuner does not overwrite (delete) the channels that were available in another direction, unless you want it to.

That means that you can access many, many more channels without rescanning all the time, just by changing the direction of the antenna. So, we get New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Massachusetts channels. We get 4 channels (17 subchannels) of PBS alone. And quite a few movie channels.

As a comparison, the new digital tv can only be scanned in one antenna direction, because every time you re-scan it completely overwrites the old scan.

These converter boxes are used daily, and seem very reliable.

Comments about Digital Stream Digital-to-Analog Converter w/ Pass-through:

Purchased at the beginning of the Government Digital Conversion program (2006?) not used until December 2012 -- unit failed in April 2013.

Company is no longer in business. Their web-site www.dsconverter.com is defunct. (permanent "server error."

Comments about Digital Stream Digital-to-Analog Converter w/ Pass-through:

If you are on a budget, it is definitely the product that saves you money.

Comments about Digital Stream Digital-to-Analog Converter w/ Pass-through:

I bought this box to start receiving free channels, It picks up over 50 channels that are crystal clear and just as good as cable, It was very easy to set up and it comes with it's own easy to use remote, This is an AWESOME digital TV converter box!!!!!, Highly recommended!

Comments about Digital Stream Digital-to-Analog Converter w/ Pass-through:

The signal strength feature really enhances reception. I have searchable antennae and this feature works perfect in conjunction with. Cannot beat it for the price.

Comments about Digital Stream Digital-to-Analog Converter w/ Pass-through:

I have owned and used a couple of these for years. Over the past couple of month 2 of them have failed.
Upon opening the units I found that the 470 uF caps in the power module had bulged. Replacing caps with new ones restored the operation of the converter box.

Comments about Digital Stream Digital-to-Analog Converter w/ Pass-through:

I've used this converter daily 5 years without a single problem. I think it is the most user friendly box out. The epg and menu are easy to read and customize. Programming the remote to my tv took less then a minute. Overall I think it is the best on the market.

Comments about Digital Stream Digital-to-Analog Converter w/ Pass-through:

I have had two since the government rebates were first offered. Both are fed from a 20 year old attic antenna, through a splitter/amplifier. One has been used on an RCA 27" TV of 2003 vintage, using the TV's composite video inputs. Picture quality exceeds the old analog broadcats. The other is connected to an older 19" RCA using ch.3 RF to the TV's antenna terminal, which is OK. Both have been reliable, except for an occasional glitch maybe when the broadcaster switches to 5 ch surround from 2 ch material- the converter seems to get confused and can grab the wrong 2 sound channels. A quick reboot fixes it when it happens.

Comments about Digital Stream Digital-to-Analog Converter w/ Pass-through:

Got a $40 Rebate and bought two, has worked great for years, only stopped using because of new tv's. The only problem I have ever had have to do with the remote, every time the batteries come out (which is very rarely) the TV controls have to be manually reprogrammed. One remote has become very unresponsive after 5 or so years of use. My only real complaint is that the button labels seem to rub off within a year.

Absolutely Great Product, sets a High Standard

Comments about Digital Stream Digital-to-Analog Converter w/ Pass-through:

This product replaces a unit that I bought 3 years ago. By far it has better audio quality than the one it replaced, which buzzed all the time when graphics came on the screen. This one from Radio Shack does not have that problem, that alone makes it a worthwhile purchase even though it cost 3 times what the last one cost!
You do need an attenna to get the most from the unit, I still have the "rabbit ears" from 20 years ago that do the trick. My next purchase will be a better outdoor aerial for greater channel reception.
The reason I only gave it 4 out 5 stars was because of the price.