What kind of converter do I need?

[Kim]

I think the reason most people talk about the 'Cable' monopoly is for 1 simple reason. They are probably the onlt cable company that provides service to their area. I have a similar situation in the area I live in. We have Mediacom, and they are the 'Only game in town'. Each year for the last few years, they have been dishing out around a 10% rate at the beginning of the year. I'm sure they justify it as simply passing on heir operating costs to the customers, but in that same time frame they have added no new networks to their line-up, and in the last 2 years they have added about 10 HD channels. Of those 10 HD channels, 5 of them are local channels which broadcast in HD over the air. Did I mention they charge $6.99 a month to lease a HD reciever, as well as another $9.99 per month to actually recieve those 10 HD channels?

OK, thanks for clearing that up for me. So, there are multiple cable companies, but some areas only have one to choose from. Got it!

[Shannon]

I agree. It seems kind of strange to me that there would be people without the option to get satellite, but I can understand why cable may not be offered in some areas. That is more of an issue of supply and demand. Satellite should be much easier to reach more people. I prefer satellite as well (although it can be pretty bad when the weather isn't so good...)

[SWHouston]

I think what draiken ment, was it was the only Cable game in town. Like you Shannon, i can't imagine someone being anywhere, where one couldn't get Sat. I've even seen Dishes hanging off of Balconies, but not on the north side of the building !

Most of the reception problems with Cable, lies in the quite small Dish they provide. If one goes with personally owned equipment, the sky's the limit on a FTA Dish. I have a .75 meter, and i could have gone with a 1 Meter, but since I'm in a HOA, i thought I'd err on the safe side. One can get FTA Dishes up around 10ft in diameter !!

The larger Dishes are a LOT better when it comes to reception, rain doesn't effect them like it does with those 18"ers, they use.

Have a good Day !

[draiken78]

That's exactly what I meant. I know the average person doesn't want to invest in most of the satellite dishes other than what the satellite company provides them. If you live in the mountains, a satellite provided by companies like DirecTV may not be big enough to give you a signal.

[viron]

At this point I have use the Magnavox sold at Walmart, Zennith sold at Circuit City and the box sold at Radio Shack. Skip the box sold at Walmart and get one of the other two, especially is pulling in more stations is an issue. The Zennith and Radio Shack perform almost the same as to reception with the Zennith being marginally better. Otherwise there are some differences that are more preference.

The audio out of the Zennith is a little bit weak and will only drive the volume up about to half of what the TV is capable of putting out. For me this is not an issue as I live in a condo and have attached the unit to my stereo system for a fuller sound. Besides being a bit weak on audio the Zennith is a very user friendly unit with simple straight forward features.

The Radio Shack box has much better audio output and has more features related to controlling your tv, whereas the Zennith merely turns it on and off. A benefit of the Radio Shack unit for some is the signal pass through. Though I am using the Zennith myself I am considering the Radio Shack unit for my mother as she probably will not drop her cable, but having an antenna available during hurricane season in Florida can be a benefit.

The tv program guides are different on both units. The Zennith displays a bar across the top with stations listed. When you move over a station you see the current program and the next program regardless of who long the scheduled time is. The Radio Shack unit shows you about twelve hours of programming once you tune to a station and turn on the program guide. The both units will give you a synoptic description of the current program.

I have not tried the unit at Best Buy, but it is my next stop.

How I try the units is I put them on my credit card and DO NOT use my coupon. Then I return the unit after trying. If I like it I purchase the unit using my coupon after I have returned it.

Anyone try the Best Buy convert yet? Hope this helps.