What is a Digital to Analog TV Converter Box?

A digital television (DTV) Converter Box is also known as a set top box. It is an electronic device that converts the free over-the-air digital TV signal into an analog signal viewable on older "analog" television set. Most converter boxes are somewhat smaller than a VCR. They come with a remote control and you change channels with this remote, not your TV remote. The digital to analog set top box connects your antenna or rabbit ears thru the converter box and out to your TV set. It will allow you to continue watching TV after February 17, 2009, the day the transition to "all digital" TV takes place. Chances are your local TV stations are already sending out digital TV, so why wait to convert. You can start watching DIGITAL TV right now! With the converter box, you can keep your old TV and still get digital TV programming.


Setup Converter box - Insignia NS-DXA1 (same as Zenith converter box)





Price (March-April 2008) $59.99 (minus $40 coupon) comes out to around $20 plus sales tax.



Insignia Digital to Analog TV converter box. Buttons on right front for changing channels and Power ON/OFF.
Light in center front panel will be RED when box has power but is turned OFF (Stand-by Mode). Light will be BLUE when box is powered ON.

Get a TV antenna. This is optional, since you may already have an antenna that will work. Most digital TV stations are on UHF channels (14-69) but one or two may be on VHF (2-13) so you may need both UHF and VHF antenna.



Set it up. Your antenna connects to the box via a coaxial cable (look for the port marked "antenna"). Use composite cables with red, white and yellow plugs to hookup a newer analog TV to the box. An older TV may have only a coaxial port in the back, so use a coaxial RF cable to plug into the port on the converter marked "TV."



The converter box comes with a coaxial RF cable and RCA Audio/Video cables to connect the converter box to your TV set. You also get an owner's manual, and a remote control with AAA battery. The RF coaxial cable works, but has the push-on type connector. You may want to invest in the screw-on connector type RF cable. The provided RF cable is RG-59, not the somewhat thicker RG-6 cable. (RG-6 cable is better than RG-59) You can find these cables at Home Depot, Radio Shack, Wal-Mart, Best Buy etc. for under $10.

You'll use the converter's remote to change channels, not the remote that came with your TV set.

OPTIONAL:
The provided remote control has the capability to possibly also control your TV set POWER ON/OFF if your TV has remote control and is compatible with the codes sent out by the converter's remote control. Your TV may not be compatible because it is too old or is a non-standard brand or other reasons. If this is the case, continue to power your TV set on and off with your original TV remote or manually.

To setup a TV with remote control capability so that the converter's remote can power it ON/OFF, press and hold down the "TV POWER" button on the converter's remote and also press the CHANNEL UP button at the same time. Continue to press the CHANNEL UP button while holding down the TV POWER button up to 45 times until you see your TV turn ON or OFF. If the TV does not respond, it most likely is incompatible with the codes in the converter's remote. Try the same procedure with another device such as a VCR or another TV to see if they power on/off.


INSIGNIA NS-DXA1 Digital to Analog Converter box and remote control






How to Hookup Digital Converter Box to Analog TV





Digital to Analog TV converter box (REAR PANEL)

Digital to Analog TV

Connecting the digital TV converter box to your older analog TV involves plugging in the antenna cable to the converter box input jack for ANTENNA and connecting the converter box OUTPUT to your TV INPUT. If your TV is the type without Audio/Video input jacks and only has a VHF 75ohm RF input jack, then use a RG-59 or RG-6 coaxial cable to connect the TV to the converter box. This cable is the same as those used in homes with cable TV or satellite TV. You will get only MONO audio from a coaxial cable connection.

If your TV is somewhat newer and has RCA audio/video input jacks (yellow, red, white) then you can get stereo sound if your TV has stereo sound capability. Use a yellow RCA cable for video and the two (red and white) RCA cables for audio. Use only the white RCA cable if your TV is not stereo sound capable.

You will change channels on the converter box with the remote control. Your TV or VCR will remain on channel 3 or 4 (or Line).

Hookup Diagram for TV with only an RF antenna input jack. Set TV to channel 3 or 4.



Hookup Diagram for TV with Audio/Video input jacks. Set TV to Line input.



Hookup Diagram for VCR and TV. Set VCR to channel 3 or 4 and TV to channel 3 or 4.





First time use - Insignia NS-DXA1 TV Converter

The first time you power up the converter, you sequence thru some menus on-screen to setup your box. After connecting the cables and antenna to the converter box, plug it into AC power and press the POWER button on the INSIGNIA remote control (make sure the remote has a fresh battery inserted)







When you see NEXT >> on the screen, push this button on the remote to proceed.



After powering up the converter box for the first time, you should see a WELCOME screen. If you do not, check your cable connections and your TV channel setting. Make sure you have a good antenna hookup.

Next - you will be asked to select your LANGUAGE (English).
Next - you will see a screen to select your ASPECT RATIO. Most will set to (4 x 3).



Next - to have the converter box search for your local TV channels, press the SELECT button on the remote (7)

The converter will start looking for TV stations in your area and add any channels with a signal strong enough to show up. If a good, known TV channel is not added, do not be concerned because you can add them later using the on-screen MENU - EZ ADD.



Next - select your TIME ZONE

Example - If you live in California skip to PACIFIC. For Texas, select CENTRAL.

The time of day clock should be set from a signal received from a TV broadcast such as your local PBS station.



Congratulations, You are DONE! Press the SELECT button on the remote (7) to EXIT. To start watching TV use the converter remote control to select channels. (19)

You should recognize your local TV stations and in addition you may see a little more program offerings. With Digital TV, your local stations have the option to send out multiple TV shows. PBS for example may broadcast a children's show on channel 9.1 and also be broadcasting a documentary on channel 9.2. This is called multi-casting and it allows the TV station to send several shows at once in lower video resolution. The sub-channels display as a smaller number next to the main channel. Some TV stations have up to 5 sub-channels with different programming.



Main TV channel (12) with sub-channel (1)




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