PApopup
Glen Rock, PA, USA
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The DW and I were talking the other night about the required Digital converters if you have a older TV and use an antenna. Being on cable with new TV's we were thinking we were ok. Then we thought about the camper.
We have a 2007 and a newer digital TV/DVD unit. We have only used it when hooked up to cable. Of course the last campground we visited did not have cable but the weather was nice so it did not matter.
I looked through the 9 pages of post in the Technology forum. Just a little confused. Being a digital TV, we should not need a converter box. But, and here is where I got confused, do we need a digital antenna? Or is is better to take the government $40 coupon and buy a converter box in order to utilize the antenna?
Bob, Kim, Gabby, & Matt
2007 Coachmen Captiva 269 QBH 
2006 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab 4X4 
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rbdtanasi
Foley, AL
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If in fact you TV is truly digital, you are in good shape. No you do not need a new antenna. The crank up regular TV antenna will work just fine to receive digital TV broadcast.
Now by true digital TV you need to determine if you do have a digital tuner in the unit. Crank up the antenna, turn on the TV and set your video selector switch to antenna. You may have to use the set-up on your TV and let it find all the channels in your area. Once that is completed, scan your channels. If you have channel 15 in your area, you should see 15 and 15-1 and perhaps 15-2. The - numbers are high definition broadcast. If you can receive them, then your TV has a digital tuner and you need nothing else.
Rex - 01 Monaco Diplomat being pushed by an 08 Honda CR-V
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PApopup
Glen Rock, PA, USA
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Great. We are camping this weekend and I am hopefully retrieving the camper tonight after I replace the break breakaway cable (my FIL didn't know he mowed - ripped it right out). I should be able to fire it up while sitting in the driveway for a good test.
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jiga20001
Ocala
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Just an fyi. Best buy is accepting the $40.00 coupons towards the purchase of a new digital tv in place of the converter box. So if your in the market for a tv, You might want to fill out the ONLINE APPLICATION. I did and it was painless. I got the cards in the mail within a week.
Jeff
97 Sandpiper, 14' slide
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Bumpyroad
Virginia
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no special antenna should be required. if you have a digital TV you are all set AFAIK.
bumpy
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ronfisherman
SE Michigan
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Joined: 06/05/2006
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Your TV antenna should work OK with digital TV. The specs on your TV's should have ATSC signal as one of it's inputs to be digital TV compatible.
2004 Gulf Stream Endura 6340 D/A
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wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
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I will make it simple
With a 2007 DIGITAL tv, and the Batwing You are good to go and will have no problems come next FEB
In fact if you try it you may find you are already getting digital channels They have channel numbers like this: 12.1 or 7-2, Always a "Two Part" number
Analog channels are ONE part, Like 7 or 20
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business
John is Near Kenwood TS-2000 housed in a 2005 Damon Intruder 377
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PApopup
Glen Rock, PA, USA
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Oh well. I got the television out last night and hooked it up. Just the standard channels. The box it is in lists "Digital Filtering" which is probably where we went bad. I looked over the inputs and the ATSC signal is not listed, just UHF/VHF/CATV.
I guess it is now off to the goverment website to order our coupons. I saw some reviews on the Zenith DTT901 being recommended so I try to get that one first. If it is not in my area, what other brands/models are recommended? Are some physically smaller then others or are most the same size? Do most of you permentaly mount the units?
So, once I get the new digital converter, it will work ok with the installed antenna?
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wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
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Take a look at the remote and see if it has a . or - button, also if it has a "Guide" button.
The new Echostar TV-pal looks very interesting.. It addresses my primary concern with these boxes... If I put one in front of my VCR it will allow me to record one and only one channel as often as I want
The Echostar unit however has a programmable timer.. it will change channels per it's program so I can record channel xx.y at 9am and zz.w at 10 am and aa.b at 11 am and so on
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