Reviews about Misc. TVs

carlie609 says "erratic device,miracle that works" about access hd - digital converter

carlie609 — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 18:30:50 GMT

Got this device because of the many features in the outside of box,(and also was using a coupon),It is difficult to describe how erratic this device is ,and how bad it could be for a person that does not know electronics.The reception is not reliable even with the best antennas,the rca cables are color coded but are backward,the electric plug gets incredibly hot,and if turned off the whole system needs to be reset.The channels become pixelated for no reason,mana of the so call feautures do not work,even the remote infrared cintrol does not work completely or properly.The sound is incredible low and of low quality,some of the features come on and off at random,like the zoom feature.Theunit that is compact it has low quality plastic that could crack under stress,never hold in a stable balance.Not all the chaneels that it initially scans can be watched ,and some do not even exist.The quality o the paint is also bad,the electronic box id frail and prone to crack.The internal components are...

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jdt2912 says "Great way to stream TV" about Roku - Roku HD Player

jdt2912 — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 17:05:44 GMT

Devices that stream programming from online to your TV sound great, but the ones I have tried before have been fairly glitchy and hard to set up. So I was a bit apprehensive about getting a Roku HD Player, but I kept hearing great things from people I knew and reading good things in articles that I had to give it a try.

Here's how it works -- you hook this very small black box up to your TV, connect it to your wireless network (you can also use a cable) and then you use it to access your online Netflix subscription. Sounds simple, right?

Well, it really was. I (and by I, I mean my wife, who is the go-to electronics set up person in our home) had it up and working in short order and the image quality and reception were great. The way you access movies is through your Netflix Instant Queue via an onscreen menu. So you need to go online, add movies to the queue that are cleared for instant viewing, and then you're set. The best part? Netflix doesn't charge you to watch any of these movies...

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believerbac says "Do not buy...." about Mitsubishi - hdtv

believerbac — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 03:51:47 GMT

My husband purchased a 61" hdtv Mitsubishi from Circut City. After purchasing and owning for 6 months the lamp blew. Replacement cost any where from 140.00 to 300.00 depending on model and other stuff. We think by accident a young guy that worked for Circut City told us after of course we bought the tv that the lamps burn out every year to year and a half. So unless you can afford to do this I suggest you steer away from these. Also Mitsubishi does not stand behind the product when a customer is unhappy.

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gordon54838 says "endurance" about Phillips Magnavox - not sure

gordon54838 — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:43:16 GMT

I bought a 13 inch phillips color tv with vcr 9 years ago. It is still working as good as the day I bought it. The color is beautiful on it. I bought the tv originally to take to remote logging camps where I worked and where tv reception wasnt available. And so relied on the vcr for watching vhs movies. Also I taped many movies and programs at home for camp use using the record function on the tv. The tapes turned out as good as the regular shows they were recorded from. This phillips tv has been on many trips with me. It has visited 7 states by vehicle. Its taken ferrt rides between islands, and many flights aboard float planes. In other words its been bumped, and jostled, and bounced around and still performs like new. Therefore the next time I shop for a tv I plan to make it a Phillips brand. Great value and performance for the buck!...

basketkms says "Best box on the market" about Zenith - DTT901 Digital-to-Analog TV Converter Box

basketkms — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 03:10:16 GMT

We have no cable and 4 tv's in our rural home. We have a whole house antennae and none of our tv's have digital tuners....so yes, that means we have to have 4 converter boxes to watch any of our tvs. We first bought this box and love it! It was easy to set up and to scan channels. We love the fact that the remote controls both the tv and the converter box (volume included).

We bought a different type of converter box- was the one that the store I was at had. Hated it after having the zenith already. The other boxes remote didn't control the tv, so you had to use both remotes in order to control the tv. Pain in the rear!

The only con is that the volume doesn't really control the tv the same way the volume on the tv controller does (doesn't seem to have the same range), so you have to turn the tv up pretty loud in order have a decent amount of volume from the tv....which then if you accidentally turn off the converter box before the tv, the static is REALLY loud!

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jumbohotdog4u says "Failed completely after nine months. Junk!" about Apex - DT250 Digital-to-Analog TV Converter

jumbohotdog4u — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 02:23:39 GMT

At the time of purchase, I had spent over 20 hours of reading features and reviews of different converter boxes. I chose the Apex DT-250A for a few reasons: Analog pass-through, VHS-C connector, smart antenna plug, plus picture and sound quality.

Upon receipt, I was disappointed with a few items. Smart antennas are not readily available, volume control must move great amounts for minimum effect, cheap remote, vhs-c connector falls out often, lousy on screen guide.

After five months, the unit started having reception problems on stations 7.1 through 13.1. which is strange due to the fact all stations in my area have signal towers on the same mountain. Adjusting the antenna had no effect.

At less than nine months the unit completely failed. The standby light is on, but will not power on. I checked my warranty and found it to be one year parts, 90 days labor.

I had only had the unit nine months so the parts warranty was good, but labor had expired six months before. Figure a one hour...

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taylor32368 says "pretty good tv for the money" about Phillips Magnavox - not sure

taylor32368 — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 02:13:20 GMT

I have this Phillips Magnavox TV that I have had for a few years and it still works great. I dont know the name of it but its a great TV. I usually dont like Phillips products but i do like Magnavox. this says "Phillips Magnavox" right on the front of it. but anyways, if you get a chance to but a TV from one of the companies, I'd say try it. I have had good luck with Magnavox products. My luck with Phillips products has been ok. its not really one of my favorite companies though. I think Phillips products are kind of cheaply made and they dont last very long.

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taylor32368 says "RCA TV's are the worst TV's in the world." about RCA - not sure

taylor32368 — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 02:06:52 GMT

I dont know what kind of RCA TV this is but for a TV that is less than 3 years old, its the worst one to buy. I have NEVER had good luck with RCA. this TV is huge and its only 3 years old and it went already. I will never buy an RCA TV again. You couldnt give me an RCA TV. this is just my opinion and you can all do what you want, but I wouldnt waste my time or money on this TV. i dont know why but they never last. I bought a BRAND new one one time and it blew up after a month. Just trying to save you all the headache.

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Prairie07 says "Samsung Electronic after sales service sucks" about Samsung - 52" LCD Samsung 1080p T/V

Prairie07 — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 06:01:39 GMT

Re: 52" LCD SAMSUNG 1080p T/V

We purchased the above T/V from Ken Kranes at a high price of $4000 about 2 years ago. Unfortunately we didnot purchase the extended warranty as we presumed that Samsung products are of high quality. However, this was not the case as the T/V suddenly stopped working with no indication of a breakdown whatsoever.
This T/V is only used as a 2nd T/v and is only watched in the evenings. We contacted Ken Kranes and Samsung Electronics who bluntly refused to repair their product and referred us to a 3rd party company who informed that the power supply had given way and is charging us an exhorbitant rate to repair this TV

When I informed Samsung that we paid a high price for their product and that they should offer to repair it, they informed "that products do break and that they are not liable to do any repairs".

We are very disappointed at the arrogant reply that we received and we are warning buyers to beware of purchasing Samsung products as their after sales...

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btwin says "dtv-pal Plus is not so great" about dish network dtv-pal - Digital Converter Box

btwin — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 23:57:32 GMT

I'm reviewing the Dish Network dtv-pal Plus.

This converter box is the "enhanced" tuner version of the dtv-pal. I purchased it a couple of weeks ago at my local Sears store for $59.99.

I read many good reviews on this box and thought it would be a great one to get for my folks. They currently have dish network for satellite channels and use an antenna for local stations. I thought this would be a great box to get because the remote control is exactly like a smaller version of the satellite receiver remote and so it would be easy for them to use.

Overall, the picture and sound quality are very good and the guide is unbeatable. You've probably read this in other reviews. However, I'll be returning this box tomorrow. Here are the reasons. While this "enhanced" Plus version is supposed to have a better, more sensitive tuner, comparing it to a Digital Stream dtx9950 which I purchased from Radio Shack for the same price, the tuner does not seem to be any better. In fact, the Digital...

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bkovacs says "Definitely sharper with an S-Video signal" about Channel Master - CM-7000 DTV Converter Box

bkovacs — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 17:35:13 GMT

Like many other people, I have a couple of older TVs that are connected to antennas. Now that the Great Digital Television Switchover is nearly upon us, I ordered two $40 coupons from the government and looked for a Digital TV (DTV) converter box that had an S-video output.

I bought two Channel Master CM-7000 DTV Converters from an online retailer called Summit Source for about $50 each. After the $40 government coupons, they cost me about $10 each.

What is DTV and what is S-Video?

First things first. DTV (digital television) is the first new broadcast television standard in the US since color TV was standardized in 1955 or so. Until the past few years, all television in the US was broadcast using analog technology, which works well but it consumes a lot of a valuable resource known as "spectrum." This spectrum is owned by all of us, but TV broadcasters were consuming a huge amount of it. Other industries increasingly agitated to be granted some of the spectrum used by broadcasters and technology...

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Kojack says "14 hours of research was worth finding the Terk TV-5" about Terk - TV-5

Kojack — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 21:44:37 GMT

We have 2 older model analog tv's in our home and after hooking up our convertors we discovered that rabbit ears would not work. I am lucky to have plenty of spare time so 14 plus hours of research was enjoyable. My main concern was my 19" tv in the basement as this is where I spend most of my time. All of my research led me to the Terk TV-5. In appearance it looks just like the TV4. I found pricing from $29.95 to over $100.00 for this same item. I went to the local Best Buy and they met the $29.95 price. I was excited to get it installed until I read the part that said it did not work well in a basement. I went ahead with it anyway and was amazed at not only the number of new stations it pulled in but also the clarity. Very simple to install within 5 minutes. If you have a problem I'm sure your 8 Year old neighbor can do it for you. I have informed so many friends that they keep running out of stock. I believe you will find the Terk TV-5 to perform just as well as the high priced......

MarvMartian says "Worked FINE on ALL sub-channels for me." about Venturer - STB7766G

MarvMartian — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 02:32:50 GMT

I bought the Venturer STB7766G1 at Target with a $40 coupon. Attached the antenna, TV, and power and it worked right out of the box. The SCAN found all the local DTV stations and sub-channels (PHX AZ). It displayed ch 8.1 to 8.4 and ch 21.1 to 21.5. CH+/- keys and power buttons are on the front of the box. It also has analog pass-thru which will only be important if you have low power stations in the area that will still be transmitting analog after Feb. The video was clear and the audio was sharp with no annoying humm like some other units.

THis box also controls VOLUME and MUTE of the RF signal to the TV (unlike the RCA box I already have) from the remote control. Most boxes only control the direct AUDIO output.

The Remote is small, but has LARGE, Easy to find and use VOLUME and CHANNEL buttons. It also has LAST CHANNEL and a "." button to select a sub channel directly, like 7.2 from the keypad.

This unit has been in operation for 2 months now with no problems.

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pteroglossus says "easy to install" about Insignia - NS-DXA1-APT Digital-to-Analog TV Converter Box

pteroglossus — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 02:22:32 GMT

The Insignia NS-DXA1-APT Digital-to-Analog TV Converter Box is the box for people that love simple things: if you want something easy to install, this is the box for you. It comes with all cables that you need to make it work: literally, you plug in your antenna, you plug your TV at the other end, and done... you have digital TV at home. With the rebate, it beats getting a new TV... so this is a good alternative for that second or third TV at home.
The handbook is pretty good, and box setup/menus are self-explanatory. You can even setup the box remote to turn on your TV, with saves you one remote (however, put your old remote away after you do this!).

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Steve19970 says "Great Universal Remote...especially for the Xbox 360" about Logitech Harmony® 360 LCD Remote Control

Steve19970 — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 05:59:43 GMT

The Harmony Remote for Xbox 360 is one of Logitech's line of Harmony remotes, which are designed to be programmed via your computer (through a relatively easy-to-use application). Your programming choices are then uploaded to the remote via a USB cable. If, for whatever reason, you can't find the code of the remote/function you need, you can "teach" the function to the remote by pushing the button on the original remote while aiming at an IR port at the back of the Harmony Remote.

As far as quality, it's top notch. It has a very solid feel--unlike the plasticky $10 Universal remotes we're all used to. Buttons have a good feel--the only difficult buttons to use are those at the bottom of the remote (they're a bit small), but I honestly don't use them very much.

This remote can be programmed to control up to 11 devices, from which the software helps you derive "activities," such as "Watch a DVD." All you do is push the activity you want, and the remote turns on all relevant devices...

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bmsbarbour says "hola!" about Magnavox - SDTV Tuner Converter Box

bmsbarbour — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 13:06:11 GMT

I bought the magnavox sdtv tuner converter box from wal-mart. I think I set it up right. I tryed a couple different ways and all I could get were two Spanish stations. They come in super clear but I would like more then two stations and I don't speak Spanish. So if anyone knows what I'm doing wrong please help. My mom has the same one and it works great for her. She gets more channels the she used to and they come in really clear. Maybe there is something wrong with my TV....

wolfman78 says "The Orion 13" color TV/DVD combo is not worth the money!" about Orion - 13" color TV/DVD combo

wolfman78 — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 05:43:28 GMT

The Orion 13" color TV/DVD combo is not worth the money, do not buy it. The DVD player that is built in is not reliable and requires cleaning after almost every use even if the DVD is brand new. The size makes portability a snap but overall I have found it to be unreliable when using it. The included antenna is insufficient to pick up even basic stations, so you need to either purchase a larger antenna or plug it into cable to use....

spinningnak1 says "Ditital Converter Boxes are a Stupid Ass Product" about dish network dtv-pal - Digital Converter Box

spinningnak1 — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 02:54:13 GMT

I think that digital converter boxes are the stupidest product that has ever been invented it just seems like a pointless tool that makes people spend more money just to watch t.v. in my opinion they should just let people enjoy what they have and if they want to make their picture seem better then they can purchase this...

justaddwine says "The Insignia TV Convert Box provides a clear picture" about Insignia - NS-DXA1-APT Digital-to-Analog TV Converter Box

justaddwine — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 21:42:23 GMT

The Insignia - NS-DXA1-APT Digital-to-Analog TV Converter Box is easy to install and provides a clear picture. The only problem is receiving reception through the rabbit ears. The signal strength seems really weak in our location. Lost ABC in the bedroom, yet we gained 2 more PBS channels. Kind of disappointed there! Also, our local Fox station is not digital yet, so we need to switch from the box to antenna frequently at this point.

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zwep says "Simple way to extend use NTSC tuner for over the air ATSC " about dish network dtv-pal - Digital Converter Box

zwep — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 17:26:21 GMT

I knew I had to do something before Feb 2009 when the over-the-air NTSC TV broadcasts are scheduled to go off the air, so I went to the FCC site and applied for coupons for digital converter boxes. I have a fairly old (actually now that I think of it it is 23 year old) 19 inch TV set, but I'm rather fond of it, it fits well into my living room and in particular a bookcase I have, and I don't yet want to go out and buy a new TV (due to expense primarily). My parents did buy a 42" DTV which they love, but they also have satellite tv, and I even helped them set up a computer in place of their old DVR recorder...but for myself, I guess I'm a bit of a late adopter or a luddite (just this year I got my first cell phone, and it is a bare-bones model at that).

Anyhow, since the coupons were set to expire by mid-July 2008, I had to buy a converter before this date to make sure they would accept them (It took about 2 months for me to receive them). I did some research and was very interested...

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