http://www.viewpoints.com/aboutme/rdavidd Fri, 06 Jun 2008 22:03:50 GMT Reviews by rdavidd http://www.viewpoints.com/GE-Digital-to-Analog-Converter-Box-review-dd072 <p>This GE "Smart Digital Converter Box" 22729 from Target gets my top vote compared to the Venturer STB7766G (also from Target) and the Insignia NS-DXA1 (from BestBuy). I swaped these three units in and out of the same setup. I'm at a considerable distance, with hills in between, from the PBS station I wanted to receive. That station puts out three signals (channels 30-1, 30-2 and 30-3). The Venturer only got 30-1. The Insignia 30-1 and 30-2. The GE got all three channels. Also, the Insignia required that I increase the TV volume way beyond normal to get the same volume I normally listen at. There is one down side to the GE unit -- when stations are added via use of the auto scan feature it is not possible to remove any of them from the setup after the auto scan is done. In my situation the GE found two radio stations and added them to my setup (channels 30-4 and 30-5). It is possible to manually add stations to the setup, but only the primary station (in this instance 30-1). Sub-channels,...</p>... Fri, 06 Jun 2008 22:03:50 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/GE-Digital-to-Analog-Converter-Box-review-dd072 rdavidd 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Venturer-Digital-to-Analog-Converter-Box-review-84fa2 <p>This Digital-to-Analog Converter Box is sold by Target. Neither the outside of the box nor the instructions nor the Venturer web site reveals that this unit will not receive sub channels. For example my local PBS broadcasts two signals on channel 31 (one as 31-1 and second different programing on 31-2). This unit only receives 31-1. I know that 31-2 is there because I have a second converter box from BestBuy that gets it (Insignia NS-DXA1). Also, the tuner in the Venturer is poor. Whereas the Insignia gets a "good" signal (slightly into the "good" third of the total rating area - probably about a 70% rating --- I'm a long ways from my PBS station), the Venturer gets just to the middle of the signal strength band - a 50% rating. This unit was cheap; only $48, but is only suitable if you NEVER expect any sub channels in your area AND you are very close to your stations broadcast towers with very powerful signals.</p><br /><br /><p/>... Thu, 05 Jun 2008 16:10:17 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Venturer-Digital-to-Analog-Converter-Box-review-84fa2 rdavidd 1 http://www.viewpoints.com/Venturer-STB7766G-review-63536 <p/><p/><p>This Digital-to-Analog Converter Box is sold by Target. Neither the outside of the box nor the instructions nor the Venturer web site reveals that this unit will not receive sub channels. For example my local PBS broadcasts two signals on channel 31 (one as 31-1 and second different programing on 31-2). This unit only receives 31-1. I know that 31-2 is there because I have a second converter box from BestBuy that gets it (Insignia NS-DXA1). Also, the tuner in the Venturer is poor. Whereas the Insignia gets a "good" signal (slightly into the "good" third of the total rating area - probably about a 70% rating --- I'm a long ways from my PBS station), the Venturer gets just to the middle of the signal strength band - a 50% rating. This unit was cheap; only $48, but is only suitable if you NEVER expect any sub channels in your area AND you are very close to your stations broadcast towers with very powerful signals.</p>... Thu, 05 Jun 2008 16:04:54 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Venturer-STB7766G-review-63536 rdavidd 1