Digital Converter Box Coupon Site

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1) Can you successfully record Analog Stations with DTA800B powered off?
2) Can you successfully record Analog Stations with DTA800B powered on?
3) Can you easily add channels not included in original scan?
4) Can you easily remove then 're-add' channels?

5) Was TiVo support needed to get this working or is there some preprogrammed option available to do it? If existing option works for RCA DTA800B what was it, please?

 

You can record analog channels if you choose satellite with antenna and split the antenna input to the tivo and coverter. Lockout all the analog stations except the ones you want.

 

Thank you.

I live north of Denver.
2) Quite discouraging. At this point almost all recording I do is from OTA Analog. I can only receive four DTV channels (Two in English).
3) 'just re-scan' Does this mean 'erase all previous scan results' and do an all new just re-scan? OR select a channel and 'just re-scan' for its 'signal?

I guess I should keep looking for a better CECB, especially in light some negative comments about the RCA DTA-800...

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=980052&page=31

#902 :
RCA - DTA-800
? 3 units purchased on-line from Plano Tx Walmart
? Fails taboo channel rejection

I do not understand 'taboo channel rejection' and whether it pertains to OTA or not.
Some others claimed poor reception with the RCA DTA-800B

Again, Thank you.

 

Hi gang;

I received two Converter Box Coupons, good through May 31.

Not surprisingly none of the approved Converter Boxes appears to receive unscrambled QAM. (Please clue me if I'm wrong!)

I've got too much electronic junque as it is, including several ATSC/QAM tuner boxes.

If you need a Converter Box Coupon, send me a PM. Totally free!

 

http://www.tivo.com/promo/bluemoon.html

anyone seen this promo?
is it worth it?
will it recieve dtv channels?

 

The purpose of the coupon program is so that existing analog TV owners who only get OTA stations won't have a boat anchor next February. So the eligable boxes won't do QAM or hi-def.

 

I hate to tell you, but the coupons are non-transferrable.

Instead of giving away the coupons, you could buy a couple of boxes and sell or give them away.

 

When the coupon program first began at least one converter box spec. indicated QAM capability. Knowing the reason for the program and the need to keep costs down it's not surprising to see that QAM isn't an option.

Here's what the Converter Box FAQ's say:

https://www.dtv2009.gov/FAQ.aspx

11.Are nursing homes, group homes and other institutions eligible for coupons? Applicants must meet the Census definition of a household as consisting of “all persons who currently occupy a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single room that is occupied as separate living quarters and has a separate U.S. postal address.” A household is defined as separate living quarters with a separate U.S. Postal address. This definition includes all households located in U.S. Territories, but does not include Post Office Boxes.
12.Can I apply for someone who is unable to apply for themselves, such as an elderly parent? Yes, but you will need to use their home address which will be validated for eligibility. Only two coupons can be used per U.S. household address, and the coupons are intended for the resident of that household.
13.What if I receive my mail at a Post Office Box? The government can mail coupons to Post Office boxes in areas without home mail delivery. Post Office boxes will be accepted only for households on Indian reservations, Alaskan Native villages and other rural areas. The government may request additional information to validate the physical location of these households.

"Only two coupons can be used per U.S. household address, and the coupons are intended for the resident of that household." The coupons look like credit cards. There is no information on a coupon which identifies the household which applied for it. On the back of a coupon is the statement; "It is illegal to sell, duplicate or tamper with this coupon."

I've got two coupons good through May 31. If a Forum member qualifies for a coupon (on your honor) but failed to apply in time, and can use it, send me a PM and we'll go from there.

 

That's great and all, and I really appreciate Tivo for acknowleging ...
but what we REALLY need to know is which boxes we need to look at getting before our coupons expire.

 

Nothing in plain text, but there's a number which could index a database.

You can still apply right now.

 

Could? Well I suppose the Converter Police could haul me off.

https://www.dtv2009.gov/FAQ.aspx
The website states March 31 as the deadline.

If no one wants 'em I'll drop 'em off at the local BB or CC by the box displays.

 

2009.

 

Curses (expletive deleted), I'm stupid, you're right!

OK, I'm off to BB or CC!

http://www.ntia.doc.gov/dtvcoupon/status.html

According to the above link less than half the initial batch of 22.25 million coupons have been applied for. Then, if needed, there would be 11.25 million more for OTA only folks.

 

I have a series 1 w/ lifetime, and use over the air programming exclusively. Reading some other threads, in particular ones that mention that series 2+ use new development tools unavailable to series 1 (screen design, in particular; I believe the discussion on folders in now showing may be pertinent), I am even less hopeful that a CECB software update option will be available for series 1, even if it does eventually show for series 2.

Any reason I can't A) purchase a converter box, B) set up TiVo as if I'm connected to cable with a box, deleting / marking as unwatched all channels not available over the air, and C) using a device to translate from the channel numbers TiVo tries to send to the cable box to channel numbers that the converter box understands?

For the translation device, I could use an old PC running linux with LIRC, or even some MS-DOS equivalent. Interpret the incoming IR signals (probably hardwired from the IR emitter output of the TiVo), go to a translation table, and output the IR signals necessary to set the converter box to the correct channel.

What are the pitfalls any of you can see?

 

You could do that, with some success or use an IR translator for full suppot.

IMO, a PC is a little "too much" for the task. If I were in the situation, I'd either take the next level and have the PC be my DVR, or bould a small non-PC microcontroller board to translate for me.