I believe you can only use the pass thru to watch live analog channels in your case. So you would be using your TV tuner to switch channels.

If you REALLY want to record both analog & digital channels on the same box you would need to get Tivo HD. Otherwise, I guess you can probably split your antenna feed to record analog stations to VCR, which is the cheapest alternative to THD.

 

How does the 'analog pass thru' on my converter box work? I can switch to it via the zenith remote, but nothing changes / happens. (I was hoping to find some of the analog channels that I lost when I put in converter box)

The analog pass thru is for that specific purpose, to allow you to watch analog stations that the box won't receive. Although full-power analog ends in February, low power stations are still allowed to continue.

As far as how to get it, you will have to check your owners manual, but it may be as simple as turning the box off. Also, this feature doesn't work if the box is connected via the composite (yellow jack) terminals to the TV, only if the box is hooked via RF.

If I want to watch one channel (analog) and record another channel (digital) at the same time, (and i don't want to buy a second converter box), can I use an a/b splitter? If so, where would I put it? How would I hook it up?

Yes you can, assuming the incoming signal is strong and clean enough to be split, otherwise you may need to adjust the antenna or even get an amplifier. Put the split somewhere before the box, with one output to the box and the other directly to the TV.

 

The splitter did work. I can now record w/ tivo (digital) and watch a different channel (analog) at the same time. (Putting the splitter right after the antenna. 1/2 goes to tv, 1/2 goes to converter box as was suggested.) Thank you.