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techno935

Last reply Jun 5, 2008 · posted in Over the Air Television By RabbitEars.Info

Keep eyes out: Bad converter boxes

I just got my coupons, but who to buy from is my dilemma! Well, not a dilemma, just picky on product quality and pricing.

I see deals from online retailers that allow usage of the coupon program. That's good and all. What I'm concerned about are the $41.99 NTIA coupon eligible boxes.

Has anyone tried the cheapie boxes?? These are where you end up paying only 2 bucks out of pocket plus shipping. Sounds sweet right? I'm just concerned about quality. I wouldn't want a box melting after only 5 minutes of usage due to bad workmanship.

Leaving this thread open to your input on good/bad/ugly boxes. I wanna make my decision before 8/14/2009 (Coupons expire then)

17 Replies · 4147 views

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DJ Rob

May 31, 2008

I just helped an older family member buy a couple of the Zenith converters. I think they were about $60 a piece. They seem to be decent with a pretty sensitive tuner and are found at most Circuit City locations. I read that there was an audio problem on older versions of the box that has since been fixed on ones manufactured in April or later. Last week when we went to buy them, they had about a 100 of them stacked on the shelves that had the April manufacture date.

Techfizzle

Jun 1, 2008

dont forget korea! thats were my cs6000 is made! it says "suplied by jinhigtek corp" does this mean its a clone?

Stargazer

Jun 4, 2008

RCA has been junk since the 90's. GE/Thompson is the same thing as RCA. I had an RCA television that went crazy (came from Wal-Mart) 12 years ago and when I was taking it back someone else said they had one and it blew up on them not long after getting it. The only way I will get an RCA is if it is a very cheap used tv (just like the 15 year old 36 inch tv I got for $50) or if it is a lot cheaper than the other televisions and has a good review.

I would recommend buying the converter box from a local store because if it goes bad you have the cost of shipping and the wait time. By the time you pay shipping you dont really save anything. The only exception would be if you lived a ways from town then the cost of gas would make it worthwhile. GE is supposedly the worst one you can buy from the reviews. Magnavox is not getting very good reviews either and has a higher rate of non-working units right out of the box from what I have read. When they do work, they work well.

Hopefully Echostar makes a good product. If not then they will get bad press very quickly. My father has two coupons and I plan on using it on the Echostar units.

zenithtv

Jun 4, 2008

Save a nickel! Save a dime! Take to the bank tite fingers Stargazer!

Mike500

Jun 4, 2008

DJ Rob said:
I just helped an older family member buy a couple of the Zenith converters. I think they were about $60 a piece. They seem to be decent with a pretty sensitive tuner and are found at most Circuit City locations. I read that there was an audio problem on older versions of the box that has since been fixed on ones manufactured in April or later. Last week when we went to buy them, they had about a 100 of them stacked on the shelves that had the April manufacture date.

The audio problem matters only if you feed the sound to a very high end tv or stereo system.

For regular TV's on analog coax or a standard RCA connection, they work just fine.

Phoenix1

Jun 4, 2008

Here's a good source for ordering a converter box that has a good selection: Free DTV Shop

roashru

Jun 5, 2008

Techfizzle said:
dont forget korea! thats were my cs6000 is made! it says "suplied by jinhigtek corp" does this mean its a clone?

I did forget about South Korea home of Lucky Goldstar (LG) owner of Zenith now.

Depending on what company I would say South Korea = good

A lot of it has to do with quality control too. Electronic devices made in Hong Kong seem to always have this problem.

I havent been in any electronics stores to look at some of the converter boxes. I think the Sansonic/Lasonic converter boxes are made in Taiwan R.O.C. (Some Taiwan companies products are marked made in China even though they were made in Taiwan) if they are they should be a good quality for the price.

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Neutron

Supporting Founder

Last reply 9 minutes ago · posted in The Chit Chat Club

RIP Patrick Stewart

Patrick Stewart died yesterday, October 28th at the age of 86. We lost yet another great actor.

Patrick Stewart, ‘Star Trek’ Captain and ‘X-Men’ Superhero, Dies at 86

He’s forever known for playing Jean-Luc Picard and Charles Xavier, whom he “admired for their morality, for their kindness, for their sensitivity, for their compassion.”

www.hollywoodreporter.com

1 Replies · 4 views

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telstar_1

9 minutes ago

Reactions: sdfntx

dishstaller

Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter

Last reply 35 minutes ago · posted in The Chit Chat Club

I think we could all use a laugh - Rodney Dangerfield on Carson

Good...simple humor. Enjoy

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E92AtfTLge4

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJy0WnejlF4

4 Replies · 63 views

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Jimbo

Today at 12:37 AM

Not Rodney, but a laugh ...

View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/WHEcmortfK0?feature=share

dishstaller

Today at 10:27 AM

Sorry for posting the wrong link. Just corrected it.

Reactions: Foxbat

dfergie

43 minutes ago

I loved it when Rodney was on the Tonight Show...

Foxbat

35 minutes ago

dishstaller said:
Sorry for posting the wrong link. Just corrected it.

Thanks, I wasn't sure if you had the wrong Subject or the wrong YouTube link.

"MysteryMan"

Pub Member / Supporter Cutting Edge

Last reply 39 minutes ago · posted in Computers and Gadgets

Windows 10/11 Download

I created this thread on the original Edgecutter Cutting Edge Forums site. It's simply a place for those to review the latest software available for those using Windows 10 and Windows 11. To date it has received 112,559 views. I have been asked by staff to continue this thread here.

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EarDemon

Oct 13, 2026

If it wasn't for what I want, I wouldn't need any of this.

Do I need a collection of handheld radios, scanners and speed enforcement countermeasures? Nope, but I want them. Very little, if any of the software used to interface with these devices is available on Linux.

WhiteBeard

Oct 13, 2026

EarDemon said:
If it wasn't for what I want, I wouldn't need any of this.

Do I need a collection of handheld radios, scanners and speed enforcement countermeasures? Nope, but I want them. Very little, if any of the software used to interface with these devices is available on Linux.

To each there own but I've found that Windows can't do much more than Linux can. Can't have everything.

Reactions: meStevo

EarDemon

Oct 14, 2026

WhiteBeard said:
To each there own but I've found that Windows can't do much more than Linux can. Can't have everything.

For niche use cases, yes I agree. Kali for ethical hacking and security testing, and running a Cacti server for network monitoring are the two things I have experience in. Plus thousands and thousands of other things, but for every day use I just can't see it. The owner of the GMRS repeater that I pay to access is changing the Tx DPL tones tomorrow, while Chirp is available on Linux, the software to program my MXT500 is not.

I run Fedora and Ubuntu in VMWare, honestly I don't care much for the UI of either of them and I don't feel like spending days/weeks to customize the UI to make it look Windows-like when I could just use Windows. The cartoonish dock at the bottom of the screen reminds me of Apple products.

harshness

Oct 15, 2026

EarDemon said:
I don't care much for the UI of either of them and I don't feel like spending days/weeks to customize the UI to make it look Windows-like when I could just use Windows.

What is so fantabulous about the Windows UI? By many accounts, it has been going downhill since Windows 7.

There are Linux desktops that offer Windows or Mac UIs, yet you don't hear much chatter about them outside of questions about when the creators might get sued.

Reactions: HipKat

EarDemon

Oct 15, 2026

harshness said:
What is so fantabulous about the Windows UI?

Because it's what I prefer. I know I've said this a few times, I use Open Shell to give me the cascading start menu a la WIN 95 and NT4.0. The only reason I went from Windows Vista to 7 back in the day was because of Classic Shell. I cannot stand anything other than the OG start menu from 30+ years ago. I'm using ExplorerPatcher to give me Windows 10 UI elements of the taskbar and right click context menus.

If you could take a look at how I set up Windows 95, you'd find many similarities to how I use 11.

Reactions: cp2k

EarDemon

Oct 15, 2026

I could probably use that as a starting point, but I don't like the full size icons. If you have to click on each folder that's also a no-go for me, it has to be cascading.

I used to have Peppermint Linux in a VM, that was about as close as I could get to recreating a Windows NT4.0 style of menu structure, but I could never get it to scale properly in VMWare on a 4K display and eventually gave up.

Whatever the boot up time it's fine with me. The longest part of my bootup is the HP SureStart BIOS integrity check. Once that is done, it's only a few more seconds. I haven't done this reg tweak yet since the reformat, but I switched the bootup animation to the Windows 10 style spinning circle of dots, and it's two and a half rotations. I can live with that.

harshness

Oct 16, 2026

EarDemon said:
Because it's what I prefer.

I hope you don't believe that makes it wonderful (especially when you're using workarounds for Microsoft's malfeasance).

I use LibreOffice as opposed to Microsoft office (even in Windows) because it's UI is like the Office of old, so I'm putting my money where my mouth is (in a manner of speaking). The ribbon was one of the worst ideas to come out Redmond.

HipKat

Oct 16, 2026

EarDemon said:
I could probably use that as a starting point, but I don't like the full size icons. If you have to click on each folder that's also a no-go for me, it has to be cascading.

I used to have Peppermint Linux in a VM, that was about as close as I could get to recreating a Windows NT4.0 style of menu structure, but I could never get it to scale properly in VMWare on a 4K display and eventually gave up.

Whatever the boot up time it's fine with me. The longest part of my bootup is the HP SureStart BIOS integrity check. Once that is done, it's only a few more seconds. I haven't done this reg tweak yet since the reformat, but I switched the bootup animation to the Windows 10 style spinning circle of dots, and it's two and a half rotations. I can live with that.

I used to pin the C: drive to the Win Taskbar and it would open in cascading style

"MysteryMan"

Yesterday at 2:25 PM

2026-10 Preview Update Builds: 26300.9818 and 26200.9818 (KB5127936) has been released. Moderate time needed for those choosing to perform a manual download/install/restart. Quality improvements only. No new operating system features.

Reactions: Tweek

JSheridan

39 minutes ago

Actually it looks like there are a lot of features new or updated, although most are on a gradual rollout schedule.

KB5127936 Windows 11 Cumulative Update Preview build 26200.9818 (25H2) and 26300.9818 (26H2) - Oct. 28

Microsoft Support: This cumulative update for Windows 11, versions 26H2 and 25H2 (KB5127936), includes production-quality improvements. Announcements and messages This section provides key notifications related to this release, including announcements, change logs, and end-of-support notices...

www.elevenforum.com

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MartyDe

Last reply Today at 3:20 PM · posted in Over the Air Television By RabbitEars.Info

ATSC 3 converter boxes

Interesting article about the work being done to develope an ATSC 3 converter box. Yes it does mention affordable.

Pearl TV Issues Progress Report on Low-Cost 3.0 Converters in Advance of NAB Show New York

Group has secured lower pricing from key tech players to make less costly boxes available

www.tvtechnology.com

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navychop

Oct 20, 2026

DEATH TO NEXGEN!

Reactions: Redbullsnation, primestar31, RaVo68 and 2 others

primestar31

Oct 21, 2026

navychop said:
DEATH TO NEXGEN!

It's dead, they just don't know it yet. They killed it by forcing DRM on it, and that TOTALLY botched implementing it.

There is absolutely NO compelling reason for anybody to switch to ATSC3.0. They only want it as a total and complete money grab.

Reactions: RaVo68, Redbullsnation, slow_poke_pete and 2 others

Mister B

Oct 22, 2026

What bothers me is the total waste of broadcasting spectrum in this very crowded market. It has been almost three years now since KFOX converted their broadcast tower to ATSC 3.0 and moved all of their channels to other towers causing noticeable degradation of the picture quality.
I have a Sony TV with 3.0 capabilities but still use the 1.0 version of locals due to the fact that one or all of the 3.0 channels are often missing or unwatchable. In this city of 800K I doubt that more than a few hundred even know about ATSC 3.0.
The only thing that could motivate me to be interested in 3.0 would be if all of the minor networks (diginets) could be in at least 720P rather than blurry ultra-compressed 480i.
Three years is long enough to waste one of the few available RF frequencies in the area for this trial.
It is time to either move on with this experiment or call it quits.

navychop

Oct 22, 2026

Mister B said:
It is time to either move on with this experiment or call it quits.

QFT. Of course, my preference involves a curb and some kicking.

Reactions: FTA4PA

slow_poke_pete

Tuesday at 5:37 PM

primestar31 said:
It's dead, they just don't know it yet. They killed it by forcing DRM on it, and that TOTALLY botched implementing it.

There is absolutely NO compelling reason for anybody to switch to ATSC3.0. They only want it as a total and complete money grab.

WHAT ABOUT THE INTERNET PART OF IT. NO ONE WANTS A BOX CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET EITHER.

navychop

Tuesday at 9:47 PM

Cough, cough. COVID vaccine implants.

:oldlaugh

Reactions: HIFI

Foxbat

Yesterday at 6:39 PM

navychop said:
Cough, cough. COVID vaccine implants.

That would be handy. Download the latest RNA snippets that can be updated over 5G and no more shots! You're a Genius!

Reactions: navychop

Redbullsnation

Today at 3:20 PM

I want it and I have to have it.

I can neuter the phoning home with adguard home so it won't be doing that in my castle but I prefer without Internet so that my TVs in the house don't turn into e-waste

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mheisen

Last reply Today at 2:50 PM · posted in DISH Network Support Forum

Hopper 3 with Hopper plus internet connection problems

Over the past few weeks, I have had problems connecting to streaming services (Netflix, HBO et al). When I go to the TV's native Channels, I have no problem. The Dish internet troubleshooter shows I have a good internet connection. I'm wondering whether it's an issue with my internet provider or a problem with the Dish software on the Hopper Plus. Anyone else seeing this?

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Almighty1

Today at 2:50 PM

mheisen said:
Over the past few weeks, I have had problems connecting to streaming services (Netflix, HBO et al). When I go to the TV's native Channels, I have no problem. The Dish internet troubleshooter shows I have a good internet connection. I'm wondering whether it's an issue with my internet provider or a problem with the Dish software on the Hopper Plus. Anyone else seeing this?

I have a DISH Hopper 3 (Software H713) with Hopper Plus (Software P15403). I have not tried streaming services but I primarily watch TVB Jadeworld international package which is only available by streaming and when I have an issue, I usually have to go to a non-streaming satellite channel first before the streaming channels will work again. What software versions do you have and what is the error message if any are showing on your screen? or is that Dish downloading logo just stuck and never finishes?

Reactions: charlesrshell

dishstaller

Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter

Today at 2:43 PM · posted in The Chit Chat Club

New report states 29% of vehicles being traded in are under water

It states the average amount they are under water is OVER $7,000. :eek

Personally, I tend to be the type that drives a vehicle for a lot of years....do my own oil changes and other fluid changes. Just replaced the spark plugs and a couple coils. Youtube is great for things like this.

Nearly 3 In 10 New-Car Trade-Ins Are Underwater, Edmunds Finds | ZeroHedge

ZeroHedge - On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero

www.zerohedge.com

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Scott Greczkowski

Staff member HERE TO HELP YOU! Cutting Edge

Last reply Today at 2:42 PM · posted in The Chit Chat Club

Song Name Game Part 3!

Sometimes a thread gets so many posts in it that is can cause issues for the server so that why today we introduce The Song Name Game Part 3!

So let the game continue!

The last song was added by Bobby who posted...

One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters

CONTINUE ON AND HAVE FUN! WELCOME HOME TO SATELLITEGUYS.US!

Here are the original rules for the game as posted by WebbyDude back in 2006. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/68645-Song-Name-Game

Just name a song title and the band who performed it. The next person does the same thing, but needs to list a song title or band name which includes a word from the previous entry. Pick songs from any genre.

Example:

Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow

Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio

Another example:

Ride the Lightning -- Metallica

Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne

Get it?

An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....

68659 Replies · 2680291 views

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Bobby

Today at 10:51 AM

98.6 - Keith

harshness

Today at 11:25 AM

I'm Easy - Keith Carridine

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gms49ers

Today at 11:41 AM

It's Easy - Boston

Reactions: long_time_Dish

RaiderPower

Today at 12:33 PM

Take It Easy On Me - Little River Band

Reactions: long_time_Dish and dishstaller

long_time_Dish

Today at 2:42 PM

Take It Easy - The Eagles

Reactions: gms49ers

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jamieh1

Last reply Today at 2:32 PM · posted in DIRECTV Programming Forum

FAST Channels added to DIRECTV Stream/Internet

DIRECTV Stream/Internet added Ch 4105 SportsGrid

268 Replies · 38723 views

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KyL416

Sep 9, 2026

Now live:
4101 Yahoo! Sports Network
4121 DP World Tour
4195 F1 Channel
4196 MotoGP Channel

Reactions: Mr Tony, RaiderPower, mario315 and 1 other person

KyL416

Sep 22, 2026

Now live:
4275 Law & Crime
4364 Military Makeover Channel

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KyL416

Oct 6, 2026

Game Show Central is now live on channel 4342

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KyL416

Oct 20, 2026

KyL416 said:
Now live:
4101 Yahoo! Sports Network
4121 DP World Tour
4195 F1 Channel
4196 MotoGP Channel

It only took them 41 days to announce it

Reactions: Mr Tony

KyL416

Today at 2:32 PM

Now testing:
AyM Sports 3 USA
Best Bets TV powered by VSiN
CBS Sports Golazo Network
CBS Sports HQ
Judge Judy

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TWiT Tech Podcast Network

Today at 2:22 PM · posted in TWiT Tech Podcast Network

Tech News Weekly 461

Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7E4fkSffYKA

Direct YouTube Link - Tech News Weekly 461
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed

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dfergie

Staff member HERE TO HELP YOU!

Last reply Today at 1:50 PM · posted in What's Cooking?

What's For Lunch?

We have a Breakfast and Dinner thread so...

Continuing from the Breakfast thread, found Cornbread mix so ...
Yellow Cornbread Mix
2 Hatch Green Chiles -diced
1 Egg
2/3 cup of milk
add to greased pan
Bake for 400f 20-25 minutes(From instructions)
now to put together and try... this to go with pinto beans...

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TRG

Oct 19, 2026

Club sandwich and corn chowder. Iced tea.

Reactions: Bobby, Mr Tony and dfergie

dfergie

Oct 19, 2026

Chili dog bowl, water… (homemade chili)

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TRG

Monday at 2:53 PM

Leftover wanton soup and pork fried rice. Water.

dfergie

Today at 1:26 PM

Sweet tea…

Reactions: Bobby and TRG

TRG

Today at 1:50 PM

Tuna salad sandwich on toasted honey whole wheat bread with a handful of kettle chips. Water.

Reactions: Bobby

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Keep eyes out: Bad converter boxes

RIP Patrick Stewart

Patrick Stewart, ‘Star Trek’ Captain and ‘X-Men’ Superhero, Dies at 86

I think we could all use a laugh - Rodney Dangerfield on Carson

Windows 10/11 Download

KB5127936 Windows 11 Cumulative Update Preview build 26200.9818 (25H2) and 26300.9818 (26H2) - Oct. 28

ATSC 3 converter boxes

Pearl TV Issues Progress Report on Low-Cost 3.0 Converters in Advance of NAB Show New York

Hopper 3 with Hopper plus internet connection problems

New report states 29% of vehicles being traded in are under water

Nearly 3 In 10 New-Car Trade-Ins Are Underwater, Edmunds Finds | ZeroHedge

Song Name Game Part 3!

FAST Channels added to DIRECTV Stream/Internet

Tech News Weekly 461

What's For Lunch?