You are viewing Page 3 of 4 -- Go to page 1 , 2 , 3 , 4
DTV Converter Connections
Once you've determined you need a DTV Converter there are still a couple of options to consider. The first is whether you'll be connecting it with a Composite Video or S-video connection. You can see both connections below. While S-video should give you higher quality, not all analog TVs support it. Once again you'll need to look at your TV's owner manual or the actual connections on the TV.
Finding a Converter With S-video
The bad news is that you may have a hard time finding a converter with S-video support. In fact as of the time this article was written (August 14, 2008) the only major retailer selling boxes featuring S-video output was Best Buy. They're also one of the few retailers that has managed to keep them in stock consistently. If there isn't a Best Buy close by you can also call their DTV Hotline at 1-877-229-3889 to order one.
Make sure to specify one with S-video. Right now that means an Apex unit, but that could change in the next few months depending on availability. It's a good idea to check out their website to find out what's available before you order.
The other feature you may want to look for is analog pass through. Originally there were no DTV Converters with this feature, but a number of them have been introduced recently - often as replacements for earlier models without it. Analog Pass Through allows a DTV converter to pass analog TV signals directly to your TV while still converting digital broadcasts.
Why Analog Pass Through?
Even after the digital transition in February there will still be some low power analog broadcasts. These will primarily be non-English speaking channels and translator channels. If you think one of the channels you watch may fall into this low power category you should contact them to find out whether they'll be switching to digital right away or not. Pass Through may also make it easier to start using your DTV converter right away if you can't get all your TV in digital yet.
Pass Through And VCRs
It's also possible to use a VCR with Analog Pass Through, but it will have to go through the antenna (RF) connection rather than Composite Video. This will generally result in lower quality, but if you're setting up a DTV Converter for someone who isn't particularly tech savvy it may be the best option available.
Continued On Page 4
On the last page we'll discuss some general features of ATSC tuners, and consider what else you may need to be ready to watch DTV.
