DigitalSTREAM DTX9900

(DTV converters)

"Location....Boston, MA..first floor of a 2 floor brick building...
I purchased the Digital Stream DTX9900 for use with my kitchen tv, a Realistic 5 1/2" portable color tv/monitor(purchased 1989. Connected them using the A/V cable. Yellow(video) and Red(Audio)....The tv is mono. Antenna.....I experimented with a DB4, a DB2, and a homemade loop antenna connected to a balun and 3 foot rg6 cable.....all were setup indoors(in the kitchen). The DB4 and the DB2 received 18 channels. The loop/cable picked up 22 channels. Signal levels were about the same on all....70 or 80 or better. The input sensitivity was more than acceptable. The Channelmaster amp (@20db) I tried made no difference. The audio was good(mono). I could hook it up to a set of powered computer speakers if need be. All functions worked well. The EPG is excellent, especially when compared to other product presently available. Overall, the DTX9900 is a good unit. Rather than complain about what I would like to see done differently, I just play with the 9900, learn how it operates, learn the "shortcut" pushbuttons and enjoy it. It does what it is supposed to do very well. It will not work with the "rabbit ear" type antenna.....but....it will work with the UHF (loop) type antenna. So before you buy the bright and shiny plastic HDTV antenna, try your old vintage uhf/vhf (loop/rabbit ears)antenna. I do admit that I got lucky with the loop antenna. In many cases, your location, distance from the xmitter, and signal blockers(the weather-buildings-trees-walls-metal surfaces) are significant elements when considering dtv reception. A good outside antenna is better than the best inside antenna. I would recommend this unit. It worked well for me. Just keep in mind that your location/ antenna may/will effect your reception."

Review date: 20 May, 2008