Why do I only have a couple of channels using my TV converter box?

Question

Well, I bought me a TV converter box and hooked it up to the TV using the cable that was w/ the box and removed the antenna from my TV, then used a cord that has to do with video and audio plugging from my TV back to the box. On the video channel thing, I received only channels 2.1, 6.1, 6.2, 7.1, 28.1 and 28.2, which isn't really all that much considering that I have most of those same channels just using my antenna, but I have more channels with my antenna than my converter box. What the crud? I had to disconnect the box because by removing my antenna the signals for my regular channels with the antenna went poof! Also I got some other additional channels sometimes that can be found using antenna, but they keep flickering and are unreliable using my TV converter box. Again, I ask, what the crud? Did I connect the thing wrong or something?

Answer 1

First, for best results you should connect your antenna to the box.

Second, with digital transmission, its pretty much an all or none situation.  So, if you may have been getting an analog station with a little fuzz or with the color popping in and out, all other things being equal, with digital, you might not get the channel at all, or it might pop in and out.

You can enter your address or just your zip code into this web page to get an indication of which channels you can expect to recieve with what kind of antenna:

http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/Address.asp...

By the way, if you dont minde saying, which box do you have and what is the model number?  Is it the Magnavox or the RCA?

Answer 2

Yes you did,the antenna has to be connected to the Converter box where it says antenna in and then from there to the TV. The converter box changes the signal ,it does not pick up the signal.

So just connect the antenna to the box and from the box to the TV and you should be OK.

Answer 3

You connected the box to your TV via the composite connections (red/white/yellow). Make sure your antenna is connected to the ANT IN on your Magnavox box.

You can't get your analog signal with your digital box in line because it appears you didn't connect the RF OUT from the box back to your TV (and tune to channel 3/4). Besides, the early version coupon boxes are unable to pass RF signals through, like your VCR does. So, as you're finding out, you have to directly connect your antenna to your TV to get your analog channels to work again.

If you connect everything correctly, you should be getting your digital channels in good shape.

When you say you get more channels via analog than digital, are those "more channels" snowy or coming in clear?  The breakup problems for some of your digital channels must mean you are located on the fringe of those stations' coverage. Which means you need a better antenna. Those snowy channels will probably not come in at all digitally, I'm afraid, without some help.

Answer 4

Well you're getting analog TV signals that are broadcast in all directions from the TV stations and there's no guarantee on the strength of what you're receiving.

Who ever sold you that TV converter box just sold you a box with nothing in it.  You should take it back with your receipt if the picture is not better than your antenna.

There are a lot of these "scam boxes" out there, and next time you get one be sure it has some kind of guaranteed strong signal on it  and money back guarantee.

In Feb 2009, the US government is shutting down this type of TV broadcast for a few reasons: there's some scientists saying that the "waves" can have detrimental effects on the body or it's just faster with digital to get the amount of information that needs to be broadcast for a better picture.