"Weak Signal" message after hooking up converter box w/ cable line?

Question

Okay, I went out and got DTX9900 from Radio Shack (that's probably my problem, I've never had anything work the way it should from there). Anyway, when I hook my cable line into the box and set it to cable it says weak signal and won't pick up any channels. Any ideas on how to fix this? This is the same cable line I have used for years and have never had a problem with. Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

The DTX9900 and all the other coupon type converter boxes only work with over the air TV broadcasts.

They are designed so they can't work with cable TV systems!

There is a lot of misinformation going around about the transition to digital TV.  An often overlooked fact is that the big analog shutdown on 2/17/09 only effects over the air broadcasts   and has nothing to do with cable or satellite TV service.

Most likely your cable TV company will change their system to all digital sometimes in the next few years. When this happens you will need a cable box or perhaps a recorder with a "QAM" digital tuner built into it to keep using an old analog only TV.  Unlike the big national change in over the air broadcasts, changes in cable TV systems are a local matter.

Answer 2

If you are using cable as your tv programming source then you don't need the DTX9900.

You only need the DTX9900 when you are using a TV antenna to view broadcast channels.

Unhook the DTX9900 from your tv and just use the existing cable.

go here and read;

http://www.dtv.gov/consumercorner.html