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What is a Digital to Analog
Converter Box?

A Digital Television (DTV) Converter Box is an electronic device that converts the new free over-the-air digital signal into an analog signal viewable on older "analog" television set.

Converter Box

The digital to analog converter box connects your antenna or rabbit ears to your TV set.

It will allow you to continue watching TV after June 12, 2009, the day the transition to "all digital" takes place.

See below for a list of NTIA approved
Coupon-Eligible Converter Boxes (CECBs) and reviews.

Converter Box Retailers

If you currently use an antenna or rabbit ears to receive your over-the-air programming, you will still need it with your converter box.

Buy Antennas

If you have a digital TV set with a digital (ATSC) tuner,
you don’t need a converter box.


Reception Problems, Tips and Solutions

New information: Rescanning
After hooking up a converter box to your TV set, or installing a new digital television, you will need to scan (also known as "auto-tune") for new channels to ensure you receive all of the digital stations broadcasting in your area. While some boxes do this automatically, you may need to select scan manually.

Since some digital stations are still coming on air, you may want to consider rescanning on a periodic basis to get all of the digital programming available.

Because some digital stations that are already on air are moving to different channel numbers at the end of DTV transition, you may need to rescan again after June 12, 2009 to ensure that you receive all of the digital stations broadcasting in your area.


Everyone can use a converter box in an emergency, even if you have cable or satellite, unless you have a TV set with a digital tuner.

In a storm, when the cable or satellite goes out, (if you don't have a TV set with a digital tuner) you won't be able to hook up your rabbit ears to your TV set to get local weather and news without a converter box.

When you lose power, a portable TV is a great choice. Old portable TVs without digital tuners won't work. You will need a new portable digital TV.

Portable Digital TVs


A digital to analog converter box will not give you a digital picture on an analog TV set. Analog TV sets using the set top boxes will show digital broadcasts, but not in the full picture quality of digital TV. However, your picture will be better than it was with the old analog signal.

Technically speaking about picture quality: The reason the picture quality won’t be as good on an analog TV set is because of the display resolution. Analog TV screens aren’t designed to display the same level of picture quality and resolution that is found in the digital TV signal.

Television Picture Quality

A digital to analog converter box will not convert your analog TV set into a high definition TV, also known as a HDTV. You will need to buy a high definition TV set for that. Analog televisions are not capable of displaying in high-definition resolution, but the picture will generally be better with a converter.


The Federal Communications Commission has required Closed Captioning capability in digital to analog converters. This will ensure that Closed Caption services will continue to be available as the transition from analog to digital broadcasting progresses.

To help with the cost of the converter boxes, which will be about $40 to $80, each household in America can request up to two coupons worth $40 each from the government to use toward the purchase of a CECB or Coupon-Eligible Converter Box.

Get your $40 Coupons

The Coupon Program will accept coupon requests from January 1, 2008 until July 31, 2009.

Important information regarding converter box refunds: You will not be able to receive cash or credit for the coupon amount, but you can receive cash or credit for any amount you paid out of pocket, if the store policy permits. If the retail store permits exchanges, you can exchange the box you purchased for another CECB.


We are getting many questions about the additional features on some of the boxes. Here is the link to a chart that indicates which boxes have analog pass-through, S-video, Smart Antenna, longer EPGs etc.

CECB Additional Features Comparison Chart

CECB Retailers

Typical DTV Converter Connection Diagram


Here is the list of NTIA approved CECBs:

Specifications on the CECB pages are subject to change without notice.

Replacement Remote Controls are now available from RemoteControls.com
Click on "Converter Box" (Digital)

Model

Manual

Model

Manual

AccessHD DTA1010D

 X

Goodmind DTA1100B*

 

AccessHD DTA1010U

 X

Goodmind DTA1100BS*

 

AccessHD DTA1020AD*

 X

Goodmind DTA1100Y *

 

AccessHD DTA 1020AU*

 X

Goodmind DTA1100S*

 

AccessHD DTA1020D

 X

Gridlink GLT-200

X

AccessHD DTA1020U

 X

HOME.TEL RC-HT888L *

 

AccessHD DTA1030D*

 X

Hualu A5108 *

 

AccessHD DTA1030U*

 X

iNet Access SSR 1921*

 

AccessHD DTA1050D*

X

iNet Access SSR 2100A*

 

AccessHD DTA1050U*

X

iNet Access SSR 3909A *

 

AccessHD DTA1080D *

X

Insignia NS-DXA-APT*

X

AccessHD DTA1080U *

X

Insignia NS-DXA1

X

Airlink101 ATVC101

 X

Jiuzhou DTT6000

X

Airlink101 ATVC102*

 

Jiuzhou DTT9001*

X

Alpha Digital AT2016

 

jWIN Electronic Corp JD-TV1000

 

AMTC AT2001 *

 

Kingbox K8V1

 

AMTC AT2001L *

 

Kingbox K8V8

 

AMTC AT-2015

 

Lasonic LTA-260

 

AMTC AT-2016

X

Lasonic LTA-611 *

 

AMTC AT-2016L*

 

Lasonic LTA-622 *

 

Apex DT150

 

Lasonic LTR-260

 

Apex DT250*

X

Lasonic LTR-633 *

 

Apex DT500*

 

Lasonic LTR-635 *

 

Apex DT502*

 

MAG CCB7707

X

APEX DT502A *

 

Magnavox RTB100MG9*

 

Apex DT1001

 

Magnavox RTB100MW9

 

Apex DT1002

 

Magnavox RTB110MW9*

 

APEX DTA205A *

 

Magnavox RTB110MW9A*

 

APEX DTA250A *

 

Magnavox TB-100MG9 *

 

Arena DT 700*

 

Magnavox TB100MW9

X

Artec T3A

 

Magnavox TB100MW9A*

Artec T3AP*

 

Magnavox TB110MW9*

 

Artec T3APro

X

Magnavox TB110MW9A *

 

Artec T3AP Pro*

 

MaxMedia LuTRO*

 

Artec T3AP Pro-LS *

 

MaxMedia MMDTVB03

 

Artec T3AP-LL*

 

Memorex MVCB1000*

 

Artec T3AP-LS *

 

MicroGEM MG2000

X

Artec T3APR-T (TVG) *

 

Microprose MPI-500

X

AVION ATB 7707

X

Microprose MPI-500PT*

X

Cadence DTVC-9

 

Mustek MAT-K50

 

Carefree CB8877 *

 

OLEVIA DTA100

 

Carefree CB8899 *

 

Oxford Digital ATS-00101-OUS *

 

CASTi CAX-01

X

Philco RTB100HH9* 

 

CASTi CAX-02*

 

Philco TB100HH9 *

X

CASTi CAX-03*

X

Philco TB150HH9 *

 

Changhong ATT888*

 

PrimeDTV PHD-096 *

 

CLASSIC DTV-2000 *

 

RCA DTA800A

X

Channel Master CM-7000

X

RCA DTA800B

X

Clear Tech CT DCB100

 

RCA DTA800B1*

X

Clear Tech CT DCB100A*

 

RCA DTA809*

 X

Coby DTV-102 *

 

RCA DTA809L *

 

Componexx CX-900

 

RCA STB7766G1 *

 

Componexx CX-900A*

 

Sansonic FT300A

 

COSHIP N9900T

X

Sansonic FT300RT

 

COSHIP N0091T*

 

Sansonic FT-310A

 

COSHIP N9988T

 

Sansonic FT-320A *

 

CRAIG A4108

 

Sansonic PS-600RT *

 

CRAIG CVD508 *

 

Sansonic PS-700SMT *

 

CRAIG CVD506*

 

Sansonic QS-800CT *

 

Daewoo DAC-100

X

Skardin DTR-0727

 

Daytek CAX-01

X

Skardin DTR-0727L*

 

Daytek CAX-03*

X

Skardin DTR-0728L*

 

Denca NL8118

 

Skardin DTR-0729L*

 

Denca NL9119

 

Solid Signal SSCB20P *

 

Denca TBX1005A

 

SPICA AT 2018 *

 

Desay ATSC 8000

 

SUMC LSA-801L*

 

Digital Rising SBTX01A *

 

Sunkey SK-801ATSC*

 

Digital Rising SBTX02 *

 

Sunkey SK-801ATSCT*

  

Digital STREAM D2A1D10

 

Sunkey SK-802ATSC*

 

Digital STREAM D2A1D20

 

SVA DAC100

 

Digital STREAM DSP6500C*

 

Sylvania DTA1040D*

 

Digital STREAM DSP6500R

 

Sylvania DTA1040U*

 

Digital STREAM DSP7500T

 

Synergy Global Supply SYN2009

 

Digital Stream DSP7700A *

 

Tatung TDB3000

 

Digital Stream DSP7700C *

 

Tatung TDB3001*

 

Digital STREAM DSP7700P*

 

Tivax STB-T8*

 

Digital STREAM DSP7700T *

 

Tivax STB-T9

X

Digital STREAM DX8700 *

 

TRT TACB-1009 *

 

Digital STREAM DTX9900

X

TRT TACB-2009

 

Digital STREAM DTX9900D

 

Tunbow Electronics E60010

 

Digital STREAM DTX9950*

X

Venturer STB7766B *

 

Digital STREAM DTX9950F*

 

Venturer STB7766C *

 

Dish Network DTVPal*

X

Venturer STB7766G

X

Dish Network DTVPal Plus*

X

Venturer STB7766G1*

X

DISH Network TR-40CRA by DishNetwork*

   X

Winegard RC-DT09

X

EchoStar TR-40*

 

Winegard RC-DT09A*

 

Fortec Star FS-2150*

 

Zenith DTT900

 

Fuyai ATSC 630

 

Zenith DTT901*

 

Fuyai ATSC 630A*

 

Zentech DF2000

X

GE 22729

X 

Zentech EZTV DF2000L*

X

GE 22730

X 

Zinwell ZAT-756A

 

GE 23333*

 

Zinwell ZAT-856

 

GE 23334*

 

Zinwell ZAT-857

X 

Goodmind DTA 900

 

Zinwell ZAT-950

 

Goodmind DTA 980

 

Zinwell ZAT 950A*

X 

Goodmind DTA1000

X

Zinwell ZAT-970

 

Goodmind DTA1100*

 

Zinwell ZAT-970A*

X   

*These models are capable of passing through
an analog signal to the TV set.

Analog Pass-Through Feature


Converter Box Reviews:

We will not post reviews of converter boxes by non-professionals because it is too subjective. You can find that type of information on Internet forums discussing the topic.

Consumer Reports.com has reviews of several converter boxes.

CNET has reviews of these boxes, links found on these pages:

Insignia NS DXA1
RCA DTA800B
Zenith DTT900
GE 22730
DISH Network DTV Pal


Important information: We are getting a lot of questions about the boxes and what features they have. All CECBs must have the same basic, NTIA required features. Some of those boxes have additional features that are allowed by the NTIA.

There are many great features such a QAM tuner, Component Outputs and HDMI Connections that are NOT included in the CECBs. There are several other boxes on the market that do have these added features, but you can't use the coupons.

Please check these links to review your options:

NTIA Requirements for a CECB

CECB Additional Features Comparison Chart

Explanation of CECB Features

You may choose to purchase a non-coupon eligible converter box with additional features that do not have the NTIA limitations.  These features may include:

  • QAM tuner to receive digital cable signals.
  • Component output for resolutions higher than standard video.
  • HDMI output for High-Definition. (HDTV)
  • Digital Optical output to connect to home theater systems.
  • Dolby Digital output for theater quality sound.
  • Antenna (RF) pass-through to allow analog signals to the TV.
  • Selectable DTV Output Formats (1080i/720p/480p/i).
  • Programmable Remote Control.

Update: The non-coupon eligible DTVPal DVR is now for sale.
The new DTVPal DVR digital-to-analog converter box is the first to offer digital video recording (DVR) and high-definition (HD) capabilities along with analog pass-through. No contract or monthly fees.

DTVPal DVR Information


Here are some of these non-coupon eligible boxes:

Coby DTV-140
Grandtec Tun-5000
PHD-205
Samsung DTBH260F 
Samsung SIR-T451
Sylvania 6900DTE
Tivax STB-T1
Winegard RC-1010



Additional information about CECBs:

  • Older TV sets without coax cable connections (screw-terminals or twin-lead): If you have an older television with a "twin lead" antenna cable, you will need additional components not supplied with the converter box.
    Converter Box Adapter Information

  • CECB Remote Controls: To turn your IR remote into an RF remote for use up to 100' away from the converter box and from room to room, you can purchase a remote control extender.

  • VCR Timers: The Dish Network TR-40CRA, DishNetwork DTV Pal and the Zinwell ZAT-970A have a (VCR) Event Timer. These are the only CECBs that we know of with this feature.

  • Using your VCR with a Converter Box

  • RV Owners: A CECB with an analog pass-through is a great choice while traveling. It will allow you to receive TV signals from various TV stations whether they are transmitting in analog or digital.
  • RVs and Digital TV

  • Splitters: A digital to analog CECB CAN be connected to several TVs at the same time using a splitter, BUT all of the TVs will view the same channel; the one that the box is set to. The CECB can only be tuned to one channel at a time. For practical purposes, each TV set will need its own box.


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