Orange County Register

For people who still use rabbit-ear antennas to watch TV, Consumer Reports just released its ratings for 14 models of digital converter boxes.

Digital converter boxes will help people take their old, analog TV into the next decade. Because after Feb. 17, 2009, major TV stations will broadcast only in digital so if you haven’t moved to a digital TV or digital service, your set will become obsolete and you’ll wonder what happened to all the channels.

I answered a couple dozen reader questions in the “Help parents survive the digital TV transition” story, plus there’s my “Guide to the 2009 Digital TV transition.”

But missing was advice on which converter box to buy. Unfortunately, I don’t have the staff to review the boxes. But Consumer Reports does. Currently, there are about 25 models of boxes available, all of which cost more than $50, according to the magazine.

Some highlights of the report:

• The Tivax STB-T9, $50, was among those with the best picture quality.
• The Microgem MG200, $65, also stood out in Consumer Reports’ tests for its picture quality.
• The LASONIC LTA-260 and the Sansonic FT300A both offer great picture quality for a basic converter.

The 14 models Consumer Reports tested are available for purchase either online or at stores including Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Circuit City, and Radio Shack and have been approved for the government’s converter box coupon program. Read Consumer Reports’ ratings HERE. The ratings are only available online, according to the company. Or try this link.

For more reviews, I scanned the web to find reviews done by consumers, tech reviewers and other sites:

• GE 22730 digital converter box (CNet)
• Zenith DTT900 (CNet)
• Insignia NS-DXA1 (CNet)
• Dish Network DTVPal (CNet)
• 4 boxes by CNET
• Magnavox Digital-to-Analog TV Converter Box (Walmart.com)
• RCA Digital TV Converter Box, DTA800 (Walmart.com)
• RCA DTA800 Digital to Analog TV Converter Box (Amazon.com customers)
• Zenith DTT900 Digital TV Tuner Converter Box (Amazon.com customers)
• Digital Stream DTV Tuner Converter Box (PC World readers)

Related stories/sources:

• Find a store that sells digital converter boxes
• Which (nearly) free digital TV converter box should I buy? (CNet)
• Who Acts as Tech Support for the DTV Transition? (PC Magazine)
• List of DTV converters eligible for the coupon (afterdawn.com)
• Help parents survive the digital TV transition (Gadgetress)
• Guide to the 2009 Digital TV transition (Gadgetress)

More digital TV transition news: Check out the Gadgetress Guide to the Digital TV transition. Latest headlines:

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