Dish Network DTVPal Plus Digital TV Converter Box Reviews

This box has sold out and is unfortunately no longer available for purchase. We are pretty bummed about this because it was one of our top 5 most recommended ones and was immensely popular. We are hoping Dish comes out with another version to replace this one and keeps is available after the transition and for years to come. We know that alot of peoples boxes are going to break and they are going to come looking for a new one and this would be the one to get if that happens to you, if you're lucky enough to find one for re-sale.

This converter box proven time and time again to be one of the best converter boxes on the market. It comes from a reputable name, Dish Network, along with the fact that is has just about every single feature you can imagine. As an added bonus all of these features work spectacularly and you couldn't really ask for them to work any better.

Product Details: When watching television with this box you get a picture that rivals the quality of a DVD. It gives consumers a nearly perfect picture that doesn't contain even the slightest bit of static, stretching, or blurring. Simply put, it's one of the best in that regard out of all boxes.. The sound quality of the DTVPal Plus is also very good. Consumers can get this converter box and expect to get perfectly clear sound that doesn't include any static or fuzzy noises.

When looking at overall features the DTVPal Plus is the most complete digital converter box on the market. It comes with the best-in industry program guide that provides information up to 24 hours in advance of programs airing. It also comes with analog pass-through, an event timer, program searching, adjustable closed captioning, a remote control, parental controls, and a setup wizard. The best thing about it is that is comes with an enhanced digital tuner that does a better job of picking of digital signals.The enhanced digital tuner combined with a good digital antenna mean that you will be able to get even more channels with this box.

The Dish Network DTVPal Plus is one of the best overall digital TV converter boxes that money can buy. It comes with the most features, the best picture and sound quality, and the best digital tuner. If you are looking to get the best converter box on the market at an average price then you need to get the DTVPal Plus or one of their other newer boxes that is almost exactly the same. These options include the Dish Network TR-40 CRA and Dish Network DTVPal DVR.

Dish Network DTVPal Plus


Features & Specs 
Analog Pass-Through
Enhanced Digital Tuner
Government Certified Coupon Eligible Converter Box (CECB)
Displays All 18 ATSC Formats
Best Electronic Program Guide - 24 hour advanced information
Configurable Closed Captioning
V-Chip Parental Controls Setting

What Is Included With Your Purchase?

Converter box
Remote Control
Users Manual

Venturer STB7766G Digital TV Converter Box Reviews

Venturer actually makes a pretty good box here but it is out of stock, as is the case with what seems like all boxes everywhere. It amazes us that retailers and manufacturers can't keep converter boxes in stock when there is so much money to be made.

Product Details: Reports and are look at this have shown that it provides viewers with "2nd tier" picture quality. This means that it is a slight, small step below the picture quality of the brand on the market but is still way better than analog quality. When watching in HD there are some slight but obvious flaws. The quality of the audio it puts out is very good just like all others we have looked at.

It is one of only a few that we have seen that comes with auto aspect ratio. This allows the box to switch the aspect ratio for each channeling depending on how it is being broadcasts, rather than the user have to change the setting for each channel. It has a below average to average programming guide that gives views a few details but not everything you'd hope to see. It can auto scan with or manually tune changes in conjunction with the signal strength guide. A a final note we'll point out that it does not come with analog pass-through or a universal remote control.

This converter box is pretty good but one we don't recommend. The only major feature it is lacking is analog pass-through but this is a big one.
Venturer STB7766G

Features & Specs

Government Certified Coupon Eligible Converter Box
18 ATSC Formats At Accepted
Composite Video And Stereo Out
Electronic Program Guide
Parental Lock/Control Settings

What Is Included With Your Purchase?

Converter box
Remote Control
Full Owners Manual

General Electric GE 23333 Digital TV Converter Box Reviews

Product Details: The GE 23333 comes with an electronic program guide that is very good. In fact it is one of the best program guides available, showing information for shows that are more than 24 hours away from showing. It also comes with a smart antenna port capabilities. This analog digital tv converter box also comes with analog pass-through. This analog digital converter is also one of those that has on box buttons for easy use without the remote. Finally, this digital TV converter box comes with adjustable closed captioning and three different language settings (English, Spanish, and French).

This digital TV converter box doesn't come with a universal remote control.

GE 23333 Features & Specs

Government Certified Coupon Eligible Converter Box
Displays All 18 ATSC Formats
Analog Pass-Through
Smart Antenna Port
Composite Video Jack
Stereo Audio Jacks
75 ohm RF Video/Audio Jack (Coaxial Cable)
Sleep Timer
Electronic Program Guide
Configurable Closed Captioning
Parental Controls

What Is Included With Your Purchase?

GE 23333 converter box
Remote Control
Remote Control Batteries

General Electric GE 23334 Digital TV Converter Box Reviews

The GE 23334 is like most other converter boxes in that it is sold out and all retailers. No authorized retailers have it in stock anymore. You may be able to grab one if you check online auctions and are quick but it's unlikely. Converter boxes are become scarce as the transition approaches and more and more models are ending up sold out.

The box is an updated version of some previous boxes from GE. It is a little better than some of their other ones but is still lacking a few features.

Product Details: The picture and sound quality you get are both good enough to satisfy most people. They aren't top shelf but they are close. When watching with it its just a notch below DVD quality, which is hard to argue with consider it's free over-the-air TV. The drawback is that it is pretty expensive at $60-$70 when you consider it is missing some key features, as you will see below.

One things this TV converter boxes has going for itself is that it comes with one of the best overall program guides out of every single box we have looked at. It's not quite up to par with the Dish Network converter boxes, but it's pretty darn close. It provides users in advance of more than 24 hours while most others just go a few hours in advance. Buttons on the box are another nice feature that is becoming more common with newer version. It also has analog pass-through, an ever important feature that was missing with the previous versions from GE. Having this feature is the only way to not lose low power stations that aren't  yet required to make the transition. Finally it comes with the standard English, French, and Spanish closed captioning that we have seen with every single other box.

It unfortunately does not come with a universal remote control or smart antenna port.

Features & Specs

Government Certified Coupon Eligible Converter Box (CECB)
Full Spectrum 18 ATSC Format Compatible
Analog Pass-Through
75 ohm RF Video and Audio Out
Automatic Sleep Timer
Current and Future Program Guide
Closed Captioning - Configurable To Your Liking
Parental Controls Via V-Chip Technology

What Is Included With Your Purchase?

Converter box
Remote Control
2 AAA Remote Control Batteries
Users Manual

Coship N9900T Digital TV Converter Box Reviews

The Coship N9900T is out of stock at most retailers and you will have to find something else to suit your needs. It was missing a ton of key features so that fact that it is out of production is a good thing. It looks like they will be coming out with a newer version very soon that will have some added features that will allow their product to compete better with the best boxes on the market.

This product has been updated to both the Coship N9901T and Coship N9988T.


Product Details: The picture on this guy is pretty good but it's not quite up there with the very best. It's just a step below, which is still a massively huge improvement over analog signaling picture quality. Audio quality is also pretty good, but that's something every company has nailed so that doesn't help it to stand out at all from other converters.

Buttons on the box that allow for full operation are a nice convenience for quick use when the remote isn't handy. A program guide makes it much easier to sit down and see what is currently airing and what is expected to show next, rather than simply guessing or having to spend time on each channel as you did before the days of digital TV. A remote is include but it's not universal. As far as languages goes you can set it to either french, english, or spanish for operation and closed captioning.converter box comes with on box buttons that are useful if you happen to lose your remote control.

It does not come with two key features, the ability to work with a smart antenna, or analog pass-through. Missing these features is a huge blow to our rating of this box. It's price has been all over the place from $40-$65 depending on the retailer. If you can get it for the low end it wouldn't be the worst buy, but still, there are better options out there.


Features & Specs

Government Certified And Coupon Eligible For The $40 Off
Displays All 18 ATSC Formats - Works With All Digital Signaling
Composite Video Out
Stereo Out
Sleep Timer
Electronic Program Guide - Your Own On Screen TV GUide
Configurable Closed Captioning
Parental Controls

What Is Included With Your Purchase?

Converter box
Remote Control
Remote Control Batteries
Manual For Users

Digital Stream DSP7700P Digital TV Converter Box Reviews

This product has sold out must before the digital transition is set to take place. You can no longer find this box and major retailers, there are a few websites that may have it in stock but it won't be around for long. This box is average at best and is not one that we would recommend. If you want to find a better converter boxes see all of our reviews or considering jumping straight to our three favorites, the Dish Network DTVPalChannel Master CM-7000, or Tivax STB-T8.

Product Details: The quality of picture that you get with this box isn't really all that great. It's better than over-the-air analog in most cases but there is an obvious flaw to the picture when watching standard definition content. There is a blur and images appear to look like they have been stretch across the screen. It's audio is pretty good though and comes through very clearly.

It comes with a universal remote control that can be used for your converter box and your television by entering the specific remote codes for your TV. You get physical buttons on the box so that you can still use it if there is some sort of issue with your remote. The best thing we can find about it is that it comes with analog pass-through, although this is sort of an after thought these days and nearly all boxes in stock have this feature now. The programming guide provide onscreen by this Digital Stream converter allows you to get detailed programming information for currently airing shows and shows that are set to show within the next 6-12 hours. Multi-language support and closed captioning that can be adjust are two other convenient features you get.

It does not come with smart antenna capabilities.

This is an ok TV converter box. The addition of analog pass-through goes a long way in making it more complete. It currently sells at an expensive $79.99 or $39.99 after using your government coupon, which is actually a pretty bad deal. You can find $40-$50 boxes that are quite a bit better.


Other specifications:

Government Certified Coupon Eligible Converter Box (CECB)
18 ATSC Formats - Works with all ATSC signals
Composite Video Jack
Stereo Audio Jacks
75 ohm RF Video/Audio Jack (Coaxial Cable)
Sleep Timer

What comes in the box?

Converter
2 AAA Batteries
User's Manual
Universal Remote Control

Access HD DTA1080U Digital TV Converter Box Reviews

Update: It has now sold out at nearly all locations and can no longer be purchased directly from any authorized retailers. Go check online auction sites if you are set on getting this model, it's your only real chance of finding one.

This is another box that Access HD seems to have settled on as one of their staples. A bunch of the others have gone out of stock but this one is still available at most online retailers and at a few places in stores. This box is almost exactly like the DTA1080D, in fact we aren't exactly sure what is different about it, but we're trying to find out at the moment.

Product Details: First and foremost the Access HD DTA1080U is one of the government certified/approved TV converter boxes. This means that the $40 off coupon can be applied toward its purchase. This alone makes it a decent offer when you consider the retail price of $50-$60 can be reduce to $10-$20. It's picture and sound are of no concern and measure up well to all of the other TV converter boxes we have look at to this point. It's not quite the best, but it's up there close enough that most people probably wouldn't notice the difference.

It provides it's users with a ton of awesome features. One being the electronic programming guide that shows viewers details for all current shows and for at least a few hours ahead. The universal remote is nice and allows you to set it to work for both your TV and converter box with the simple input of one of the remote codes. Actual buttons make for a nice bit of convenience if there is every a period where your remote becomes in inoperable or is misplaced. It does indeed some with  one of the most important features available, the analog pass-through function. Lastly, another good measure the company took was allowing each owner to personalized their closed captioning experience by allowing them to change font size, text, color, and language.

It unfortunately does not come with smart antenna capabilities like many of the companies other boxes.
Access HD DTA1080U
Features & Specs

V-Chip Lock Parental Control Setting
Editable Closed Captioning - Set It How You Want It To Look
Guide
Works In English, French, and Spanish
18 ATSC Formats Compatible
Composite Video Out
Stereo Out
RF Video/Audio Out Via Coaxial Cable
Basic Sleep Timer

What Is Included With Your Purchase?

Converter Box
Universal Remote Control
Remote Control Batteries

Access HD DTA1080D Digital TV Converter Box Reviews

This has now sold out and is no longer available anywhere in stores or online. It is possible to get one from a third party or someone selling their used one online but I wouldn't count on finding one. Instead go with another one of the top rated converter boxes from our reviews section.

This converter box seems to be one of the final two that Access HD has settled on after going through a bunch of different versions that were almost exactly the same. This one has been in stock for the longest and at the most retailers. We aren't exactly sure why thought because it is lacking a few features that some other, already sold out previously boxes included.

Product Details: Here you get what people have come to expect from Access HD. An excellent picture and sound experience that are sure to satisfy anyone. It's no surprise, as that's what you would expect from a company that specializes in picture quality and HD television. As far as the price goes its right there in the range with most other converter boxes on the market at $50-$60. Again, with the coupon you can get it pretty darn cheap. Although we don't recommend this one, in our mind it's hard to justify getting this one when there have been others from this company for the same price that also come with more features. It's like every time they come out with a new box they add a feature but then take a different one away, don't we just want one that has everything, even if it costs an extra $5?

It comes with a program guide that supplies details for all channels, for both the immediately airing show and the next several that are scheduled. The information given includes show run time, title, and descriptions. It also comes with physical buttons that make it easy to control if you happen to lose your remote or your children break. One great feature of the this box is that it comes with analog pass-through so you don't lose lower power stations that aren't required to make the transition. The Access HD DTA1080D comes with adjustable closed captioning that can be edited for size, color, font, and language. Languages available include English, Spanish, and French. This box also comes with an external power adapter which is important because it makes it easy to use in an automobile.

It does not come with a universal remote control or a smart antenna port.

Access HD DTA1080D


Features & Specs


Parental Controls via V-Chip
Closed Captioning - Can Personalize To Yor Preferences
TV Guide (EPG)
English, French, and Spanish Triple Language Support
NTIA Approved And Coupon Eligible (CECB)
Works In Tandem With All 18 ATSC Formats
Video And Audio Out
Sleep Timer

What Is Included With Your Purchase?

Converter Box
Remote Control
Remote Control Batteries
External Power Cord And Adapter
Owners Manual Instructions

Access HD DTA1010U Digital TV Converter Box Reviews

Another TV converter box comes, and quickly another one goes. This box was only available for a short period of time and it very quickly sold out. Not because it was overly popular but for reason we aren't sure of. This is another one of those one Access HD came out with that was just about the same as all of their other boxes. This quickly upgrade and put it out of production.

Product Details: When discussing the sound and picture quality we concluded that it is exactly the same as the other Access HD boxes out there. It appears all of the boxes house just about the exact same parts so it's not surprise that this one also provides its watchers with an experience the is reminiscent of watching a DVD. At a cost of under $60 you can get it for pretty cheap after using your $40 of free money from the government. The only major difference we could find with this TV converter box was related to its antenna capabilities listed below. With them it makes it better than previous versions and a decent but.

The Access HD DTA1010U comes with an very good electronic programming guide. The guide shows details of current and upcoming future programs. It also comes with a universal remote control that can be used for the converter box and the television once you input the proper remote codes. Another good thing about this product is that it comes with physical buttons so that if you misplace or break your remote control you can still operate the converter box, The antenna interface is much better and it comes with a smart antenna port so that it can be used with a smart antenna to get a better and more consistent signal. If you need to used the closed captioning it also comes with adjustable closed captioning that can be setup in three different languages.

Features & Specs 

V-Chip Parental Lock
Closed Captioning - Adjustable
Electronic Programming TV Guide
Smart Antenna Port
Trilingual Language Support (English, Spanish, French)
Works soomthly with All 18 ATSC Formats
Composite Video
75 ohm RF Video/Audio Jack
Sleep Timer

What Is Included With Your Purchase?

Converter Box
Remote Control
Remote Control Batteries
Owners Manual

Access HD DTA1020U Digital TV Converter Box Reviews

As is the case with most converter box models the  Access HD DTA1020U has been discontinued and is now sold out at all retailers. If you want to try you can probably snag a used one on eBay but you'd probably be better off buying a brand new box and one that has a few more features than this one.

This is another box from Access HD that just baffles use. We are still trying to figure out why they have come out with 6-8 different models when some of them are virtually thee exact same thing.

Product Details: The quality of the picture you get with this is pretty good. Its crisp and clear and provides a more than satisfactory viewing experience. The sound is pretty crisp and sharp and well. With this you get a DVD type viewing experience while watch over-the-air television. Not a bad trade off for having to switch to digital by purchasing a converter box. Especially when you can get this one for $10-$20 after using the government issued coupon.

One good thing you get with this TV converter box is a universal remote control that can be programmed with remote codes to work both your box and television. On box buttons are another great feature which comes in handy when the remote gets misplaced. It's programming information is setup with a really nice guide that lets viewership see fairly detailed info for both future shows and the one that is currently airing. Closed captioning and be tailored to your like via the settings and you can also choose between English, Spanish, or French.

It does not come with Analog pass-through or the ability to work with a smart antenna.

Features & Specs

Parental Controls- V-Chip
Adjustable Closed Captioning
Electronic Program Guide (EPG)
English, French, and Spanish Triple Language Support
Works with All 18 ATSC Formats
Composite Video Out
Stereo Audio Out
75 ohm RF Video/Audio Out (Coaxial Cable)
Sleep Timer

What Is Included With Your Purchase?

Converter Box
Remote Control
Remote Control Batteries
User Manual

Access HD DTA1020D Digital TV Converter Box Reviews

Ah, Access HD is at it again. This time with the DTA1020D version. It's funny because this is about the 98 different version of what I find to be nearly the same dang thing every single time. It really bothers us too because it is down right confusing to consumers. I wish the government would have put a limit on the number of boxes from each brand that can be certified, but apparently that is not the case. It almost feels like a marketing tactic to me to just get more shelf pace and get their name out there more. More models must mean they offer better products, because well, they have more options. How nice of them, to confuse everybody.

This product has, to nobodies surprise been discontinued and replaced by the Access HD DTA1080D.

Product Details: Straight up this TV converter boxes picture and sound quality rate very good, as is the case with all of the Access HD boxes. It's not the viewers actual and direct viewing experience that make it an issue. It is the back that it is missing features that are becoming common place on all new boxes. The first versions of different convert boxes stunk in a lot of ways but we don't see why they would upgrade to this new model and still leave off a bunch of features. Seriously, we are still trying to figure out how this one is different from the previous DTA1010D.

For a quick run down it comes with a good program guide, as good as any out there besides the Dish converter boxes, but all boxes some with that. The one and only thing it has that a lot of others are lacking is on box buttons so that it can still be operated if the remote is misplace. Its closed captioning works well and allows for adjusting to English, Spanish, or French language settings. It however does not come with any smart antenna function, no universal remote so you'll be adding another remote to your pile of five that you already have. It also doesn't come with analog pass-through, which boggles our minds. You upgrade and then you don't include the most critical features? Really?

As you can guess we don't recommend this box, even at the $50-$60 price they are asking. If they can solve the issues of it missing a few key features then it would probably we one of the highest rated but until then stay away and consider other ones.

Features & Specs


V-Chip Lock Parental Control Setting
Configurable Closed Captioning
Electronic Program Guide
Displays All 18 ATSC Formats
Composite Video Jack
Stereo Audio Jacks
75 ohm RF Video/Audio Jack (Coaxial Cable)
Sleep Timer

What Is Included With Your Purchase?

Converter Box
Remote Control
Remote Control Batteries
Attached Power Cord
RF Cable

GoodMind DTA1000 Digital TV Converter Box Reviews

As with a lot of others this converter box has been reported to have various reception issues. This is not uncommon and is not a product of the converter boxes functionality and quality. Instead people need to realize that it is normal for an antenna to be used with a converter box in order to get all channels in your area and even sometimes results in picking up extra channels from far away.

Product Details: If picture quality isn't the most important thing then maybe this one is for you. However, we are of the opinion that the quality of your display is far and away the most important thing to consider when making our purchase. This one just isn't there yet, and we saw its picture as extremely average. Is it better than standard analog quality, yes, of course it is. But what isn't? The reality though is that it's not that much better than analog reception and that doesn't impress us one bit. Of course as with all boxes, when watching HD is steps its game up and provides a great picture, but very few over-the-air channels provide HD at this point in time. Great sound quality, no issues there, but that is the case with every single converter box we have reviewed outside of maybe 2 of them.

It comes with a great TV channel guide that allows users see all sorts of good information about currently running and future shows. It also comes with the ability to individually tune channels so that you can make sure and get all of your channels set correctly. It also has a smart antenna connection that allows you to set the antenna direction to a different spot for each channel. Then, when you change channels the antenna adjust to allow you to pick that channel up from the previously stored configuration. It is however missing pass-through, a remote that works universally, and the ability to automatically set the aspect ratio between one of three settings.

For reasons listed above we didn't find it to be one we would recommend and then we saw the price tag of $70 and were pretty shocked. It is nearly double the price of some TV converter boxes that blow it out of the water. I simply cannot recommend this one to anybody and don't see why you would purchase it unless you were simply and clearly uninformed.



Features & Specs
Parental Control Setting
Configurable Closed Captioning
Electronic Program Guide
On Screen Signal Strength Meter
Smart Antenna Port
English, French, and Spanish Language Support

What Is Included With Your Purchase?

Converter Box
Remote Control
User Manual
Attached Power Cord

Digital Stream DTX9950 Digital TV Converter Box Reviews

Ah, another Digital Stream box and another disappointed. No need to worry about making a decision on this one though as it is already sold out everywhere. Seriously, there are millions of people who needs converter boxes and for some reason manufacturers just can't seem to keep up, talking about losing a lot of potential profit. We were not impressed with this and therefore are glad that there aren't anymore available for sale. It is to bad for the people that already have it though. Money wasted on an inferior product.

Product Details: Picture quality, probably the most important feature in our book and something that seems pretty simple for most companies to excel out, not this one though. The picture quality for it is simply not on par with that of most other government certified boxes.  When watching standard definition content there is are some very obvious picture flaws, such as stretching of images and a blur. If you switch to HD content it is very good, but come on, what HD content isn't good? Only a few of the over-the-air channels will be HD so it's almost impossible to avoid SD content and the subsequent blurring that you will experience. Sound quality is a no brainer and something simple that every converter box does well at, so the fact that this ones is pretty good doesn't really mean all that much.

The feature set of that the DTX9950 comes with is pretty standard. It's got your regular stuff but nothing special. A channel guide that comes with info for live and scheduled shows but nothing eye popping here. It does come with analog pass-through, which is good. Three other standard features that you will want, and it has, are manual and individual tuning options, a digital signal strength meter, and closed captioning adjust ability.

Just an average buy here. The upgrade to include the pass-through function is nice but with the picture quality issues it really hampers our rating of it. And to, on top of that they are asking for $60 for it. That's too much money for almost any box out there. With Some other boxes selling for less and getting all the right features its simple to let this one go.

Digital Stream DTX9950

Features & Specs


Analog Pass-Through
V-Chip Lock Parental Control Setting
Configurable Closed Captioning
Electronic Program Guide
On Screen Signal Strength Meter
Energy Star Compliant
English, French, and Spanish Language Support

What Is Included With Your Purchase?

Converter Box
Remote Control
Coaxial Cable
User Booklet

Apex DT250 Digital TV Converter Box Reviews

The Apex DT250 is sold out and is out of stock at all major retailers across the country. You can probably find a used on on eBay if you have decided on this one but don't count on finding a new one any time soon, if ever.

Product Details: When watching HD content with this little gadget you can get a picture rivals your DVD player. When watching SD content however is has some very obvious display flaws. If you only watch in HD then the picture quality for this is perfect but if you watch in SD I wouldn't suggest this it. As is the case with almost all others on the market, this one produces excellent sound that is a very clear and substantial upgrade over old television signals. This converter box sells for about $60. At a price of $60 it is simply not good enough to recommend, from our point of view. As is the case with many others on the market, it gets the job done, but why pay more when you can find a better product and save money at the same time.

It comes with a strength meter on the screen so that you can individually tune your desired channels with easy. Simply use the meter and adjust your antenna to find the right spot and then add the channel. Although you will have to remember the best way to point the antenna for each channel to get a solid signal. No signal with digital means no TV, it doesn't mean static filled. The channel guide displayed by it is quite nice. It shows you the standard stuff like titles, descriptions, length of time the show will be on. You also get previews of what will be shown next. Some final little tidbits on this box are that it comes with a smart antenna connection, A/V cables, and the ability to set the closed captioning to your desired font, color, etc. It does not come with analog pass-through.

At a price of $60 the Apex DT250 is a pretty decent buy but we still wouldn't suggest it. If you only watch HDTV then this could be one of the very best out there for you, so there are some that could benefit from it. If you watch SD content though, this would be a bad purchase.. We recommend staying away from this one since it limits your ability to watch SD content.

Apex DT250

Features & Specs

Analog Pass-Through
Parental Control Setting
Configurable Closed Captioning
Electronic Program Guide
Smart Antenna Port
English, French, and Spanish Language Support

What Is Included With Your Purchase?

Converter Box
Remote Control
User Manual
Attached Power Cable
Coaxial RF Cable

Access HD DTA1010D Digital TV Converter Box Reviews

This converter box does not include analog pass through so we are not recommending it. If you are interested in something from Access HD you should check out one of its updated versions. It can get confusing because they have decided to come out with about 6 other versions of their box, all that are almost identical. We aren't sure as to why but it certainly doesn't make the company look all that organized.

It is sold now sold out at all retailers and you will have to consider something else. This however is a good thing because you can find a lot better options for a similar price.

Product Details: Again, another bigger brand name and the same typical story here. It is sold out and it simply doesn't measure up. The picture is provides is very good and hear that of the top rated Channel Master CM-7000. This means its almost as good as when you pop in a DVD to watch it, definitely one of the clearest and most crisp pictures out there with excellent color as well. It's sound quality also meets our standards for putting it near the top. Crystal clear and satisfying to anyones ear. It's better than analog, way better. As of release it was set to be sold for $50-$55 and that what most retailers are selling it for. When using the coupon a price of $10-$15 is fairly good. However, there is always a but so read on.

A better than normal programming guide sets it apart as one of the better boxes in this regard. It provides excellent info for the show that is presently airing and the same for several hours of programming that has yet to air. Its also got the regular options for either manually or automatically scanning to tune your channels. An added bonus is its smart antenna port that allows for a better digital antenna that most. Unfortunately it does not come with a universal remote, auto aspect ratio, or analog pass-through. Three features that we feel would be nice to have included

It is a very good converter except for its lack of analog pass-through. If you don't need this feature its a good buy, if you do need this feature then it would be a very bad purchase that would actually cause you to lose channels that you want.
Access HD DTA1010D

Features & Specs

V-Chip Lock Parental Control Setting
Configurable Closed Captioning
Electronic Program Guide

What Is Included With Your Purchase?

Converter Box
Remote Control
User Manual
Power Cord
RF Coaxial Cable

COShip N9988T Digital TV Converter Box Reviews

As with most converter boxes some reception problems have been reported with this converter box. These problem can be cured by getting a quality digital TV antenna. Digital television isn't any different than analog TV in that an antenna is something that you should expect to use in order to get all channels. This different however is that the antenna is even more vital because with digital TV there is no 'inbetween' of a static filled an grainy picture. You either get it perfectly or you don't get it at all.

This converter box is sold out nearly everywhere and has been updated to the new COShip N9901T. The newer version comes with a lot better features and you wouldn't want this one anyway so no concerns here.

Product Details: When looking at this box we were once again some what biased to the fact that it was a smaller brand that we hadn't really heard much about and had very little experience with. And once again the trend continued that are bias was unfounded and another smaller company came through with a pretty good box. Its picture quality is very good and just a little bit below the top digital TV converter boxes. When looking at its picture quality we have put it in the "2nd tier" with other TV converter boxes that are a slight step below the best. It's still a big improvement over analog TV, it's just that there is better out there. There are minor flaws in the picture when watching TV in HD. The audio quality that it transmits is quite excellent. It rates out with the best in this regard and is one thing that it really has going for itself. As of today it sells for around $50 which means you can get it for $10 when using your government issues coupon gift card. This box is sold out at most retailers. If you are privy to it check out eBay and you might be able to find one.

It comes with an acceptable, if not pretty decent TV program guide. Its guide provides its viewers with the length of time the current show will be one, a lengthy description, and show title. It also provides the same info for the next show that is set to air. One unique feature that this converter box has is the rare auto aspect ratio. It has been rare to find one that come with function. The auto aspect ratio will set itself based on each channel you watch so that you don't have to manually set it. It also comes with the standard manual tuning function for channels or the option to hit the 'scan for all' button and have it done automatically for your. Finally, it comes with a basic closed captioning display. This converter box does not come analog pass-through.

This converter box is fairly good overall. It comes with a very good range of different likable features but is missing the most important one, analog pass-through. Although this box will get the job done we don't recommend it because of its missing pass-through feature.

Coship N9988T


Features & Specs -


V-Chip Lock Parental Control Setting
Configurable Closed Captioning
Electronic Program Guide
English, French, and Spanish Language Support

What Is Included With Your Purchase?

Converter Box
Remote Control
Coaxial Cable RF
Attached Power Cord

Alpha Digital AT2016 Digital TV Converter Box Reviews

Surprise surprise another top rated TV converter box that is sold out. Yep, this is one that we highly recommended but it has sold out before the digital transition deadline is upon us. In fact, it's not even close and these are gone already. If you are interested in other great converter boxes as an alternative you should consider the Dish Network DTVPal Plus. It is the best one that we have reviewed to date and comes from a reputable company with a long standing name in the television industry.


Product Details: Alpha Digital, like some other brands we have looked at is a rather obscure brand with a very short and unknown reputation within the industry. Did this company just create a box to make some quick money off those that are forced to make the switch or was their box any good? We were again surprised when we took a look at their box and found it to be up super high quality. It appears to be a pattern that the large brands have rushed out inferior converter boxes and these smaller companies are actually creating a good product. This products picture quality was of extremely high quality. It is way better than what you get with analog airwaves and is only beat out by 2-3 others that we reviewed up to this point. It's dang near DVD quality. The audio quality is also extremely good, of course you have to have good television speakers but if your TV is up to par you will be more than happy with the sound this puts out. At a price of around $50 it is also very reasonably and fairy priced. If you use your coupon you can get it for right at $10 through most retailers. We think it's a great buy and have no problem recommending it.


Of course before you decide it's important to know what features it comes with as well. It comes with the standard TV guide that provides everything you would expect about the current show, but nothing over the top. It's upcoming info isn't great but is acceptable, if not substandard. One feature that we haven't seen to date is its ability to work with a smart antenna. Smart antennas work better than a traditional antenna and help you to get a better signal. It also comes with the scan for all and individual tuning options, closed captioning, and some parental control functions. And last but not least it comes with the on screen signal strength meter for tuning and a remote control. Note: This DTV converter box does not come with analog pass-through.

The AT2016 is a great converter box with excellent features, as a result were about to rate it as a top of the link box but then we realized it is lacking analog pass-through which puts it firmly out of the top tier.

Alpha Digital AT2016
Features & Specs -

V-Chip Lock Parental Control Setting
Configurable Closed Captioning
Electronic Program Guide
On Screen Signal Strength Meter
Smart Antenna Port

What Is Included With Your Purchase?

Converter Box
Remote Control
Power Cord
Coaxial Cable For RF

Winegard RC-DT09A Digital TV Converter Box Reviews

As of this update this product is out of stock and no longer available at nearly all retail locations and over the Internet. It's a good TV converter box for the digital transition and comes at an acceptable, if not slightly overprice cost but you could do a lot worse. As an alternative, since it is out of stock you should consider one of the other top rated ones from our TV converter box reviews page. There you can find a full index of all of the ones we have reviewed sorted by 1st, 2nd, and 3rd tier. Click on any of the links provided and it will take you directly to the a full review.

Product Details: When looking into this box we didn't know what exactly to expect. We knew that Winegard made some antennas but besides that they were relatively unknown. We were skeptical, if not biased against them. In the end we were pleasantly surprised. This little box provide pretty darn good pixel quality, although not quite on par with the very best. We put it in the 2nd tier in this regard. It's still a major upgrade over analog quality, just not the best out there. When testing the audio sound that this box put out it was the same story. It rated very very well, but just below the top few on the market. Again, still a big upgrade over analog, and pretty clear. At a price of $65 you can get it for $25 after using your government coupon. Again, as with some other boxes, this isn't a bad price, but there are clearly other similar options out there that are in the $40-$50 price range. It's tough to recommend when you know that you can get the same thing for less, but the reality is that you could do a lot worse too. This converter box is currently out of stock and as a result you will need to consider alternatives such as the Tivax STB-T8.

Features are where it's at and this converter box them. Not the best ones out there but enough to satisfy the majority of people. It comes with a typical, if not average electronic programming guide. This guide provides its viewers with the ability to see show titles, descriptions, and total air time. It however provides minimal information for upcoming broadcasts that haven't yet started. One thing this box has that we haven't seen with hardly any is an auto aspect ratio. With most boxes you have to manually change the aspect ratio setting based on what channel you are watching but this one does it all for you automatically. As is the case with almost all other boxes you can tune your channels automatically or manually be adding one at a time. It comes with another fairly rare feature, an on screen signal strength meter that allows for easier tuning. The power adapter is also detachable which we have found to be quite rare with converter boxes.  It also comes with analog pass-through.

As a whole this converter box surprised us with it's overall function, easier of use, and wide range of features. It's a bit more expensive that we'd like to think it should be but it will more than get the job done for those that are making the digital switch.

Winegard RC-DT09A

Features & Specs

Analog Pass-Through
V-Chip Lock Parental Control Setting
Configurable Closed Captioning
Electronic Program Guide
On Screen Signal Strength Meter
Energy Star Compliant

What Is Included With Your Purchase?

Converter Box
Remote Control
Remote Control Batteries
RF Cable
Detachable Power Cord

RCA DTA800B1 Digital TV Converter Box Reviews

This product is no longer available for purchase directly from retailers. If you are lucky and search hard you may be able to find a used one on Amazon or eBay but I wouldn't count on it. Like most converter boxes, production was stopped after the transition as companies didn't expect the demand for them to continue. This box is a good one and was one of the strongest selling boxes but at its price tag of $65 there are similar options out there that come with a significantly cheaper price tag.

Product Details: After doing a full overview of this converter box we found that it's picture quality was pretty darn good. It wasn't grainy, static filled, or blurry in any way. In fact, the quality rates up there near the best, falling short of just the DTVPal box. You'll be happy with the crystal clear crisp picture that it provides and the widely known RCA name. As far as the audio quality is concerned, this box also rates out pretty darn well. It again comes out near the top and is only beaten out by a couple of the highest rated for sound. The sound comes through very clear and is something you will surely be excited about. It sells for $65 which is a bit steep considering a few of the other top rated boxes are in the $40-$50 range. It does come with the well known RCA name which inflates to price to some extent. Overall this box is very well rounded in most aspects. We do highly recommend this box but as with most good TV converter boxes it is out of stock almost everywhere. 

When talking about features this box does well in that regard too. It comes with a pretty good electronic programming guide. This guide gives all of the standard info for current shows and also some pretty good info for shows that are set to air soon. One drawback of it is that it doesn't allow you to manually tune channels, it can only be done by the auto scan function. This can be a problem if you are trying to get your digital antenna just right in order to get a channel tuned. Other things it comes with include a universal remote that will work in conjunction with your TV and also personalized closed captioning fonts This converter box is equipped with the analog pass-through function.

Overall I feel that it is a pretty good but. Sure, it's price could be a little bit lower, but the reality is that you are paying for the brand name here. It comes with a ton of excellent features and provides great picture and audio quality.

RCA DTA800B1
Features & Specs

Analog Pass-Through
Parental Control Setting
Configurable Closed Captioning
Electronic Program Guide
Smart Antenna Port
English, French, and Spanish Language Support
Compact Size

What Is Included With Your Purchase?

Converter Box
Remote Control
Power Cord
Coaxial RF Cable

Dish Network DTVPal Digital TV Converter Box Reviews

This is honestly one of the best TV converter boxes that money can buy. It comes with an incredible set of features, along with the best program guide out there, and the best picture quality we've seen as of yet. Unfortunately it is no longer available from retailers but if you are lucky you just might be able to snag one on eBay or Amazon being sold by private sellers. If you can I wouldn't hesitate to pull the trigger.

Product Details: Out of all the different converter boxes we have looked at this one provides its views with one of the best pictures that we have seen. It's just as good as you'd get with cable or a new digital TV. It it extremely close to the quality you get while watching a DVD. If you want picture quality more than any other feature you can't go wrong with this. It's overall upgrade from analog is astronomical. Don't be fooled though, it's not 1080P, no converter box is going to give you that. As far as sound quality is considered this Dish Network box again rates out just as good as any other that we've seen. It is 1005%top notch and you can't ask for better than crystal clear sound. It's sure to give you whatever quality your television speakers will allow. It's so good it may remind you of the sound quality you get from cable It is one of the best boxes available and it is sold by a large number of retailers for around $55. After using the coupon you can get it for $15, not much to complain about there. The DTVPal is no longer available but a very good alternative is its upgraded version, the Dish Network DTVPal Plus.

In regards to the features that come with your purchase it again stands out with excellent features that are sure to impress you. It comes with the clear cut, far and away best EPG (electronic programming guide) out there. With this guy you get all of the same guide information that comes with a paid service like Dish Network Satellite. You get the shows length of time, show title, extended show description and more. You even get this same information for all shows that are scheduled over the next several days. It also comes with 3 different aspect ratio settings so you can set the picture to fit your TV screen. Finally, it comes with a robust closed captioning setup that can be adjusted and also provides the pass-through feature so you don't lose your favorite small town analog channel that doesn't have to make the digital switch yet.

This TV converter box is one of the most thought out boxes on the market. Clearly the guys at Dish knew what they were doing when they planned this out. My assumption is they plan to make a little bit of money on the box but also use it to market and get converter box users to eventually subscribe to their paid service. Whether it be within a few months or a few year. Overall, it provides viewers with an amazing viewing experience that can't be rivaled by anything other than other versions of it's own. We highly recommend this converter box and in tandem with a good digital antenna the sky is the limit here.


Features & Specs

Analog Pass-Through
V-Chip Lock Parental Control Setting
Configurable Closed Captioning
Electronic Program Guide
Compact Size

What Is Included With Your Purchase?

Converter Box
Remote Control
RF Cable
Installation Guide
Power Cord

Magnavox TB100MG9 Digital TV Converter Box Reviews

As with most other converter boxes on the market this one has been discontinued and is no longer available for sale. As an alternative you can check out the upgraded version, the Magnavox TB100MW9, for all intensive purposes it is exactly the same, except for that fact that it now is equipped with the analog pass-through feature.

Unfortunately a lot of people have reported channel loss with this product. This is not good for those that made the purchase but I also want to reiterate again that channel loss and reception issues are normal. Basically put, analog TV allows a signal to go through at a low signal strength and you get a very blurry picture. The nature of digital TV is that you either get all or none, that's why it's so good. But that also means that sometimes you will lose channels. It's no different than analog though in that getting a good antenna will greatly improve reception. The Magnavox TB100MG9 has been discontinued and replaced by an upgraded version the 

Product Details: When looking at and reviewing this product we found out that its picture quality of very high quality. It ranks up there with the best in regard to this feature and could be a good buy for those looking for the sharpest of pictures, smoothest movements, and deep rich colors. People that use it will be pleasantly surprised with how much of an upgrade they are getting from their old analog signals. As far as the sound quality goes this converter box has actually reported to be pretty bad. Sound quality is something that almost all companies seemed to nail but they've got something wrong here. The L/R sound output is excellent, as good as you'll find with any, but the RF output  produces a clear and obvious hissing type of noise that can get very annoying. Not something we figure most people would be okay with. At a steep price of $65 as compared to other boxes this isn't the best of deals.

As far as features and functions go it rates near the best of the best. It's TV guide for current programs shows the show title, length of broadcast, and a short little description of the show. For upcoming programs it shows the same information an can come in handy for those that like to plan in advance what they want to watch. As far as setting up channels goes it comes with the typical auto scanning function and also the ability to individually add channels one-by-one. One good difference relative to its counterpart is it's included pass-through ability.

Overall, this product is pretty good but did not get the best rating. Its analog pass-through upgrade made it a significantly better choice but it is simply not as good as other boxes that are being sold for quite a bit less. Instead of purchasing this box we recommend that you check out the best TV converter boxes based on our reviews and then pick on that sells for around $40 so that you can get it for free after using your coupon.

Magnavox TB100MG9

Features & Specs 


Analog Pass-Through
Parental Control Setting
Configurable Closed Captioning
Electronic Program Guide
On Screen Signal Strength Meter
Energy Star Compliant
English, French, and Spanish Language Support

What Is Included With Your Purchase?

Converter Box
Remote Control
Remote Control Batteries
Coaxial Cable
Power Cord

Digital Stream DSP7700T Digital TV Converter Box Reviews

This product is not recommended for purchase or us due to the fact that there are many other options that work better, last longer, and come at a significantly cheaper price. However if you do have this box in possession already and can't return it you will indeed need a digital TV antenna in order to get good reception.

The box has now been upgraded to the Digital Stream DSP7700P. We do not recommend the old version, check out or review of the new version to see what we think of it. However, we are not privy to the Digital Stream line of boxes and are still waiting for them to impress us with something better. With their big name you would think that they would come out with better products but that simply has not been the case up to this point.

Product Details: Not surprisingly at all this guy has a picture quality that is just average, and it should certainly be a lot better than it is, coming from DS. Its picture quality when in HD is very good but it is stretched out and noticeably blurry while watching standard definition content. When we hooked  it up and got it running it was still an upgrade over our analog picture but honestly, that's something that you get with every single TV converter box on the market, even the cheapest worst performing one out there. It rates out roughly similar to all others in regards to sound quality. That's one thing that all companies seem to have gotten right, so that doesn't help it to stand out in any way from other options. It's better than analog sound, but really, what isn't? It sells for $65 which is a lot when considering that some that rate out near the top cost only $40 (free after using the government coupon card). As stated above, this box is no longer available at most retail locations, which is a good thing in our opinion.

It does come with a scheduling and program guide that is above average. That's the only place where it shines. But for most that have never had a guide anyway, this isn't all that important. It's guide provides views with information on the current shows title, length of time airing, and a short snippet/summary of what the show it. It also shows all of the same exact information for the next schedule show and out forward for several hours. It comes with the standard auto tuning function that all converter boxes have so that you can get all of your favorite channels programmed. You can also add channels one at a time if you are having any issues. Finally also comes with the ability to view an on screen signal strength meter to help with adjusting your antenna and setting channels, along with a universal remote control for easy surfacing of channels, and a fully adjustable closed captioning function so that can also be personalize. It didn't originally come with analog pass-through but has now been upgrade to include that feature.

Overall, it comes with a decent set of features and will certainly supply you with a better viewing experience than you get with analog TV but flat out there are better options out there that also cost less money.

Digital Stream DSP7700T
Features & Specs

Analog Pass-Through
V-Chip Lock Parental Control Setting
Configurable Closed Captioning
Electronic Program Guide
On Screen Signal Strength Meter
Energy Star Compliant
English, French, and Spanish Language Support

What Is Included With Your Purchase?

Converter Box
Universal Remote Control
Remote Control Batteries
Coaxial Cable

Zenith DTT901 Digital TV Converter Box Reviews

This product was one of the best out there during the transition but it is no longer available for sale and has sold out at all retailers. If you are lucky you may be able to find one on eBay but odds are you'll have to look elsewhere to find a suitable converter boxes to me your digital television needs. As an alternative we highly recommend upgrading to a digital television as that is much easier and will more than likely save you money in the long run, rather than going through a bunch of different converter boxes.

Product Details: It comes with some of the best picture quality out of any TV converter box on the market. It is just as good as any other converter box that we have looked at to date. It provides viewers with a near DVD quality picture that is significantly better than what consumers are use to getting while watching analog television. Overall, the sound quality for this guy is also rated up there near the top and we haven't seen any others that are better, just a few that rival it. Currently it can be had for $45-$60 which makes it ultra cheap after using the government issued coupon card. We actually highly recommend this converter box. All of the features you want and a low price.

It has more features than most boxes in its price range. It comes with easy to adjust closed captioning settings, a universal remote, A/V cables, automatic aspect ratio, and the ability to auto scan for all available channels or tune them one-by one manually. It also comes with analog pass-through in order to allow you to keep any channels that aren't yet required to make the switch.

From an overall standpoint, it is certainly one of the best available for sale when you consider it's picture and sound quality along with its long list of features, and then throw in the ultra cheap price. If you are looking for the best box then there aren't many that can beat this one. Unfortunately though, Zenith limited their production and this one is already becoming one of the 'hard to find' converter boxes. We're not sure why but this seems to be the case with nearly all of the top rated ones on the market.

Zenith DTT901
Features & Specs

Analog Pass-Through
Parental Control Setting
Configurable Closed Captioning
Electronic Program Guide
Energy Star Compliant
English, French, and Spanish Language Support

What Is Included With Your Purchase?

Converter Box
Universal Remote Control
Remote Control Batteries
RF Cable
AV Cable

GE 22729 Digital TV Converter Box Reviews

This box was not one that we recommended as GE realized the reasons why and has since discontinued production of it. It is now sold out at all retailers and finding an alternative would be your best bet.

Product Details: It does not come with the best picture quality out there, just like other GE brand boxes that we have looked it. It is just below the "2nd tier" which means that most other TV converter boxes provide better picture quality. Despite this it is still an upgrade from the average analog broadcast, of course though, as we've said before, achieving this is certainly on feat. It has been reported that its sound quality is very good and rates as well as most others that we have reviewed. Its sound quality is better that the sound quality that you get from traditional analog TV, which again, is to be expected no matter what. Currently this little guy can be purchased for $60-$80 which again is extremely over price. After selling it for several months it is no longer available and it has been upgraded to the GE 23333.

One good thing about this product is that is does have one of the best schedule/programming guides out of all of the different converter boxes that we have looked at. It provides users with show descriptions and show length for several hours of upcoming programming, on all channels. It also allows users to use the simple and quick auto scan function or individually tune channels in order to customize their channel lineup. Lastly, it also comes with adjustable closed captioning, and on box buttons that allow for use when the remote isn't around. It does not come with the ever important analog pass-through function.

Again, our opinion is that this box is certainly good enough to get your TV after the transition but it is lacking a bunch of features and top quality picture display. Why spend more money on an inferior product? Due to these factor we recommend that you stay far far away from it and find something better that also sells at a more reasonable price.


Features & Specs

Parental Control Setting
Configurable Closed Captioning
Electronic Program Guide
On Box Buttons
English, French, and Spanish Language Support
Sleep Timer

What Is Included With Your Purchase?

Converter Box
Remote Control
Power Cord
Coaxial Cable

GE 22730 Digital TV Converter Box Reviews

This product is no longer available and has been upgraded multiple times to different versions from GE. Unfortunately almost none of the other models seems to be much different or really any better. 

Product Details: First and foremost it clearly does not come with the best picture quality out there. It is just below the "2nd tier" which means that almost all other boxes provide better picture quality thant his one. Despite this it is still an upgrade from the average analog broadcast, which isn't saying much to be honest. When we hooked this converter box up to our TV it revealed that its sound quality is very good and rates as well as most of the top rated converter boxes that we have reviewed. Its sound quality is better that the sound quality that you get from traditional analog TV, as is the case with every one we have reviewed to this date. It be purchased for $60-$80 which is quite overpriced. You can find much better ones for $20-$30 less and therefore shouldn't consider this one unless your are privy to the GE brand for some reason. With it no longer being available you can consider it's upgraded version which is the GE 23334.

It has one of the best programming guides of any that we have seen on the market, if there is one good thing that we can point out about it. It provides viewers with show descriptions and length for a few hours of programming on all channels. It allows users to use the auto scan function or individually tune channels, so that they can personalize there channel set.. It also comes with adjustable closed captioning, and on box buttons. This converter box does not come with analog pass-through.

We suppose that this product is good enough to get the job done but it is lacking features and top picture quality. Beyond this it is also one of the most expensive converter boxes out there. Due to these factor we recommend that you stay away from it and instead consider the other options that come at a lower price and with more features.


Features & Specs

Parental Control Setting
Configurable Closed Captioning
Electronic Program Guide
On Box Buttons
Smart Antenna Port
English, French, and Spanish Language Support
Sleep Timer

What Is Included With Your Purchase?

Converter Box
Remote Control
Coaxial Cable
Power Cord
Instruction Manual

Digital TV Converter Box Reviews Index

If you are interested in purchasing a converter box then you need to check out the links below. Each one of the links below will bring you to the individual review page for that specific converter box.

Unfortunately getting a good converter box has turned out to be rather difficult. You'd think you can just get any one of them and be setup pretty good but a lot of them actually seem to be of pretty low quality. It makes you wonder why the government would certify and approve boxes that are substandard, and more expensive at the same time. As you can see below there are quite a few top rated boxes but of course, most of these ones are out of stock or extremely hard to find.

We have taken a look at all of the highly sought after and best ones and even some of the lesser known ones that have received high ratings. Nearly all of the ones we have written about are rated highly with only a few of them consider to be of low quality.

If you have any questions are would like us to review a specific box leave us a comment below. Our only 100% fool proof recommendation is to stick to a box that is rated highly and goes for $50 or less. Paying any more than $50 and you are simply wasting your money. Why pay more money for an inferior box? If you must go with one that is more expensive just make sure that it is one of the top rated boxes and overwhelming whelming odds are you will be very satisfied with your purchase.

Top Rated Converter Boxes
Mid Rated Converter Boxes
Low Rated Converter Boxes