Product Details: Today we will be taking a look at the Tivax STB-T8 converter box which is an updated version of the Tivax STB-T9 converter box. The new version is exactly the same as the old one except for that it has been updated to include analog pass-through. This digital TV converter box is exactly the same as the its little sister when is comes to picture quality. The picture quality of this digital TV converter box is better than most converter boxes and a lot better than analog broadcast quality. The quality that you get with this box is slightly below DVD qulaity. The sound quality that you get with this converter box is also very good. It is similar to what you can expect with most other boxes on the market. This converter box can be purchased online for $55-$65 depending on the timing and place of purchase. It is available almost exclusively online.
The Tivax stb-t8 provides users with an above average programming guide that shows upcoming shows for each channel It also allows users to manually set each digital channel or scan for all channels. It also comes with an on screen signal meter to help with manual channel setup. Finally, this converter box has the ever elusive analog pass-through that everybody so badly wants their converter box to be equipped with.
This converter box rates near the top due to its high quality picture an sound. It is also rated very highly because it is one of only a few that comes with analog pass-through. The Tivax STB-T8 is a great converter box and a fine upgrade from the older Tivax STB-T9. In order to see reviews of our top converter boxes check out our DTV converter box reviews page. If you are experiencing any receptions problems with this or other converter boxes your best bet would be to get an HDTV antenna.
Tivax STB-T8 Features & Specs - Tivax STB-T8 Owners Manual
Analog Pass-Through
V-Chip Lock Parental Control Setting
Configurable Closed Captioning
Electronic Program Guide
On Box Buttons
On Screen Signal Strength Meter
Smart Antenna Port (unable to confirm)
Energy Star Compliant
English, French, and Spanish Language Support
Compact Size
75 ohm Connector
6.3”W x 1.8”D x 8.7”H (Approximate)
What Is Included With Your Purchase?
Tivax STB-T8 Converter Box
Tivax STB-T8 Remote Control
Remote Control Batteries
RF Cable
AV Cable
29 Comments/Reviews:
Just purchased the Tivax STB-T8 and tried it out on a 4-inch analog screen (No kidding) attached to a very old wind-battered rooftop antenna. It pulled in 33 digital channels over the air. Even for central New Jersey, I thought that was a lot. The analog channels also came through even better than before. Caveats: You have to put the Tivax in standby mode in order to get the Analog pass-through. The online channel guide is minimal compared to others. Bottom line --- for $50 (- coupon) you get a great little box that gives good quality pictures even on crummy equipment.
Cheap product. The analog pass through does not work on my model. The very few channels that I do get are ok, but the converter box has crappy sound with background static. I would recommend a different brand.
I purchased two of these after determining that the previous converter model I bought two of is not available (Dish Network TR-40). The TR-40 is a far superior unit with better guide, much faster boot up, equal sensitivity, equally good PQ and no need to go into standby in order to be in analog bypass mode. The Tivax is a real cheap-o box in comparison. I would not buy again.
Be forwarned. This product is of very poor quality. I ordered one from Solid Signal and this one wouldn't even power up. After a lot of wrangling they sent me another one and it stopped working after two days. No more Tivax. One star only because zero is not possible
The Tivax STB-T8 is an absolutely awesome converter. It is well sized and gives out an excellent picture, not to mention that it is super easy to use.
Thank you - your review sold me. I'm searching to purchase one right now.
Installed three Tivax STB-T8 this past weekend. DITTO: User friendly, powerful, 100% better than the GE #GE23333 that I installed for a friend and was recommended by a Target sales person as the best and most often bought for the LasVegas/Henderson, NV area
Is it possible to provide your zip code in SD. I could not get anything in my area, and according to antennaweb, I should get 1 in Zip 92129.
Thanks
I bought a very high-priced digital TV Tuner about 4 years ago - and I hesitated to buy any more since I live in downtown Chicago and have buildings obstructing the antenna - so I was not expecting much. I bought the STB-T8 not expecting very much. However, this little box really brought in the signals. I am very impressed and would highly recommend this converter box as it surpassed all my expectations and I am very happy with it.
I purchased this converter box because I was looking for one that had analog pass through. This one had that and was rated pretty highly by everybody. I am pretty happy with my purchase and am getting crystal clear pictures and an extra 4 channels since hooking it up.
All these boxes with remote control to turn it on consume some power. Plug into power strip w/TV set,VCR DVD players and save some real $. But you must walk over to power strip turn on TV and converter. TIVAX excellent box.
We cannot watch TV connected to converter box for more than 20 minutes. The screen turns to "snow" with a loud volume static sound. The TV is a stand alone, not connected to cable. Terrible! I wish we had analog TV back.
I am still reviewing boxes and was wondering if these boxes all draw the same amount of power. It bohters me that I will have yet another 24/7 power sucker to pay for. What about long term costs? How much do these thing cost us to run for 10 years non stop? How will plugging in a zillion of these things affect our power grid? I'm sure the power companies love it at least. Feedback please
They use about 7 to 10 watts of power... about as much as a nightlight.
oh dang.
schooled homie
A good LED nightlite costs .25 cents ,one quarter, a year to run. So four boxes will be about 35 dollars a year. Luckily I found out a few boxes are energy star certified and go to very low watts ,about 2, when not in use. The rest suck power all day. but if you like paying more you can always count on the cost of electricty to go up.
Hi Jay,
Thanks for being energy conscientious.
If you really want to save energy, use plug strips and turn off the strip when you're done. Get one for each plug that has several items: small kitchen appliances, entertainment center, computer/office area. If you shut off all the little blinking lights and "instant on" features, you'll save big bucks in a year. My house was brilliantly constructed with one plug in each room that is controlled from a wall switch (originally intended for a table lamp). Flip: OFF.
I understand how the box works. My question is why don't they make a one house box?
I have 5 TV's all on one antenna. Could they have made a converter box for the whole
house? Is this just a way to sell more boxes? Who makes the decision on what the standard
is and what box will be sold. Is the government a part of this plan to sell more boxes
to get people to spend more on cable or new tv's or extra boxes ? I have asked online at
lots of places ( No one will answer me ) Thanks
Please reply with any comment.
The box actually takes the place of the TV tuner. Yoy could have one box, but all the sets would be on the same channel to watch.
Leon--
It would be nice to have a single converter box for the entire house. The problem has to do with the number of channels to be converted.
With a converter box per TV the box only needs 1 receiver and 1 transmitter (channel 3). The box only converts the channel you're watching.
With a single "household" converter box (for your 5 TVs) th box would have to receive and re-transmit all stations. So if you have 10 TV stations in your area, the box would need 10 receivers and 10 transmitters.
Hope this helps.
--mark
You are right...you will only see the channel on all TV's that the box is tuned to. However, if you live in the house alone, and strictly want one box for all TV's located throughout your house, then install the converter box into the master cable system in the house, connect all TV's to that system, and buy a Terk IR transmitter with one base receiver and one Terk remote IR Transmitter. Put the Terk base IR receiver in front of the converter box, and use the other Terk IR transmitter, and the converter box IR remote to take with you to anywhere your TV's are. Make sure you tune all your TV's to channel three or four, so that when they are turned on, they automatically start on that channel, which is the one the converter box transmits through the house cable system. You can now change channels from any TV in your house by using the Terk remote transmitter and your converter box remote, plus your own TV remote as well as the box remote. Just remember... you have to carry two devices with you... the Terk IR transmitter, and your one converter box remote. The Terk transmittter probably can reach from all points of the house.
Actually, they could have made a box that simply takes the first digital channel, converts it to analog, and then puts it on analog channel 2, the second digital channel on analog channel 3, the third on analog channel 4, etc. This would have cost hundreds of dollars per unit and it's unlikely that many people would bother to buy it.
Everyone here are making it more complicated than they are.
Bendiana makes more sense and was right.
Leon, it's all about the no. of tuners so you can watch diff. channels from diff. TVs at the same time. Which means you watch 1 program & your wife can watch a diff. program on another TV at the same time. When you buy TVs they all have 1-tuner inside individually. (So you're not thinking of just buying a car without an engine just because you already have 1 car. You're not thinkin' of moving that 1 engine all the time don't you?) Not unless like Bendiana said, if you want all your TVs shows the same program.
By the way, I myself am not a big fan of the gov't medling with peoples lives. But in this case they actually helping us. What would you like to pay, $60-$80 or $10-$20 'coz of the coupons. Otherwise you'll have to buy a new TV for hundreds of $$. We all have to give credit where credit is due. And we can't stop progress either. Everyones' going digital (Japan had been for the last several years). Do you want to stay analog?
I hope these helps.
Tivax STB-T8, say something nice? Can't do it.
Sent it back for repair after a few days. Will not hold channels and the delay between channels is frustrating.Remote is small and buttons to close together. Waste of money.
Agreed. Digital is the wave and the converter box keeps pace with technological advancements and allows all those with the older technology to keep right on living like they used to, only better and best of all for free. Unless you have Fios then the converter box/digital capable antenna is your best bet for the best picture quality and continued return on investment on your equipment.
My STB-T8 woke me up at 6 AM today (first full day of use) beeping like an alarm clock, with the red Standby LED blinking to the same rythm. Why? How do I make sure that it never happens again? There is no information that this box could have that warrents a mandatory wake-up.
Just got this converter box and so far I'm not too happy with it. The cord is too short to reach to my outlet (which great idea on here to unplug power strip)so I'll need an extension cord. Also, my pass through channels are now snowy. I thought they'd all be available, but looks like I'll have to keep switching the box on/off to get the channels I want. Can't get the closed caption off either and I hate that it scrolls over about half the screen. Maybe I'll have to break down and get a new TV.
Thanks for this information
You have to point the remote control directly to the converter box, either way it won't work.
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