Craig CVD508 Digital TV Converter Box Reviews


Product Rating: 1.0
Product Details: This box is not considered a top of the line converter box and is not priced out as such. It can be had for around $45 which is pretty cheap. Top boxes to consider that are a bit more expensive include the Dish Network DTVPal Plus. This box doesn't come with the best in industry picture or sound quality but it gets the job done and is an upgrade from what you are use to getting with analog television.

Features: It comes with composite video and audio jacks. It comes with a remote control that is NOT universal. It has adjustable closed captioning and parental control settings available via V-chip. It also comes with a sleep timer so that it will automatically shut off at the set time. This converter box also comes with a program guide that provides information about future and currently airing shows for each channel. One key feature that makes it a good buy is its analog pass-through function that allows you to get channels that continue to broadcast in analog. It also comes with language support for Spanish, French, and English.

As stated before, the Craig CVD508 is not a top rated converter box but it seems to have enough features to satisfy most users. It comes with the most vital function, analog pass-through, and it is also very reasonably priced at $45. We however do not recommend it. One complaint about this box is that the remote control is not very good and some of them seem to be faulty. However, the main complaint we have gotten from many users is that the box overheats and seems to fail at the 2-8 month mark, which is clearly unacceptable.


Update April 2014

Real User Reviews: The following reviews have been sent to us by users of the CVD-508 totally unsolicited by us. In general they were pretty bad and we strongly advise against purchasing this box.


Anonymous Said...
"I work for a TV station and we've had many complaints from viewers saying they can't get us or any other station anymore. We took on apart and found it blew capacitors from overheating. This unit is a bad design and cannot properly cool itself. Hence a two month life."
Mark Said...
Like countless others, I bought two of these things. One worked for about 6 months, the other a little longer but they both broke. The green light is on and won't turn off manually or with the remote and no reception."
Fran Said...
"I have the same story as everyone else. First box went after 3 weeks and the second one is in the process, first channel buttons on box and now the remote. Why hasn't the people who made the signal change done anything about this."
Anonymous Said...
"I've had my box since last year, and have had no problems at all. I suggest turning the box off when not using it, or when it gets hot. One thing I noticed, you have to move the antenna around to get most of the channels to work, when other converter boxes pick up more channels, and better signal at that. Remote works fine, and I hope my box doesn't overheat and stop working like the rest of you. I wish you the best of luck, and I highly recommend purchasing a Digital Stream converter box. It's the best one I've seen so far."
Sam Said...
"I to was one of the victims of Craig Electronics with CVD508 TV converter box like all of the commenters above. Mine worked just about 10 minutes then the picture got frozen. I found out it was because the box got so hot and stopped working. Since many commenters had no answer when they called 1-866-321-7191, I think all of us should file the complain to Better Business Bureau."
Phyllis Said...
"Well, mine seems to have lasted a bit longer than most. It started with intermittent signal loss and I noticed the box was quite warm. Would work again once unplugged and allowed to cool. Now, when it's turned on there is only the green light, no response from the remote and no picture on the screen. Cannot even be turned off manually. Must be unplugged."
Features & Specs
Analog Pass
V-Chip Lock Parental Control Setting For Adult Rated Shows
Configurable Closed Captioning For The Hearing Impaired
Electronic Program Guide For Show Previews
Sleep Timer
Multi-Language Support

What Is Included With Your Purchase?
Converter Box
Remote Control
Power Cord
Manual

37 comments:

  1. My Craig CVD-508 Digital TV Converter Box IS NOT WORKING - the green is on but the remote has stop resoucing - I put new batteries in the remote but did not work - HOW DO I GET TECH SUPORT?

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  2. I can hook the xbox up to the box but I can't get it to play. Can someone explain to me how to get it to play?

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  3. Stopped working after 2 months Got another one Same thing after 3 months These things are JUNK!

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  4. Same thing happened to mine.

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  5. this has happend to me also i have 3 letters for you BBB

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  6. Bought one NOS/NIB privately. Didn't work. Tried to contact the company. No response.

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  7. i brought mine and all it does is say no signal it search's and finds 20 ch's and all 20 have no signal at all and i called around and i have found no help 2 boost the signal and on top of that it shuts off by it's self

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  8. Piece of JUNK!!!I purchased 4 months ago and this thing just stopped working.I have 2 more of this brand that's going in the garbage.

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  9. We have the exact same testimony. Ours worked maybe 6 months: the green light is on, but it does not work. How can we get our money back or get a replacement?

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  10. If you want to reset it your remote has to be working, just hit the menu button, go to settings,then select system reset.
    However, if anyone knows how to get the box to pick up channels please let me know.
    It might be my antenna though, because it says it'snot getting any signal.
    Try switching your antenna, if it works please let me know.

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  11. Like countless others, I bought two of these things. One worked for about 6 months, the other a little longer but they both broke. The green light is on and won't turn off manually or with the remote and no reception.

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  12. I'm having the same problem. No signal is being received.

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  13. I have the same problem. I was just getting ready to watch lost and every channel I tried had no signal.I know it's not the antenna.

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  14. the phone no. to call is 866-321-7191 however there is always a voice mail message...can never get a live person to speak with. They probably know their digital converter box is CRAP!!

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  15. We purchased one of these units for very limited use on a secondary TV. It worked fine last fall when it was last used. This spring, the green light comes on and that is about it, no menu or anything.

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  16. waltenbaughs@yahoo.comMay 31, 2010 at 8:41 PM

    what kind of antenna do I need to have for this. I just have a box, No antenna at all, Mine works but has no signal at all. Do I need a pair of "rabbit ears" to pick up signal?

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  17. It worked fine in the beginning. I haven't used it in the past 8 or 9 months, but have moved and needed it again. It doesn't work anymore. Just immediately freezes up and shuts itself off. Sucks that this cost $60 at the Rite Aid I bought it from.

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  18. Same thing, i bought one because i had to with the switch to digital. This thing is a piece of crap. I can barely watch one tv show. The remote takes over a minute to change the channel...if it works. The signal goes out if a bus goes by, or a car, or a bird. This was such a huge forced waste of money.

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  19. Same as above....its sad that a company like Craig, who has long been a reliable vendor has now fallen into such a hole to produce such a cheap product...shame on you Craig. Look at all the negative comments above. People really repected your name....Looks like that has changed. I know it has for me.

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  20. i purchased one last year .it works but,i can't get alot of channels with it.you will need an expensive antenna to pick up any station.it's still a piece of crab.DO NOT BUY.

    sign-janice

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  21. I purchased a box from Rite Aid and it's performance is horrible. It worked a few months and haven't worked since. Refunds should be granted for these unreliable expensive electronics. July 08, 2010

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  22. Same thing here. Go to menu, scan for channels all say "No Signal"

    This was a huge forced waste of money and all those TV stations telling us to call such and such tele# to get a coupon scammed us all. Craig was the brand offered with the coupon, we were not given a choice. So not only did they force us to buy new technology, not only did they make a bundle, the thing doesn't work.

    Barbara

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  23. Surprised to read many commentors saying the box green light is on, the remote control does not work. My neighbor of brooklyn, NY has identical
    problem. Does anybody has any idea to make it work? The video quality was not bad at all in comparison with another brand (Apex)when it works. It works with the old 75 ohm antenna.

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  24. ours went screwy too -- a piece of junk and won't work

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  25. I have had to get 2 remotes with this box now after about 3 mounth's nothing works they are JUNK!

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  26. On mine last Sunday during a football game it said "an illegal function" then turned off. I unplugged it and try to turn it on, no green light or red light, no lights. What the hell happened?

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  27. My Craig converter worked fine for about a year. Then is became erratic. Working only after resting a day. Now it does not work at all.
    New Jersey

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  28. this craig product is no good,will have nothing to do with this brand name again.I bought a rca converter box and it terrific! (craig products are no good)

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  29. green light is on.. the remote is only able to change the light to red...
    any suggestions if this will work..

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  30. My box comes on and remote works good only no signal ever. No matter what I do I think it was another gov. scam to pocket cash.

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  31. reduce audio to 40% increase tv audio heat level will drop.

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  32. I've got the same problem and I believe it's something to do with the power converter circuit inside the unit. Typically with all cable boxes and converters that are coming from China and BFE, there are cheap CHINESE capacitors causing the problems. Those Red Savages build stuff just to fail... Boycott China.

    I pulled mine apart and sure enough, Three of the capacitors (all of them are Chi-com)470mf 25v values are "leaky" and have made marks on the circuit board. I would suggest finding a friend with electronics training and have them switch out ALL of the caps in this turd, as I have had to replace ChiCOM crap before... never fails to fail.

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  33. I just took my box out of the circuit and my TV found the exact channels just fine...If you have a newer TV (I have a Polaroid with DVD) and I just used the menu to set the tuner to scan and get my channels to come in. My state (Kentucky) does not stop transmission until 2016. Hope this helps.

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  34. how do i set up a universal remote to my craigs converter box

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  35. same deal, stopped working for no reason, i then found, that if i repeatedly unplugged unit from wall and as soon as the amber light showed, hit on button top of the remote, sometimes green would come on and tv would fire up, but most of the time it would'nt. Also, go into menu on remote, and switch off auto off, which is a power saving feature, the problem here is; you have to get tv running first, but the bottom line really is these craig units are a piece of crap. It's obviously the power supply that is poorly designed, cheap Chinese crap.

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  36. My Craig CVD508 just stopped working.I get the green light but my tv screen is blue. I get nothing.It doesnt even work with the remote although the batteries are brand new.

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  37. I agree this box is junk! Mine works for awhile, then freezes up. Will never buy another product from Craig again.

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