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

43 comments:

  1. Works just fine. Some stations are changing from UHF to VHF so you must have both antennas for this to work and you must be within line-of-sight. If there are obstructions between you and the broadcast tower(s) then your only choice is cable or satellite.

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  2. We purchased 2 of the RCA DTA800B1 boxes last night at Walmart in Fort Worth, TX. They are selling them for $49.87. The nice thing about this brand is the channel buttons on the front (as someone pointed out if you misplace your remote you can still change channels). The picture quality is top notch. The only problem is we need to update our antenna, but no problem, this box has a smart antenna port in the back. That will be the next purchase. With the rabbit ears we get 39 channels. Who knows how many the smart antenna will give us.

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  3. I have two of these boxes. The picture comes in very crisp and clear; however, I only receive 5 channels. I'm not sure if it is the multiple antennas that I have tried or the box itself. If I turn the box off, I can get other channels with some snow, but still viewable; but these channels will not come through on the converter box. I am going to try a smart antenna to see if this helps.

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  4. Very good cost (5.00 after 40.00 rebate coupon) from WalMart. Very good picture and sound...have purchased a rooftop mounted antennae and have 70+ channels. Only drawback as I have seen another Zenith box which allows one to omit/delete channels one does not want and thus less to scan through...that are foreign language channels. Otherwise, this is great. CAn sit on side or base.

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  5. I bought this several months ago and it worked for a month or so. Now it won't power on. It just continuously flashes in standby mode. It's a piece of junk, I'd strongly recommend against it. I thought RCA would be a good name, but anymore it's all Chinese junk.

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  6. I have 2 of these hunks of junk at my house. I bought them both back in January and started using them right away. They have worked great until last week. Now neither one of them will power up. They broke within about 4 days of each other. Any suggestions?

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  7. I purchased two of these at the same time. One works great, the other works for about an hour, then starts losing channels. Local large box retailer is refusing to refund or replace.

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  8. Won't power-up and volumn control gone after about 4 months. Batteries not answer.

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  9. I bought two of these converter boxes back in the winter and set them up and I only got about 3 or 4 channels after June 12th. Now they have both quit on me. They will not even turn on. What is the problem other than they are junk?

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  10. I purchased a RCA DTA800B1. I agree, it's junk! Mine has worked a few mos. Also bought a new antenna. I never really got good reception. Then, finally couldn't get any signal at all. Thought it was the antenna-but, I changed the converter box to a Magnavox-Hope this one lasts longer. By the way, I have a better picture, and better signal with this box. (Same antenna)

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  11. I really enjoyed the picture and audio quality of this box. I especially enjoy the detailed menu options and channel info. However, after one week, whenever a tv show rated 'tv-14' comes on the screen goes black with the word "TV Program Protected by tv-14". I've unchecked all v-chip settings to no avail. arrrrggggg!

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  12. We have one of these boxes. It has a lot of good features but like some others here it has begun having glitches. After several hours of inactivity it won't turn on. I have to unplug it and plug it in several times to get it to reset. When we use it throughout the day there are no issues, just after not using it (during the night). It's probably related to the power saver option. This morning I set mine to not turn off after any period. I'll see if that helps. It's a nuisance but unless RCA recalls the box, I am going to try to make it work. I can't afford to go out and buy another. On another note, I noticed that there are some channels that apparently haven't switched to digital. I can only get them with the TV tuner. They are not the major broadcast stations, only a faith based one and a foreign (hispanic) station. Perhaps the FCC made a provision for them to stay on the old bandwidth.

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  13. have a rca 800b control box have 2 remotes one works volume & channels the other only channel done the program numbers is there some thing iam missing
    12/31/09

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  14. I have an RCA box. First of all, with the remote, I can not turn volumn up. It will go down but not up. Second, I can't record a program on my VCR unless I am watching it. So much for watching one program and recording another. Third, the power on the box goes off after 4 hours, so I can't record anything if I'm gone more than 4 hours or the next day. Fourth, the signal if not good. I can't use the Microwave and watch TV at the same time. Sometimes I can't even walk around in the room. That makes it lose the signal. Sometimes I have to sit in certain chairs so it doesn't jump around. I can't believe you can't come up with something that will work.

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  15. We had two of these boxes, and they worked fine for about 6 months then the sound went out on both of them about a month apart. We had set them to not turn off after a poriod of time, not sure if that had anything to do with it or not. But that was an option in the menu so we did it.

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  16. Box worked great for about a year. Now a blacked out area (corresponding to the black background for program and show info) appears every now and then, but can be removed by pressing the remote info button a couple of times.

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  17. Looks like the RCA converter box was great out of the gates but has managed to pull up lame early in the race. Preliminary reviews I've read, stated it was top notch but durability was obviously not one of the criteria! The sound failed merely months after I purchased it. I'd say someone with RCA is rolling in all the government coupon money somewhere tropical.

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  18. I have one that stoped working. I did a new setup and it restored and worked great. Try a new install in a non working unit.

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  19. have had rca box for about 8 mos and now it just quit working didnt work well to begin with should have left the other system in place for tv watching at least it worked

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  20. I purchased 2 boxes RCA had one plugged the other was in box. 8 months latter RCA is junk and not working had to bring out the other but we are a lot happier with the Insignias purchased at the same time that are connected still working fine. Where can I get a replacement for the not working unit?

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  21. I need the codes for programing the digital converter box control

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  22. Can ANYONE post a copy of the 3-digit program codes that came as a seperate sheet with the box?
    I wonder why this was a seperate sheet, and also why it cannot seem to be posted on the RCA site! ?

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  23. RCA Needs To Recall This Product & Give EveryOne Their Money Back. I Do NOT Want A RCA Brand Replacement. I Have Two Wich Have Never Worked Properly From Day One. This Company Has Already Lost Their Reputation With This Product, (This Is Both Mine And Everyone I Knows Oppinion, Including Alot Of Previously DieHard RCA Fans) I Have Had Almost Every Problem Listed On Here + Many More. My Most Recent Is The InAbbility To Watch More Than 10-15min Of AnyThing @ Wich Point The Box's Start Flipping Channels Repeatedly @First, U Could Just Hit A Button On The Remote To Stop It Then Put It Back On The Correct Channel, Now, I Have To UnPlug It (For AnyWhere From A Few Minutes To SeveralHours), Then Once It Finally Decides To Come On, I Have To Completely Reset It.
    I Have No Other Choice But To Contenue Dealing With It, I Can Not Afford Another One, I Already Paid $50+ For Each Of Them (I Never Received My $40off Coupons & When I Called Back, They Said There Was No More Available) & W.M. Would Not Stand Behind Them (Though They Have Now DisContenued Carrying The Due To The Numerous Complaints & Attempted Returns).
    IF YOU ARE SHOPPING FOR A NEW DTV CONVERTER, DO NOT BUY ONE OF THEESE, (No Matter How Great The Deal Seems, The HeadAches Are Not Worth It).

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  24. I got one of these 'free' - and having the 'can't turn on' problem - tho if you hold the button it seems like will cycle back to on - tho even then may not last

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  25. This is on of the worst converter boxes money can buy. It makes a good motion decteter because it drops out so much when you move around in the house. Radio Shack does not sell junk, it only junk when it is cheep or as is or when one has to fix it to be quality in a like new state like a clasic tube radio. Perhaps if RCA would make the converter box with tubes it would be better or work!

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  26. just bought the converter box to use on 13 in tv. can't get protected program by pg-14 off so i can watch these programs

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  27. I live in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, México, and bought this converter box 2 and a half years ago, until this date (june 2011) it works perfectly, in spite of I use a lot of.
    MMM RECOMMENDS THIS RCA DTA800B1 CONVERTER BOX

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  28. All the comments that was posted, count your blessings. It's beats approx $96.00 a month in TV cable bill. The headache of the converter box it worth some "problems" that have to be work out...down the line. Give me a break!

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  29. THE CODES FOR RCA DEFAULT AS "0000". During setup, you can try the....press MENU....then press 5...6...2.

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  30. This is a P.O.S. !!! Just bought it, and it scans o.k., but even on Comcast cable, it cannot find a single Digital channel, and I tried it four times. The three Digital Tv's we have, all receive the digital channels just fine, but the RCA DTA800B1 cannot !! It is Crap, I tell you !! Now I have to take it back, just like most other junk these companies build these days. Don't buy it!

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  31. How do I run channel scan On RCA DTA800B1L. Don't have the original remote

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  32. I thought I was alone with having problems with the RCA DTA8001L. I can't keep the channel signal in. The signal strength never actually faulters but the box loses channels after a few days and I have to reset the box. Not to mention what a great "motion detector" I now own. It's driving me crazy

    !

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  33. bought one the other night and out of the box the remote doesn't work which you need to scan for channels so i replaced it and had the same problem this is a cheap piece of junk i would not buy it

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  34. I have just discovered that my channel 2-2 doesn't give me any audio signal but the rest work ok. anyone know how to fix a single channel audio glitch? I have a different brand and it works fine on that one

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  35. I have lost my book need t prog it for a Magnavox TV can anyone help me out my e-mail is jesseholguin2007@yahoo.com

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  36. I bought this box because I could not find an Insignia box locally. The volume control doesn't work on my larger tv, and I have boughtea how to see the guide. There is not a "Guide" button on the remote like my old insignia. I bought this one because it said it had a guide. I also have no clue what the "PGM" button does. I willbe looking for another Insignia box on ebay.

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  37. Purchased this box because I couldn't fund an Insignia like my grandfather has. The volume control does not work, and there is no guide. I will be looking for an Insignia online. It's fine for a back up as it does have good reception; but not as a primary.

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  38. "I have just discovered that my channel 2-2 doesn't give me any audio signal but the rest work ok. anyone know how to fix a single channel audio glitch? I have a different brand and it works fine on that one"

    I have the same problem and would like to know why too.

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  39. This box seems to be fine the only problem im having is I cant use the volume controls! Does any body know of a different code to use other than the ones in the manual

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  40. I thought my unit was not producing audio anymore until I pushed the input button and it came on. I had been watching a DVD just prior. Maybe this will help someone else. Have had unit about a year.

    The video and audio quality are quite nice. Sorry for those of you who have been having trouble.

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  41. hey my mom pressed some buttons on a remote now the tv is fuzzy and the tv screen picture is cut in half. how cani fix that please and thanks

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  42. If the RCA DTA800B1 won't come out of standby mode, you can try unplugging it, holding the power button on the device in and plugging it in at the same time. This seems to reset it on one of the devices I have, although I apparently need to do this each time it is powered up.

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  43. I have a dta800b1 converter box an the promote does not work

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