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.

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.

Features & Specs

V-Chip Lock Parental Control Setting

Configurable Closed Captioning

Electronic Program Guide

Smart Antenna Port

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.

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.

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