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.

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