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Zenith DTT901 Digital TV Tuner Converter Box with Analog Pass-Through

After testing many converter boxes, the Zenith DTT901 and the Tivax STB-T8 and Tivax STB-T9 are the best. The DTT901 is slightly better at poor signal reception, Tivax STB-T8 & T9 have slightly better picture quality.

The converter was easy to set up, taking just a few minutes. It works great using the existing analog antenna, no modifications necessary. Say goodbye to “fuzzy” analog channels… your old TV has never looked better!

Save $40 on This TV Converter Box
On February 17, 2009, U.S. broadcast television is switching from analog to digital signals. Analog televisions using an antenna will require a converter box to receive broadcast TV after that date. Every U.S. household can get up to two coupons–each with a code good for $40 off the cost of eligible converter boxes.

Technical Details

* Digital TV Tuner Coverter Box
* Analog Pass-Through for Low-Power TV Stations broadcasts
* On-Screen Program Information with Remote Control
* Simple Connection to TV with supplied RF Cable
* Parental Control to Manage TV Programs and advanced Closed Captioning

Customer Reviews:

Outstanding with Radio Shack antenna, February 13, 2009
By C. G. King (Horse Country, VA USA)
I was surprised to find the antenna still matters when using a converter box and my old rabbit ears weren’t delivering so I upgraded and it made all the difference. I was initially pleased that this converter box brought in such a wonderfully clear picture and added channels I didn’t even know existed, but was unhappy that instead of a fuzzy picture with a weak analog signal, a weak digital signal breaks up and is unwatchable. Wind seems to affect the signal more than stormy conditions and the signals I receive are generally stronger in the evening than in the daytime.

My rabbit ears are on a high bookcase and pretty much inaccessible so changing them for different channels or weather conditions is impractical. I decided to get a new antenna and went to Radio Shack for advice. The first unit I got was better, but still not great, so I returned it and came away with their more expensive ’space ship’ looking model. Like the first, it plugs into the wall as well as the converter box, but this one has a remote that lets you program it to different settings for different channels (a very easy process). That is ideal for my situation–not that I want another remote, but I don’t need to use it often and at least have the option if weather seems to be affecting reception. As it’s turned out, with this antenna, I now get even more stations and rarely does the picture break up so I couldn’t be happier.

The converter box itself is very easy to use and setup as others have said. I particularly like being able to get an on-screen program guide so I can select the desired program without having to advance through all the channels and the program description display is also helpful. I’d gotten used to those features with DirectTV and value them. I’d tried to add the local channels to that package at first, but couldn’t due to their inability to relocate my dish to access the necessary satellite. In the end, I’m happier with the converter box as it is much cheaper than the extra monthly charge to DirectTV and the features and picture are just as good. The converter box hooks to the cable box instead of the TV and passes through it. When the cable box is ‘on’ I get cable, when I turn it off, I see the local channels (and use the converter box remote). The TV stays on channel 3 all the time and no more bug races when I switch to local channels.

All in all, I’m extremely pleased with this box and all its features, which I guess some others don’t have. For example when I got the new antenna, I rescanned and it added six new stations, but I ended up deleting a couple of them due to lack of interest. That was also easy to do with the Zenith full featured remote. I’ve customized the picture sizes to fit my TV and have used the signal-strength feature a lot to determine the best settings for the new antenna. With all the extra channels I now get, including several new PBS stations with no commercials, I’m glad I didn’t go the cable route, as it doesn’t show half that many in its menu. The fancy new antenna cost $50, but it’s well worth it.

Update: The remote has a ’sleep’ button. When pressed and the unit is in sleep mode, it will turn itself off after a period of no use. Pressing the button again puts the unit back in manual mode, which means it will stay on until you turn it off manually with the power button. You can leave it on all the time, but I’m not sure yet the effect on the power bill. I mention this because others have complained that the unit ‘randomly’ turned itself off. Actually they had it in sleep mode, but apparently didn’t know it.

simple setup, February 12, 2009
By L. Liu (san mateo, ca)
i don’t know how other converter boxes are supposed to work, so i have nothing to compare it to. but, i can say this…it took me less than ten minutes to get it all set up. that includes opening the box, reading the instructions, climbing behind the tv and hooking all the cables up correctly. there is some slight delay when you change the channels, but the pictures come in clear. i’ve only owned it for a month, so no problems or defects yet.

Light weight, compact, and works great!!, January 27, 2009
By L. Williams (Las Vegas,NV USA)
Looking through all of the DTV converter box choices, I chose this one because I had never heard of most of the other company names. I used a government coupon on this box so it only cost me 20 bucks which is a good deal. I hooked it up in my apartment, used my old rabbit ears instead of buying a new pair and it works great!! I like how it has a zoom button so you could change some(But not all) of a channel’s screen size. It has closed caption options, channel display of what’s playing and when, and a favorites menu. All in all I’m really enjoying this box!!

THIS IS THE ONE TO BUY!, September 15, 2008
By G. Dowling (St. Louis, MO, USA)
I’ve not encountered any product recently that works so simply and easily as this does. It’s a cinch to set up; for more complicated systems which also include DVD/VCR and stereo system, the people manning the 800 number are extremely helpful and patient. I needed their help — and we had it all done in under 10 minutes. I’m truly amazed by the high quality of the picture on my 27″ Sharp with only simple rabbit ears plus this box. I read most customer reviews of this and the others offered by BestBuy, CircuitCity and Target — this was the clear winner based on these. Now that I have it hooked up, it’s the clear winner for me. I say unhesitatingly, BUY IT. I’m buying a second one for bedroom TV before second coupon expires.

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