# Digital to analog convertor boxes **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 8, 2008, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-to-analog-convertor-boxes/436832 "2008-02-08T18:38:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-to-analog-convertor-boxes/436832/1 "2008-02-08T18:38:06Z")
So the FCC says as of Feb 18, 2009 analog TV will be cut off. Anyone with an analog TV will have to purchase a new TV or buy a convertor box to allow their TVs to receive the digital broadcasts. The government is supposed to give you a $40 coupon towards the purchase of a convertor: [https://www.dtv2009.gov/](https://www.dtv2009.gov/) Fine, maybe. But as I see it, this has two big problems (correct me if I’m wrong): 1. You won’t be able to change channels with your analog TV, the convertor box will need to change channels. 2. Your VCR will no longer work properly. All your channels are received through the convertor box and most existing VCRs can’t control the convertor box or receive the digital channels on their own. To record programs you’ll either have to manually make sure the convertor box is tuned to the right channel, or you’ll have to buy a Digital Video Recorder like TivoHD. This is IMHO a HUGE problem that I haven’t seen discussed. Personally I’m set with 42" Plasma and TivoHD, but for my many friends and relatives that still have analog TVs and still use VCRs, it’s gonna be a tough and expensive transistion. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-to-analog-convertor-boxes/436832/2 "2008-02-08T18:59:35Z")
For anybody interested here is a recent much related thread. [Free-to-air Television Broadcasts: Soon a Thing of the Past?!?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=453679) Yes, for the poor this is expensive, and the $40 coupon won’t come close to the cost. It is also only on one box if you even qualify. The government will be raking in the cash for those sold off airwaves at first. The high amounts paid will however just be billed back to the customers in the end. Households with multiple residents will have to watch the same thing like back in the 60’s I guess. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-to-analog-convertor-boxes/436832/3 "2008-02-08T19:15:13Z")
I was mostly pointing out the VCR problem, as far as I can see an existing VCR won’t be able to work with digital TV unless you manually tune the converter channel and record everything on VCR channel 3 (or 4). ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-to-analog-convertor-boxes/436832/4 "2008-02-08T19:22:43Z")
Here’s my question: What happens if instead of just buying a converter box for my analog T.V., I buy a new digital T.V.? Will that work without any cable or satellite hookup? Will it work normally with a VCR? ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-to-analog-convertor-boxes/436832/5 "2008-02-08T19:44:37Z")
[QUOTE=SpoilerVirgin] Here’s my question: What happens if instead of just buying a converter box for my analog T.V., I buy a new digital T.V.? Will that work without any cable or satellite hookup? Will it work normally with a VCR? [/QUOTE] Yes, as long as the digital TV has an “ATSC Tuner”, then it can receive free, very high quality HD widscreen programming (at least in most areas, not all stations and/or programs have converted to HD.) The picture is beautiful, I actually watched a documentary on hummingbirds on PBS because the video was so great. I even watch football and golf. I don’t think any VCR I’ve ever seen will work with digital signals, that’s partly what I was posting here to find out. I’ve never heard of it. That will be more painful for people than having to buy a TV or converter box. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-to-analog-convertor-boxes/436832/6 "2008-02-08T19:52:00Z")
Here’s two potentially dumb questions, both on behalf of my almost-elderly mother… 1. Will my mom’s VCR continue to play videos, after the hookup of a digital-analog converter? She has no idea how to record, but is hopelessly devoted to watching VHS tapes. (She purchased and then gave away a DVD player because it was “too hard to use.”) 2. Does she genuinely need a converter? She has cable, but it is hooked directly to her 10 year old analog “cable-ready” TV. Will she need to get a cable box, or can she continue to receive the cable signal directly into her TV? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-to-analog-convertor-boxes/436832/7 "2008-02-08T19:54:35Z")
[QUOTE=control-z] Yes, as long as the digital TV has an “ATSC Tuner”, then it can receive free, very high quality HD widscreen programming (at least in most areas, not all stations and/or programs have converted to HD.) The picture is beautiful, I actually watched a documentary on hummingbirds on PBS because the video was so great. I even watch football and golf. I don’t think any VCR I’ve ever seen will work with digital signals, that’s partly what I was posting here to find out. I’ve never heard of it. That will be more painful for people than having to buy a TV or converter box. [/QUOTE] Exactly what are you basing this on? My understanding is that you connect your antennae to the converter box and the converter box to your TV. The box converts the digitial signal from the antennae to an analog signal and sends the analog signal on to the TV. Why in the world would a VCR not work with a converter box? ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-to-analog-convertor-boxes/436832/8 "2008-02-08T19:56:09Z")
[QUOTE=Motorgirl] Here’s two potentially dumb questions, both on behalf of my almost-elderly mother… 1. Will my mom’s VCR continue to play videos, after the hookup of a digital-analog converter? She has no idea how to record, but is hopelessly devoted to watching VHS tapes. (She purchased and then gave away a DVD player because it was “too hard to use.”) 2. Does she genuinely need a converter? She has cable, but it is hooked directly to her 10 year old analog “cable-ready” TV. Will she need to get a cable box, or can she continue to receive the cable signal directly into her TV? Thanks! [/QUOTE] If she has cable, she doesn’t need a converter box or a cable box. Period. Her VCR will continue to work just fine. ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-to-analog-convertor-boxes/436832/9 "2008-02-08T19:58:20Z")
[QUOTE=Harmonious Discord] Yes, for the poor this is expensive, and the $40 coupon won’t come close to the cost. It is also only on one box if you even qualify. The government will be raking in the cash for those sold off airwaves at first. The high amounts paid will however just be billed back to the customers in the end. Households with multiple residents will have to watch the same thing like back in the 60’s I guess. [/QUOTE] Each household is qualified for two discount coupons. The boxes are expected to cost about $50 each. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-to-analog-convertor-boxes/436832/10 "2008-02-08T19:59:35Z")
[QUOTE=LonesomePolecat] Exactly what are you basing this on? My understanding is that you connect your antennae to the converter box and the converter box to your TV. The box converts the digitial signal from the antennae to an analog signal and sends the analog signal on to the TV. Why in the world would a VCR not work with a converter box? [/QUOTE] If your TV has the digital tuner, you don’t need a converter box. If you are using a converter box with an old analog TV, then you connect the VCR to the TV’s analog ‘Video 2’ inputs ( assuming it has them), I kinda doubt that the converter boxes will have analog inputs. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-to-analog-convertor-boxes/436832/11 "2008-02-08T19:59:35Z")
[QUOTE=LonesomePolecat] If she has cable, she doesn’t need a converter box or a cable box. Period. Her VCR will continue to work just fine. [/QUOTE] Thanks, she will be much relieved. Now I just need to decide what we’ll do about the TV in our sun room, which my husband bought with his Christmas and allowance money when he was 12 so he could play Atari… ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-to-analog-convertor-boxes/436832/12 "2008-02-08T20:06:51Z")
[QUOTE=SpoilerVirgin] Here’s my question: What happens if instead of just buying a converter box for my analog T.V., I buy a new digital T.V.? Will that work without any cable or satellite hookup? Will it work normally with a VCR? [/QUOTE] A new digital TV will of course work just fine for broadcast TV without a converter box. I doubt that many manufacturers are bothering to make digital TVs compatible with VCRs, because videotape is going the way of the 8-track and the cassette. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-to-analog-convertor-boxes/436832/13 "2008-02-08T20:10:10Z")
Here’s a [newspaper columnist](http://www.bnd.com/living/schlueter/story/232324.html) who says that you should be able to record just fine with a VCR from either a digital TV or an analog TV with a digital converter: > [@](#): > > The same is true for your VCR. On this, I can speak from personal experience. I added a digital TV to my home entertainment system three years ago, and I can assure you that the VCR that was installed along with it plays just fine. > > As the government explains it: “Digital television sets are ‘backward compatible,’ meaning existing analog equipment (i.e., VCRs and DVDs) will work on digital TV sets. However, their video will only be displayed in the maximum resolution that is available with each analog product.” > > In other words, a VCR won’t produce the sharp image of a digital transmission, but it shouldn’t be any worse that what you’re watching now. And, once you hook the converter box to your analog set, you still can use the VCR for recording, too, the folks at the Federal Communications Commission assure me. ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-to-analog-convertor-boxes/436832/14 "2008-02-08T20:12:42Z")
[QUOTE=SpoilerVirgin] Here’s a [newspaper columnist](http://www.bnd.com/living/schlueter/story/232324.html) who says that you should be able to record just fine with a VCR from either a digital TV or an analog TV with a digital converter: [/QUOTE] I stand corrected. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-to-analog-convertor-boxes/436832/15 "2008-02-08T20:13:11Z")
[QUOTE=LonesomePolecat] Exactly what are you basing this on? My understanding is that you connect your antennae to the converter box and the converter box to your TV. The box converts the digitial signal from the antennae to an analog signal and sends the analog signal on to the TV. Why in the world would a VCR not work with a converter box? [/QUOTE] How can the VCR tune to different channels? Your TV will probably have to be tuned to channel 3 or 4 to receive the digital channel via the converter box. Same thing with the VCR, it could receive one channel at a time via the converter box, but it can’t tune to a different channel. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-to-analog-convertor-boxes/436832/16 "2008-02-08T20:15:44Z")
I don’t think that the VCR will work just as well. The converter box has to be set to the channel that you want to record. This means that you have to set the channel at the box manually. If you are there OK but if say you want to record something on channel 4 and at 8:00 and then channel 7 at 9:00 it is not going to work. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-to-analog-convertor-boxes/436832/17 "2008-02-08T20:20:23Z")
After I posted the newspaper quote, I read it again more closely, and I’m not sure that I interpreted it correctly. It looks like what he’s saying is that if you have a digital T.V., you will be able to play VCR tapes, but not record. If you have a converter box (so that you’re actually creating an analog signal from the digital one) you will be able to record. If that is the case, I might be better off getting a converter box than purchasing a new digital T.V. I tried to edit my original post, but spent so much time just attempting to figure out what was actually being said that I used up my whole 5 minutes. I’ve read many articles and visited the government’s site on this, and there are still a lot of things I’m just not getting. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-to-analog-convertor-boxes/436832/18 "2008-02-08T20:21:15Z")
Exactly. It’s March 2009. The signal coming into the antenna is in a digital format. The antenna is plugged into the converter box. The converter box changes digital to analog. The VCR is plugged into the converter box. The VCR can receive whatever channel the converter box is tuned to, but it can’t tune to a different channel. Unless the converter box somehow maps digital channels like 29.1 and 29.2 to “fake” analog channel numbers for the benefit of the analog VCR and TV. ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-to-analog-convertor-boxes/436832/19 "2008-02-08T20:22:32Z")
[QUOTE=UncleRojelio] If your TV has the digital tuner, you don’t need a converter box. If you are using a converter box with an old analog TV, then you connect the VCR to the TV’s analog ‘Video 2’ inputs ( assuming it has them), I kinda doubt that the converter boxes will have analog inputs. [/QUOTE] There seems to be a lot of confusion here. A converter box is of course designed to be used with on old analog set. If you have a new digital set, you don’t need a converter box at all. The converter box converts the digital signal from the antennae into an analog signal. There is no reason an analog VCR would not be able to work with a converter box, since all the converter box does is convert a digital signal into an analog signal. A VCR should work just fine for either recording or playback when it’s hooked up to a converter box. I also suspect some folks are confusing digital with high definition. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-to-analog-convertor-boxes/436832/20 "2008-02-08T20:27:49Z")
[QUOTE=LonesomePolecat] There seems to be a lot of confusion here. A converter box is of course designed to be used with on old analog set. If you have a new digital set, you don’t need a converter box at all. The converter box converts the digital signal from the antennae into an analog signal. There is no reason an analog VCR would not be able to work with a converter box, since all the converter box does is convert a digital signal into an analog signal. A VCR should work just fine for either recording or playback when it’s hooked up to a converter box. I also suspect some folks are confusing digital with high definition. [/QUOTE] You are correct that the converter box-\>VCR-\>TV hookup will work, and will allow one to record shows that have been tuned by the converter box. However, this removes some of the usefulness of the VCR - you won’t be able to watch one show while recording another, and you can’t program the VCR to record shows on different channels while you are away. These are both things you can currently do with a VCR and analog OTA broadcasts. I think that’s what the **OP** is complaining about. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-to-analog-convertor-boxes/436832.md?page=2)