# TV signal dropout with converter box

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-signal-dropout-with-converter-box/481494>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 15, 2009, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-signal-dropout-with-converter-box/481494 "2009-01-15T21:08:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Neidhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Neidhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neidhart)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-signal-dropout-with-converter-box/481494/1 "2009-01-15T21:08:36Z")

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I just hooked up my converter box today; my setup goes:

Antenna → box → VCR with analog tuner → DVD recorder with digital tuner → TV with analog tuner.

Now in most situations this seems to work. But if I try watching (or recording) something on the DVD recorder while the converter box is turned on, the signal is very intermittent. For example, if I watch channel 7-1 through the DVD recorder when the converter box is off, it’s fine. But when I turn the box on, the signal through the DVD recorder is maybe 5 seconds of program, then 30 seconds of “No Signal”. ☹

Is this supposed to happen?

When the transition happens, will I just have to live with this situation or spring for a new VCR and TV?

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**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\
**Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-signal-dropout-with-converter-box/481494/2 "2009-01-16T01:02:48Z")

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Digital signals are very fussy. In a lot of places rain will kill them. It also depends on the box and antenna. RCA box is much more fussier than a Magnavox box, but I found RCA once locked on a signal holds the signal better.

You might want to ask at

[AVS Forum](http://avsforum.com)

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**Author:** ![Apex\_Rogers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@Apex\_Rogers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apex_Rogers)\
**Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-signal-dropout-with-converter-box/481494/3 "2009-01-16T01:53:53Z")

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Have you tried cutting the VCR out of the loop? I can imagine sending the signal through the VCR could cause a small amount of signal degradation, perhaps enough to show the symptoms you describe. Worth a try at least.