Last Tuesday, during the Philadelphia Chapter SMPTE meeting, I presented the results of tests run on three of the new NTIA digital TV converter boxes. Those models were Zenith’s DTT900, Digital Stream’s DTX9900, and Jasco’s GE 22730. In addition, host Rick Williams, chief engineer of New Jersey Network, hooked up Magnavox’s TB100MW9 (available at Wal-Mart).

For the demo, a single UHF yagi antenna took ATSC feeds from Philadelphia stations located at the Roxborough antenna farm. This feed was then split four ways, one RF feed to each box, and each video output was connected to a small CRT monitor, with the fourth converter connected to a 24-inch LCD.

The tests revealed quite a disparity in performance between models. Zenith’s DTT900 had the best user interface, with clean menu design and logical navigation to do everything from scan channels, view channel maps, check out the program guide, and enable/disable captions.

The Digital Stream box was slower in scanning channels, but did provide access to all of the requisite menus and basic functions. Oddly enough, its program guide menu was labeled "APPS," a moniker that would make no sense to the average viewer.

The GE box was the slowest of all to scan channels and provided the skinniest menus. It also had a confusing set of remote functions (example: Pushing the MENU button while in a sub-menu exits completely, while pushing EXIT backs up to the previous menu) and labels (SUBTITLES is the button for closed captions). Plus, it left out a channel mapping function completely.

The Magnavox converter was the least impressive in performance. During channel scans, it failed to read virtual channel table data correctly for New Jersey Network’s Camden outlet (WNJS-23), something the other three tuners had no problem doing. Williams mentioned he had already gotten several complaints from viewers not able to receive the nearby Trenton DTV broadcast (UHF 43) on the Magnavox converter.

The Magnavox converter also had trouble reading program guide information from either NJN station, again a problem not evident on the other three converter boxes. The GUI for the Magnavox was also unimpressive, but the Digital Stream box wasn’t a lot better. In fact, its menu included an option to tune for ATSC channels via a cable TV connection, something that is not possible and will only serve to confuse a purchaser even more about the DTV transition.

All NTIA converter boxes are required to have auto power-down timers as part of the growing emphasis on energy savings. While the Zenith I got back in January didn’t have the timer enabled, the GE and Digital Stream boxes came with the timer set to 4 hours before powering down (you can switch this to 1, 2, 8, or zero hours).

Oddly enough, only the Zenith and Digital Stream boxes received Energy Star certifications. Given that these boxes only consume about 8 - 10 watts when operating, you’d think all manufacturers of NTIA boxes would want this increasingly coveted designation as consumers "go green."

Another issue was picture quality. You’re probably wondering why that’s a big deal. Well, it is if your old NTSC TV has a 32-inch or 36-inch screen. I saw noticeable differences in NTSC quality though the composite video jacks on the four tuners, with the Zenith and Digital Stream coming out on top. Both had minimal aliasing and MPEG artifacts.

In contrast, the Magnavox and GE boxes had noticeably soft and aliased video, suitable only for small TV screens. Picture quality through the RF-modulated connection was still better on the Zenith and Digital Stream converters.

The morale? Caveat emptor. There are (as of today’s count) 51 models of approved NTIA converters for which you can redeem your $40 coupons. But it would appear that you get far more value for the money with some models, and there’s no way to tell which models are best unless someone else (like me) has reviewed them.

The conundrum? All NTIA coupons expire three months after their issue date, which is hardly enough time for reviewers to get their hands on most of these boxes and evaluate them. Be prepared to hear some serious grousing from consumers and their legislators in Congress in the near future as we find out which boxes really make the grade, and which don’t.

Reply to the author