Tivax STB-T8 Digital to Analog TV Converter Box
by Tivax
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List Price: Category: Home Theater See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Tivax STB-T8 Digital to Analog TV Converter Box
Customer Review: Wish I had not wasted my money on this junk!
Summary: 1 Stars
Forget the cost ... it's irrelevant. I rate this unit minus five, less than zero.
The controls are very small. The off button is less than 1/4" from the up volume button. Yes, you will accidently turn the TV off.
The channel and other on screen information is again so small that you can't read it unless you have a TV that covers the wall.
On a 27" TV, it's completely unreadable. Tell it to change the channel and it takes at least six seconds to do anything.
This unit is really just garbage at any price. Is this suppose to be progress? It's not!
Why didn't anyone tell me this on the reviews last year before I wasted my money? My TV and other video controls are not
like this, nor are the displays on the screen this tiny. I measure it and it's only 1/2" an inch tall, but across the room,
that is very small. Nothing placed on the screen that the source really wants you to be able to read is close to being
this small. So why is this unit so different? It had to have been designed by an idiot! I've been watching TV for decades
and have never had a sorrier piece of junk! It makes attempting to watch TV such a hassle, that these days, I just avoid it
completely.
Customer Review: Probably a better than average for a device type that is problematic
Summary: 3 Stars
The converter has a subtitle function that sometimes works. It has moments where the picture freezes or has "glitches" where the picture is scrambled. There are channels that are designated on the channel identification listing, but cannot seem to receive the channel. For some channels it shows three or four channels, but it is the same channel (i.e. 4 NBC's, etc....) The reception is greatly dependent upon the weather. The program guide, a large reason I purchased this unit over others, only lists the current show and the next show of the channel you are watching at the time you hit the "guide" feature. It does not show you what will be aired on other channels. It also seems to cut off the descriptor. You get the description on the first screen, but will usually not allow you to scroll down to see the rest of it.
As I mentioned in the title of this review, it appears the converter box technology is a "patch" to facilitate the new format of DTV. I am not certain if the majority of the problems come from the signal source or the converter. I had another box, I believe an "Access" unit purchased at Best Buy which did not work at all. Perhaps it will be best to purchase a new TV that is digital compliant.
Customer Review: Digital To Analog Converters
Summary: 4 Stars
I bought the Tivax STB-T8 as a second box. I have an Insigna brand (Best Buy) which is a knockoff of the Zenith design. I have a large VHF/UHF antenna in my attic which feeds an one input and eight output Amplifier. I have coax to every room in the house. I live on Long Island about 17 miles from Manhatten in NYC. I may be the only one on LI that does not have cable TV or an equivalent.
Both units give clear and very sharp pictures better than the analog. I now get several new channels in addition to all the old ones. I used to have some snow on channels 2, 4 and 5. That is now clear. I judge the Tivax to have slightly better video. The Insignia unit occationally, about once a week needs to be unplugged from the wall to force a reset.
I was also pleasently supprised to find some channels such as 7, 13, 21 and 26 have 2 to 4 sub channels I did not know existed.
One minor problem is that when you run the auto channel detect on the units, it will only detect the channels that are currently broadcasting. Some channels are only there in prime time. Overall, I am very pleased. I will probably investigate getting a better antenna which should be physically smaller at a later date.
Rich from NY.
Customer Review: DON'T BUY
Summary: 2 Stars
When I first bought this brand, I hooked it up to my kitchen tv. I was very upset that I was receiving only 3 or 4 channels. However, I blamed it on the tv itself (13"), and the location; on the counter, in the corner, and under cabinets. I figured it just wasn't in a good spot. Then I purchased another converter, a Zinwell, and put that one in the kitchen, and used the Tivax in another room. I was shocked to see how many more channels I was getting with the Zinwell ON THE SAME TV, IN THE SAME SPOT. So it was the Tivax giving me crappy reception, not my tv or the location. Other things I don't like about the Tivax: takes FOREVER to scan for channels, takes several seconds to turn on and to change a channel, gets hot quickly, red light stays on, instructions don't even tell you how to hook it up with a VCR or DVD, no univeral remote, it's too big and takes up more room than other brands. What I do like: comes with an AV cable, on-screen display is good. Just so you know, I have tried 3 brands so far: Tivax, Zinwell, and Digital Stream. So I do have enough experience with other brands in order to write a decent review. All in all, I HATE the Tivax. I can't believe it was recommended by Consumer Reports.Customer Review: TIVAX STB-T8 DIGITAL CONVERTER BOX---EXCELLENT
Summary: 5 Stars
Greetings, READER- I chose this digital converter box (Tivex STB-T8) because it got a top rating in Consumer Reports... I am not disappointed... Has great picture quality... Looks like it is well made, too--has a metal case, not plastic like most of the other brands... Very compact, too... By the way, about a month ago, I helped a friend set up HIS converter box (Zenith brand) and he did not have an antenna available that day, so we just improvised and inserted a twist tie (from a bag of bread) into the center hole of the co-axial connection and, voila, picked up all of the available channels strong and clear (who'da thought!)... So, when I got MY Tivex box, I tried my rabbit ears antenna, then compared the reception using a straightened-out paper clip (my "invention"!) and, guess what?, the paper clip pulled in more channels... I decided to just go with the clip... Anyway, if you need a recommedation for the Tivex, you have one from ME... Amazon, as usual, had the best price AND, got my box out to me in just a few days even with the free super-saver shipping (LOVE AMAZON!!... HIGH-FIVE of a RECOMMENDATION!!). What more can I add?... Very satisfied customer... THANK YOU for your time... D.S.