Access HD 1080D NTIA-Approved Digital to Analog TV Converter Box by Access HD
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List Price: Our Price: $38.99 You Save: $21.00 (35%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $24.99 (click here) Category: Receiver or Amplifier See more digital camera details and other models |
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Digital camera reviews of Access HD 1080D NTIA-Approved Digital to Analog TV Converter Box
Digital camera Review: Horrible picture quality and static sound.
Summary: 1 Stars
Consumer Reports were totally off base when they recommended this product. I am sending this back to get refund, however, what happens to my $40 coupon? Who is actually benefiting from this! Certainly not me!Digital camera Review: If you must, get the "U" model
Summary: 1 Stars
One thing Access HD does is play with the remotes. This model is the "D" model which means "dedicated" remote. In other words, it has a remote that controls it's functions (and only it's functions). if you want to turn the TV off too, you need a second remote.
Now, here's where the games begin. Yes, you can buy a $15 remote from their site. This is the only universal remote that works with their product. And though $15 may not sound like much they'll charge you about the same for basic shipping And Handling. So, spend an extra $3 now for the "U" model, or $30 later to get the universal from their site..
Digital camera Review: Is it on or off?
Summary: 4 Stars
Just so you understand how I am comparing this, I have had cable or satellite for over 10 years now so it's been a long time since I received OTA TV. Since DirecTv increased my rate just into my second month of service, I sent back the extra receivers I had and needed to get something for my older Projection TV.
I bought this box along with a terk HDTVa antenna (HDTVi was sold out). Once I got home I hooked it up and noticed it powered on as soon as it was plugged in. After verifying all the connections I tried to get the menu up but it would not appear. I doubled checked and thought I had a bad unit but while pressing the power button and seeing it go off and then back on (the light) I noticed the menu popped up but then it showed "Power off" and I got a snowy picture again. I then noticed that the light actually does a confusing cycle from green, off, red back to green no matter if it's turning on or turning off. Once I noticed this, I was able to figure out that I just had to be patient and let it power up before pressing that power button again.
Here are the features I have used or tried so far:
1) Scan - The auto scan works fine but does take some time to complete
2) Signal - the signal strength indicator is great when you want to adjust your antenna
3) Aspect - allows you to view normal or zoom (remember I'm using this on an older SD projection TV)
4) Language - usually English on 1st channel and Spanish on the other
5) Captions - I couldn't get these to appear but that may be the show or perhaps I need to do something else, haven't really needed it though so haven't bothered to research
6) Volume - using coaxial so doesn't work because you need the RCA hookup
There are other functions like channel lock that I have not bothered with so cannot comment. I've only had this a few days but so far so good. The included cable is short so you may need a longer one - I have a 50" projection TV and the connections are on the lower part and this box sits on top so I had to find a longer cable to make the connection.
Price was a big factor for me, this box was cheaper than some others out there by as much as 50% and since TigerDirect is close by I didn't have to wait for shipping but just went right over there and got it.
Picture quality doesn't seem as good as cable or satellite but it's still decent and I don't know if that's due to the antenna, the connection being used or this box. That's not to say it's terrible, just that it doesn't appear to be as "sharp". That may be due to a HD box and SD TV or due to my not viewing OTA for so long. Still, I can live with it.
***UPDATE*** I've plugged in RCA cables and get a much better picture now! Perhaps the other cable was receiving interference that was degrading the picture quality. I did have to "rescan" as NBC (channel 5-1 through 5-3) was lost after I swapped cables - or I should say it moved to 29-5. It eventually returned to 5-1.
Digital camera Review: It does convert...
Summary: 3 Stars
I purchased this using one of the government coupons to upgrade one of my TV's that does not have a digital tuner built in. The short of it is that it does work; just not as good as I had hoped.
The positive is that the picture using the RCA outputs is good. Almost as good as a decent DVD player. It has an onscreen guide that will show you what is currently on a selected channel as well as what is on for the next few hours. The set up was easy using the onscreen guide and it found all the channels my other digital TV with the built in tuner found.
Now the bad. For some reason it has this kind of high-pitched buzz on every channel. It increases with the volume. It is there with both outputs and is incredibly annoying. It does get hot as noted in other reviews but not so hot as to pose a threat or hazard. The remote is terrible and is not always responsive and the unit takes a minute to boot up.
The bottom line is that this unit would work great for a TV in the kitchen or a guest room, but for your main TV, spring for a better unit. I am looking at the Samsung 260F for the living room.
Cheers!
Digital camera Review: It isn't as my expectation.
Summary: 2 Stars
This box only provide the basic function of the digital convertor. Not as great product. I don't like it.