Digital Converter Boxes?

I was wondering what every one thinks about these new converter boxes that we have switched over to. I installed one last fall and at first was impressed, while sitting in the driveway, but have since had other thoughts. It seems like the stations we recieve are marginal at best and it is all or nothing. If we camp close to home we get some local channels, but the farther from home we get, the worse the reception becomes. Last trip out, I couldn't even pick up the public broadcasting stations. What are others experiences?? Has anyone tried another type of booster or antenae?

We are in Pueblo,Co workKamping this summer and using a digital converter box. We receive ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, PBS and a couple spanish channels with good reception except when it's real windy then we keep getting a message signal lost. Most of the channels are out of Colorado Springs which is about 40 miles north. Jim

You may want to do some research on these. As I looked over them leading up to the transition some performed much better than others. cnet.com is my prefered source for most of my electronics. You'll get a lot of feedback from owners as well as an evaluation from the site.
We also get no reception now in areas that we previously had good luck. I'd rather watch a fuzzy morning weather forecast than none at all.

I would rather have a little fuzziness too, than the all or nothing reception I have been getting. I have found this digital box to be very sensitive to alot of things so far. Antenae direction has been critical. I have a sensitivity meter on my box and I have to sit and rotate the antenae until I recieve maximum signal. Often times I can have really good signal and still limited reception. I have also noticed the ceiling fan and oven vent fan interferes with all reception. If they are running......NO reception . Weather has also played a role. Wind, cloud cover, mornings, evenings, have all gave different results. Last weekend we camped in an area with alot of trees and I suspected they had some role too.....frustrating!

I've had good results too. When I went to Disneyland, I scanned and found over 60 channels.

You might try to get the Winegard UHF wingman. It's about $25 from camping world and clips onto the existing antenna.

After the transition, a lot of the digital station had to move out of the VHF band into the UHF band. UHF seems to be more directional than VHF. Locally, I get better reception on the meter for channels in the lower range (channels 13 and lower - VHF).

Thanks jetskier......looks like it might be what I was searching for. Local dealer says he has them and I am going to pick one up tomorrow. We post back with results.

http://www.winegard.com/kbase/show_vid.php?vid_num=7

Something else to remember is that in the area's away from major cities they can still use analog repeater/translator towers so try searching your analog tuner like you use too.

Here is a link to explain.
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/DTVandLPTV.html

Thanks again....if they only told you these things without having to "dig" for it.......

I was wondering. Carpe Diem you have an 07 Wildcat which should have a digital TV in it. Why do you need the box at all? I usually run the scan that picks up both analog and digtal channels when I get to a campground without cable. That way I get both signals. I was in Georgia a couple weeks ago and picked up probably 30-40 stations some of which was HD. I did notice the signal tends to cut out sometimes but I was completly surrounded by trees so I figured thats what it was.

Mine didn't come with a tv at all....just the "trusty" concertone.... I installed an older non-digital tv and needed the box to convert. I picked up the wingman tonight at the local dealer for $32, which was a little more than I could have probably picked it up for on the internet, but shipping probably would have wiped out the difference. Plus I don't mind giving the local guy the business, as he has always treated me right. He said most have been happy with it and I could return it if I wasn't....which I thought was nice. We are heading out this weekend and I thought I would bring it along and install it after we are set up. This way I can see what I get for channels before and after installation. Will report back. Thanks everyone for their input!

Well spent the weekend camping and tried out the wingman. I was over 100 miles from any town with a broadcast station and I picked up 3 PBS stations and 1 local station before installation. I noticed that my signal was about 42 % at best before the install and about 48% after installation. After installation, I didn't pick up anymore stations, but the PBS stations that were coming in before installation were pixilated at times. Afterwards, they were nice and clear. I noticed that all the PBS stations were above channel 13 and would have been operating in the UHF band which would help explain why the wingman probably helped some. The local station was on ch. 9 and would have been in the VHF band and the wingman wouldn't have helped either way. Bottom line.....not that impressed. It wasn't a total waste of $$ as it helped a little in the reception department, but not enough to really matter for most of the locations we will probably visit. Installation was really easy though....no tools and took less than 5 minutes as advertised.