Converters and VCRs

All converters can work with a VCR or DVD recorder, but not all have timers

While most people are concerned with getting a DTV converter box to work with their TV, it is important to remember that other devices, namely analog VCRs and DVD recorders, will also lose access to analog broadcast channels once the digital transition is complete. Any DTV converter box will work with a VCR or DVD recorder. You connect the converter to the recorder via the RF jacks (as you would an antenna lead or a cable TV line) or via the composite video/stereo audio jacks (as you would another audio/video component).

Also, if you are using the converter box with a VCR or DVD recorder, you may want to disable the converter box's automatic sleep mode. Energy-Star-qualified DTV converters are shipped with sleep mode enabled by default; after a set period of time with no activity (usually four hours) the digital TV converter box will turn itself off. You can't disable sleep mode during setup, but afterwards you can go into the converter's user menu and change the sleep mode setting or turn it off completely.

Note that most digital converter boxes don't include a timer, therefore the ability to schedule automatic recordings on different channels is lost. Unless you are at home to do so manually, the box can't switch channels once the first recording is finished. There are, however, a couple of coupon-eligible DTV converter boxes that include a timer.

The timer-equipped DTV converter that's gotten the most recognition is the Dish Network TR-40 CRA (*Est. $40), though not all of the feedback is positive. Focusing first on the good news, the Dish Network TR-40 CRA is one of the least expensive DTV converter boxes available, and you don't need to be a Dish Network subscriber to get one. It's also got an advanced program guide that CNet.com calls "best in class." The guide can display four channels at once, and depending on the data supplied by local channels, can display several days' worth of programming. In addition, the guide is responsive, and it includes a search function that lets you look for programs by keyword. However, we've also seen some user reports of guide glitches.

The Dish Network TR-40 CRA is one of the few DTV converter boxes that include a timer function for use with VCRs or DVD recorders, and the box supports point-and-click programming from the guide. The Dish Network converter box is also compatible with TV Guide on Screen and Guide Plus. Analog pass-through is present, but the TRA-40 CRA is not smart-antenna compatible.

So, what's not to like? Picture quality is good but not the best, according to reviews. CNet compares it with the Zenith DTT900 (identical to the DTT901 profiled above but minus analog pass-through) and reports that image quality is notably worse. The tuner is also not as sensitive. There are also no front-panel controls, making the Dish Network converter useless if the remote control is misplaced.

The other big issue with this DTV converter box revolves around marketing. Dish Network also offers a second model called the DTVPal (*Est. $60). The two models are sold side-by-side on the Dish Network website, but the only difference between them is price -- something that's not apparent unless you delve into the FAQ (frequently asked questions) page, where Dish Network states that the TR-40 CRA is "a special limited production version of the DTVPal" offered at the government coupon price. Because of this, and because the DTVPal reached market first, we've seen plenty of complaints on user forums.

Despite all of that, the Dish Network TRA-40 CRA is the best option if you want a DTV converter box to use with a VCR. The only other box with timers (not including the DTVPal) is the Zinwell ZAT-970A (*Est. $60). It has received kudos for good picture quality in one professional review, but users and experts find other flaws. Most notably, reports say that the programming guide is minimalist at best, and that programming the timers can be tedious.