Zinwell ZAT-970A

The Zinwell ZAT-970A is a solid DTV converter box overall, and the clear choice for those who need a basic DTV converter for use with a VCR or DVD recorder. That's because it is one of the few basic digital TV converters that includes built-in timers for unattended recording. Programming the timers is a little difficult as it is done VCR-style, but user complaints about that are relatively few. More are unhappy with the rudimentary electronic programming guide, which shows program information for only the current and next show on any given channel. A minority complain about timers that let them down on occasion.

Performance is good, though most say that for the very best picture quality the Channel Master CM-7000 (*Est. $55) is tough to beat. However, the CM-7000 lacks timers of any kind and is hard to find. A step-up model, the Channel Master CM-7000PAL (*Est. $335), adds a digital video recorder (DVR) that can store up to 250 hours of programs and support for high def, but it is much more expensive.  Features of the ZAT-970A are slim beyond the timers, but analog bypass is included. The ability to add channels manually and not just by scanning is also well appreciated.

There are a few places to get information about the Zinwell ZAT-970A. The best is ConsumerReports.org, where the DTV converter is among the many tested and evaluated. User feedback is plentiful at Amazon.com and AVSForum.com.