Digital TV questions
Editor’s note: As most of you know by now, the mandatory switchover date for digital TV has been moved to June 12, 2009, rather than the original February 17 date.
Have you addressed the issue of the digital TV transition for motorhomes? We have tried our TVs in the motorhome when they broadcast the digital tests on TV, and our digital set will not work when they switch over. We have two sets in our motorhome on the antenna with the power booster. I don’t know for sure if the one set is digital, but the booklet on the LCD set says it is digital. Will we need the converter box for each set even though the one is digital? Each set is wired separately to the antenna, since we change the input on each set through the TV menu. We own a 2006 Gulf Stream.
Jean Lutz, F172733
Elkhorn, Wisconsin
The article “Digital TV In A Box,” published in the August 2008 issue of FMC (page 60), explains how to install a DTV converter box, which you will need for the analog (non-digital) TV. If you no longer have that issue of the magazine, you can find the story by signing in to FMCA.com. The TV that you have indicated is digital should work fine with the coaxial cable coming straight from the splitter to the set, with no need for a converter box. The article should answer your questions.
After reading your “Digital TV In A Box” article, a few lingering questions are puzzling me.
1. If one doesn’t need to have different programs in the main part of the coach and the bedroom, will one converter box do the trick? If so, am I right to assume that the converter box can be placed in-line between the coaxial cable feed from the roof antenna and the switch box or splitter?
2. If one wants to be able to watch a different program on the two TVs (typical setup and desire), then do the converter boxes have to be after the switch box or splitter in the circuit?
3. Is it possible to hook up our older analog VCR in this mess of coaxial cable? Or are these useless in the digital world to record on and play back, as we are used to doing? If these will still function in the new digital world, how do we wire them in conjunction with a converter box and standard multibutton switch box?
4. Do you know of anyone selling a simple metal shelf suitable for mounting a converter box beneath the overhead TV cabinet found over the dashboard or found in the bedroom area?
5. One of our options is to NOT use a converter box and instead replace the analog TV with a digital non-flat screen TV of similar size to the one that now exists. I can do so for about $130. However, the backup camera currently feeds into “video 2″ on the existing TV. Assuming the new non-flat screen digital TV also has a “video 2″ input, will the digital TV pass through the analog feed from the backup camera?
I sure would appreciate any additional thoughts on the matter.
Tom Mosher, F228131
Seattle, Washington
Actually, hooking up the converter box is easier done than said. It’s much simpler than I thought before having done it. As was mentioned in the “Digital TV In A Box” article, the procedure is very similar to hooking up a VCR, but it’s easier since you don’t have any programming to do.
However, once you start putting other electronics into the mix, it can become quite confusing, especially when additional wiring, switch boxes, and splitters are involved. One recommendation that should be made is that you purchase a converter box with analog pass-through capability. This allows analog signals to pass through the converter box when it is not being used, such as when you are hooked up to cable at a campground.
Now, here are some answers to your specific questions.
1. If you don’t mind having the same programs on each of your TVs, it may be possible to install the converter box immediately after the antenna and before the switch box or splitter. But you must first ascertain whether you have a powered antenna. If so, you cannot do this, as the 12 volts DC running through the wiring can damage the converter box. In this situation, you could put the converter box in-line after the switch box and then add the splitter to send the signal to the front and rear TVs.
If you do choose a one-converter box setup, you must remember that the converter box essentially becomes the tuner for your TV, and to change the channels you will need to have line-of-sight between the remote and the converter box. If you are in one area of the motorhome and the converter box is located in another, you may not be able to change channels without moving to a different location.
2. To receive different programming on each of your televisions, you will need a converter box for each TV positioned after the splitter in the circuit. Remember that each converter box should be in proximity of the TV it is dedicated to, since you will need to have line-of-sight between the remote and the converter box to change channels.
3. Actually, once you install the converter box, everything can remain the same, since the converter box is changing the digital signal into the same analog signal that you’ve been receiving. Simply connect the converter box after the splitter and then run the wire to the VCR/DVD player as you would have with your previous setup. This configuration, however, will make the VCR tuner obsolete, and you will need to use the converter box to switch between channels you would like to record. If you have a multibutton switch box to separate the TV, VCR/DVD player, cable, and satellite, your best bet may be to get a new VCR with a digital tuner. This would allow you to operate the VCR separately from the TV, as you probably do now.
4. We are not aware of any companies making mounting brackets or shelves for converter boxes.
5. You probably need to direct this question to the manufacturer of your backup monitor system. However, digital TVs have been able to display analog broadcasts (such as from cable), so it makes sense that your backup system would still work.
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