[PVRCNC] HDTV Converter box query/experience

[Brian Alsop]

Yes, Virginia they do exist. 

I ended up getting a Magnavox TB-100MW9 at Wal-Mart. 

Hooked it up to the outdoor large TV ant with mast mounted preamp fed 
with RG-11 coax.   Antenna is aimed at WUNC/CH4.

Hooked it up.  Do get > 10 stations here in Henderson.  However, Channel 
4 (WUNC/PBS) is not among them.
They seem to cover the entire spectrum of relocated UHF channels.  The 
whole purpose of getting the box was to continue to receive PBS after 
the switch over! 

The autoscan doesn't find any of the WUNC channels.  Trying to manually 
add 4.x stations and the box reports "no signal".
That's crazy.  The analog signal is just fine.  The antenna ought to 
have more gain on the HDTV UHF channels than it does on VHF channel 4.

Anybody care to guess what's going on?  On the face of it, it seems like 
there is insufficient signal.  However, I expected the built in S-meter 
to show something not "no signal". 

If so, I can either blame the converter box front end or the power 
reductions made when going to HDTV UHF relocated channels. 

Note: I was a bit concerned that these boxes would be deaf.  Reading the 
specs indicated that they only have to meet a sensitivity spec about 
20db less than usual front ends can receive at. 

Maybe we just ought to throw it all in the trash come Feb 2009.  Reruns 
of "I Love Lucy" don't interest me much.

73 de Brian/K3KO