Purchasing a Set Top Digital Converter Box
John Feltmate, April 2011

Digital television is coming to Canada. To keep that old television set going for an other few years you might want to consider purchasing a set top digital converter box (STB). With the advent of the full impact of digital television coming to Canada September 1st the purchase of an STB seems more reasonable.  Let me give you a few pearls of wisdom on the subject.  At the moment there are a few boxes on the market here in Canada.  They range in price from $49 to about $99.  The “adage” you get what you pay for might not hold up here.  Ideally you are going to want a box with some of these features:

a)      analog passthrough

b)      electronic program guide (EPG) and

c)      remote control

Analog passthrough
                 
The sales person might tell you that you don't need that feature because the analog stations are off the air or will be very soon, a matter of weeks.  That’s true but that VCR you still use has an analog output most likely connected to the TV through the antenna.  You might also have some old video games and so on.  An analog passthrough would make switching from TV to VCR or games much easier without having to disconnect and reconnect wires.  

Electronic program guide (EPG)

Most units with an EPG also have timer settings.  These timer setting also allow you to continue to use the VCR for recording television shows.  Remember the built in tuner of the VCR will not function in the digital world.  Depending on how you have things set up you might want a second box for the VCR.  

Remote control

Most of these boxes have remote controls that will allow you to set things from your chair with out having to get up.  That feature you will appreciate.  The last thing you are going to want to do is return to the stone age years of television requiring a trip across the room to change channels.  

Final Thoughts

For the most part the rest of the features offered or not offered are more personal preferences.  You can decide the needs for yourself.  One final consideration is performance.  All of these boxes will work in an urban setting where the ambient signals are reasonably strong.  Remember the cottage is really a rural location where there should be little expectation of strong signals.  In reality there will be one or two but that will be it.  What you should do is tell the sales person the application of the product and listen to the recommendation(s).  Also ask if the product can be returned if it does not perform.  Make sure you try it out in a reasonable time frame.  Here is the hard part, the performance of the box to some extent will be dependent on the quality of your antenna system.  If what you have now barely works any box will have some problems.  Don't leave your decision to the last moment.  The selection will be better and if you have antenna system issues those deficiencies will be easier to identify while analog stations are still on the air.