Customer Reviews
Easy to use 
2008-10-02
This box was easy to set up and easy to navigate around to figure out how to work. The instructions are clear and the picture is fantastic. I guess about all the converter boxes have great pictures, but this is the only one I've seen.
There is a "guide" button that tells you what the current and next shows are, and manually adding channels is easy. The only thing to caution about is when you adjust your antenna, there is a lag between the movement and the box registering that movement, so you have to go slow. I recommend the Zenith for it's ease of use.
The Zenith DTT901 is a performance champ! 2008-09-16
The Zenith DTT901 has exceeded my expectations. I already have a digital widescreen TV hooked up to an antenna, but I wanted to be able to record on my analog VCR after full-power television broadcasting goes all digital on February 17, 2009. I have a rooftop antenna from which I was receiving excellent high definition TV signals. The Zenith DTT901 was then added to this antenna by way of a splitter. Even though the Zenith DTT901 does not produce high definition pictures, it does allow my 4:3 analog VCR to play back geometrically-correct 16:9 images on my digital set.
The Zenith DTT901 gives a 4:3 VCR the ability to display 16:9 images after selecting "Normal TV (4:3)" from the TV Aspect Ratio section of the Option menu and then selecting "Squeezed" from the Aspect Ratio menu. This setting essentially creates an anamorphic image on the VHS tape which displays both 4:3 and 16:9 pictures with correct geometry when played back using my TV's stretch mode. Now, for the first time, my analog VCR can record 16:9 program material and display it full screen on my 16:9 digital TV. This display mode must be set for each channel separately. For some reason, this method works for most channels in the San Francisco area, but not for all. For other channels, the same results can be obtained by selecting "Wide TV (16:9)" from the TV Aspect Ratio section of the Option menu and then selecting "4:3" from the Aspect Ratio menu. I am assuming that these settings on the Zenith DTT901 will produce the same results with other 4:3 recording devices.
Other great features of the Zenith DTT901: 1. Signal Strength meter with visual and audible references. This feature is a big help when aiming an antenna. 2. An auto-off feature which can be disabled to allow for VCR timer recordings set more than 4 hours after the Zenith DTT901 is turned on. 3. A simplified tuning system which allows the input of a single number to produce a drop down menu of available channels. 4. EZ Add which allows additional channels to be added without losing the original scanned channels. This feature will be handy for those who must rotate their antennas to receive channels from different locations. 5. Analog pass-through, making it possible to watch the few remaining low-power analog stations remaining after the digital changeover, without having to use a signal splitter. 6. Coaxial RF cable, composite RCA video and RCA stereo audio cables, all 4 feet long, are included.
I gave the video performance of the Zenith DTT901 5 stars, but only as it compares to other 480i devices using composite output. The 480i reception obtained from this unit's digital conversion is superior to analog versions of the same channels as viewed on the tuner of my VCR. Some have already commented on the remote being too small, the lack of an S-video output and the program guide being too basic. These drawbacks are not a problem for me, but others may want to consider them. The Zenith DTT901 also qualifies for the $40 government discount coupon, making it a great buy. This Lucky Goldstar-manufactured unit is also sold as an Insignia NS-DXA1-APT.
THIS IS THE ONE TO BUY! 2008-09-16
I've not encountered any product recently that works so simply and easily as this does. It's a cinch to set up; for more complicated systems which also include DVD/VCR and stereo system, the people manning the 800 number are extremely helpful and patient. I needed their help -- and we had it all done in under 10 minutes. I'm truly amazed by the high quality of the picture on my 27" Sharp with only simple rabbit ears plus this box. I read most customer reviews of this and the others offered by BestBuy, CircuitCity and Target -- this was the clear winner based on these. Now that I have it hooked up, it's the clear winner for me. I say unhesitatingly, BUY IT. I'm buying a second one for bedroom TV before second coupon expires.
Nice box but no channels higher than 59 
2008-09-15
This works wonders for local broadcast channels. NBC went from being fuzzy but watchable to being crystal clear. The box has some nifty features like a program guide and is really easy to use and setup, and I like the remote. My only complaint is that it only scans for channels up to 59, and you cannot manually go to channels higher than that. I live in a fairly remote area and NBC is the only station I get locally, however I get ABC, CBS, FOX, and more at channels 80+. Not only can I not get them with the box, but while the box has analog pass through (allowing my TV to still see the analog signal), the reception through the box on these channels is worse than it was when my antenna was plugged directly into the TV. So if I want to watch NBC I have to plug the antenna into the digital converter box, if I want to watch anything else, I have to plug it straight into the TV. This won't be a problem for most people, but I just wanted to warn people since it caught me by surprise when I hooked it up. Overall I'm happy with what the box can do, and if I lived somewhere else I would give it 5 stars, but for my purposes, it's disappointing.
I am trashing mine 
2008-09-09
The remote control is made of cheap plastic, and is pure junk. The vinyl outgassing was similiar to that when you get a vinyl shower curtain. The remote and the box made me a little sick. All I got was worse reception, nausea and a headache. I had 6 channels with excellent analog reception, now I get 2 PBS(same show) only, basically 1 station. No local news or weather. Channel 5 (CBS) is no longer snow but even though it appears perfect, it breaks up every few seconds so it's useless. This Zenith DTT901 had good reviews at different sites and so did the Tivax STB T8. I guess I will try Tivax brand with my final coupon. I recommend you wait as long as possible to buy a box in hopes of better, I acted beacause I did not know the gov't coupon expired in 11 weeks(90 days approx) once you order it. Why couldn't the gov't give the coupons at least 12 months before expiring? I am not happy, I wish the gov't would have left regular tv alone. What good is a coupon if all it buys is junk and you lose most channels, a waste of taxpayers money. I could buy a digital LCD TV, but I think they are all expensive pieces of plastic junk and I still might only get one channel, I don't know. Maybe I will give up TV altogether.
3 months used DEAD already!!! 2008-09-06
DIGITAL TO ANALOG CONVERTER BOX
Zenith DTT901 and Insignia brand converters Great 2008-08-30
My wife and I found that when we do watch TV, its mostly the standard channels CBS,NBC,ABC etc. So we canceled cable and we enjoy HD local digital and love it, using the built in HD digital tuner in our den. Now comes the Zenith/Insignia brand digital converters to the rescue. With Cable disconnected, I will lose my analog over the air TV in Feb 09, with the other TV's in the bedroom, kitchen etc. So I purchased 1 Zenith converter as a test for the bedroom plasma with a non-digital turner. I hookup up the converter, went to menu and scanned channels and this little unit found all my locals and more. Now get this. On a plasma with Video composite output only the picture is fantastic! Its not HD, but it is better than my composite cable picture was. I'm now looking for another on these for the kitchen, they are so small, light , easy to operate! The only knock is the channel guide, it will only show you the next program scheduled. This is not a problem for me, I was more concerned about how sensitive the reception would be and the picture quality. This unit is great at both. I'd like to see more programs go digital in the future! Goodbye Cable. FYI, I use DSL for internet.
Zenith DTT901 (by LG) HD Converter 2008-08-07
NEW ZENITH DTT901 Digital TV Tuner Converter Box
The Zenith DTT901 has exceptional reception and video quality. Key Features:Clear Digital Picture: Say goodbye to"fuzzy" analog channels... your old TV has never looked better! On Screen Program Information: Find out what's on TV at the touch of a button. More Programs: See new and different TV programs on "sub-channels" available from many digital TV stations. Easy Remote Control: For command of the Zenith Digital TV Tuner and many other brands of TVs. Simple Connection to TV: Using the supplied RF cable for easy hookup. Parental Control: Manage access to TV programs with V-Chip technology. Advanced Closed Captioning: Access closed captions using the CC button on the remote control or through the simple menu, choose fonts, sizes, colors and more for digital closed captions.
Energy Efficient: Energy Star rated.
OEM version of Zenith DTT901 and Insignia brand converters Great 2008-08-01
LG makes these converter boxes and sells them as either a Zenith DTT901 or a Insignia brand (at BestBuy). After much research at AVSForum re selection, here is a quick summary of my own experiences.
Out of the half dozen or so READILY available boxes, this one is by far the best. Some other ones are prone to: locking up requiring a reset, sound problems, running very hot, may be impossible to add channels manually, and have difficulties setting the aspect ratio such that the program fills the screen best. These LG/Zenith/Insignia boxes have none of those problems, but make sure that you get one built after April '08 (there is a sticker on the side of the box with either ie "built May 2008" or something like 05A08). Setup is easy, sensitivity is great. With a set of rabbit ears I get stations from 70-90 miles away (see TVFool website for antenna directions and maps for your own area).
Picture Zoom is settable for each channel, box can turn off the TV, and has an independent volume control. There are a couple of small items not quite up to par: Program guide is VERY simple, only current program and NEXT program are described, power cord is only 5ft long, if you set the converter on top of a large tv on a stand, it has a hard time reaching a floor level outlet. The signal strength meter (used for fine tuning the antenna position)has its own button on the remote, with a bar and amplitude varying beeps, but it lags the antenna movement by second or two, so you have to pause after moving the antenna each time to get a true signal level. Oh, and by the way, the picture quality (PQ)is excellent over the composite RCA outlet, and almost as excellent over the RF coax output. And yes, when turned off, the box will pass analog signal to the TV (APT), I thought that would be important, but all of my stations analog signals are duplicated on digital channels, and once you see a perfect quality signal it is very hard to watch a snowy picture. The DTT901 boxes are approved for the [...]$ rebate coupon (but some websites may have problems redeeming them and you may have to try a BM (brick and mortar store) instead.
