One of the problems with adopting future technology is having to keep the old stuff working at the same time... and older equipment seems to have a well developed instinct for the worst possible moment to fail.  Last week we were under a full-scale assault:  devices ranging from the main analog transmitter down to a lowly connector at a cable head-end, ganged up and carried out a well coordinated attack that kept us running from one crisis to another.  We seem to have won the battle for now:  things are much quieter, and I actually have time to sit down to lunch, though it’s at my desk while writing today's post.

A quick note:  the home-brew antenna has spent the last few days in my attic, where it works surprisingly well in spite of nearby aluminum siding.  My existing antenna – a fairly large name-brand model on a rotator, feeding an amplifier – yielded only a mid-scale signal quality reading.  This home-built antenna, mounted in a fixed position without any amplifier and split to feed two receivers, gives a much better reading on every channel.  One of these days I’ll finish the thing up and install it outdoors where it belongs... and I’ll also write up the instructions so that you can try making one yourself.

Now, finally, back to the pile of converter boxes on my dining room table.  Two of the four appear to be suspiciously similar:  the Zenith DTT900 (available at Radio Shack and Circuit City) and the Insignia NS-DXA1 (Best Buy).  In fact, they turn out to be identical devices, except for slightly different front panels and packaging.  Insignia is Best Buy’s house name;  Zenith is a more traditional American brand.  What’s in a name?  Nothing, apparently: both boxes are actually a product of LG Electronics, a large and growing South Korean conglomerate, and they are built in China.  They both sell for just under $60, less than $20 after the coupon.

Even though the boxes themselves perform identically, there are some minor differences between the Zenith and the Insignia that we might as well get out of the way.  First, warranty support:  Zenith has you call a toll-free number, presumably to arrange for the unit to be shipped; Insignia just has you take the box back to Best Buy.  Second, the instruction guides are surprisingly different.  The Insignia manual is more comprehensive but the smaller type and grey paper make it harder to read.  The Zenith manual is quite legible, but less detailed.  None of the differences seem like a big deal; the boxes are easy enough to set up and use, so I imagine a lot of the manuals will never leave the carton.

Since the Zenith and Insignia operate and perform identically, I’ll treat them as the same LG units they actually are.

What’s in the box

Like the Magnavox I reviewed last time, these LG twins include the converter, remote with battery, an antenna cable, and manual.  In addition, the LGs throw in an audio/video cable set so you can plug directly into your TV and get a somewhat better picture.

Hooking it up

If you tend toward guy-style installation – who needs instructions? – you’ll find that the LG, like the Magnavox, is easy to install, and sets up very much like a VCR.  There’s just one “gotcha” waiting for the unwary:  the battery for the remote control comes wrapped in nearly invisible tight-fitting plastic.  If you don’t notice and remove it, you’ll spend a lot of time wondering why the remote doesn’t work.  (And no, the instructions don’t warn you about that!)  Once hooked up and powered on, the box quickly found all twelve digital program channels with no fuss.

One feature unique to the LG models is the signal strength indicator:  not only does it show the usual bar scale on the screen, it also makes a beeping sound that gets faster as the signal quality improves.  It’s rather handy, not having to keep an eye on the screen while adjusting the antenna.

How does it look?

The picture and sound are excellent – indistinguishable from the Magnavox, and on par with the pictures we see in the control room.  I’m still amazed to be watching such a good picture at home.  The receiver seems to marginally outperform the Magnavox and Digital Stream, resisting signal dropouts and locking more quickly to a somewhat weaker signal.

How easy is it to use?

Here’s where the LG-made converters really shine, especially compared to the cheaper Magnavox.  All of the functions you will want to use most often are right on the remote control.

Adjust the volume or mute it?  No problem.  Turn the TV on or off?  The button’s right there.  Change the picture from wide-screen to center-cut?  Just hit the Zoom button.  Captions?  The CCD button steps you through all of the closed caption and teletext services.  Yes, there are also menus for less frequent settings... but the menus are easy to navigate and the functions are fairly intuitive.  If you lose the remote, the converter still has power and channel-select buttons right on the front panel; you aren’t stuck with a dead box, like the Magnavox.

While we’re on the subject of remotes:  the Zenith and Insignia remotes are interchangeable, and each will control both LG-made boxes.  If you have two converters in the same area – one for the TV, another to feed a VCR, for instance – this could be a problem.  The LG remotes use different codes than the Magnavox and the Digital Stream (yet to be reviewed), so you could easily pair an LG with one of the others.

I’ll compare the on-screen graphics on all of the boxes in a later post, when I have screen shots to show.  But for now, the LG does a nice job, and tells you what you need to know quite adequately.

What’s the bottom line?

Right up front, I’ll say that overall, the LG is my favorite of the bunch.

• It’s not the cheapest converter, but $20 after the coupon is still quite reasonable
• Setup is quick and easy
• Picture and sound are fantastic for standard definition
• The controls are easy to use and do everything you want without a lot of fuss
• The only weak spot is the electronic program guide, which could display a bit more information about upcoming programs

 All in all, the Insignia / Zenith would be my first pick:  let’s give it an A–.

-- Jeff