The four Best Digital Converter Boxes of 2022

Converting shows and movies to your older TV merely got easier

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The all-time digital converter boxes elevate your Boob tube viewing experience. These accessories have get a necessity ever since conventional "rabbit ear" antennas were fabricated obsolete. A not bad quality converter will be able to work with both recorded and live programming in real-time, providing your screen with a clearer film and more than channels. Most modernistic TVs already have this feature, but if yous're still belongings onto an older model, these accessories can exist well worth having.

Before reading this commodity, make sure you require a DTV converter first, but if you're sure yous need one, keep reading to find the best digital converter box.

Mediasonic HW150PVR

What We Like

  • Reasonable cost

  • Attaches to whatsoever existing antenna on analog Tv set

  • Built-in recording characteristic

  • 2TB storage capacity

  • Parental controls

What We Don't Like

  • UI isn't great

  • Remote control buttons non standard

For those looking for a potent feature attack a digital converter at a reasonable price, y'all tin can't do any meliorate than Mediasonic'south HW150PVR digital converter box. Attaching to whatever existing antenna on any analog television, the Mediasonic is like shooting fish in a barrel to set up. A built-in recording feature works with both existent-fourth dimension and programmed recording, and while storage isn't built directly into the unit, the converter box supports both flash and external difficult drives. With storage capacity up to 2TB, in that location'southward room for dozens of shows without any monthly fees. The split up storage device can fifty-fifty plug into a computer and then you can record programming with any compatible media histrion.

The Mediasonic has some other dandy features, as well. Parental controls ensure that kids will avert undesirable channels, closed captioning works with any supported aqueduct, and at that place's fifty-fifty the selection to connect the converter box to a loftier-definition tv via HDMI. This eliminates the need for a separate cable box while all the same offer programme recording and the electronic program guide for finding your favorite shows.

Dimensions: 8.7x6.1x1.six inches |TV Recording: Yes |Boob tube Tuner: Yes|Media Player: Yes

KORAMZI HDTV Digital Converter Box

What We Like

  • Adept for older and newer devices

  • Outputs from 480p to 1080p supported

  • Also works with monitors

  • Budget price

What Nosotros Don't Like

  • Some sound pass-through bug

If you have a combination of one-time and new devices (as many of us do), y'all'll want a converter box with wide compatibility and connectedness options. The KORAMZI HDTV digital converter box supports outputs ranging from 480 to 1080p quality and several different aspect ratios (4:3 and xvi:9). A built-in HDMI connection allows users to transport the signal from the unit to a multitude of display types. In other words, this unit isn't express to only analog televisions—information technology can also connect to reckoner monitors and still offer its full feature ready.

Speaking of features, the KORAMZI offers a solid ready of function for its upkeep price. There are settings for parental controls and closed captioning, every bit well as a program guide and then you can encounter what'southward playing and what'due south coming upwards side by side. If you find a time to come program you lot desire to watch, you can use the KORAMZI to set a scheduled recording.

Dimensions: 5.8x1.2x4.0 inches |Television receiver Recording: Yes |Idiot box Tuner: Aye |Media Player: Aye

ViewTV AT-163 ATSC Digital TV Converter Box and Media Player

What We Similar

  • Can play wide range of file formats

  • Crisp 1080p output

  • Feature-packed DVR

What We Don't Like

  • Some quality control issues

The ViewTV AT-163 digital converter box allows you to watch Tv on whatsoever idiot box, including your old clunky analog TVs. The built-in USB port allows you to record your favorite programs directly to a wink drive or external hard drive. It is the most characteristic-packed DVR-capable digital converter box in our lineup; you can pause, fast-forward and rewind live Tv with the Timeshift part, perform PVR (Personal Video Recording) and hands view videos and pictures from a wink drive or external hard bulldoze.

It is too noteworthy for its ability to play a wide range of dissimilar file formats, including MKV, VOB, FLV and MOV files. Output is a crisp 1080p via HDMI, and there are the usual legacy outputs for older TVs. Consider the ViewTV AT-163 a good choice if yous have external movies yous want to play via your digital converter box, or if yous plan to often use DVR functions.

Dimensions: x.2x9.8x2.one inches |TV Recording: Yes |Boob tube Tuner: Yes |Media Player: Aye

Mediasonic HW130STB ATSC Digital Converter Box

What Nosotros Like

  • Cost-constructive

  • Connects with multiple devices

  • Lots of features

What We Don't Like

  • Just 2TB external storage supported

The Mediasonic HW130STB is a toll-constructive solution to provide digital signal conversion to your TV over RCA or HDMI connections. Just like the residuum of the entries on our listing, this box converts over-the-air (OTA) signals to an analog or digital point that tin can be displayed on your Television, projector, or monitor. A big selling point for this inexpensive adapter is its front-facing USB port which allows you to connect up to 2TB of external storage for recording live Tv and converting it into an avi, mpg, or mkv file.

Besides integrated recording capability the HW130STB also features RF signal passthrough, a favorite aqueduct list, back up for Dolby Digital audio, and a parental command function. The robust list of features and low cost make this digital converter a remarkable value.

Dimensions: 5.0x4.0x1.5 inches |Tv set Recording: Yes |Goggle box Tuner: Yes |Media Thespian: Yeah

Final Verdict

If y'all're in need of a solid digital converter box, our top choice is the Mediasonic HW150PVR (view at Amazon). It'due south a stiff digital converter that tin attach to any existing antenna on whatever analog Tv set, making information technology like shooting fish in a barrel to utilize. However, if money is tight, the KORAMZI HDTV Digital Converter Box (view at Amazon) makes for an excellent stopgap solution. It also supports outputs ranging from 480p to 1080p.

Virtually Our Trusted Experts

Patrick Hyde is an experienced tech author and digital marketer with more than iv years of experience in the manufacture.

FAQ

  • What is a digital converter box?

    A digital converter box, or a cable converter box, is an electronic tuning device. Information technology converts a aqueduct on a cable TV from a digital to an analog signal on a single channel. Put simply, this allows a TV to receive cable channels, at least this was the case for older TV models. Most mod TVs aren't analog and have a converter congenital-in.

  • Do yous need a digital converter box for your Tv set?

    Unless you have an old analog TV, y'all likely don't need a digital converter box. Analog TVs are no longer in production and analog TV manual ended in 2009 in the United states of america. Nevertheless, if y'all want to watch Hd TV on your analog TV, and so y'all volition need a converter box.

  • How do you lot programme a digital converter box without a remote?

    If y'all have a digital converter box only have lost the remote, y'all can nonetheless reset it. All you need to exercise is unplug the converter box, switch off the TV, and keep information technology unplugged for at least 30 seconds. The converter box volition reset itself after it has been unplugged when you side by side reconnect it. The process will likely take several minutes.

What to Look for in a Digital Converter Box

HDMI vs. Analog

If your telly has an HDMI input, and so y'all should choose a digital converter box that has an HDMI output. This volition allow you lot to experience the highest possible picture quality. If you have an older television that merely has a coaxial input or RCA jacks, then look for a digital converter box that has those types of outputs. If you need more outputs, you tin also pick upward an HDMI switcher.

Resolution

Digital idiot box is broadcast in high definition, but not all televisions are capable of taking reward of that. If y'all accept a television that can brandish resolutions like 1080p or 720p, then you lot should cull a converter box that supports high definition. If you have an older standard definition tv, then you can go past with a 480p digital converter box.

Analog Pass-Through

If you have any low-power television set stations or translators in your surface area that yet circulate analog signals, you'll demand a digital converter box that includes an analog laissez passer-through. Without this feature, you lot won't exist able to sentry any station that hasn't fully switched over to digital broadcasts.

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