DigitalSTREAM DTX9900

We bought three from RadioShack.
One failed after 3 months. The have no support and did not offer any repair options.
Live and learn.

Any time the potential of new hardware is limited by existing hardware, I would deem the new hardware as being virtually worthless. I tried the DS DTX9900 with a set of rabbit ears. It totally missed one local digital TV station. I moved it into another room with an antenna of the UHF/VHF style (round loop with rabbit ears) and it finally saw the other local station.

In stark contrast, the Zenith DTT901 I also purchased today picked up everything it reasonably should have, using nothing but the set of good old rabbit ears which the DS box didn't play well with.

If you're in a rural environment, and need adequate sensitivity and compatibility with your existing antenna, I would recommend the Zenith DTT901 instead of the DS DTX9900.

If you have the cash to throw away on antenna upgrades, or can live with less-than-adequate reception or antenna incompatabilities, I would recommend the DS DTX9900.

Understand that no matter what, digital broadcasts suck. Pixelization and a complete sound drop-out are far inferior to a little bit of static. At least with analog broadcasts, you could still partly hear the dialog, and watch the show relatively uninterrupted. I can only imagine that the first sports game I watch that the signal flakes out on me for will end up with me buying a new TV, as I will not be able to hear anything, nor see anything until the pixelization stops. Surely this will frustrate me into smashing my poor old analog television, and many new digital televisions in the future.

Say, who gave the FCC the authority to sell the radio frequencies, which truthfully belong to The People of These United States, to a for-profit organization? What's next? Coupon Eligible Sun Light? Coupon Eligible Air?

I like the features: mute, volume control, and the very necessary meter button is handy.
I couldn't get the TV power to work on my JVC set.
Even though the power input is as stated, the bottom gets hot to the touch, so I elevated the unit for fear of damage to my wooden mantle.

The Digital Stream DTX9900 comes with a UNIVERSAL remote that is a real plus if it will work with your TV. It worked on my Samsung 19" flat panel TV (only a couple of years old).

Reception seems good but digital signals can be real flaky from what I've experienced.

I looked at one other converter box, a Magnovox at Walmart, but the box did not indicate a universal remote and the sales people did not know for sure either.

The Specifications here should include whether or not the remote is universal, but they don't... too bad they don't !

Location....Boston, MA..first floor of a 2 floor brick building...
I purchased the Digital Stream DTX9900 for use with my kitchen tv, a Realistic 5 1/2" portable color tv/monitor(purchased 1989. Connected them using the A/V cable. Yellow(video) and Red(Audio)....The tv is mono. Antenna.....I experimented with a DB4, a DB2, and a homemade loop antenna connected to a balun and 3 foot rg6 cable.....all were setup indoors(in the kitchen). The DB4 and the DB2 received 18 channels. The loop/cable picked up 22 channels. Signal levels were about the same on all....70 or 80 or better. The input sensitivity was more than acceptable. The Channelmaster amp (@20db) I tried made no difference. The audio was good(mono). I could hook it up to a set of powered computer speakers if need be. All functions worked well. The EPG is excellent, especially when compared to other product presently available. Overall, the DTX9900 is a good unit. Rather than complain about what I would like to see done differently, I just play with the 9900, learn how it operates, learn the "shortcut" pushbuttons and enjoy it. It does what it is supposed to do very well. It will not work with the "rabbit ear" type antenna.....but....it will work with the UHF (loop) type antenna. So before you buy the bright and shiny plastic HDTV antenna, try your old vintage uhf/vhf (loop/rabbit ears)antenna. I do admit that I got lucky with the loop antenna. In many cases, your location, distance from the xmitter, and signal blockers(the weather-buildings-trees-walls-metal surfaces) are significant elements when considering dtv reception. A good outside antenna is better than the best inside antenna. I would recommend this unit. It worked well for me. Just keep in mind that your location/ antenna may/will effect your reception.

I've compared this Zenith DTT900 with the Digital Stream DTX9900 and here is my result. With a regular analog rooftop antenna I've had since 1985, both of the units picked up same number of channels and very similar singnal strength. Digital Stream has a better sound quality, I didn't have to crank up the volume like when Zenith was plugged in. In my second senario, I used a rabbit ear (tv top) anntena and Digital Stream could not pick up many of the local channels. Your safe bet would be to get the Zenith. I get all of the over the air hd channels in OC, CA.

i bought one for 20 bucks from radio shack with the converter coupon it works really good and i like it

Excellent reception even though I am surrounded by hills on three sides.The only problem that I have is being unable to turn on or off the TV which is a Panasonic, although it did detect the signal during setup. The antenna I am using is an indoor TERK

This is my first experience with a d/a video converter and I am very please with the performance. I am using it with a 32 inch Sony and a standard roof top antenna (about 40 miles from station). Great picture and sound and I find the basic features to be good. After the $40 government discount I think this is a very good bargain.

This is my first experience with Over-the-air (OTA) DTV. I'm very disappointed with this box. The receiver sensitivity is very poor. Even though only 10 miles from the mountain peak with line-of-sight access, this unit doesn't pick up the weaker broadcasts. Be it a UHF circle or bowtie antenna, VHF rabbit ears, or combo amplified UHF/VHF/HD antenna, I'm constantly fiddling with antenna orientation to avoid pixellation and dropouts. If this is what OTA HD is all about, the US is in big trouble when NTSC signals get turned off.

Great features & easy to use. Included remote works great with my Toshiba TV