Best Analog-to-Digital (DTV) Converters in 2022

Last update: December 27, 2022

Are old TV antennas worth anything?

TV antennas are not worth anything because they are outdated technology.

Are there still analog channels?

With the advent of digital television, many people assume that there are no longer any analog channels. However, this is not the case. There are still a limited number of analog channels available, though their numbers are dwindling. Most major broadcasters have switched to digital, but there are still a few holdouts. In addition, some smaller broadcasters may still be using analog.

Can I use a digital converter box with a smart TV?

Yes, you can use a digital converter box with a smart TV. The converter box will allow you to receive digital TV signals and convert them to an analog format that can be displayed on your smart TV.

Can I use my old antenna for digital TV?

If you have an old antenna, you may be able to use it for digital TV. However, it is important to check to see if the antenna is compatible with digital TV. If it is not, you will need to purchase a new antenna.


Kingbox Digital Converter Box for Analog TV, ATSC Tuner with Record and Pause Live TV, USB Multimedia Playback, HDTV Set Top Box for HD 1080P (2019 Version) Review:


This is fantastic! You essentially get a DVR/PVR for $30; all you need is an HDD or thumb stick to use it! I would STRONGLY advise doing this to discontinue our cable. We changed over to ANTENNA TV. and using the switch, I was able to retrieve two old analog TVs from storage and utilize the converter boxes to put them back in use. I'm very glad we were able to. The image is really fantastic. I am content with my purchase and would suggest it given the money I will save by cutting my cable TV.FeaturesTimer for Sleep Parental ControlsList of Favorite ChannelsClosing captionsEAS Emergency Alert System Support, multi-language, teletextTo select the RF, use a remote control. output of 3/4 chResolutions of the video output: 480i, 576i, 480p, 576p, 720p, 1080i, and 1080PUSB 2.0 for PVR, TIMESHIFT, software update, and playing of media files



Digital Converter Box for Analog TV, Leelbox Q03S ATSC Converter Box HD 1080P with Record, Pause Live TV, USB Multimedia Playback, and HDTV Set Top Box 2019 Update Version Review:


The image quality is excellent. almost as good as the broadcast's cable counterpart. My main worry is that the display always reads "cool" while it is actually in use. Even though the box is still only moderately warm after turning it off, the display will tell the time. But the moment I turn it back on, it instructs me to cool down once more. It always has good air movement around it and the vents are open. I haven't yet tried using it to record anything.Okay, I can confess when I'm mistaken. A few days after publishing the review above, the business sent me an email. It turns out that the device does not say "cool," despite the fact that it feels still rather heated. Actually, it says "C," "001." that is, Channel 001. Which looks to indicate "cool" when combined with a warm box in one statement. Since I frequently watch the news on channel 1, my box has always responded with "awesome" to me. The local TV stations and my antenna operate fine with this receiver. My initial star rating of two has been raised to four.



Digital Converter Box for Analog TV, HDTV Set Top Box for HD 1080P, ATSC Tuner with Recording PVR, Live TV Shows, USB Multimedia Playback, TV Tuner Function (2019 Update Version) Review:


Setting the language and country before turning it on. After that, select Signal Source > Air from the main menu. Do your channel scan after that. The default channel source for the box is cable. Then finish up the rest of your settings. Info button performs two functions. You only need to press it once to change the station. You get program information, a description, and a signal meter at the bottom to gauge channel strength when you press it twice in a row. At the bottom of the menu, the time setting can be changed. military time is the last 24. The last 12 are in standard time, although the display is always in military time. If necessary, you can reformat your USB in pvr format. When I selected format, a prompt appeared asking if I wanted to reformat my flash drive. When I hit "okay," it changed to FAT 32. (handy). Excellent image with vibrant colors and excellent black levels. Let my TV be the star. Playback is equally as good and simple to schedule as recording. It's a bad manual. But I do think it was a fantastic find. Add a splitter so you can record one channel while watching another. And each of the 40 channels is free.



Digital Converter Box for ATSC TV with Recording, USB Multimedia Playback HDTV Set Top Box Review:


This is a fantastic approach to extract a few wave channels. It isn't ideal, but you can get the news or other things with reasonable quality; nonetheless, it requires some form of antenna. Unfortunately, it does not function very well without one. When I tested it without one, despite several scans, it was unable to locate any channels. It does have a USB connector, however it only has a few movies that it can play. Av or mpg formats are available for viewing. Although it has several bugs, it still works. It does become a little warm when in use, so make sure it's in a place with good ventilation and take the plastic off the vent holes. For the remote to work, there needs to be a clear line of sight. Two AAA batteries, which are not included, are required. The relationship is solid. Although there may be some static here and there, the video quality is generally rather good. I am not too bothered by this, though. Component cables are included with the device, but HDMI cables are not. You will have to buy it separately. There is also a space for the antenna to go in and out; the antenna must be purchased separately. It is powered by a standard power brick. Overall, if you don't watch much TV and just want news or whatever, I think this is a good box for a few channels. Although it is excellent for tiny spaces, keep it adequately ventilated.



Mediasonic ATSC Digital Converter Box with Recording / Media Player / TV Tuner Function (HW130STB) Review:


I'll walk you through the process of setting everything up, how to record your programs, and how to watch them afterwards because the manual is the worst thing ever written.Connect the device to the HDMI cable connecting to the TV, the power cord, and the Co-Ax cable (not supplied; yes, you must have input from an antenna, ideally a digital antenna). Insert a USB flash drive (any type will suffice; it need not be "fast writing"); but, if you do not erase shows after watching them, get one with at least 32 GB of memory, preferably more. The average recording size per hour is 6 GB.To adjust your screen size, press the Menu button, then arrow over to the second icon (Picture), then over to the third icon (Channel search), to automatically search for channels (takes a few minutes). Next, select the fourth icon, "Time," and turn Daylight Saving Time on (if in daylight saving time). The local time setting must be accurate for the programs to be properly recorded.To record a program, press the EPG button, move the arrow sideways to the channel you want, down to the program and time it is presented, and then press OK. You can also move the arrow to once, daily, or weekly and then press OK.Push the USB button, select the PVR symbol, HBPVR, and your recorded program, then select OK to start watching. By default, the program will start off to the side of the TV screen. To make it full screen, press the HOLD button. Use the standard play, pause, fast-forward, etc. buttons on the remote control after that.



Leelbox Digital Converter Box for Analog TV 1080P ATSC Converters with Recording, Pause Live TV, Multimedia Playback HDTV Set Top Box Review:


Compared to other tuners/recorders I've used, this one performs better (EMatic AT-103B, HomeWorx HW-150PVR and HW-180PVR). Its software is more recent, has fewer flaws, and maintains audio and video synchronization unlike the EMatic AT-103B and HomeWorx HW-180PVR.The unit might scan with a "Cable" rather than a "Antenna" setting the first time you turn it on. The "Antenna" setting in the menu must be manually selected; it ought to have been the default.The default text that appears at the bottom of the screen when setting up an event is "View" when the timer for recording is set. This has to be changed to "Record," which ought to be the default.



eXuby Digital Converter Box for TV for Recording and Viewing Full HD Digital Channels Free (Instant or Scheduled Recording, 1080P HDTV, HDMI Output, 7 Day Program Guide & LCD Screen) with RCA Cable Review:


To use in conjunction with two other recording devices, I bought this unit (I have 3 available HDMI ports on my TV). I record shows from many stations, some of which air at the same time, to watch whenever I choose. This device carries out my instructions exactly. The visual quality is nice, and connecting is not too difficult. The remote is pretty flimsy, thin, and the button placement is awkward with little buttons. These are the only two complaints I have, and they are both minor and not deal breakers. First, there is no clock, which I don't think was indicated in the product description. In the event that I required another recorder, I would buy it again.



Mediasonic HW-150PVR ATSC Digital Converter Box w/ TV Recording, Media Player, and TV Tuner Function Review:


Amazing PVR/converter box here. This is a solution for your antenna, so it's crucial for folks to understand that before I continue. You shouldn't really judge this based on your experience with cable/satellite DVRs. That level of expectation just cannot be met without spending several hundred dollars more and possibly paying a monthly fee as well. This device exceeded my expectations and cost me $40, tax included. Due to its own benefits, which I'll cover in a moment, I didn't deduct one star from it because it wasn't as simple to use as a satellite DVR.But first, I'd like to address a couple questions that aren't immediately clear for those who are researching this.* This device is only for OTA/antenna TV. Even unscrambled, it is not suitable for cable. You can email the company and request their beta firmware if you wish to disregard this and try to use it for unscrambled cable. But proceed at your own peril. It is not listed on their website, is in beta, and is not supported. I'll say it again: this is strictly for antenna TV.* Yes, this converter box will allow your older analog TV to receive digital broadcasts. But it's more than just that. They refer to it as a converter, however it also includes an HDMI out that is compatible with your HD TV and can output at 1080p, thus the quality is unaffected. But keep in mind that even with HDMI, a station that is transmitted in 480i quality will still be in 480i quality. Most major channels broadcast in 720p, although a few do so in 1080i. This unit will maintain that quality whether you're using component or HDMI.* Because there is only one tuner on this box, you can only watch or record one channel at once. The HW-150PVR does, however, include a passthrough option that allows you to connect a cable to your digital TV's antenna input and use the TV's tuner to watch a different channel while the HW-150PVR is recording something else. Older analog TVs without a digital tuner are incompatible with this.* In order to use the PVR features, you must have your own USB hard disk or memory stick. It will take up a lot of space because it will record at the broadcast quality. So keep that in mind, I believe it takes about 10GB to store an hour of HD video. While it is being recorded, no other channels can be watched. You can only watch what is being recorded, so if you want to do that, you'll need to use the passthrough feature and change TV inputs. Although I've heard of individuals being able to change sub-channels while recording, I haven't personally attempted it.* The EPG (electronic program guide) exceeded my expectations even though I understood it would only list information that is being broadcast and wouldn't resemble a cable or satellite guide. Only the channel you're on's guide is visible, but you can switch channels while it's displayed by pressing the right/left buttons. Depending on the channel and time of day, the amount of content varies, but it displayed much more than I had anticipated. There are moments when it seems like several days' worth. You can use the guide to look up a show in the future, select it, and then decide whether to record it. It can be programmed to record at the same time every day or every week. It stores the files in a folder in your USB drive's root directory. Be aware that when it records, the file is named based on the channel name, the time, and the date rather than the show's name. However, you can manually modify a file's name. Additionally, unlike a cable or satellite DVR, you actually have access to the files of the recorded TV programmes, allowing you to edit them on a computer if you so choose.* Time shift mode - To begin with, you must get used to the fact that live TV isn't always automatically being recorded for you to pause and watch later. Before any of it can be used, you must first enter time shift mode by using the Pause button. If you believe you might want to use it with a show you're watching, you really need to press pause at the beginning so you don't have to wait a minute for it to enter the mode when you actually want to use it. It takes a minute for it to enter time shift. However, being able to do this with OTA TV is quite fantastic. Another thing is that when you are in time shift, you are unable to change the channel unless you press Stop to quit that mode and return to live TV. Additionally, while on time shift, you cannot access the program or guide information. However, the fact that you can achieve this for just $40 is extremely cool.* Media playback – This feature of the product really caught my attention. It can play a wide variety of video, music, and image formats. My USB hard drive contains copies of all of my DVDs and Blu-rays, and it flawlessly played them all. The majority of my ripped Blu-rays were the only issue I had. The video played without any issues, but there was no audio. A DTS codec was being utilized. They were all converted using the AAC codec using Handbrake, and it went smoothly. Additionally, it reduced the file sizes from 30GB each to roughly 7GB without sacrificing any discernible quality. Additionally, it has good MP3 playback.Really, my complaints are limited to two. The software has a few minor bugs, as I've discovered. When I was originally putting it up, it restarted on me a few times without warning. However, it only takes a few seconds to boot up, and it hasn't happened recently. The user interface is also somewhat sluggish. It takes at least 5 seconds for the USB button to transition between your PVR and media features after you hit it. You'll be tempted to keep pushing the button until you realize that. Once when I kept pushing buttons, it closed up on me. Simply push it once, then wait a short while before pressing it again. Play, Pause, and Stop buttons on the remote control are only three examples of small, hard-to-find buttons in a row. This can be resolved if you have a universal remote control that learns. The absence of Page Up/Down buttons for media navigation is the only other issue I have. One file at a time must be moved up and down.However, these are minor issues, and they didn't stop me from genuinely adoring this product and writing this lengthy review. Your money is well spent on it, and I was pleasantly surprised.



Exuby Digital Converter Box for TV, Flat Antenna, HDMI Cable for Recording & Viewing Free Full HD Digital Channels (Instant & Scheduled Recording, 1080P, HDMI Output, 7Day Program Guide & LCD Screen) Review:


I purchased this personal video recorder (PVR) to capture digital broadcast content. It does so admirably. You don't need to input the current date or time because they were captured from the air. broadcast schedule was shown. Please be aware that getting the quantity and caliber of your broadcast channels depends greatly on the antenna and its positioning. Additionally, the distance between you and the broadcast station's transmitting antenna matters. You must first perform a channel search in order to find the stations. The device, an HDMI cable, a remote, and a little flat antenna are all included in the contents. include a manual for use. USB thumb drive for external memory is required but not provided for storage. Front of the device has a USB port. I'm happy to provide the storage. able to remove the USB and watch recorded shows on a PC in.mts format (using VLC media player).Price and tiny unit are advantages. lovely menus Also playable are the.jpg images,.mp3 audio, and.mp4 videos I loaded onto the USB.Cons: You can't choose a recording from the program guide. channel, date, start and end times, etc. must be entered.



Viewtv AT-163 ATSC Digital TV Converter Box and Media Player w/ Recording PVR Function / HDMI Out / Coaxial Out / Composite Out / USB Input Review:


The tuner receives high definition channels clearly when used with an antenna. What is truly satisfying is the digital recorder, which the maker refers to as a "PVR." It's simple to find upcoming shows by channel, choose the one you want to record, and decide whether to do so once, daily, or weekly. You can display the PVR list to see what you recorded. Even after running the box nonstop for days, it is barely warm to the touch. I'm using USB 2 flash memory to record, which is compatible with high definition. A show in high definition can consume up to 4 GB, but a show in low definition uses about 1 GB. My ability to review, rename, or review each recording on my computer (MAC) before copying them back to flash cards for viewing on the Viewtv box is another useful function. How do they manage to do that for only $39.99 when it is a good ATSC Tuner, DVR, and full function remote? I bought a second one since I was so pleased with this one.What the instructions don't tell you, updated1. There is only a USB 2.0 on the box. It is not USB 3.0 compatible.2. Pressing the "info" button on your remote control once reveals the channel and station information, but pressing it again displays the station strength meter.3. A.mts file serves as the format for recorded output. The ViewTV creates a new output file with the same name and the extensions.mts1, then.mts2 after about 4.29 GB of recording. if required.4. The Mac's QuickTime player can play.mts files, however it occasionally crashes. On the ViewTV, it works even if it can crash on the Mac. A.mts2 file cannot be played by my QuickTime player, but once more, I use the ViewTV for huge, multi-file videos. On your computer, you can rename your files before downloading them to your USB thumb drive.5. In a USB 2.0 flash reader, I use high-speed flash memory cards. For high definition recording while using a USB 2.0 thumb drive, ensure sure the speed is at least 40 Mbps. At 40 Mbps, I have no problems at all.Update from 11/03/17: It is still quite effective for recording OTA material. I'm using affordable SanDisk USB 3.0, 32 and 64 MB thumb drives from Amazon. The recorded video contents can be quickly and directly displayed on the TV by inserting the thumb drive into a USB port on a Samsung TV, eliminating the requirement for the ViewTV box for playback.


Can you convert analog TV signal to digital?

Yes, you can convert analog TV signal to digital, but you will need a converter box. The process is not difficult, but you will need to follow directions carefully.

Can you get cable channels with a converter box?

Yes, you can get cable channels with a converter box. If you have an HDTV, you will need a converter box that supports HD signals.

Do I need a digital box with a smart TV?

No, you don't need a digital box with a smart TV. A smart TV has a digital tuner built in, so you'll be able to receive digital TV channels without a separate box.

Do I need a digital converter for my antenna?

If you want to watch free over-the-air television, you will need a digital converter for your antenna. Free over-the-air TV has been digital since 2009. If you have an old TV with an analog tuner, you will need a digital converter box to watch free over-the-air TV. You can get a digital converter box at most electronics stores or online.

Do I need a digital converter for my TV?

If you have a digital TV, you do not need a digital converter. However, if you have an analog TV, you will need a digital converter in order to receive digital broadcast signals.

Do I need a UHF or VHF antenna for digital TV?

If you want to receive digital TV signals, you will need a UHF antenna. VHF antennas will not work for digital TV.