Product Review: RCA Digital TV Converter DTA800B1

The fifth and probably final DTV Converter Box review in my coverage of the digital TV conversion is the really good RCA Digital TV Converter box model DTA800B1.

Ease of Use, Performance: 20/25, Look & Feel: 18/25,
Features 22/25, How much I enjoy 20/25
Total: 80/100

The RCA Digital TV Converter is probably the most common converter I have found being available at Wal-Mart and being in store most of the time. They may be having a difficult time keeping them on store shelves but they also have a really good supply source so it is usually a short time before they receive new ones to restock.

The RCA Digital TV Converter DTA800 is really a good all around converter and does all you need for converting your digital signals to the analog required for use with an analog television. It also has some nice features that others do in a nice well rounded way that gives all the best features without over loading the box with too many things to have to worry about.

The RCA converter box has the two coax antenna connections as well as the RCA connections for video and audio for a separate and second set to hook up to a DVD player or other component. The back of the converter also has the channel 3/4 switch as well as a separate Smart Antenna connection for the newer types of antennas.

I have only found one Smart Antenna currently available on the market and GE through Jasco Products is also manufacturing one that will be available soon. I am not sure how well the Smart Antennas work as I really cannot find much information about their actual use and performance.

Using the RCA connections on the back of the converter box allows you to connect a VCR or DVD through the digital converter box and out to your television. You can also use the RCA connections as a way to connect a television that does not have a coax connection but does have the RCA connections.