Ok Guys, I want to give hope to you guys who want Digital TV in your car, now that normal analog TV will be out on FEB 2009. What you need is a Analog to Digital Converter Box wich is in reality a HD TV Tuner running on 120v, but I decided to open mine up to used it in my car with a 12v source.

Converter Box $59.99 http://www.radioshack.com/product/index ... age=family

This is what I found. The CONVERTER BOX inside haves a separate power supply wich couldn't be more perfect for car use. The actual HDTV Tuner only needs a 3.3v and 5.5v DC source. You can make your own 12v to 5.5v and 3.3v power supply. I can make you a good quality custom 12v to 3.3v and 5.5v power supply for $50 shipped (power supply only) wich will go inside the box with 2 wires coming out. You can buy the HDTV tuner for less than $20 if you have the Goverment coupon.

Here is a picture of the HDTV tuner box opened.

PS: You only need VIDEO/AUDIO input in your head unit and you can use normal CAR TV ANTENNAS from the old TV tuners or buy the HD antennas wich are small and pick up signal pretty good.

Enjoy

Thanks CRD, would it be possible to post instructions on how to create the power supply on my own. All I remember from shop class is wrapping wire around and around And is there one HD antenna better than the other?

Thanks again,

H-

just an FYI, they also sell these on monoprice.com for less than $15....

What do they sell on Mono, the converter or antenna? I just looked for the converter and could not find one, but did find other cool things. thanks for the website info.

H-

I'm working on that as we speak, first I need to know if I need a constant power supply to hold the data of the TV tuner (recorded channels) or if it will work with a single on/off power supply.

Is this a converter only? and not a HD tuner? If installed, can we still use the Pioneer TV tuner, to control it through the HU, or would this be connected to the AV in, and controlled separately?

Awfully interesting.. I'm interested in the HD DAC .. just need to figure out a few things with my Z1 first, so I am keeping an eye on this thread.. good work, thanks!

So do I need a TV tuner as well as the converter? I know it is called a CONVERTER but is it whatever antenna I choose, converter, TV Tuner to AV in and then watch TV?

ALSO do I need to have the bypass to watch TV while "in motion"

From what I'm reading, these are actually tuners. So you would have to have access to the box in order to actually watch any tv. That's why they have channel up & down buttons. The Pioneer tuner would have to remain on channel 3 (or 4).

So do I need a TV tuner as well as the converter? I know it is called a CONVERTER but is it whatever antenna I choose, converter, TV Tuner to AV in and then watch TV?

 

ALSO do I need to have the bypass to watch TV while "in motion"

It looks like this tuner has a composite video output as well as a mono audio output :

Outputs 1 x "F" Plug(To TV), 1 x RCA(Video), 1 x RCA(Audio)

You could just use a "Y" RCA splitter to connect the audio to both left and right channels on an AV input as well as the composite video. This means you can use this tuner without the pioneer tuner - You just won't have control over it from the HU itself.

Just went to the Radioshack link, and applied for the converter coupon for 40 bucks. It said I was approved just have to wait for it in the mail. I then can get the box for 20 bucks or so.

Once I get it, if I want to use an AC to DC converter, then plug it into the rca input jacks, would I get signal? Does it capture over the air frequency? and how would that work if traveling long distances? Would it need to search multiple times in different areas?

Is this a converter only? and not a HD tuner? If installed, can we still use the Pioneer TV tuner, to control it through the HU, or would this be connected to the AV in, and controlled separately?

This is a Digital TV tuner it will receive the New signal you won't be able to control this with the HU , only Volume. it comes with a remote control and a pretty nice menu, very easy to use.

From what I'm reading, these are actually tuners. So you would have to have access to the box in order to actually watch any tv. That's why they have channel up & down buttons. The Pioneer tuner would have to remain on channel 3 (or 4).

Yeap you can use this with a CAR MONITOR wich only haves video inputs and no tuners.

So do I need a TV tuner as well as the converter? I know it is called a CONVERTER but is it whatever antenna I choose, converter, TV Tuner to AV in and then watch TV?

 

ALSO do I need to have the bypass to watch TV while "in motion"

 

It looks like this tuner has a composite video output as well as a mono audio output :

 

Outputs 1 x "F" Plug(To TV), 1 x RCA(Video), 1 x RCA(Audio)

 

You could just use a "Y" RCA splitter to connect the audio to both left and right channels on an AV input as well as the composite video. This means you can use this tuner without the pioneer tuner - You just won't have control over it from the HU itself.

Wrong my friend, it haves Stereo Dolby Digital Sound RCA outputs

Is this a converter only? and not a HD tuner? If installed, can we still use the Pioneer TV tuner, to control it through the HU, or would this be connected to the AV in, and controlled separately?

 

This is a Digital TV tuner it will receive the New signal you won't be able to control this with the HU , only Volume. it comes with a remote control and a pretty nice menu, very easy to use.

So I can deal with that. I can deal with this little box stuffed in the well with everything else, connect it to a DC port and connect it to the RCA input jacks and control it with its own remote. I am curious to see how good the reception is or more important how many channels I will get.

CRD how are the instructions on making your own converter?

Thanks in advance.

H-

So do I need a TV tuner as well as the converter? I know it is called a CONVERTER but is it whatever antenna I choose, converter, TV Tuner to AV in and then watch TV?

 

ALSO do I need to have the bypass to watch TV while "in motion"

 

It looks like this tuner has a composite video output as well as a mono audio output :

 

Outputs 1 x "F" Plug(To TV), 1 x RCA(Video), 1 x RCA(Audio)

 

You could just use a "Y" RCA splitter to connect the audio to both left and right channels on an AV input as well as the composite video. This means you can use this tuner without the pioneer tuner - You just won't have control over it from the HU itself.

 

Wrong my friend, it haves Stereo Dolby Digital Sound RCA outputs

Where does it say that in the specs ? It only shows that it has a single audio output and makes no mention of having stereo sound.

do you knwo what the current draw is on this? Thanks to the12volt.com, I found 2 voltage regulators on digikey.com

NJU7201L55-ND - 5.5 vdc 100mA voltage regulator

LP2950CZ-3.3-ND - 3.3vdc 100mA voltage regulator

If the 100mA is enough then I can use just one, if not then I need to put multiple in parallel, but i need to knwo what the current draw is so I know how many to order

So do I need a TV tuner as well as the converter? I know it is called a CONVERTER but is it whatever antenna I choose, converter, TV Tuner to AV in and then watch TV?

 

ALSO do I need to have the bypass to watch TV while "in motion"

 

It looks like this tuner has a composite video output as well as a mono audio output :

 

Outputs 1 x "F" Plug(To TV), 1 x RCA(Video), 1 x RCA(Audio)

 

You could just use a "Y" RCA splitter to connect the audio to both left and right channels on an AV input as well as the composite video. This means you can use this tuner without the pioneer tuner - You just won't have control over it from the HU itself.

 

Wrong my friend, it haves Stereo Dolby Digital Sound RCA outputs

 

Where does it say that in the specs ? It only shows that it has a single audio output and makes no mention of having stereo sound.

It has Dolby Sound and Left/ Right RCA outputs, I think radio shack info is wrong

A little update:

I currently moving from my condo, and I'm getting married next week, have TONS of things to do, I haven't played with the tuner yet.

To answer some of the questions:

This is a Digital TV Tuner (you can use this TV tuner with any LCD car monitor) only needs RCA A/V inputs

It haves stereo RCA outputs (Dolby Digital)

YOU NEED A HD antenna, older antennas will work, but I found that CHEAP TV antennas fully extended get worse reception, if you close the antenna completly you will get better reception. I bought a HD antenna and the difference was way better.

Well i'm looking for : Digital- to-Analog Converter

Digital Stream DTX9900

well did it work to canada also ?? what chanel it catch ?? normal UFH VHF and hdtv ?? well i want to know if it need some activitation or somet

YOU NEED A HD antenna, older antennas will work, but I found that CHEAP TV antennas fully extended get worse reception, if you close the antenna completly you will get better reception. I bought a HD antenna and the difference was way better.

Where did you put your antenna, does it have to be out in the open or can it be in the trunk or something?

To follow up with this thread this is what I have done so far. I received my government 40 dollar rebate card Bought the converter box at RS 59.99-40.00, then got 25% off a HDTV antenna for 24.99-25%. I rough installed it to the unit, but not realizing that I needed to plug the antenna into AC, I only bough a single DC/AC converter. But after I ran an extension cord for the antenna everything worked pretty well. Reception was good, signal strength was up to the top range and working great. I did try it without power to the antenna and did a get a few channels, but not as much as with the power. Next step is to get another DC/AC converter and have everything powered by the truck, and take it for a spin to see if the signal or reception goes in and out on the move. Does anyone know of any HDTV antenna that works well without AC power? Will keep you posted.

ok so i saw an antenna at circuit city thats amplified and 12v! for 14.00

what tuner are you guys using???

from the original post

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index ... age=family

Do you have the link to the CC antenna?

from the original post

 

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index ... age=family

 

Do you have the link to the CC antenna?

here you go.

http://www.audiovox.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... &langId=-1