TiVo & DTV Converter Box Tips

Yeah, everything is getting better. My headache with my series 2 TiVo box as well. Now we have to add another box to it so that we can continue to watch over-the-air (OTA) programming. Sure the picture quality is better and some channels add additional programming through the sub-channels but for me and maybe for a few others, too, there is the pain of the converter box.

Now, non HD TiVo boxes currently don't support these converter boxes although rumors has that official support will be added. But till then we have to figure things out ourselves. What you are reading is a write-up of my quest to make my Humax DRT800 TiVo make work with a converter box. Since my governmental converter box coupons were about to expire jumped into the marked and tried to make the best out of it.

My TiVo is setup to get our two German channels through the Dishnetwork 311 receiver which uses the s-video input of the TiVo. Previously I just feed my attic mounted antenna directly into the TiVo. With the digital converter box I continue to use the RF input of the TiVo box since the satellite receiver occupies the s-video input and therefore the composite audio/video jacks aren't available either. That's a limitation of the Humax DRT800 so other TiVo boxes might be different. Wiring chart without the digital TV converter box (before) and Wiring chart with the digital TV converter box (after) in pdf format.

The two main issues that non HD TiVo users encounter are:

• getting the correct IR remote code so that TiVo can change channels and
• finding which cable TV provider best fits the over-the-air channel line up.

The IR remote code varies between converter boxes. So a converter box needs to be selected whose IR code is known by the TiVo box. Now that's the difficult part because even with lots of research it still remained shot into the dark. I choose to buy the Insignia NS-DXA1 and the Digital Stream DTX9950. I got lucky with my choice as I found a working IR code for both boxes. We'll go more into details about them later.

Until TiVo provides official support we can forget about utilizing sub-channels with non HD TiVos. This means only the main channel line up need to be considered when finding a cable TV provider whose channel line up matches the over-the air channel lineup. (Obviously if your case is different you may be able to consider both, satellite and cable TV providers, or if you are using cable with over-the-air then you can only choose from satellite providers.) This certainly is a tricky part that may be solved with cable TV providers from surrounding towns. I was lucky and found a cable provider called "ICS West Towne". I have no clue who they are or to whom they provide service but their channel line up matches most of the off-the air channels (i.e. the off-the-air channel 17 is Fox as is the channel 17 on the ICS West Towne). The few channels that don't mach are not interesting to me (i.e. a religious channel and CW) and the extra cable channels can be ignored by TiVo (Messages & Settings -> Settings -> Channels -> Channel List).

Now to the details of the two converter boxes I purchased.

Available at Best Buy for $59.99. According to the store employee one should be able to return the converter box and get a store credit (aka gift card) if the Insignia NS-DXA1 does not work out. That's even with using the governmental converter box coupon. At the time of my purchase Best Buy only offered the Insignia NS-DXA1 converter box.

Some features of interest:

• Electronic programming guide (EPG) (aka simple guide) shows current and next program of the current channel. However, you can browse through each individual channel in the EPG channel without having to change the actual channel. Be aware however that sometimes the programming data hasn't been downloaded for an channel until you actually view that channel. Although the EPG isn't used with the TiVo.
• Audible and visual signal strength indicator. Most converter boxes only have a visual signal strength indicator. The audible signal strength indicator might make it easier when adjusting the antenna for reception.
• Included: remote control with 1 AAA batterie, owner's manual, RF and composite A/V cable.

TiVo IR blaster settings:


IR Code:	10075-B
Cable Channel Digits:	2
Cable "Enter" button:	No

Manufacturer supplied documentation:

• Insignia NS-DXA1 Manual (aka User Guide)
• Insignia NS-DXA1 Quick Setup Guide
• Product Website with product information and support.

Available at Radio Shack for $59.99. If your local store does not have the digital converter box in stock then it can be ordered and paid at your local store. At that time you can use your governmental converter box coupon. If you ordered from the store, the box will be shipped directly to your home address for free. According to the store employee, Radio Shack will accept the return and put the credit back on the converter box coupon should one have been used. I assume your original expiration date still applies, therefore I'm not sure if you'd just loose the option of returning the box if the date has been passed. At the time of my purchase Radio Shack only offered the Digital Stream DTX9950 in their local store (although the stock was completed), however other converter boxes have been carried by Radio Shack and probably one of the boxes on their website can be ordered through the store as well.

Some features of interest:

• Electronic programming guide (EPG) (aka simple guide) shows the programming of the current channels for several hours into the future (12 hours?) but you can not change channels while inside the EPG. Although the EPG isn't used with the TiVo.
• Analog Pass-Through, allows reception of local analog stations that aren't required to switch to digital. This feature can't be used with the TiVo since the TiVo won't send a power on/off (aka analog pass through toggle) signal.
• Included: remote control with 2 AAA batteries, owner's manual, RF cable.

TiVo IR blaster settings:


IR Code:	10013-B
Cable Channel Digits:	2
Cable "Enter" button:	No

Manufacturer supplied documentation:

• Digital Stream DTX9950 Manual
• Digital Stream DTX9950 Installation Guide
• Digital Stream DTX9950 Remote Program Codes for programming the DTX 9950 remote to turn on/off and adjust the volume of the TV. This is not the code that TiVo needs.
• Product Website with product information, support and registration.

Dishnetwork 331 Satellite Receiver

Just for documentation the settings for the Dishnetwork 311 satellite receiver in case I need to find that code in the future again.

TiVo IR blaster settings:


IR Code:	10001-B

Links

• TiVo support article on setting the IR code via the Advanced Settings screen which is quite helpful as it reveals an the advanced option that isn't always displayed and which lets one enter the numeric code directly.
• Official Website of the TV Converter Box Coupon Program provides information about the program and allows you to apply for coupons online.

UPDATE July 10, 2008

Tivo officially announced that they will add support for several converter boxes including the Insignia NS-DXA1 late summer via a software update for selected TiVos. From experience in software development prepare to get the update in the fall or winter. Things always get delayed. Surprisingly the Digital Stream DTX9000 (the DTX9950 was not mentioned) will not be supported.

Link to official announcement from TiVo. Look under the Converter Boxes tab.

To me it's not a big deal since I choose the Insignia over the Digital Stream mainly because the Insignia stayed cooler and heat is a problem even with the two fans in the cabinet that houses all equipment. BTW if you are curious, I purchased two 110V fans and wired them in series in order to reduce noise. They are mounted in the rear and blow the air to the outside of the cabinet. This way the dust accumulates in the back instead of the front and things stay a little nicer between dustings.