How Do I Choose a Digital TV Converter?

Step 1

Set a budget for the purchase of your digital TV converter box, which will likely cost between $45 and $80.

Step 2

Visit several retail locations that offer converter boxes to get an idea of the selection in your area. Some examples include department stores like Target, Walmart and Sears and electronics stores like Radio Shack and Best Buy. Some Internet websites also offer digital converter boxes, but remember that online stores may add shipping costs to the final price.

Step 3

Find out what type of antenna you can connect to the digital converter box. To get a clear picture, you more than likely need an antenna, and to get the most channels, the antenna needs to be able to receive both VHF and UHF signals.

Step 4

Look for a digital converter box that has the analog pass-through feature. With this function, you will be able to get analog signals as well as signals for digital channels. However, this function would be useful only to those who live close enough to pick up analog TV transmissions from Mexico and Canada.

Step 5

Check out the type of remote control that comes with the digital converter boxes you're considering. A universal remote is available with select models, but generally, you just want to make sure the remote is user friendly, meaning you understand how to operate it.