Rating: - comparison with dtvpal plus
I purchased the two major timer event schedulable/programmable converter boxes available as of this date: the Zinwell and the DTVPal Plus (enhanced version of the DTVPal or TR-40 CRA). These are some of the major problems and advantages of each.
The biggest problem I have with the Zinwell is that the remote control is the flimsiest and cheapest control I have ever seen with any product. The down arrow button is already having problems responding to pressing after only a few days. It usually takes several years before buttons on a remote control begin to go bad, and I am concerned that this one will not even be working a year from now.
The biggest problem with the DTVPal Plus is the reception. The Plus is supposed to have enhanced reception over the prior models which were famous for bad reception (and you pay $20 more for the 'enhancement'), but in my area it gets a couple less UHF channels than the Zinwell and often has some breakup on the local ABC affiliate.
Both devices get the clock time automatically from the digital signal but both devices keep erratic time occasionally, and the Zinwell is especially bad. After a few days, the Zinwell became stuck at 62 minutes behind the correct time and the DTVPal Plus became stuck at 53 minutes ahead. If you are buying this to schedule timed events, this is obviously going to be a problem. Attempts to remedy do not help, but after a couple of days the devices go back to the correct time for awhile. The Zinwell has no daylight savings on/off (which is not the problem in my case anyway), while the DTVPal Plus does allow you to control daylight savings. The Zinwell has the advantage that you can manually set the time, while the DTVPal Plus does not allow you to. Even after manually setting the time in the Zinwell, I found it loses 1-2 minutes per week and also loses the clock time completely if power goes out even for a second (most devices will hold the time for 2-3 minutes in a power outage). I have mine on a UPS (backup battery) to keep it from losing time in a brief power outage. At least the Zinwell allows you to control the time.
I have had a problem with the Zinwell mysteriously changing the number of channels (ch. 5 suddenly became 31) with no way of changing the numbers back-even re-recognizing does not help. This is a huge annoyance that makes browsing channels and scheduling events difficult. The Zinwell has a quirk at the end of the timer scheduling process that makes it easy to cancel your timer event, so watch out.
The analog pass-thru of the DTVPal Plus provides a strong signal but shuts off digital operation if you go into analog pass-thru mode. The Zinwell puts a little interference on the analog signal, but if you connect all cables (both RF/coax and RCA/composite) it keeps digital operation alive while in pass-thru mode so it is easy to switch back and forth between digital and analog channels. If you turn off the DTVPal Plus, it will automatically go into pass-thru mode, but if you turn off the Zinwell pass-thru is not available-the Zinwell must be powered on in order to use analog pass-thru.
If you like on-screen program guides, the DTVPal Plus has a better one than the Zinwell, and you can even schedule timer events direct from the program guide with the DTVPal Plus. If you get a Zinwell, do not throw out the manual. Zinwell has unfortunately set a password on some of the channel functions, so you will need to look up the default password in the manual if you try to access these functions.
Do not expect much support. Both companies took several days to respond to an inquiry and gave canned answers that did not address my question. After supplying follow-up information, neither company got back to me. There are several other issues and quirks with both devices.
Rating: - It works
Unpack it, hook it up, and use it. No problem.
cph
Rating: - Great for the price
With the $40 government coupon this was a wonderful deal.
I love the remote and the on screen menus etc.
The only downside is that I bought it for the analog pass through and unless I'm doing something wrong... that just doesn't work. Hoenstly have not spent a lot of time on it but I get nothing.
I would still buy it again though.
Rating: - great purchase! better than expected
The only reason I ordered this was because of the upcoming tv conversion to digital. I had no idea that having a converter box would make such a huge difference!! I get 3-4 times more channels than I received before and they are as clear as cable tv. Especially with the government $40 discount, this box is such a great deal and I would recommend it to everyone who uses rabbit ears.
Zinwell ZAT-970A Digital to Analog TV Converter Box Reviews
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