Magnavox TB100MW9 user reviews

Pros compact, picks up most channels, allows coax or A/V hookup

Cons Doesn't pickup all channels, no buttons on the box, certain functions are on the remote only & not in the menu option, doens't allow you to use RF channel in most cases

Summary I bought this box in 2008 at the time the $40 coupon program from the government was offered. It was the only box available at the time, and didn't have much time to redeem the coupons. I didn't get around to hooking them up until a year later, when i had time to hookup te outdoor antenna. Living in the Chicago market, it picked up all the full power stations, but it has difficulty picking up certain low power TV stations. Both during the pre-transition digital & post-transition digital, I had no problem receiving WBBM-TV when they broadcasted on channel 3 (mapped to 2.1). During post-transition digital, WBBM-TV moved to channel 12 (still, mapped to 2.1). WLS-TV was originally on channel 52, and that channel was always trouble for me, but improved dramatically when their digital channel was moved to 7. I however hate it that the whiners who refused to use outdoor antennas for those who could use them, or who did have outdoor antennas, were using UHF only antennas, thinking they can get VHF stations with a UHF only antenna. Because of all the whiners, WLS-TV caved in and moved their main channel to 44, but for now, keeps 7 running until they get their signal worked out. The problem here isn't VHF itself, but the fact that some people refusing to invest in VHF antennas, all because VHF antennas are bigger than UHF antennas (especially VHF antennas optimized for channels 2-6). People knew that WBBM-TV was broadcasting on a VHF channel duringpre-transition digital, but blamed the station itself for broadcasting a poor signal, instead of blaming themselves for buying the wrong antenna. Had WMAQ, WGN-TV, & WTTW gone back to their original analog channels (5, 9, 11), their coverage would have shrunk, and instead stayed on their pre-transition UHF channels.

Now when I have problems with certain stations, all the channels I have problems with are stations that broadcast on the Sears Tower (that's what I still call it) and on the UHF. That includes WMAQ, WJYS, WCPX, WLS-TV (UHF channel only), WSNS, & WTTW. The 2 stations that stayed on the John Hancock: WYCC & WGBO-DT never gave me problems. I however have problems with WWME-LD because it's a low power digital, and the signal is weak by the time it reaches Gary Indiana, but I do get it from time to time. I have a big antenna that's optimized for this station, along with other stations. I didn't have problems getting WWME-CA on analog. So I don't know what the problem is with the digital station.

As for the channels themselves, I don't like how this box goes by PSIP channel itself, and not allow you to go by RF channel. While it's possible to enter in the RF channel, that doesn't work if a station is already mapped to that channel. So to enter 44.1 would give me WSNS instead of WLS-TV. 50.1 would give me WPWR-TV instead of WXFT. I'm just one of those people who would have rather learned the new channel lineup instead of a channel mapping system that goes by the old analog channel. Here's a much bigger problem that the box can't solve, due to the problem coming from WCIU themselves, and not the box itself. WCIU in Chicago insists on having their MeTV & MeToo stations (digital WWME-LD & analog WMEU-CA) mapped to 23.1 & 48.1, on top of being mapped to their subchannels 26.2 for MeTV & 26.3 for MeToo. 23.1 & 48.1 are mapped from WCIU channel 27 instead of their low power stations. Since MeTV is digital, WCIU has WWME-LD on channel 39, and maps that station to 23.2. Whenever I punch in 23.2, I immediately get the No Signal message. I have to go to 23.1 first, then press the channel up button to go to 23.2. Also, if I punch in 27.1, then all PSIP channels go to 23.1 & up. If I lose the channel mapping for WCIU & their subchannels, then I must do a full scan in order to find this station again. I don't have to do this with other stations, because I can simply delete the channels that have overlap PSIP & RF channels, and punch in the RF channel, and it will give me the channel I'm looking for. WCIU claims they have a valid reason for mapping 23.1 & 48.1 to channel 27, but all it does is wreak havoc on my box. This is a problem on select brand name TV's as well. So the box isn't 100% at fault for this problem.

While this box works ok, I would have preferred a different coverter box, as some boxes have buttons on the box itself, and have better reviews. It's now 2010, and waiting to save up money to just get a new TV. If I hadn't had to replace my original TV in 2004, I wouldn't have needed to get this box at all. There were few TV's with digital tuners in 2004, and out of my price range back then. That was the only reason I got one, and unfortuntely, this model was the only one at the start of the coupon program.

Pros I CAN NOT SAY ANY PROS BECAUSE IT SIMPLY IS JUNK!

Cons DOES NOT WORK IT'S A PIECE OF TRASH!

Summary I PUT IT IN THE GARBAGE!

Pros Ease of use. That's all.

Cons One minute it gets all the channels I can possibly get w/my indoor rabbit ears VHF/UHF antenna & the next, it drops 1, 2 or all my channels.

Summary I first tried hooking this devil thing up in December and it got maybe like three channels. Funai tells me wait until after the conversion date and do a rescan. The conversion date gets bumped, but meanwhile I periodically try again. So come June, I tried again and got a few more. June 11, I picked up a few more. June 12, a few more, but not the major ones. FCC suggested making sure there was a window nearby since digital is more sensitive than analog. Check. We move the box and the antenna to the north side of the house next to a window. Hook it up, get all the channels, but the next minute, we lose two channels without doing anything. Yesterday, I turn it on and everything's in black and white and the sound is static. I rehook it and again lose everything, rehook and everything's back. Today, I turn it on and I've lost my channels again. FCC, my local broadcaster's association, the local television station and my family all concur that the box is the problem though but Funai is not taking responsibility. Unfortunately, neither is Wal-mart since it's the first generation box they sold and thus more than 90 days have passed since it was purchased, but you know what, we have the right not to be stuck with this lemon and to have access to information. What if a tornado comes blowing toward my house and I die because I don't know about it all because of some faulty converter box?

Pros It is small and easy to operate has very nice picture. Is energystar compliant and has simple menu.

Cons It has its own remote that does not control the tv, and I have yet to find a universal that works with it.

Summary It is small and easy to operate has very nice picture and has worked fine for about 6 months now. I bought one because at the time it was the cheapest. Got home set it up and went back to the store to buy three more that very night.

I would defiantly buy another