How do I Connect a Magnavox Digital Converter to a Dish Network DVR?
By Maya Austen
Magnavox digital converter boxes are used to convert digital TV broadcast signals into analog format. Because all full-power TV stations in the U.S. now only broadcast digital TV signals, this conversion is necessary to equip analog TV sets with the capacity to decode over-the-broadcast TV signals. Most Dish Network DVRs are equipped with a built-in analog (NTSC) as well as digital (ATSC) tuner. If you have a Dish DVR connected to your analog TV, you can connect a TV antenna directly to the DVR and use the DVR itself as a converter. Or you can connect a converter box to the DVR.
Set Up Magnavox Converter Box For the First Time
Step 1
Insert the coaxial cable, which is attached to the TV antenna, into the RF "Ant. In" terminal on the back of the Magnavox converter. Secure the cable's connection to the terminal by twisting the screw-on connector, which surrounds the cable's plug, clockwise until tight.
Step 2
Use an independent coaxial cable to connect the converter's RF "Ant. Out" terminal to the TV set's RF "Antenna" input terminal.
Step 3
Plug the converter box's power cord into an electrical outlet. Turn on the TV and converter box. Tune the TV to channel 3. The converter box "Setup Wizard" automatically opens when the converter box is set up for the first time
Step 4
Follow the on-screen prompts to select your preferred language and to conduct a channel scan to program the converter box's channel memory.
Step 5
Disconnect the coaxial cable plugged into the TV set's RF "Antenna" input terminal.
Connect Converter Box to Dish DVR
Step 1
Leave the cable connections that connect the DVR to the TV set in place.
Step 2
Connect the TV antenna's coaxial cable to the RF "Ant. In" terminal on the back of the Magnavox converter.
Step 3
Connect one end of an independent coaxial cable to the converter's RF "Ant. Out" terminal. Connect the other end of this cable to the RF "TV Antenna / Cable In" terminal on the back of the Dish Network DVR.
Step 4
Use another coaxial cable to connect the DVR's RF "TV Ch. 3 -- 4" output terminal to the TV set's RF "Antenna" input terminal.
Step 5
Plug the converter box's power cord into an electrical outlet. Turn on the TV, DVR and converter box. Tune the TV to channel 3.
Program Dish DVR for Local-Off-Air Channels
Step 1
Press "Menu" on the Dish Network remote control.
Step 2
Select "System Setup." Select "Installation" (this only applies to some DVR models). Select "Scan Locals." When prompted to select "Analog," "Digital" or "Both," select "Both" (this only applies to some DVR models).
Step 3
Select "Yes" to begin the scan. Select "Done" at the end of the scan.
References
Tips
- If the Magnavox converter box has already been previously set up, you can skip the first section. In lieu of connecting the converter box to the DVR, you can simply connect a TV antenna directly to the DVR's RF "TV Antenna / Cable In" terminal. Tune the TV to channel 3. Then follow the instructions as outlined in the last section, "Program DVR for Local-Off-Air Channels."
Writer Bio
Maya Austen began freelance writing in 2009. She has written for many online publications on a wide variety of topics ranging from physical fitness to amateur astronomy. She's also an author and e-book publisher. Austen has a Bachelor of Arts in communications from the New England Institute of Art and currently lives in Boston, Mass.