Thanks for the responses Mat and Chris.
Apparently, around the time of my last post, the Channel Master converter box was being approved for coupon-based sale (as news reports now say), and so we should now have at least one converter box with an S-video output available soon.
None of the on-line outlets I found however show units in-stock. Maybe this will change early this week. No Fry's here on the east coast.
Am confident that I can acquire a C-M CM7000 soon.
On another front, the Magnavox, that cost me about 12 out-of-pocket dollars at Walmart and serves as the front-end of my CT-100, performs beautifully in the sensitivity arena. I can reliably watch the NYC pbs channel where the reception is either too aggravating to watch or gives a 'no signal' condition on my other ATSC sets (all on the same outdoor antenna).
Here's the six-watt hand warmer in operation this morning on WNBC-DT (see next).
http://home.att.net/~pldexnis/input/...VERTER-BOX.jpg
Only bitch I have with the Magnavox/Funai is the heat it generates for something that draws six watts. So I threw my trusty meter on it and sure enough it reads exactly six watts. However, the power factor is clearly crummy because the meter also shows 12 VA and that, I'm guessing, is the reason for all the unexpected heat in a 'six-watt' device.
I'm thinking my final configuration will have a mini-fan sucking out the extra BTU's through a hole on top.
Pete