If your converter is a WFCO brand, it's not surprising that it does not work. The WFCO's are notorious for not working correctly right out of the box. Mine has never worked properly, but there is an upgrade available from Progressive Dynamics that is designed to fit in the WFCO chassis so fixing the problem is pretty straightforward. I read good things about the Progressive Dynamics. I don't have one but I am considering upgrading with one.
As to a generator. I do have a Honda 2000 watt generator and I like it very much. The best things about it are that it is remarkably quiet, it is light enough to be easily portable, and it has an "eco mode" that varies the generator speed to match the electrical load. Bigger generators are available, but they are quite heavy. I recommend that you carry one around a bit befor you commit to buying one to determine if portability may be an issue.