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HDTV set top tuner

G

gnef

Senior member
My parents just got in on the costco vizio 50" plasma, and we are using the settop dvd burner as the tv tuner right now... I searched for hdtv tuners here, and really only came up with computer cards.

any recommendations with links for reasonably priced set top tuner boxes for hd? I will probably get the 20$ antenna at amazon that i read about here earlier.

price is a priority with this, but we would also like a quality tuner, we don't need anything fancy, just something that will give us a clear picture.

thanks!
 
Best thing to do is buy a used one of Ebay. New oens are still pretty expensive.

My TV has one built in.
 
IMO right now renting a box from a cable provider is the best way to go.

$6 a month means you can rent a HD box for a LONG time before you'll spend even half what a OTA tuner costs.

Plus anytime you want to upgrade you simply exchange the box.

Viper GTS
 
Originally posted by: gnef
My parents just got in on the costco vizio 50" plasma, and we are using the settop dvd burner as the tv tuner right now... I searched for hdtv tuners here, and really only came up with computer cards.

any recommendations with links for reasonably priced set top tuner boxes for hd? I will probably get the 20$ antenna at amazon that i read about here earlier.

price is a priority with this, but we would also like a quality tuner, we don't need anything fancy, just something that will give us a clear picture.

thanks!
Click to expand...


So you're looking for an ATSC set top box (for free over the air HD)? There are a lot of good choices, but you should start here:

http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.aspx

That'll tell you which stations you can get and what antenna is required, and at what angles.

If you want, I have a used Samsung SIR-T151 I'm not using. You'll need to grab a universal remote, but those are cheap. I'd be willing to sell it for $50 clams.
 
in order to use the universal remote, wouldn't i need to have the original remote to 'teach' the universal remote? or would the universal remote have a 'setting' for those functions?

 
Originally posted by: gnef
in order to use the universal remote, wouldn't i need to have the original remote to 'teach' the universal remote? or would the universal remote have a 'setting' for those functions?
Click to expand...

universal remotes don't necessarily learn. LEARNING remotes do
 
Originally posted by: cHeeZeFacTory
the LG lst 4200a, one of the best ones available. The samsung 351 or 451 can't even compare to the 4200a.
Click to expand...

I second that. Short of waiting for the 5th gen chip, the LST-4200A is a great set-top box if you want to spend the money. The sensitivity is great, and the picture is second to none.
 
also, i read that it has a dvi connector, would getting a dvi to hdmi converter be better than using the component outputs? or would it be the same/comproble?
 
Originally posted by: gnef
also, i read that it has a dvi connector, would getting a dvi to hdmi converter be better than using the component outputs? or would it be the same/comproble?
Click to expand...

DVI (or HDMI) would probably be better for a fixed-pixel display, yes. I've never actually seen DVI and Component compared in person though (I don't have anything that outputs Component or has an input for it 😛), so there may not be much actual noticeable difference.
 
I found another tuner, the humax hfa100, which is a bit cheaper, and can be bought at fry's... heh. plus, the thing i like about it is that it has an hdmi output, i couldn't find too much on it, other than it is just a standard tuner. opinions?
 
after some research, i've decided the humax isn't what i would want. but i am still having a hard time finding a place that sells the lg lst-4200a. can anyone give me links?
 
Originally posted by: gnef
after some research, i've decided the humax isn't what i would want. but i am still having a hard time finding a place that sells the lg lst-4200a. can anyone give me links?
Click to expand...

meh?

Has a 10/10 on reseller ratings but only based on 2 reviews.
 
look at the availability: 6-8 weeks? I'm looking for something more along the lines of 1 week. thanks for the link though.
 
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