HDTV Tuner

[Funyuns101]

I want to get over the air (OTA) HD programming... it's a 32" LCD that's capable for 720p (& 1080i).
The tv has a normal tuner coaxial, but i'm trying to avoid paying Comcast's monopoly in MD.

I saw a couple on Amazon, but they're around $150-200... antennas range from anywhere as low as $30 to $100; but i'm not concerned about the actual antenna so much as the tuner...

any suggestions?

 

[venkman]

You pretty much have to wait until 2008 when you can apply for an ATSC tuner coupon from the government to get one cheap. Of course no knows how well this system will actually work. It is surprising with the Analog shutoff ban pending that Tuners are this rare and this expensive. There are tricks to using an old Zoom HD Tuner or DirectTV HD Tuner that you can get for $50 off ebay to work with the OTA channels. THey usually require an access card (another $10-$20 from ebay if you don't have one). Not all models of tuners can be used this way so be careful with what you get. The third option is running a tuner through a PC. CIrcuit City has the Happauge HVR-1600 for $60 after Mail in Rebate this week.

One thing Comcast doesn't want to let it's customers know is that they offer a super basic package which includes all the locals and a few cable channels (ESPN, TNT, etc) for around $12-$15 a month. If you get a Tuner with QAM decoding you can also view the Comcast HD local feeds over the cable line without their box. Very useful if you live far away from your the local stations. The HVR-1600 recently added QAM decoding and most standalone tuners have it (just make sure you check) but the DirectTV/Zoom will not give you that option.

You don't need an HDTV specific Antenna, the old Antenna your grandma hooked up to her Black and White TV will work just fine for pulling down OTA HD signals.

 

[Funyuns101]

Originally posted by: venkman
You pretty much have to wait until 2008 when you can apply for an ATSC tuner coupon from the government to get one cheap. Of course no knows how well this system will actually work. It is surprising with the Analog shutoff ban pending that Tuners are this rare and this expensive.

I found this after a google search... is this what you're talking about:?

"In early 2006 the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005[5] became law, which calls for over-the-air television stations to cease their analog broadcasts by February 17th, 2009[6] (this cut-off date has been moved several times previously). Following that date, TVs and other equipment with legacy NTSC tuners would be unable to receive over-the-air broadcasts. This switch-off would cause tens of thousands of TVs to go dark and would cut off many lower-income viewers from their only source of television. A Congressional bill has authorized subsidizing converter boxes that would allow people to receive the new digital broadcasts on their old TVs. The final plan[7] is to make two $40 coupons available from January 1, 2008 through March 31, 2009 for all households with the initial $990 million allocated, after which an additional $510 million in coupons will be available for each household that relies exclusively on over-the-air television reception."

of course it's probably subject to change~

 

[venkman]

Thats exactly what i'm talking about. Your TV will not be able to receive an OTA broadcast of any kind after 2/17/09 assuming the date isn't changed.

 

[Funyuns101]

hm, okay... guess i'll wait another year instead then.
thanks venkman!