QAM tuner/ OTA HD question

[zinfamous]

I'm thinking of getting this

and pairing it with my TV

I've had the set for ~1year and never really sprung for HD service. It has ATSC/NTSC but no QAM tuner. I live in Chicago (city-not suburb), so threw out the antenna idea soon after I bought the set.

I recently switched from Comcast to RCN, no box, signal straight from wall>coax>TV. I live in an older building, which means comcast blows...hard. signal was garbage. "Discovered" an RCN signal that had not been turned-off after previous tenant. It was about 4x cleaner than the comcast signal I was getting. I went official with RCN and got them to come over and hook up internet (I had been using the TV signal for some time, but kept comcast for the internet). Now, the signal is a bit crappier--I'm assuming b/c the line is now split for TV, modem.

I specifically requested no box, b/c my understanding is that all I need is one of these tuners, and it will essentially give me access to the higher channels, and whatever HD channels are available through my provider. It also has its own menu/guide through HDMI or component (as is my understanding) I've read the AVS forum thread regarding this unit, and am aware of the 500 channel scan, only 100-200 actually available. I like the HDMI, b/c I want to send the tuner through here, and then through HDMI to my set. the Onkyo downconverts signals sent in through component, then sent out by HDMI. ALternatively, I could just hook it up to my 2nd HDMI on the TV, then connect the tuner to the receiver via optical for sound.. (I'm assuming...)

anyone have experience with this tuner? does my plan sound like it will fly? are there better options out there? will I even be able to get a good HD signal straight out of the wall, into this then into the set? should I go ahead and try to get a crappy Radioshack antenna to at least see if the ATSC tuner in-set will give me HD?

based on what I've read so far....all of my answers to the above questions are "yes." Curious if you guys (who likely know more about this than I), can steer me in another direction

Thanks
:beer: for your trouble.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

It has ATSC/NTSC but no QAM

did you try hooking it up cable direct and scanning for channels?


It was about 4x cleaner than the comcast signal I was getting.

what and how did you measure? i think you're referring to analog pic quality.


Now, the signal is a bit crappier--I'm assuming b/c the line is now split for TV, modem.

not necessarily


I specifically requested no box, b/c my understanding is that all I need is one of these tuners, and it will essentially give me access to the higher channels, and whatever HD channels are available through my provider

the tv should tune in and display all non-scrambled channels. what those channels are is up to the cable company to decide. are you thinking of non-broadcast channels? premium channels come at a premium price.


I like the HDMI, b/c I want to send the tuner through here, and then through HDMI to my set.

audio support for HDMI exists on paper, but only the newest high-end stuff does audio - and it's still hit or miss.

should I go ahead and try to get a crappy Radioshack antenna to at least see if the ATSC tuner in-set will give me HD?

yep

 

[Shadowknight]

Originally posted by: The Boston Dangler
It has ATSC/NTSC but no QAM

Actually, according to this thread, it does: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb...t=728392&highlight=qam

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: Shadowknight

Originally posted by: The Boston Dangler
It has ATSC/NTSC but no QAM

Actually, according to this thread, it does: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb...t=728392&highlight=qam

I was referring to the plasma panel--not the tuner. that's why I want the tuner, b/c it does have the QAM. Annoyingly, I had to scour several forums, along with samsung's own specs page for my panel to figure out what it actually had (of course, the manual is no help either)...It seems to be a recurring issue with modern HDTVs that manufacturers are being vague about what kind of hardware they include with these things. wonder why that is....

thanks for taking the time to search on it though!

 

[Shadowknight]

Sorry for the confusion. But while I was researching tuners myself last week (and it turned out I didn't need one, as like you, my TV has crap instructions) I found out that current DVD recorders with a hi-def tuner (all of them) actually down-convert the signal to 480p by the time it hits your TV. So... you can receive digital, you just can't watch hi-definition, which is silly. Granted, I have several digital channels that are in 480p, but darnit, if I have a digital turner, I want to watch and record it in high-def!

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: Shadowknight
Sorry for the confusion. But while I was researching tuners myself last week (and it turned out I didn't need one, as like you, my TV has crap instructions) I found out that current DVD recorders with a hi-def tuner (all of them) actually down-convert the signal to 480p by the time it hits your TV. So... you can receive digital, you just can't watch hi-definition, which is silly. Granted, I have several digital channels that are in 480p, but darnit, if I have a digital turner, I want to watch and record it in high-def!

I know what you mean. I've been follwing the AVS threads too about daisy chaining DVD recorders to take advantage of their tuners, but they don't seem to have the desired hookups, and the downconversion. SHitty thing is that my receiver does that with 1080i coming in over component. the HDMI output will downvert those to 720p. I don't think that matters so much for me (TV is 720p), but that still sucks.

 

[zinfamous]

so BB was momentarily out of the sammy QAM tuner. I picked up a $46 RCA antenna, and I've managed to pull in ~12 channels. new quesiton: what is this BS about "with HD OTA, either you have it or you don't; there is no reception issu."

B-motherf##$(ng-S! if I don't have it adjusted properly, some channels will have sound farts--drop out every 30 seconds or so, and I also get the digi-scrambles/freezes. I can adjust the antenna, and it seems to go away. another pack of lies!

well, I'm going to pick up the sammy to see if I can pick up anything, return the the least effective device for full refund. If I go with the QAM tuner, I'll probably return it to BB regardless and order it online. I'd like to know if it works for me before I order it though...

 

[Mloot]

Originally posted by: zinfamous
so BB was momentarily out of the sammy QAM tuner. I picked up a $46 RCA antenna, and I've managed to pull in ~12 channels. new quesiton: what is this BS about "with HD OTA, either you have it or you don't; there is no reception issu."

B-motherf##$(ng-S! if I don't have it adjusted properly, some channels will have sound farts--drop out every 30 seconds or so, and I also get the digi-scrambles/freezes. I can adjust the antenna, and it seems to go away. another pack of lies!

Yeah, digital OTA reception can be frustrating as hell when it doesn't come in properly. While it delivers better picture and sound when it works, the intermittent breakups, drop-outs, and "searching for signal" messages when it doesn't work make me wish it was as forgiving as analog reception.

 

[Shadowknight]

Originally posted by: zinfamous
new quesiton: what is this BS about "with HD OTA, either you have it or you don't; there is no reception issu."

B-motherf##$(ng-S! if I don't have it adjusted properly, some channels will have sound farts--drop out every 30 seconds or so, and I also get the digi-scrambles/freezes. I can adjust the antenna, and it seems to go away. another pack of lies!

It's more like "either it's perfectly watchable, or it becomes an exercise in frustration." With a crappy analog signal, at least it can be watchable, even if the colors look funky, it's snowy, and you get double images.