ViewSonic ViewBox VB50HRTV TV Tuner Box for Monitor 89.99 shipped from amazon.

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
B

brinstar117

Senior member
Mar 28, 2001
954
4
91
Jeez, some people just can't simply appreciate other peoples' efforts.

Thanks for the deal gotsmack.

I'll consider picking one of these up.

This product let's you watch television broadcasts without turning on your computer. I'd rather have one bulky screen in my room than two. I'd only be using one at a time anyways. Also, you benefit from the increased resolution of a monitor over a TV.

A TV tuner would be good if you wanted to capture video though.
 
R

RadioactiveMagpies

Senior member
Jan 24, 2002
551
0
0
I have the ati tv wonder and the pinnacle pctv pro(worthless junk, from the compusa deal). This seems to be a better alternative to those lame tv cards. TV cards rely on software, and that is where the major problems are. I have alot of old spare monitors that would make great extra tv sets. Only real advantage a PC card has is that you can record stuff to your harddrive. I sure regret buying those 2 cards knowing something like this is this cheap.
 
O

oLLie

Diamond Member
Jan 15, 2001
5,203
1
0
WHy does it say enjoy high resolution 1024x768 TV ... tv is broadcast in 640x480 unless you have HDTV right?
 
BrunoPuntzJones

BrunoPuntzJones

Lifer
Feb 24, 2001
14,513
4
81


<< WHy does it say enjoy high resolution 1024x768 TV ... tv is broadcast in 640x480 unless you have HDTV right? >>

regular broadcasts arent even 640x480 bro, i think they are 352x240 (NTSC). I am also curious as to the resolution thing. Does it use some line doubler or something?
 
B

badluck

Diamond Member
Feb 19, 2001
5,357
0
76


<< because tv tuner cards have crappy picture quality >>




I have a ATI 16mb AIW and it works great.....would recommend it any day.....
 
F

flot

Diamond Member
Feb 24, 2000
3,197
0
0
Well, the high res would certainly be useful if your monitor happens to do a better job at those resolutions (for instance, an LCD...)

I had no idea these things existed. I too bought an all in wonder which I never use b/c it's such a pain in the neck with software etc. This would have been a great alternative.

Price is comproable to most of the shady retailers that carry it, so good deal.
 
D

DonBlack

Senior member
Mar 31, 2001
492
0
0
How does this thing work with a cable box? Can I by an S-Video splitter and split the signal that goes out of my cable box into my receiver with another one that goes to this thing? Thanks.
 
H

hk29

Senior member
Jan 28, 2001
262
0
0
I have one of these units. And I love it!!! The resolution it does:

640x480
800x600
852x480
1024x768

It can't do windowed TV so if you plan on using it at the same time running a program - can't do it. I takes an S-video, composite, and cable tv ready. I've plugged a DVD player using the s-video and it looks great!!! (i.e. it takes the interlaced signal and turns it into progressive so its almost like a scaler for $100.00).

It also passess through the computer signal and sound. It does come with a remote with all the necessary buttons!!! I setup a cheap LCD 15" monitor with this unit and whola I have a cheap flat panel (of course respective to a sharp 15" LCD TV).

This is a great price, I bought mine for $129 local (of course I PM it to $100). This is a great price, I might buy another one :)


 
D

DonBlack

Senior member
Mar 31, 2001
492
0
0
Hmmm... lack of window support is a turnoff. Can it support dual-monitors as a possible work around?
 
D

Dimitri

Member
Nov 21, 2001
119
0
0
So for example, would the image quality of a Playstation2 look better on one of these hooked to a 21" monitor or still look better hooked to a Sony 27" WEGA TV? This is the choice I am faced with now. ;)
 
C

cremefilled

Golden Member
Mar 25, 2000
1,446
0
0
Dimitri, it's not just a choice of "bigger" or "sharper." NTSC is best for video signals that are designed for NTSC; computer monitors are obviously better for computer output. An NTSC set is much brighter and more vibrant than a typical computer monitor, and video games are designed with this in mind. (To be technical, a TV set can produce many more lumens than a comparably sized computer monitor.) The way that an NTSC signal is "fuzzed up" because of the interlaced output is also used as an advantage by many video games; watch them on a sharp computer monitor, and you'll see aliasing effects in all their jagged glory.
 
H

hk29

Senior member
Jan 28, 2001
262
0
0


<< Hmmm... lack of window support is a turnoff. Can it support dual-monitors as a possible work around? >>



I suppose it could. But the second monitor would either be a second monitor or a TV :)
 
H

hk29

Senior member
Jan 28, 2001
262
0
0


<< So for example, would the image quality of a Playstation2 look better on one of these hooked to a 21" monitor or still look better hooked to a Sony 27" WEGA TV? This is the choice I am faced with now. ;) >>



The PS2 has a svga output correct? I personally would go for the 27" (bigger is better). I would use the viewbox if you have a front projector with a svga input to scale the TV signal, VCR, etc. (LCD projector with a native resolution fit to the viewbox)....

 
M

mrbentley

Senior member
Jul 17, 2001
593
0
0
viewsonic.com product link
High-resolution TV on LCD or CRT display
You can now enjoy high-resolution 1024 x 768 TV at full screen in full 24-bit color. Simply connect the VB50HRTV module to the antenna or cable feed.

Full-screen video entertainment
Simply connect a DVD, VCR, video game console or digital camera to the VB50HRTV and enjoy favorite movies or pictures in high resolution. The VB50HRTV provides S-Video, composite (RCA) video connectors, audio pass-through and associated cables.

Easy connection and control
The VB50HRTV module is a Plug-and-Play table-top configuration requiring no software drivers or internal computer installation.

Convenient remote control
A 28-key remote control is supplied for your convenience. Easily switch from TV to computer as well as all other input sources. In addition, users can control contrast, brightness, color and hue from the remote control and on-screen menu.

RGB computer pass-through
watch TV or enjoy your DVD movie without turning on your computer.

Auto tuning
Auto tuning of TV broadcast and cable TV channels.

Excellent compatibility
Compatible with CRT, LCD, plasma and projection displays.

Sleep timer
Built-in sleep timer automatically shuts off display at pre-determined times.

SPECS:
SAP/MTS Stereo
Allows the reception of audio other than main programming audio.
ANTENNA/CABLE (RF) Tuner FI1236MK2 (North America)
Freq Range 55.25 - 801.25 MHz
Numbers of Channels 2-69 off air
2-125 NTSC cable
INPUT SIGNAL Type RF, S-Video, Composite (RCA), RGB Pass-Through 3.5 mm Mini Stereo Audio In, and RCA (Left/Right) Audio In
VIDEO OUTPUT Bit Performance 24-Bit RGB 700mV±10% (Excluding RGB Pass-Through)
OUTPUT MODE
(excluding RGB Pass-Through) Resolution Refresh Rate 640 x 480 @ 60Hz
640 x 480 @ 75Hz 800 x 600 @ 60Hz 800 x 600 @ 75Hz 852 x 480 @ 60Hz 1024 x 768 @ 60Hz/75sHz
AUDIO OUTPUT MTS Mono/Stereo/SAP (Available in RF Mode)
POWER Power Adapter Input 120 Vac, 60Hz
Output 12 VDC, 1.2A
Type Power Adapter
CONNECTOR Signal F connector for RF, 3.5mm Mini Stereo Jack for Audio In and audio Out. RCA left/right for Audio In, S-Video, Composite (RCA), 15-pin Mini D-Sub for RGB Input and RGB Output
Power DC-In Jack
CONTROLS Physical Power, Input, Channel +/- and Volume +/-
OSD Contrast, Brightness, Saturation, Sharpness, Hue, Volume, MTS, Treble, Bass, OSD Position, OSD Language, Mode (Normal and Sports), Resolution, Refresh Rate, Input Signal, Sleep, Autoscan, Channel Add/Remove, Channel Label and Reset, Tuner Input
Remote Control 28-Key IR remote control, Power, Volume =/-, Channel +/-, four navigation arrows, Select, Menu, Exit, MTS, Mute, Input, Res, Scan, Recall and 10 numbered keys
ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIFICATIONS Operational Temperature 0-40°C (32-104°F)
Humidity 5-95%, Non-Condensing
Altitude -150-12,000 feet above sea level
REGULATIONS UL, cUL, FCC Class B
ACCESSORIES Included Power Adapter, VGA Extension Cable, 3.5mm Mini Stereo Cable, A/V Cable, User's Guide, Remote and two AAA batteries
 
X

xcoldricex

Senior member
Feb 7, 2001
348
0
0
i got one of these. now i see this deal. grrrr.

i enjoy it very much, except that there's only one set of composite inputs.

i can't evaluate the tv thing- don't have cable in my dorm room. but i'm playing ps2, xbox, dc, nes on my sgi 1600sw :)

looks reallllly nice.
 
M

MrBond

Diamond Member
Feb 5, 2000
9,911
0
76


<< because tv tuner cards have crappy picture quality >>

Not really. I find my monitor more pleasing to watch then my 13" TV. Here's a screenshot I just took of 48 Hours (which I'm watching right now in a window as I type this).

TV Window capture

This is with a WinTV 401 card, paid like $55 for it.

I've hooked up my dreamcast to it, the picture quality isn't noticibly better. It's not the same as a VGA adapter would be I imagine.
 
K

kenkhanh

Member
Dec 22, 1999
181
0
0
for those with a tv tuner card and complain about picture quality, give DScaler a try.

it's hard watching something made for 320x240 resolution on the computer screen with a window larger than that. you'll see pixel effects. but dscaler improved the picture quality greatly for my ati tv wonder card.

my guess is that the viewsonic tuner uses de-interlacing techniques similar to dscaler. i'd love to have one to try out and compare. one disadvantage about the viewsonic tuner is that you can't record on your computer, doesn't look like it has video outputs to hookup to a vcr either.

nonetheless, seems like a nice deal for those just want to watch tv on the computer monitor without turning on the computer.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom