Tuners

[jbeary]

Hi All,

This could be considered off topic but I have been searching for a outboard tuner that will tune not only the 2-125 cable channels, but also DTV channels too. Does there exist such a thing that I don't have to hook up to a PC to use? I need something to use with my old sets that works with existing cable preferably with a volume control.

Thanks to all,
Jeff

[ChrisW6ATV]

If you need only analog (NTSC) cable tuning as well as over-the-air digital (ATSC) tuning, the best solution may be to buy a used, older model DirecTV HDTV set-top box. These tuners have analog cable/OTA and digital OTA tuners in addition to the DirecTV satellite tuners. The setup menus have a "no dish" option for when the tuner is used without DirecTV service. These tuners also have built-in RF modulators for channel 3/4 to feed your old RF-only TV sets. Note that you want an HD tuner even though you will not be using it in HD mode (set the box to "480i" mode). The specific models that should work include the LG LST-3200A, Zenith HD-SAT520, Hughes HTL-HD, Sony HD-SAT200 and Sony HD-SAT300. The Samsung SIR-TS360, RCA DTC-100 and Proscan PSHD105 will also work, but their tuners are not as good as the others I mentioned. Newer DirecTV-brand boxes (models H10 and H20) will NOT work. Be sure to get the manual for whatever box you buy (or make sure you can download it online).

If you need digital (QAM) cable tuning as well as digital OTA, Samsung has made set-top tuners such as the SIR-T450 and DTB-H260F that include QAM tuning, but they may not have built-in RF outputs so you would need to add a separate modulator such as the ones used with DVD players feeding RF-only TV sets. Again, these are HDTV tuners but you will be using them in SD mode. I am not aware of a cable-ready (analog or digital) version of the inexpensive SD-only digital tuners designed for the government coupon program (which is the box you really need, if it existed).

[old_tv_nut]

Originally Posted by ChrisW6ATV

....I am not aware of a cable-ready (analog or digital) version of the inexpensive SD-only digital tuners designed for the government coupon program (which is the box you really need, if it existed).

Chris is right. The government strictly regulated what capabilities could be in a coupon-eligible box to make sure they were aimed at basic needs and a low price, and not used to up-sell to a more expensive box. So, no boxes with added features will be produced for the coupon program. In addition, with the coupon program in place, manufacturers don't see sufficient demand for more highly featured boxes as opposed to complete digital TVs, so you are not likely to see any new ones introduced, even without coupons.

[jbeary]

Wow. Thank you Chris, I think that you explained a lot of what I just did not know. Every single TV in our house aside from the JVC I bought in college are tube based. I've been using these old Tocom boxes, thinking it's great because they have a volume control. What I didn't know was that at some point, the cable company started treating any channel over 70 as something different. The Tocom boxes do not tune channel 88 like the early 90's JVC does. I've been thinking that I'd just get a frequency agile modulator and a low pass filter and modulate the SDTV signal from the cheap digital tuner that I bought with my government coupon over channel 88 or something. What a pain, so of course I hooked it up to the cable where it tuned nothing. When my parents bought a new Sony, all they did was to hook it up to cable and they not only got all of the regular cable channels they got on their old Sony, they also got the "HDTV" channels and they intermediary channels. This is exactly what I wanted and if the older model DirecTV boxes that litter the Goodwill Store won't work, it sounds like the Samsung tuners would also work, but at $150 a pop, I'd have to start saving now to afford one for every TV in the house.

Thanks again, you guys have helped me understand.

[Richard D]

Hi, I have a porta-tuner designed to sit on top of a TV while it's tuner was being serviced. It receives NTSC VHF and UHF to channel 83. It is in a fake woodgrain cabinet. If you want it I will be happy to send it to you. I know it is not exactly what you are looking for, but maybe you can use it.
Cheers,
Richard

[jeyurkon]

I have a Hughes HIRD-E8 and think it's a good unit. www.ccscorporation.net is selling them for $185. I don't know how it compares to the other models that were mentioned but it has the capabilities that you need. You can download the user manual.

John