I am having difficulties with my Samsung - HDTV Digital Terrestrial Receiver (Model: DTB-H260F)

I am trying to view the free HD channels over my projector
(Mitsubishi HD1000U) What I thought was needed is the HDTV Tuner listed above, I do not have any special cable, it's the basic cable through comcast. I have connected the co-ax into the Samsung tuner and from there output the audio/video...the video and audio both work, I am using HDMI from the tuner box to the projector and RCA for audio, however I am having trouble getting any channels. There is no signal strength. The co-ax from the wall is working because I tried it with another source, so I know the cable is good. I just can't get them to go through the HD Tuner.

Mitsubishi HD1000U

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g63/rtevans86/Mitsubishi_HD1000U.jpg
http://www.projectorcentral.com/Mitsubishi-HD1000U.htm



Samsung - HDTV Digital Terrestrial Receiver Model: DTB-H260F
BACK VIEW-
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g63/rtevans86/samsungtuner.jpg
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8102796&st=hd+tuner&type=product&id=1161734592183

Any suggestions??

Thanks,


Ryan

Does your local Comcast system offer any unencrypted QAM channels and did you do a scan for them once you hooked up the tuner?

You may want to check the Local Reception Info section for a thread for your view area to see what's available.

Does your local Comcast system offer any unencrypted QAM channels and did you do a scan for them once you hooked up the tuner?

You may want to check the Local Reception Info section for a thread for your view area to see what's available.


I did do the scan once the tuner was plugged in.

As far as the cable, I have not contacted anyone about the QAM channels. I wanted to see if it was something to do with the products I had...would that be the only thing preventing those channels from being available to me?

As long as you have basic service and the channels are available on the system you should be able to receive them. You need to determine if there are any channels to receive in the first place then go from there.

Ryan: The Samsung H260F is used for receiving Over-The-Air digital transmissions using a TV antenna and could possibly also be used for receiving in-the-clear, unencrypted QAM digital CATV signals, if available in your area. This receiver does NOT have a analog NTSC tuner.



Can I buy an analog NTSC Tuner at a big box store somewhere?

I know that the channels are available in my area because my neighbor gets them, he is using a tv with a built in tuner. I know he is NOT using a comcast cable box.

A VCR will have an analog NTSC tuner.

If you are referring to analog NTSC channels, then yes, I agree, a built in NTSC analog tuner will receive unencrypted analog CATV channels. If you are referring to digital CATV channels, it is possible that Comcast installed a trap on your line that will filter out/block out the digital channels to your location.



I just called comcast to check about a filter, unfortunately I have to be home to work out all the bugs. I will update after I get the support once I am home.

Thanks for the help, I appreciate the input.

I called technical support and got nowhere.

Can someone post a link for the HD tuner that I would need to get the free HD channels in my area? NCAA on Saturday night.... it's crucial I get it asap. I'd prefer something that is NOT wireless.


Thanks,

Ryan

Your local cable company ?

comcast...is that specific enough?

city and zipcode?
A lot of people use the H260F to receive HD QAM on basic cable for free.

Minooka, IL 60447

ICan someone post a link for the HD tuner that I would need to get the free HD channels in my area? NCAA on Saturday night....

But you've already got the Samsung? :confused:

There's a small chance the Samsung might be defective. Otherwise, you're probably at the mercy of Comcast. Either they're encrypting all your digital channels, including the local broadcast stations, or they're blocking them with a filter on your line (are you using "limited basic" service which runs up to only about channel 20 or 22?), or the signal is too weak.

What station/network are you trying to receive the game from? Also, is it in-the-clear or encrypted? If it is encrypted, you will need a box from Comcast.

channel 2 CBS

But you've already got the Samsung? :confused:

There's a small chance the Samsung might be defective. Otherwise, you're probably at the mercy of Comcast. Either they're encrypting all your digital channels, including the local broadcast stations, or they're blocking them with a filter on your line (are you using "limited basic" service which runs up to only about channel 20 or 22?), or the signal is too weak.

exchanging the tuner is an easy way to try and correct the problem (that is, if it's defective) I'll do that for sure...

If they are encripting the channels, can't I have them remove whatever filter is on? I mean, if the channels are free... how can they block them?

and no, the cable I have goes up through 60 or something, then i get some randoms here and there.

It would also help if we knew your city, state and zip code so we can get a better idea of your location in relation to the local channels available over the air in your location.

check the thread, he posted that already.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=6830986&st=VHF+Lo-Band+TV+antenna&type=product&id=1091101854364


Do you think this will be sufficient?

Probably not. I think this one should suffice:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=3701872&type=product&id=1051384513406


****, go figure it's not available for store pickup.

Try Radio Shack:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103087&cp=2032057.2032187.2032189.2032205&parentPage=family


excellent.

hopefully this works, I'll post back later tonight and let you know where everything stands, thanks for the help.

exchanging the tuner is an easy way to try and correct the problem (that is, if it's defective) I'll do that for sure...

If they are encripting the channels, can't I have them remove whatever filter is on? I mean, if the channels are free... how can they block them?

and no, the cable I have goes up through 60 or something, then i get some randoms here and there.There are two possible ways the Samsung can pick up CBS HDTV.

First, let's look at Comcast. Comcast passes all local HD they carry in the clear in QAM format. Assuming it works correctly, the Samsung should pick up those stations if the cable is connected and you do a channel scan. The stations numbers will probably not be the same as the analog numbers or the digital channel numbers. Once you have done a channel scan, go through all channels the Samsung has found. You may see the CBS HD channel on a channel over 100. (There is a very remote possibility the local HD channels are encrypted, but out of all the Comcast systems across the country, yours would be the only one I know of not passing local HD in the clear.)

The other option is to use an antenna to get the CBS HD channel over-the-air (OTA), which the Samsung will also receive. Go to www.antennaweb.org and enter your info to see:
1) Is the local CBS station is available digitally? (This is almost 100% they are)
2) How far you are from the station?
3) What kind of antenna you will need to pull in the stations you want?

If you are within 50-60 miles or less, and are not blocked by mountains or a lot of tall buildings, you can probably get CBS HD OTA with an antenna. In general, an outdoor directional antenna, mounted as high as practical, will do the job.

I would strongly suggest checking the HDTV Local Forum topic index ( http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=453241 ) to see how others in your area are getting the local HD stations, and I also strongly suggest looking at the OTA FAQ topic at the top of this forum ( http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=611957 ).

Chicago's WBBM on digital channel 3 is notoriously difficult to receive because it's on that low VHF channel and is therefore susceptible to interference from electrical noise from appliances, poorly insulators on power lines, etc. The Chicago local thread probably has a lot of discussion about this.

I have an analog channel 3 in Charlotte NC (about 70 miles) which is usually almost unwatchable because of local electrical noise.

Ok,

I am at my friends house right now and hooked up the box to his comcast cable and have the same result as my house. (no signal) so the box is definitely the wrong box for our comcast cable....he has a tv with a built in tuner and gets the HD channels on it. so i know that they are available here.

i don't want an antenna, i would like to know what tuner that i can get that will allow me to view the HD channels broadcast in my area for free.

can someone please post a link to the tuner that i would need?

If the box doesn't work at either house and a built-in works at one house, then it is more likely that the H260F is bad. Try exchanging it.

I really think you got a bad box. If your neighbor's TV gets the QAM in the clear channel the Sammy should get the same channels(assuming you have set the Sammy up for cable(not OTA) and done a channel scan. I would really try exchanging the box. Looking at your thread I don't see that you have tried another unit, is this correct?
To me the Sammy should be the box for you, you just need to get one that works.

If the box doesn't work at either house and a built-in works at one house, then it is more likely that the H260F is bad. Try exchanging it.


i should probably mention that i can channel surf....meaning, i can select the up and down channels to cycle between 22-4 all the way to 32-6 and some other misc. channels, but it just says weak or no signal.

if the box was defective, wouldn't i be seeing nothing at all and maybe have no functions as far as channel surfing goes?

i don't mind changing it out for a new box, but i don't want to exchange the box for no reason.

are you telling me that you are 100% certain i should be getting some sort of signal at my buddies house?

The H260F should be able to receive the same QAM as another tuner. Have you tryed all three QAM scan options? They are STD, HRC, and IRC.

The H260F should be able to receive the same QAM as another tuner. Have you tryed all three QAM scan options? They are STD, HRC, and IRC.

which one should we be on and what do they mean???

right now we selected cable and its set on STD, its doing an auto program and it started at channel 22 currently it's 3/4 of the way completed...and it seems like its finding channels, on some channels during the search, the channel number turns orange, then goes to the next channel. i'm not sure if that means it found a channel....or that the channel is bad...

ok, for some strange reason we did the channel scan at his house and it works...

when i take it back to my house i should see the same results.

it works at my house.

thanks for all the help guys.