Is it true that SONY does not make a stand-alone video tuner? I have a SAMSUNG and am totally unhappy with it. I was thinking of replacing it with a SONY hoping for better compatibility with my SONY AVR.

Do they make one, or not? If not, who makes the tuners in their TV's?

Why do AVR's not have TV tuners built into them?

"Is it true that SONY does not make a stand-alone video tuner?"

Yes

"Why do AVR's not have TV tuners built into them?"

Cause they aren't tuners, they are AV receivers. The majority of people using them wouldn't take advantage of an ATSC tuner so it would be an unneeded added extra cost.

Be specific with topic titles, see my edit.

Here is the list of current units, although the Samsung is about the best of the lot:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=179095

Cause they aren't tuners, they are AV receivers. The majority of people using them wouldn't take advantage of an ATSC tuner so it would be an unneeded added extra cost.

Historically, audio receivers are the combination of an audio amplifier with an AM or FM tuner.
AV receivers evolved from audio receivers to include video switching to accompany the audio switching. Some AV receivers still include AM/FM tuners. But TV tuners have not been part of AV receivers because the video source has always been external, such as VCRs, disc players (Lasedisc, DVD) or the TV set itself. Until the need for DTV tuners appeared, a TV tuner in a AV receiver would probably be redundant.

Consumers have not (previously) shown a willingness to buy/use a TV tuner separate from the monitor. Sony's Profeel system of component TV (and its copycats from Panasonic, Sanyo, Mitsubishi, Proton, et al) did not last very long in the consumer marketplace in the late 1980's. Instead these consumer "monitors" evolved into regular TV receivers (monitor + tuner) with video+audio input switching.

Computer monitors and pro video monitors are pure-display devices. But consumers expect a TV "monitor" to include a tuner. So there has never been a demand for the TV tuner to be in the AV receiver, because CE manufacturers have put the TV tuner with the TV display.

It appears that whilst Sony make DTV tuners for the European DVB-T standard (I bought one for my Mum a few years ago to upgrade her PAL-I analogue TV to receive digital TV, now replaced with a cheap DVB-T DVR), and the Japanese market (AIUI), they only made their short-lived OTA DVR for ATSC 8VSB/QAM OTA/Cable use in the US market?

Apart from the SD CECB market, there doesn't appear to be a wide range of HD OTA set top boxes available in the US. (Presumably because there is a feeling that the OTA market isn't as big - and because ATSC reception is now mandated in TVs sold with any tuner? In the UK it is still legal to sell analogue tuner-only TVs)

It is too bad, because the tuner in my Sony DHG-HDD500 DVR is excellent. By far the best, all-around performing one I have. PQ is just amazing.

It is too bad, because the tuner in my Sony DHG-HDD500 DVR is excellent. By far the best, all-around performing one I have. PQ is just amazing.

Yep - the Sony DVB-T standalone set-top box in the UK market is great. It has great picture quality, an excellent tuner, lightning fast interactive TV and digital text, and full AFD support (including 14:9 letterboxing) The PVR I replaced it with for my mum had a less brilliant interactive and more limited AFD support (no 14:9 letterbox - my mum has a 21" 4:3 SD CRT still - she doesn't want anything bigger) but the ease of recording from within the 7 day OTA EPG outsells the limitations. She records loads more than she did when she had a VCR.

...the ease of recording from within the 7 day OTA EPG outsells the limitations. She records loads more than she did when she had a VCR.

She probably doesn't even have to pay for this service, right? I was looking at a Tivo box a while back but balked at the monthly fee. I ended up moving a computer to my TV, just so I could record OTA programs for free. It isn't easy to schedule recordings, however.

Somehow, by and large, the US hasn't really made the leap from VCR's to DVR's, at least not without paying extra for the privilege.

Having an EPG would be nice on my TV's. I'm still miffed that some $60 CECB's have great EPG's, but $500+ TV's rarely show more than the current program.

Sony now builds DVB-T tuners into PS3's, right?

She probably doesn't even have to pay for this service, right?


No - the UK has a standard OTA DVB-T delivered 7-day EPG, with metadata to allow Season Pass/Series Link and Alternate Instance record (so +1 channels can be used to resolve clashes)

All channels in the UK broadcast the EPG info for all other channels, so it doesn't matter which station you are tuned to, you get EPG info for all channels constantly updated.

No cost...


I was looking at a Tivo box a while back but balked at the monthly fee. I ended up moving a computer to my TV, just so I could record OTA programs for free. It isn't easy to schedule recordings, however.


Vista Media Center has quite a good EPG - albeit downloaded, though it is free (once you've bought Vista Home Premium or Ultimate).

Vista TV Pack marries the Media Center EPG with the DVB-T EPG in the UK - so you get the MS rich metadata - but recordings triggered by the broadcaster. (So over or under-runs don't cause problems)
Somehow, by and large, the US hasn't really made the leap from VCR's to DVR's, at least not without paying extra for the privilege.


Having an EPG would be nice on my TV's. I'm still miffed that some $60 CECB's have great EPG's, but $500+ TV's rarely show more than the current program.


Though a received EPG is only as good as the data it is provided with.

Sony now builds DVB-T tuners into PS3's, right?

Not quite. Sony is due to launch the PlayTV - a DVB-T dual-tuner USB add-on - in the next month or so in Europe. It is an external add-on - but the latest PS3 firmware apparently allows recording during game-play. No internal tuners yet... (In DVB-T HD territories the Sony will deliver HD OTA stuff. So in Aus and Sweden it may work. The UK is going DVB-T2 - as it delivers 50% higher bandwith - for HD - so the Sony PlayTV won't deliver HD in the UK AIUI)