Read an article about a new computer receiver using a 5th generation LG chip. Went to their web site and also found a STB listed. See
www.autumnwave.com/content/view/33/123/
I checked and it's not out yet with no time given for release. Perhaps this is old news to the forum but it's the first mention of a STB from autumnwave I've heard about. Hope it comes through with a decent price.

I just sent an inquiry to copperbox-com, since they now have it listed on their site as preorder status. Below is what they said:


"We do not have an ETA on that set-top-box yet. Hopefully it will ship
before this month's end."

This might be what I've been waiting for-if it has the 5th gen LG tuner. Waiting for their email confirmation.

Hello,
I'm the Technology Manager at Autumnwave. You may recognize me from the thread: AutumnWave / OnAir USB HDTV Tuners (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=695589).

Regarding the Set top box... as it stands currently, we're hoping to provide the 5th generation LG tuner... the highly acclaimed chipset that is making our GT and Creator products so popular! I can't post an ETA, as much as I'd really love to post one. However, if you subscribe to thread updates, I'll announce new info into this thread when I am able to safely release the details. (In fact, I'll try to make sure this is one of the first places I notify.)

Thanks for your interest!

- Ryan Pertusio
AutumnWave Technical Support
OnAir Solution North America

I've subscribed to this thread so it would be great if you posted any updates here. Thanks.

Thanks. I will say this... the STB will not be available by month's end, as CopperBox has suggested. The more likely timeframe would be after the first of the year.

Question for all: Would the STB still be appealing without the LG tuner, if it reduced the overall price?

Thanks,
- Ryan Pertusio

AutumnWave Technical Support
OnAir Solution North America

For myself, I have problems with multipath(using an indoor antenna). A chipset that can deal with multipath like the 5th gen LG was hoped to be able to do is what I was waiting for. LG never released a 5th gen STB and by then discontinued the 4200a.

So, if it handles multipath well, LG wouldn't be that important to me

Question for all: Would the STB still be appealing without the LG tuner, if it reduced the overall price?

Thanks,
- Ryan Pertusio

AutumnWave Technical Support
OnAir Solution North America
You replied to my email at OnAir today. I am waiting for a STB that defeats multipath- your website says it eliminates it -not possible-defeat? Maybe. If the LG tuner can do this, I have already been waiting years. PS , As my email shows, I have spent 5 times your msrp trying to defeat this monster.

The multipath problems are defeated with the 5th generation LG tuner. Other tuners (4th gen LG, and those made by other manufacturers) have minimal multipath reduction. These tuners were 'okay' in situations where the 'ghost' signal is weaker and/or arrives after the main signal. The benefit of the 5th gen tuner is that it adapts for ghost signals that are stronger and/or that arrive before the main signal.

(Imagine a situation where your window faces the opposite direction of the broadcast tower. The signal bounces off a nearby building/hill, through the window, and hits the antenna. This signal ends up being stronger than the signal that is travelling through your house (a straight line from the tower.)) The LG tuner really excels in this type of multipath situation.

Thanks,
- Ryan Pertusio

AutumnWave Technical Support
OnAir Solution North America

Got this in my email and will reply to the survey. Got info from HDTV Expert that there is a 6th gen LG Tuner out there. Is there time to use this or are you contracted to the 5th. Thanks

It is going to be hard to wait until after the first of the year for the set top box.
What will the price range be for the set top box?

The MSRP I saw: $299

Ryan,
How does the new LG 5th or 6th gen. compare to the new Samsung coming out at month's end?

Hello all,
I can't define a price range at this time, sorry. We've not finalized that yet.

Regarding the Samsung: There hasn't really been a side-by-side comparison of the 5th gen and Gemini chip. The 6th gen LG is still in design phase, and performance statistics are not available (for consumers at least.)

Thanks!
- Ryan Pertusio

AutumnWave Technical Support
OnAir Solution North America

Hey Ryan, Get over to USB HDTV Tuners Overview to promote your product.

Question for all: Would the STB still be appealing without the LG tuner, if it reduced the overall price?

Thanks,
- Ryan Pertusio

AutumnWave Technical Support
OnAir Solution North America

It HAS to offer performance improvement. There are older models out there at budget eBay prices you can't touch. I had an Accurian which was pretty good, but then died, and now a Mitsubishi that is not as good on multipath.

The chipset doesn't have to be LG, but it has to be MUCH better on multipath, and have a decent warranty and available service.

Ryan; The Samsung DTB-H260F. Is that the model you're refering to in #14. Thanks.

Davinleeds,
I think so.

- Ryan

That's the Samsung that I was asking about. Anyone heard yet when it's coming out?

There is a thread on the Samsung unit here:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=728392&highlight=dtbh260f

A review of OnAir //hdtvexpert.com/pages_b/onair.html and //hdtvexpert.com/pages_b/h260f.html Ryan, looks like your receiver has competition.

At the site for the new Samsung tuner, couldn't find any mention of special multipath rejection abilities. -- John

Thanks. I will say this... the STB will not be available by month's end, as CopperBox has suggested. The more likely timeframe would be after the first of the year.

Question for all: Would the STB still be appealing without the LG tuner, if it reduced the overall price?

Thanks,
- Ryan Pertusio

AutumnWave Technical Support
OnAir Solution North America

No.

The LG 5th gen tuner (with a proper front end) is famous for passing multipath tests at Mark Schubin's apartment and other hard places. A cheaper substitution would lose those bragging points unless backed up by similar test results and not just theoretical claims.

- Tom

Ryan,
Having firewire would be a plus when comparing receivers.

It looks like this box will have a Phillips tuner???

It looks like this box will have a Phillips tuner???
Davinleeds,
That would be pure speculation. :) We have not released any documentation which would specify the exact tuner.

Thanks!
- Ryan Pertusio

AutumnWave Technical Support
OnAir Solution North America

All this talk of the tuner, are you not refering to the decoder chip instead? It seems like the physical tuner that tunes to a specific frequency has been designed and would not need to be changed in years.

Question for all: Would the STB still be appealing without the LG tuner, if it reduced the overall price?

Thanks,
- Ryan PertusioHi Ryan,

I know I'm a little late to the party here, but please let me add my thoughts.

As trbarry notes, the LG DTV tuner prototype w/5 gen chip tested in Mark Schubin's famous New York city apartment performed very well, much better than any of the numerous other DTV tuners tried there over the years by Mr. Schubin; it received all available DTV channels in a very difficult RF environment.

Since that time, a number of products with the 5th gen chip have been introduced, including LG HDTV's, and they still have problems with multipath. The information I have read says the current products do not include all of the design aspects of the prototype, in particular the RF front end, as trbarry also notes.

My best advice to you, is to try and duplicate the LG prototype as closely as possible, including the 5th gen chip and front end design.

Best regards,
Ken

Ryan, is the 5th set in or can you get this:http://www.dtvconsultancy.com/news/items/061227lge.htm

Ryan, is the 5th set in or can you get this:http://www.dtvconsultancy.com/news/items/061227lge.htm

I have both the OnAir GT and Samsung DTB-H260F. The GT feeds my PC, the Samsung feeds my Olevia 32" LCD. I use the GT to record programs.

Both are the best tuners I have had over the past three years. However I can say that in my situation (which is multipath hell in a low spot surrounded by 40-60' trees), the Samsung performs better than the GT in extraordinary situations with respect to OTA. (BTW for antennas I use both a CM 4228 and a 91xg for different stations).

When my SNR falls below 20 db, the picture from the GT starts breaking up. At that point the Samsung still holds the picture consistently. In fact the signal strength has to fall another 20% before the Samsung degrades.

On a windy day, the GT fluctuates and the picture breaks up. Not so with my Samsung. The trees in front of me have to be really swaying drunkedly for the Samsung to notice...

If I were to buy another STB (and I need another one), the OnAir STB will have to outperform the Samsung (and not merely replicate the existing reception capability of the OnAir GT). The OnAir GT is a great product and I use it daily to record shows but when there is something I want to absolutely watch and not have any problems, I head for the Samsung. Therefore the new OnAir STB will most certainly have to incorporate the 6th gen chipset because my next STB is by default another Samsung if the OnAir STB simply replicates the existing GT's reception architecture. However if there is a forthcoming 6th gen STB then that will be my next purchase (if the 30% reception improvement claim is real - which I don't doubt because I have seen how my 5th gen receivers have outperformed hands down all my previous receivers including the vaunted MDP-100-130 series).

Ryan, is the 5th set in or can you get this: http://www.dtvconsultancy.com/news/items/061227lge.htm
Good find.

The lack of separate QAM and ATSC inputs on the new Samsung is a MAJOR issue for me. Why do manufacturers assume that owners will use it exclusively for one or the other? Having to add an A/B switch at the input is a little ridiculous, given the current state of technology.

The 3/30/06 specs on Autumnwave.com linked in the first post implies only one input for this STB. Too bad.