No Comcast boxes, I have a PHD-101 STB and a dvico Fusion Gold 3 pci card.

Dunno then. Like Rammitinski, I did not know clear QAM provided any channel mapping. In my market, with four different cable providers, not one provides channel mapping in clear QAM. :confused:

The Fusion Gold is not a cable card provided by Comcast?

The PHD-101 and your tv's own internal QAM tuners get channel mapping in clear QAM with no outside influence (Tivo, cable box, cable card)?

I think you have pretty much said so, just checking. :D

The other night, my wife pressed the guide button (we have it set to default to the mini guide), and then she pushed the info button. As expected, we saw the mini guide at the bottom of the screen and the station/program info at the top simultaneously. The detail description cut off, so my wife hit info again, and the info area became larger so we could see the complete paragraph of detail information. It was a feature I didn't know the 260 had. But - here's the weird part - Neither of us has been able to repeat that action since! Whenever we see that the detail info is cut off, we hit info again and the info screen just disappears instead of getting larger.

I'd really like to be able to read the entire program detail info without going into the full guide. Any ideas?

Hello All:



My other problem is that on one channel the picture and Audio were broken up. (Signal strength was one bar short of full) The picture would freeze with some random digial artifacts would present then it would clear up for a few seconds then break up again. Fussing with some of the cables and switches in the back I was able to stabilize the picture and the Audio. As I said it only effected one of the channels. I'm not sure if I have (had) a bad switch contact or some other connection but it seems to have corrected itself; at least for now.

Has anyone else had a similar problem?

As others have mentioned, I had to crank the 260's Audio up to 100% to get acceptable audio levels out of the Philips.

Having the same problem. My sammy is hooked up to cable via a splitter. One channel in particular is bad and the others only occasionally. I have not tried fiddling with the cables.
Also, when I check signal strength I do not see any blue bars on any of the channel selections.????? Any suggestions

BTW, this is my first post. Thanks

Having the same problem. My sammy is hooked up to cable via a splitter. One channel in particular is bad and the others only occasionally. I have not tried fiddling with the cables.
Also, when I check signal strength I do not see any blue bars on any of the channel selections.????? Any suggestions

BTW, this is my first post. Thanks

I think signal strength is only for OTA, not cable. Were you having this issue before with the exact same cable & equipment config? You did not have this issue on that same station using your splitter and H260f? Or is your H260f new to your setup?

Splitters are a common cause of issues with any tuner.

I seem to recall several owners of this box who were stuck w/o remotes. Assuming the forum software will let me do this here are some:

http://www.partstore.com/Part/Samsung/Samsung/MF59-00291B.aspx?s=froogle

The part number is the same as on my 260F remote so it's probably the right one. I know nothing about that retailer good or bad, if you do go for it take appropriate precautions just in case.

They're about $20. If you need a 260F remote though..

I posted this same idea a couple days ago, but it got lost in the AVS server problem.

With the media going into full swing regarding the DTV conversion/switch over in Feb 09 I think this forum will soon be inundated with questions about the H260f and the FED DTV coupon program.

I'd be happy to help out in typing & posting some common Q&A's in an FAQ format, but I think the answers should be written initially by others in here who are far more technically inclined than myself.

Like:
- Will this box qualify for the FED DTV coupon program?
- Should I buy this box if I have an analog 4:3 tv?
- Menu & aspect issues with analog outs
- etc.....

Links:
- FED DTV Coupon program and application
- H260f product link
- H260f manual download
- etc.....

I posted this same idea a couple days ago, but it got lost in the AVS server problem.

With the media going into full swing regarding the DTV conversion/switch over in Feb 09 I think this forum will soon be inundated with questions about the H260f and the FED DTV coupon program.

I'd be happy to help out in typing & posting some common Q&A's in an FAQ format, but I think the answers should be written initially by others in here who are far more technically inclined than myself.

Like:
- Will this box qualify for the FED DTV coupon program?
- Should I buy this box if I have an analog 4:3 tv?
- Menu & aspect issues with analog outs
- etc.....

Links:
- FED DTV Coupon program and application
- H260f product link
- H260f manual download
- etc.....

I noticed your post in my inbox, but when I went to reply it wasn't there...

This box will not qualify for the DTV coupon program. From what I understand, the HDMI output and digital audio would exclude it from eligibility. Coupon eligible DTV boxes all output "Standard Definition TV".

I owned this but returned it. Samsung designed this for HDTV's sold without a tuner, or those who want to have a second tuner on their HDTV. (a very limited market) They are aware of the limitations on a 4:3 screen and no menus through S-Video and RCA video. The tuner in this unit is great, but as the DVD recorders with ATSC tuners were released, their chips were just as good as the samsung.

If you have a newer 4:3 TV with component inputs, you will be able to utilize the menus, and have the proper aspects when watching 16:9 broadcasts.

For about the same price, a DVD recorder will give you Standard Definition output, and the ability to record.

If you want an HDTV tuner, this is it. If you only have an Standard Def TV, buy a SD tuner (coupon eligible box) or a DVD recorder with an ATSC tuner.

I read the digital TV boxes will be available at the end of February, and the coupons will be mailed soon after.

Link for DTV coupon application:
https://www.dtv2009.gov/ApplyCoupon.aspx

Eligible Boxes:
https://www.ntiadtv.gov/cecb_list.cfm

Product Link:
http://www.samsung.com/us/consumer/detail/detail.do?group=mp3audiovideo&type=digitalsettopbox&subtype=hdtvtuners&model_cd=DTB-H260F/XAA

Product Manual:
http://org.downloadcenter.samsung.com/downloadfile/ContentsFile.aspx?CDSite=us&CttFileID=1176264&CDCttType=UM&ModelType=C&ModelName=DTB-H260F&VPath=UM/200610/20061012132223296_1012_DTB-H260F_MF68-00414A_book.pdf

I'm looking for a used DTB-H260F that was an early build (2006). Anyone have one for sale?

YGPM.

DrBri99: I think that pretty much covers it. :)

Thanks.

toby10 - most of your questions have been covered in the past 20 or so pages, maybe more than once :D . What is really needed is for a post like your idea to be done well, then posted very close to the front of this topic.

toby10 - most of your questions have been covered in the past 20 or so pages, maybe more than once :D . What is really needed is for a post like your idea to be done well, then posted very close to the front of this topic.

Yup. DrBri99 did a good job. I'm just thinking it would be easier to tell people "your answer is here" and post that forum page link.

The next few months will be a flood of Q's about this tuner and whether it will qualify for the DTV coupon program (and why it doesn't qualify). :)

If you want an "official" FAQ on this subject, I suggest the following procedure:

1. Write it up.

2. Post it as a new thread, labeled clearly as an FAQ, and solicit comments.

3. Wait a few days for comments, and edit the FAQ post as you think appropriate.

4. When you think it's more or less ready to go, PM one of the forum moderators (they're listed at the bottom of the main forum page) and ask to have the FAQ thread made into a sticky thread.

I used this procedure to create an FAQ for the DVD Recorders forum last year.

I suggest you include in the FAQ a link to this thread, and urge people who have general questions about the DTB-H260F (and not questions or corrections about the FAQ itself) to post them here.

Is anyone selling their DTB-H260F? If so and at a resonable price, pm me.

Thanks

Is anyone selling their DTB-H260F? If so and at a resonable price, pm me.

Thanks

I'm in the same boat. However, there are a lot of them on eBay. Do you want new, used or refurb? All three are out there in quantity. There's even a reseller in Canada who sells them for $89 with $20 shipping.

I'm still going back & forth on this.

I guess a good question to ask people on this thread is if there have been a lot of returns of this unit.

I'm in the same boat. However, there are a lot of them on eBay. Do you want new, used or refurb? All three are out there in quantity. There's even a reseller in Canada who sells them for $89 with $20 shipping.

I'm still going back & forth on this.

I guess a good question to ask people on this thread is if there have been a lot of returns of this unit.

I'd guess most returns would be those who wanted to use the H260f for an analog 4:3 tv. HDTV 16:9 users are usually quite happy with it.

Also, be careful on ebay as many of those may be older FW versions. I'm aware of two FW versions for this box but there may be more. I don't know what the different FW versions mean in terms of functionality and it may not make any difference. But you may want to find out those FW differences before buying, just to be safe. :)

There have been reports that many ebay sellers are not including the remote. There was a post about where to get a replacement (this unit is impossible to use without the remote).

Correct many of the ebay ones are without a remote. What do people do with the remote eat it?

There's a best buy that has two or three returns without a remote going for $161. Imagine that. I told the BB guy that they're useless without the remote. He kept saying just use a universal. I offered him $50 he laughed. That was 2 months ago. The same two units are still there. Drives me crazy.

I want one to use with my projector.

What do people do with the remote eat it?

Their dog probably ate it. :D

Correct many of the ebay ones are without a remote. What do people do with the remote eat it?

There's a best buy that has two or three returns without a remote going for $161. Imagine that. I told the BB guy that they're useless without the remote. He kept saying just use a universal. I offered him $50 he laughed. That was 2 months ago. The same two units are still there. Drives me crazy.

I want one to use with my projector.

yup, and lots of luck programming a universal remote without the original to learn the buttons. :)

I think these remotes are also used on another Samsung device so it may be a popular remote to keep around.

The only universals people seem to have got working are Harmony remotes and those cost about as much as the 260 itself. :( I posted on the previous page (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=13024356#post13024356) a site which seems to be selling original 260 remotes.

It's either that or Harmony. Generic universals don't seem to work at all, I've tried every one I own and got no love not even power on/off.

The only universals people seem to have got working are Harmony remotes and those cost about as much as the 260 itself. :( I posted on the previous page (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=13024356#post13024356) a site which seems to be selling original 260 remotes.

It's either that or Harmony. Generic universals don't seem to work at all, I've tried every one I own and got no love not even power on/off.


I use a Yamaha AVR remote for use with the H260f, works fine.
But there were no listed codes for the H260f via the Yamaha remote so I had to do the "learn" function (learning every single needed button individually).

But it works without issue. :)

I doubt many universal remotes (except the Harmony types) even have codes for an H260f as it is a somewhat new box and quite rare.

I had to do the "learn" function (learning every single needed button individually).

Which of course requires that you have an original 260 remote or an already-programmed learning remote with which to teach. Someone who buys a controllerless 260 off eScam, I mean eBay, doesn't have that luxury.

Which of course requires that you have an original 260 remote or an already-programmed learning remote with which to teach. Someone who buys a controllerless 260 off eScam, I mean eBay, doesn't have that luxury.

Unless you know someone who has a 260 and you can use their remote to program your universal remote.

FWIW, is there any way one could get codes of the 260 remote and post them so others could program their universal remote?

Which of course requires that you have an original 260 remote or an already-programmed learning remote with which to teach. Someone who buys a controllerless 260 off eScam, I mean eBay, doesn't have that luxury.

Exactly! ;)

I try to get most remotes onto my Yamaha universal remote for simplicity. I don't even bother with "every" function each device remote has to offer, I just program the basics (i.e. simple daily functions). If I need to get into serious menu options (which is rare) I just pull the original remote out of the cabinet.

For basic daily functions I just have two remotes. My Yamaha AVR universal and the cable box/dvr universal.

Yamaha remote handles:
- tv
- dvd player
- cd player
- H260f
- SqueezeBox (media streaming from PC or internet)

Cable box/dvr remote handles:
- tv (also)
- cable box
- dvr (part of cable box)

Exactly! ;)

I try to get most remotes onto my Yamaha universal remote for simplicity. I don't even bother with "every" function each device remote has to offer, I just program the basics (i.e. simple daily functions). If I need to get into serious menu options (which is rare) I just pull the original remote out of the cabinet.

For basic daily functions I just have two remotes. My Yamaha AVR universal and the cable box/dvr universal.

Yamaha remote handles:
- tv
- dvd player
- cd player
- H260f
- SqueezeBox (media streaming from PC or internet)

Cable box/dvr remote handles:
- tv (also)
- cable box
- dvr (part of cable box)

Other thing you can do...get a cheap learning remote (philips or other) and find a friend who has a Harmony and ask them to add the Samsung to their profile. Then...start learning the codes with the cheap remote.

Other thing you can do...get a cheap learning remote (philips or other) and find a friend who has a Harmony and ask them to add the Samsung to their profile. Then...start learning the codes with the cheap remote.

I've often wondered if there is (or should be) a software program with a USB "device" that could learn IR buttons from any remote. Then these could be emailed or posted for people to dl then (using the recipients USB "device") use that as the source device to program any IR universal remote via learning function (not codes).

This may well be out there, somewhere. :cool:

Using the IR codes is obviously the easiest way to go. But if your universal remote is not aware of code "xxxx" then it is blind and has no clue what code "xxxx" means.

FWIW, is there any way one could get codes of the 260 remote and post them so others could program their universal remote?

Wouldn't do any good for most remotes. The codes on the low-end type remotes which abound are in the chip, immutable. If the 260 isn't there it just isn't there and there's nothing for it. A learning remote still needs IR blasts to learn from, to the best of my knowledge most remotes won't let you program on that level by hand and none of those are the low-end type.

I recently purchased one of these from BB. It has a 12/07 build date. When I hooked it up and tried to autoprogram the channels, it picked up nothing. I'm trying to use it as a QAM tuner, as my cable system(a STD system) passes 12 clear QAM Digital/HD channels. I think I'm doing this properly, but still nothing seems to register. Also, the ant/cable pass through does not work. Am I missing something? I do get the menu OK on my monitor, so the hookup seems OK.

Thanks for any thoughts.

Wes

I recently purchased one of these from BB. It has a 12/07 build date. When I hooked it up and tried to autoprogram the channels, it picked up nothing. I'm trying to use it as a QAM tuner, as my cable system(a STD system) passes 12 clear QAM Digital/HD channels. I think I'm doing this properly, but still nothing seems to register. Also, the ant/cable pass through does not work. Am I missing something? I do get the menu OK on my monitor, so the hookup seems OK.

Thanks for any thoughts.

Wes

Try scanning under all 3 categories (std, hrc, *blank* can't remember). Also try finding out what the ch #'s are for those 12 QAM ch's.

Tried that ( STD, IRC & HRC ). The channel numbers are 2-1, or 7-1 for example. And there is no way to add channels individually according to Samsung.

Wes

Well - for OTA use - you can enter the "real" channel number and if it finds a DTV signal, the Sammy will auto-add it. However, I do not have QAM cable at my house, so I can't help you on that.

Also, the ant/cable pass through does not work. Am I missing something?

The ant/cable pass through only works when the unit is on. Make sure you are connecting your coax from the cable company to the ant/cable in connector, it's the one closest to the HDMI port. The antenna out connector is the one closest to the side of the box. If you turn the unit off, you'll actually see a weaker signal on the output. So just keep the box on all the time.

Solved the problems. There was a cable splitter ahead of the tuner box. I moved it to after the box, and everything worked as it is supposed to. Thanks to those who suggested possible solutions.

Wes

I sometimes wonder how many of these boxes are returned to the store, not because they are defective but because of incorrect wiring or other operator error. I just switched from using component video cables as the output to an HDMI cable. It's not that I was looking for a better picture but I really needed the component input of my TV for something else.

When I first fired up the box after doing the reconfiguration I had audio but no sound. A quick look in the Samsung manual gave the solution. A switch needs to be moved when using the HDMI output. I read somewhere that some guy returned three of these boxes because he could never get the HDMI output working. Now I'm wondering if he just never moved that darn switch.

All is great now and the HDMI output works as it should. I was also pleased to see that the s-video is still active even when using HDMI. I occasionally like to record on the DVR something that's only available on the ATSC. Having the s-video output has been a very useful feature.

In the course of helping out here, I've run into many cases where RTFM (Read the Fine Manual) solves their problem - the problem is that most people are in too much of a hurry to do so - they just want to plug it in and it work. AFTER I tell them to do some reading about their equipment, they come back with questions that CAN be a bit puzzling to them initially, but you can tell at least they made the effort. I really don't mind helping these people out - (help those who help themselves).

Has anyone seen these on sale? The H260F seems to sell for $180 and rarely at discount. I saw one today as an open box "clearance" item at Fry's, but only at a chintzy 5% discount down to $170.95.

Has anyone seen these on sale? The H260F seems to sell for $180 and rarely at discount. I saw one today as an open box "clearance" item at Fry's, but only at a chintzy 5% discount down to $170.95.

Have you tried making them an offer? It's a waste talking to the lowly checkout clerks but managers will sometimes be open to a little haggling on "open box" or damaged items that aren't moving. It doesn't hurt anything to try.

Has anyone seen these on sale? The H260F seems to sell for $180 and rarely at discount. I saw one today as an open box "clearance" item at Fry's, but only at a chintzy 5% discount down to $170.95.

You can usually find them on eBay. I landed one for about 50 bucks less-with shipping-than what you're quoting.

You can usually find them on eBay. I landed one for about 50 bucks less-with shipping-than what you're quoting.Just watch out for the ones with no remote, because there's apparently a lot of those on there.

Just a heads up. I picked one up today at my local Circuit City for $169.

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Samsung-High-Definition-Terrestrial-Tuner-DTB-H260F/sem/rpsm/oid/164855/catOid/-15607/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

You can usually find them on eBay. I landed one for about 50 bucks less-with shipping-than what you're quoting.


I just got one from E-bay for $119+s/h. Works fine so far and had the remote.

So is this the currently anointed best HD tuner for "HD-ready" TVs? I was hoping to see cheaper ATSC HD tuners come out as a side effect of the ramp up in ATSC SD tuner boxes for the digital conversion. Those boxes still have to decode the full signal before reducing its resolution, after all.

Or are ATSC-integrated DVRs (a la the Echostar TR50) the wave of the future for the tiny market of remaining HD-ready TVs?

I got one from eBay for $125 inc. shipping. Works great. All of the accessories too.

My only complaint is that it only allows for letterboxing a 4:3 1080i television, making it only useful for pure HD broadcasts. So I will only use it for the networks' HD programs and switch to my analog input for SD programs. Otherwise, I get a pillar-boxed SD picture in a letterboxed stripe across the middle of the screen.

The only way to get it both ways (SD full screen-HD letterboxed) is to set the output to 480p. I didn't buy this box to watch a 1080i signal in 480p.:)

I got one from eBay for $125 inc. shipping. Works great. All of the accessories too.

My only complaint is that it only allows for letterboxing a 4:3 1080i television, making it only useful for pure HD broadcasts. So I will only use it for the networks' HD programs and switch to my analog input for SD programs. Otherwise, I get a pillar-boxed SD picture in a letterboxed stripe across the middle of the screen.

The only way to get it both ways (SD full screen-HD letterboxed) is to set the output to 480p. I didn't buy this box to watch a 1080i signal in 480p.:)

Just change your TV's aspect ratio selection to 4:3 for SD broadcasts.

Edit: Nevermind. I just re-read your post and I see you're using a 4:3 TV.

I got one from eBay for $125 inc. shipping. Works great. All of the accessories too.

My only complaint is that it only allows for letterboxing a 4:3 1080i television, making it only useful for pure HD broadcasts. So I will only use it for the networks' HD programs and switch to my analog input for SD programs. Otherwise, I get a pillar-boxed SD picture in a letterboxed stripe across the middle of the screen.

The only way to get it both ways (SD full screen-HD letterboxed) is to set the output to 480p. I didn't buy this box to watch a 1080i signal in 480p.:)

Bresna - RTFM yet ?

You need to set the Sammy to 4:3 (your TV) , and then you'll need to use the "Aspect" button on the remote to change between modes, depending on what is being shown. Check pages 33, 34, and 35 of the owner's manual for the discussion on this.

What's probably driving you crazy is when your station is broadcasting in 16:9 format, but the current show is in 4:3. Changing your aspect to "Zoom" will probably help in this case.

The only universals people seem to have got working are Harmony remotes and those cost about as much as the 260 itself. :( I posted on the previous page (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=13024356#post13024356) a site which seems to be selling original 260 remotes.

It's either that or Harmony. Generic universals don't seem to work at all, I've tried every one I own and got no love not even power on/off.

There's another choice: Get a JP1-capable remote and use the upgrade file tailored to this very Samsung box at http://www.hifi-remote.com/forums/dload.php?action=file&file_id=3897 . If you've never heard of JP1, start with this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JP1_remote .

(I have one JP1 remote and one Harmony remote, received as a gift. The JP1 is more work but totally customizable, if you're willing to spend the time. Think of JP1 as a free but harder version of the Harmony idea: program your remote using a computer.)

There's another choice: Get a JP1-capable remote and use the upgrade file tailored to this very Samsung box at http://www.hifi-remote.com/forums/dload.php?action=file&file_id=3897 . If you've never heard of JP1, start with this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JP1_remote .

(I have one JP1 remote and one Harmony remote, received as a gift. The JP1 is more work but totally customizable, if you're willing to spend the time. Think of JP1 as a free but harder version of the Harmony idea: program your remote using a computer.)

Sweet, I have a couple 1-for-all remotes too. Time to check for that header! (and find a Windows machine, damn..)

edit: No luck on my remotes but I found some 8-device learning remotes of that brand that are JP1 for a reasonable price at Amazon. I assume it's called JP1 because of the silkscreened identifier on the board next to the header..

Bresna - RTFM yet ?

You need to set the Sammy to 4:3 (your TV) , and then you'll need to use the "Aspect" button on the remote to change between modes, depending on what is being shown. Check pages 33, 34, and 35 of the owner's manual for the discussion on this.

What's probably driving you crazy is when your station is broadcasting in 16:9 format, but the current show is in 4:3. Changing your aspect to "Zoom" will probably help in this case.

The manual is also clear that unless I choose 480p for my 4:3 CRT TV, the aspect ratio won't be correct.

I know I can zoom a 4:3 picture to get it to fill the screen, but why should I have to do this? The two other boxes that I've used to tune digital channels (Scientific Atlanta cable boxes) were able to automatically display a 4:3 picture "full screen" and a 16:9 picture letterboxed. This box can't. It seems that it would have been easy to do but they chose not to. They got it right with a 16:9 screen though, which shows who this box is targeted at.

It's not a deal breaker because I bought it strictly for HD, but it does stink that I can't use it for the digital SD channels without "zooming" (which, BTW, chops some picture off on my Sony 36" 4:3 XBR CRT).

The manual is also clear that unless I choose 480p for my 4:3 CRT TV, the aspect ratio won't be correct.

I know I can zoom a 4:3 picture to get it to fill the screen, but why should I have to do this? The two other boxes that I've used to tune digital channels (Scientific Atlanta cable boxes) were able to automatically display a 4:3 picture "full screen" and a 16:9 picture letterboxed. This box can't. It seems that it would have been easy to do but they chose not to. They got it right with a 16:9 screen though, which shows who this box is targeted at.

It's not a deal breaker because I bought it strictly for HD, but it does stink that I can't use it for the digital SD channels without "zooming" (which, BTW, chops some picture off on my Sony 36" 4:3 XBR CRT).

Output to analog tv or 4:3 tv is a known issue. It simply wasn't made for non 16:9 screens. Whether by design or just not wanting to be bothered with getting it right on 4:3, who knows. :rolleyes:

The argument behind "by design" is that the analog outs are there for hookup to a DVR or VCR, not a 4:3 tv, and is in a "non-stretch" mode so that you are correctly recording the 4:3 image. When this 4:3 recorded image is played back to a 16:9 tv it will be properly proportioned for 16:9 viewing.

Or, something like that. :confused:

I just got a 260 via e-bay today. I'm testing it on an old TV downstairs to make sure it works. Eventually I'll be running it to a yet to be bought projector via HDMI.

To test it I'm running component to an old crummy TV we have lying around (it is at least new enough to have component). With the 260 set at 480i the picture is positioned correctly but mostly red and pink and unwatchable because of that. When I switch to 480p the color looks great but I see two instances of the picture on my screen squished to fit with a 1 inch thick green stripe down the middle of the screen separating the two. I've switched screen format from 16:9 to 4:3 and cycled through the aspect button in both cases. The aspect button changes how the two pictures fill up the space on each side of the green stripe but doesn't prevent me from seeing double. Any thoughts? Is this an expected quirk of going component to an old TV? (picture looks great when I use the yellow composite plug and sound is going into my amp via an optical cable and sounds great)

It does not sound like your set can display 480p. The set's horizontal scanning frequency must double to display 480p. If this does not happen you will get two pictures side by side separated by the horizontal blanking interval of the incoming video. The 260 will only generate Y, Pb, Pr component video. If your set is expecting RGB you will get very wrong color.

I have a Sammy HLP xx63, and I'm trying to program the remote to work with my h260. None of the codes work and the TV manual is bare at best with information. Does anyone have the code or know how to get my tv's remote to operate my h260?

I have a Sammy HLP xx63, and I'm trying to program the remote to work with my h260. None of the codes work and the TV manual is bare at best with information. Does anyone have the code or know how to get my tv's remote to operate my h260?

None of the Samsung remote codes worked on my Yamaha AVR remote either. I had to use the "learning" method of programming every key that I needed onto the AVR remote. :eek:

To test it I'm running component to an old crummy TV we have lying around (it is at least new enough to have component). With the 260 set at 480i the picture is positioned correctly but mostly red and pink and unwatchable because of that.

I also experienced the pinkish tint when connecting 480i via component. Others have reported the same problem (search back on this thread). Never saw an explanation as to the cause.

Seems to be hit or miss whether the display device will have a problem with the Samsung's component output. In my case, the component connection worked fine on my 8 year old Sony CRT and my Panasonic projector. But when trying it with my 4 year old Sony CRT, I got the pink color cast. Cables were fine, connections were double checked, tv works fine with other equipment hooked up via component, etc. But since that tv was never the permanent home for the Samsung, I didn't worry about it.

Seems like the Samsung is doing something a little 'unusual' with the component signal that causes trouble for some televisions.

I have a Sony RM-VL600 learning remote that I bought last year and it has a code for a Samsung Digital TV Tuner. Anybody have any luck with this remote with the H260F? I really want to get one of these tuners, but I'm doing my best to save money. If I can get this remote to work, I wouldn't care one bit to buy a used one without a remote.

I don't think the code is in any remote (I've tried quite a few myself, and so have a lot of others). And it uses a completely different one from all the older Samsung boxes. It's too new.

You can, of course, teach a learning remote - but you will need the original to do so - unless it's one that you can program from a website with.

One suggestion: buy a DTB-H260F from a store, teach your remote, and then return it (but if you ever lose that programming, you're SOL. You'd be better off just buying a separate remote).

I don't think the code is in any remote (I've tried quite a few myself, and so have a lot of others). And it uses a completely different one from all the older Samsung boxes. It's too new.

You can, of course, teach a learning remote - but you will need the original to do so - unless it's one that you can program from a website with.

One suggestion: buy a DTB-H260F from a store, teach your remote, and then return it (but if you ever lose that programming, you're SOL). You'd be better off just buying a separate remote.

Good idea. :)

If anyone runs into a real *jam* I'd be happy to send them my original H260f remote to do the individual button learning on their own universal remote. I programmed my AVR remote (learn, not code) so I don't even use the original, though I would not want to part with it permanently in case I need it again in the future.

We'd just have to work out some sort of "deposit" arrangement so I could replace it if it were not returned.

It's available if anyone needs it. :)

Hey, if you did it right, you could even make a small, for-profit business out of it. Just invest in a Harmony, and you'll always have that for a backup. You could even just have them send their learning remotes to you instead, which will free you from any risk!

Hey, if you did it right, you could even make a small, for-profit business out of it. Just invest in a Harmony, and you'll always have that for a backup. You could even just have them send their learning remotes to you instead, which will free you from any risk!

LOL.......true. But then the endless emails and phone calls for "tech support". :D

One suggestion: buy a DTB-H260F from a store, teach your remote, and then return it (but if you ever lose that programming, you're SOL. You'd be better off just buying a separate remote).

But how could you buy it and return it. Don't they usually charge you a re-stocking fee to return something that's not broken?

What about the Samsung SIR-T451? I found a used one for $75 and it included a remote. I'm mainly wanting to use it, right now, for QAM, but may use it as an OTA tuner down the road (probably, at least, a year away, when I move out of campus housing). Is that a good buy? I'm really need to save money and that's within my budget (it doesn't seem like I'm going to get the H260F in that range...at least with a remote).

For QAM use, beware that the 451 goes up only to channel 125, not all the way to 135. If your cable company puts some of its unencrypted HD channels in the 126-135 range, you won't get them. Check in the local reception thread for your area and see if you can find out which channels your cable company actually uses.

(These are the physical channel numbers, not the remapped ones that most cable boxes show.)

So I would need to know the actual channel not the 112.1, right? I called my cable company and they had no clue what I was talking about. I live on campus, so we get a special campus cable. They offer all the HD channels between 112 and 114, but they're all subchannels (i.e. 112.1, 114.1). I have an Epson LSDT2 tuner, and wasn't sure if it had QAM or not (I figured it didn't, but I wanted to try it). It only lets you put in the actual channel to manually add, and not the 18.1 or 36.1. So I called the cable company to ask them about it, and they said that my local OTA stations were 18.1 and 36.1, etc. They had never heard of them being on another channel and that the subchannels were just re-mappings. I tried doing an auto find, but it will only let me find up to channel 13, and I can't figure out how to change the settings to cable (even though I'm allowed to add cable channels above 13). So I'm not really sure if the channels are below 125, and I doubt there's anyway for me to find out.

What about the Samsung SIR-T451? I found a used one for $75 and it included a remote. I'm mainly wanting to use it, right now, for QAM, but may use it as an OTA tuner down the road (probably, at least, a year away, when I move out of campus housing). Is that a good buy? I'm really need to save money and that's within my budget (it doesn't seem like I'm going to get the H260F in that range...at least with a remote).

Don't even think about the SIR-T451 it has awful reception, I had one. Search "reviews" in this thread, you'll see what I mean. You can search under my name, I and others that did reviews last year. The 260F is still the best HD tuner out there by far and I've seen them in fleEbay and CL for about $100. Good Luck!

Note there is a reason why this thread has over 85 pages of discussions. The Samsung DTB-H260F ATSC tuner is the best HD tuner out there to date.

But how could you buy it and return it. Don't they usually charge you a re-stocking fee to return something that's not broken?I don't think they would for something like that.

The box isn't sealed, so if you pack it exactly like it came, I think they'll be happy enough.

It seems like most of the tuners on ebay have no remote (as stated in this threat a lot). I found a remote for $23 (+ $10 S&H) at partsplus.com. Is that the best option?

I've also seen used tuners at Consumer Depot for $80 w/out remote or $90 w/remote. I would easily jump on the $90 one, but they seem to always be out of stock. Does anyone know anything about them?

It seems like most of the tuners on ebay have no remote (as stated in this threat a lot)....

I'm not sure where you're seeing that. Yes, some of them don't have the remotes, but a lot of them are advertised as having all original accessories. Some of them are new in original box--again, with all accessories. If you're not sure, ask the seller.

I'm not sure where you're seeing that. Yes, some of them don't have the remotes, but a lot of them are advertised as having all original accessories. Some of them are new in original box--again, with all accessories. If you're not sure, ask the seller.

I just did a search for the tuner model and just about every one I look at doesn't have a remote included. The few that do are way more than I can afford (some being even almost as much as a brand new one)

We must be looking in two different places... You specifically searched on DTB-H260F?

Yeah. I just did another search and found quite a few with remotes that end tomorrow. But I've been looking at e-bay constantly for the past few days and my earlier statement(s) come from those searches. But with a day left, I doubt those tuners with remote will stay below $100. Though with several of them ending within a couple hours of each other during the afternoon, I might have some luck. :)

I just bought one of these a few weeks ago on ebay. With shipping they've been going for around in the $120s I believe. Just read the desc carefully and make sure it comes with what you need.

I agree it's pretty great. It has better reception than the built in ATSC tuner in my HDTV upstairs.

The only issues I've had is with it sending a signal to my older TV. Component input doesn't seem to work on that TV (from an earlier post I think there is a older version of component that I don't understand, the input terminals are labeled Pr/Pb/Y so i'm not sure if that means component is supposed to work) At any rate, when I connect to that via composite the on screen guide doesn't work (as expected) and the aspect button doesn't work (not sure if that is expected). No big deal for me as that TV is temporary until my projector comes.

I just bought one of these a few weeks ago on ebay. With shipping they've been going for around in the $120s I believe. Just read the desc carefully and make sure it comes with what you need.

I agree it's pretty great. It has better reception than the built in ATSC tuner in my HDTV upstairs.

The only issues I've had is with it sending a signal to my older TV. Component input doesn't seem to work on that TV (from an earlier post I think there is a older version of component that I don't understand, the input terminals are labeled Pr/Pb/Y so i'm not sure if that means component is supposed to work) At any rate, when I connect to that via composite the on screen guide doesn't work (as expected) and the aspect button doesn't work (not sure if that is expected). No big deal for me as that TV is temporary until my projector comes.

Make sure you flip the "switch" to component on the back of the tuner. Aspect may not work if you have it set (another switch) to 480, I dunno.

Output to analog tv or 4:3 tv is a known issue. It simply wasn't made for non 16:9 screens. Whether by design or just not wanting to be bothered with getting it right on 4:3, who knows. :rolleyes:

The argument behind "by design" is that the analog outs are there for hookup to a DVR or VCR, not a 4:3 tv, and is in a "non-stretch" mode so that you are correctly recording the 4:3 image. When this 4:3 recorded image is played back to a 16:9 tv it will be properly proportioned for 16:9 viewing.

Or, something like that. :confused:

This is equally essential for those with 16:9 flag capabilities on their respective recorders. Speaking of flagging, you'll notice that when connected via HDMI or component, with the box set to 480i/p, the HD channels will automatically configure to play at 16:9 format. This works only if you own a TV that is capable of automatically stretching the screen horizontally to accomodate the aspect ratio. Please note that this will work only if your monitor's native setting is at 4:3.

BTW, has anyone experienced a similar color problem when the H260 is connected by HDMI and the only colors you see pop up are blues and reds when set to 720p and/or 1080i? All settings are what they should be, but no explanation to this phenom. :confused:

I see an issue when the Samsung is set to 1080i, and I'm using HDMI, into my Olevia 232T TV - people's faces are blue ! No such issue on component inputs, and the problem only exists on 1080i HDMI. 720p is fine, so that's what I use.

This is equally essential for those with 16:9 flag capabilities on their respective recorders. Speaking of flagging, you'll notice that when connected via HDMI or component, with the box set to 480i/p, the HD channels will automatically configure to play at 16:9 format. This works only if you own a TV that is capable of automatically stretching the screen horizontally to accomodate the aspect ratio. Please note that this will work only if your monitor's native setting is at 4:3.

BTW, has anyone experienced a similar color problem when the H260 is connected by HDMI and all you see is blues and reds when set to 720p and/or 1080i? All settings are what they should be, but no explanation to this phenom. :confused:

I've only ever used HDMI out on the H260f and I have no HDMI color issues at any resolution. :confused:

I see an issue when the Samsung is set to 1080i, and I'm using HDMI, into my Olevia 232T TV - people's faces are blue ! No such issue on component inputs, and the problem only exists on 1080i HDMI. 720p is fine, so that's what I use.

Same for me. I would rather use 1080i because that is my TV's(Hitachi 57F59A) native resolution but I can't.

No Issues here. I've tried both 720 and 1080i via hdmi to my ph530 and its working fine.

Can anyone compare this unit to the old US Digital (Wal-Mart) box? I have a USD box and I'm looking to improve on the reception (signal capture). Is there a great improvement? Thanks!

I was surprised this unit does not have 1080p output to go with the HDMI output interface. It has only 1080i. Is there a reason for this?

It is giving me an error when fed into my receiver. The receiver says, "an incompatible signal has been received,..."

I was surprised this unit does not have 1080p output to go with the HDMI output interface. It has only 1080i. Is there a reason for this?

It is giving me an error when fed into my receiver. The receiver says, "an incompatible signal has been received,..."

All HDTV broadcasts are 720p or 1080i. There are no plans to change this anytime in the future. If you have a 1080p tv then let the tv upscale to 1080p.

All HDTV broadcasts are 720p or 1080i. There are no plans to change this anytime in the future. If you have a 1080p tv then let the tv upscale to 1080p.

DTV broadcasts can be 480 as well.

DTV broadcasts can be 480 as well.
But then it wouldn't be HD?

DTV broadcasts can be 480 as well.

Yes. I'm just trying to understand why the OP wants/needs 1080p output. :)

Yes. I'm just trying to understand why the OP wants/needs 1080p output. :)

It would have been beneficial if the Samsung box had a 1080p output. That way the Samsung box would convert 720p signals to 1080p (without interlacing/deinterlacing) and convert 1080i to 1080p by deinterlacing. By using the 1080i option on the Samsung you will convert 720p signals to 1080i. That's not good.

But then it wouldn't be HD?

uh no. DTV doesn't automatically mean HD it's just capable of it. ATSC can go from 288x352@25fps to 1080x1920@30fps.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ATSC_Standards#Resolution

It would have been beneficial if the Samsung box had a 1080p output. That way the Samsung box would convert 720p signals to 1080p (without interlacing/deinterlacing) and convert 1080i to 1080p by deinterlacing. By using the 1080i option on the Samsung you will convert 720p signals to 1080i. That's not good.

Looks damn good on my tv. ;)

Unless you are outputing HDMI to a 1080p front projector, I don't see the need for 1080p output. If outputing to a 1080p tv then just let the tv deinterlace and upconvert to the tv's native resolution. Either way, you would be upconverting to 1080p (if needed) from 720p/1080i video signals, and I'd bet most any 1080p tv's deinterlacing & upconverting would be superior to a $170.00 STB tuner like the H260f. :)

uh no. DTV doesn't automatically mean HD it's just capable of it. ATSC can go from 288x352@25fps to 1080x1920@30fps.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ATSC_Standards#Resolution


The poster was referring to HDTV signals so 720p and 1080i are all that you get. If he referred to DTV, then you'd be right.

The poster was referring to HDTV signals so 720p and 1080i are all that you get. If he referred to DTV, then you'd be right.

I know, I was just filling in the rest. Trying to be helpful. :)

:).

Just bought one off of ebay..............without a remote. So now it's just on. I have an RCA Learning remote but none of the codes work.

http://www.samsungparts.com/search/search.asp?searchflag=byonemodel&searchkey=DTBH260F&modelid=433413

I found that link on the samsung website. It has the remote so that may be my saving grace.

I reiterate - you WILL NOT find a current remote out there with a code for the 260F. I tried all the newest models I could find. So don't even bother looking.

I seem to recall several owners of this box who were stuck w/o remotes. Assuming the forum software will let me do this here are some:

http://www.partstore.com/Part/Samsung/Samsung/MF59-00291B.aspx?s=froogle

The part number is the same as on my 260F remote so it's probably the right one. I know nothing about that retailer good or bad, if you do go for it take appropriate precautions just in case.

They're about $20. If you need a 260F remote though..

dbsc posted the above link to buy H260f remotes. About $10.00 less than buying direct from Samsung. Might want to check out shipping at both sites to compare your bottom line cost. :)

Looks damn good on my tv. ;)

Unless you are outputing HDMI to a 1080p front projector, I don't see the need for 1080p output. If outputing to a 1080p tv then just let the tv deinterlace and upconvert to the tv's native resolution. Either way, you would be upconverting to 1080p (if needed) from 720p/1080i video signals, and I'd bet most any 1080p tv's deinterlacing & upconverting would be superior to a $170.00 STB tuner like the H260f. :)

The problem is that you can't just pass the native resolution through the Samsung box. The box will always put out video at the resolution you choose using the switch on the back. Therefore, if you have a 1080p tv you have to decide if you want your 720p content (ABC, FOX) to unnecessarily have interlacing/deinterlacing artifacts or have 1080i content (NBC, CBS) downconverted to 720p, then upconverted to 1080p. If the box was capable of outputting 1080p you could have the best of both worlds.

All HDTV broadcasts are 720p or 1080i. There are no plans to change this anytime in the future. If you have a 1080p tv then let the tv upscale to 1080p.

Thanks, toby10, in one way I'm glad to hear that. I was worried I bought an out-of-date tuner. Everything else I have is 1080p except this.

I reiterate - you WILL NOT find a current remote out there with a code for the 260F. I tried all the newest models I could find. So don't even bother looking.

Did you also try the Harmony remotes? I bought one but haven't opened it up yet. I have five or six remotes I was hoping to replace with one Harmony. If it doesn't work the TV tuner,... :(


I found this on the Logitech Harmony Forums FAQ. I hope this helps in some way:

Introductory Information from DonHarmony
Extensive Harmony Remote Database:
The Harmony Remote control database currently contains over 250,000 devices from over 7,000 manufacturers.
The constantly evolving Remote control database is updated on a daily basis. Therefore, the chances of your device being our database are extremely high.

Adding to the Harmony Remote Database:
If you own a device that is not in our database, you will still be able to control that device with your Harmony Remote as long as you have the original remote for that device. During the setup of your Harmony Remote, the remote control software will guide you through the process of teaching the Harmony Remote 3 commands from the original remote, for your device. From these 3 commands the software will be able to determine what infrared codes and settings your device uses. Within minutes you will be able to control your device. Your device will then be added to the remote control database for others to use.

If you do not own the original remote, all is not lost. The remote control database is primarily customer driven. Since there so many new Harmony customers every hour of every day, the probability of another customer adding that same device and adding the infrared codes to our database with their original remote in the near future is very likely.

Learning Infrared Commands from the Original Remote:
Given the fact that the remote control database is so large, this isn't likely necessary. However, in this case you could teach the Harmony Remote every command from your original remote using the remote control software. Once this has been done, you will have full control of your device with the Harmony Remote.




I will be trying out my Harmony this weekend. If it works, I'll let you know how to do it. If nothing else, I suppose I could even program one for you from my remote.

The problem is that you can't just pass the native resolution through the Samsung box. The box will always put out video at the resolution you choose using the switch on the back. Therefore, if you have a 1080p tv you have to decide if you want your 720p content (ABC, FOX) to unnecessarily have interlacing/deinterlacing artifacts or have 1080i content (NBC, CBS) downconverted to 720p, then upconverted to 1080p. If the box was capable of outputting 1080p you could have the best of both worlds.

Yes, I see your point. And I think having a passthrough output of whatever signal it is getting would be an even better feature as I'm certain many tv's video processing is superior to the H260f (and I'd bet yours as well ;))

I don't have 1080p on either of my panels (1080i/720p) so I'm not seeing the artifacting you are experiencing. I've only seen maybe 9 real world (in someones home, not a showroom floor) 1080p panels (LCD & plasma) and I must say I have not been impressed with non-HDM content. SD & digital cable were very poor and broadcast HD content was no better than my lowly panels, and all three sources showed the pixelation/artifacting you are experiencing.

Now HDM content (HD-DVD or Blu-ray) is a WHOLE other story! Those 1080p panels are REMARKABLY clearer, deeper, crisper than my panels.

Thanks, toby10, in one way I'm glad to hear that. I was worried I bought an out-of-date tuner. Everything else I have is 1080p except this.

No problem. Everything else you have must be HDM (HD-DVD or Blu-ray) as they are the only things that are 1080p. ;)

SD cable/sat = 480i
Digital cable/sat = 480i
DVD (std. def) = 480i
Broadcast Analog (NTSC) = 480i
Broadcast HD-digital ota/cable/sat = 720p or 1080i

SD cable/sat = 480i
Digital cable/sat = 480i
Broadcast HD ota/cable/sat = 720p or 1080i

Isn't 480p (aka EDTV) also an option for OTA?

It's an option

My friends Samsung Plasma TV remote was able to be programmed to control the DTB but it only controlled the menu, channel, and power. That is enough to get by but I think I am going to put mine back on ebay or craigslist. I was disappointed. Mainly because I didn't do my research. I was not aware of the problems I would have with the remote nor did I know it did not come with a NTSC tuner. I think I will just buy a LCD with the QAM tuner like my 32 inch Sceptre.

Did you also try the Harmony remotes?

My Harmony works OK with the DTB-H260F.

I was talking about universal remotes. Of course, any learning remote such as the Harmony can be programmed to do the job.

I was not aware of the problems I would have with the remote nor did I know it did not come with a NTSC tuner. I think I will just buy a LCD with the QAM tuner like my 32 inch Sceptre.Doesn't the TV you're using the Samsung with have an NTSC tuner? If so, all you have to do is attach a pass-through coax to the Samsung's RF out and to the TV's RF in, and just switch over to the TV input to use it's NTSC tuner.

That's why they added the "pass-through" feature - so you could use your TV's NTSC tuner.

My friends Samsung Plasma TV remote was able to be programmed to control the DTB but it only controlled the menu, channel, and power. That is enough to get by but I think I am going to put mine back on ebay or craigslist. I was disappointed. Mainly because I didn't do my research. I was not aware of the problems I would have with the remote nor did I know it did not come with a NTSC tuner. I think I will just buy a LCD with the QAM tuner like my 32 inch Sceptre.

I'm curious why you need an NTSC tuner if your NTSC OTA will not function in 10 months? Are you connecting the H260f to an analog tv?

It's possible, and I'm just guessing, but maybe Wado1 has hooked his 260 up to a monitor, with no built in tuner. In this case he would have no access to NTSC analog using the 260. If this was the case I wouldn't like it either. I VERY rarely watch analog channels anymore, but there nice to fall back on occasions when the digital channel is having signal problems. At least that's the way it's in my area. Digitals work 98% of the time and analogs 99%. At least for the next 10 months I'll be able to use that 1% on TV's that get both.

It's possible, and I'm just guessing, but maybe Wado1 has hooked his 260 up to a monitor, with no built in tuner. In this case he would have no access to NTSC analog using the 260..

It's been said before, if you need NTSC tuning and your TV doesn't have it built in just grab an old VCR. They usually do a pretty good job with it if the antenna is decent. Just use composite out.

I'm curious why you need an NTSC tuner if your NTSC OTA will not function in 10 months? ...

Full power NTSC will not be broadcast after February 17, 2009; however low power and translator (relay) NTSC broadcasts will still be around. There's no date for their shutdown yet...

In the case of someone living in a major city, NTSC is not really an issue, BUT there are areas where not all the stations will be 100% DTV. In those locations, either you'll need RF Pass through (for analog) or a DTV tuner that can do DTV & analog.


Bob Diaz

Viewers near Canada (i.e. Detroit, Buffalo, Bellingham) will continue to have some NTSC stations around until at least 2011. Viewers near Mexico (i.e. San Diego, El Paso) may have some NTSC stations available for quite a few years.

I could the pass through, thats a great idea but the HDMI output is messed up. It pushes the screen to the left and the colors are washed out. The remote thing still is an issue.

All and all I really just wanted it to be like my Sceptre where both tuners are there and I wouldn't have to change inputs. I may give it one more shot.

I'm looking for a recommendation for a recorder from the Samsung DTB-H260F OTA. I would like to be able to make permanent recordings as well as one-time recordings that will be watched once and then deleted. Any suggestion will be welcomed.

Anything that will accept S-Video / composite video

Scooper's correct, and you do know that anything record will be SD right?
I would personally suggest something like a Panasonic DMR-ES15 or ES25. They are a couple year old models with analog tuners, but seem to still be available here and there as new in box units. The ES-15 regularly goes for ~$100 and makes great recordings. The ES-25 adds upconverting to HDMI as well as a built in SD card reader. Both have proven to be quite reliable. I own both and do just what you are proposing. I get great recordings. Try and avoid the newer Panasonic EZ series DVDR's. They can be quite buggy, and although they do contain a built in DTV tuner, the PQ is actually better doing what you are proposing. Trust me on that one, I've owned several EZ units.

Has anyone figured out why when viewing with HDMI are all the colors washed out?

Not on my setup. I have my box setup to output 1080i to my 720p Panasonic LCD and the PQ looks just as good viewing through the 260 to my HDMI input on the Panny, as directly tuning on the Panny's built in tuner. Do you possibly have the output of your box set to 480? that will look much worse than 720 or 1080, when viewing HD channels.

Not on my setup. I have my box setup to output 1080i to my 720p Panasonic LCD and the PQ looks just as good viewing through the 260 to my HDMI input on the Panny, as directly tuning on the Panny's built in tuner. Do you possibly have the output of your box set to 480? that will look much worse than 720 or 1080, when viewing HD channels.

+1 HDMI PQ on my 720p from the H260f is flawless.

My TV only does 1080i so I can't do 720P. Component looks great but HDMI is washed out and the screen is shifted to the left.

My TV only does 1080i so I can't do 720P. Component looks great but HDMI is washed out and the screen is shifted to the left.

720 or 1080 output via HDMI both look fine on my tv. 1080i via component should render the same image as HDMI 1080i so you really are not missing anything, other than fewer cables. ;)

Have you checked your tv's HDMI settings? Known good HDMI cable? Any other HDMI devices going to your tv not having this issue? Same HDMI input port?

I need it to go through HDMI because the other 2 components have the 360 and the home theater system. The HDMI cable is fine, I have used it with my bedroom DVD player on the exact same TV.

I need it to go through HDMI because the other 2 components have the 360 and the home theater system. The HDMI cable is fine, I have used it with my bedroom DVD player on the exact same TV.

What tv do you have? (model #)

so this box only picks up OTA?

so this box only picks up OTA?

OTA and QAM

What tv do you have? (model #)

I am at work right now so I don't know the exact model number but it is a 52 inch Rear Projection RCA. Both DVD players work fine with the TV including my phillips upscaling with HDMI. This Samsung STB is the only thing that is giving me problems.

OTA and QAM




179 for just an OTA+ QAM, that a bit much

179 for just an OTA+ QAM, that a bit much

I'm open to suggestions for OTA HD and QAM HD stb tuners. :D

What other features were you looking for?

If $170 is a bit much for ya, there are many $40 to $60 OTA converter boxes out there. :)

$169. at CC. Probably find it cheaper elsewhere on line if you really look. Lots of other people here have.

I think with these SD boxes and the coupons coming out now, a lot of the uninformed think they're gonna find standalone HD QAM/ATSC tuners almost just as cheap.

Rude awakening. That's why they should start a separate subforum here for the SD tuners - it's confusing people. (As if they're not already confused enough by the PSA's telling them that their analog TV's MAY NOT WORK after the analog cutoff - and that they don't specifically mention that the cutoff mandate only applies to high-powered OTA stations.)

There's a world of difference between the CECBs and a box like the Samsung. I initially got the Samsung to use as a CECB -wasn't really impressed with it for that use - menus on NTSC outputs, no screen format on the analog outputs etc. But it's a great 2nd tuner for my HDTV (and the one way I have of getting OTA DD5.1), and sometime CECB for distribution. I'll use it as a 2nd digital tuner for my computer's TV tuner card as well.

$169. at CC. Probably find it cheaper elsewhere on line if you really look. Lots of other people here have.

I think with these SD boxes and the coupons coming out now, a lot of the uninformed think they're gonna find standalone HD QAM/ATSC tuners almost just as cheap.

Rude awakening. That's why they should start a separate subforum here for the SD tuners - it's confusing people.

EXACTLY my point! :D

That's why I suggested an FAQ in here a while back and DrBri99 graciously provided one. I think the regulars in here may want to bookmark this FAQ to refer the many upcoming posters inquiring about just this subject. :)

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=13053457&postcount=2511

Im considering purchasing this tuner so I can run a component to my receiver. I currently have a 58pz700u with onboard tuner that works perfectly, but there is no way to route the cable through my receiver without a seperate cable box or tuner.

My concern is some of the feedback here. Just how slow is the channel changing? Does this freeze up a lot causing you to reboot the system? Will this pick up all the channels from my cable and local broadcast that my TV tuner does?

Any feedback is appreciated.

Im considering purchasing this tuner so I can run a component to my receiver. I currently have a 58pz700u with onboard tuner that works perfectly, but there is no way to route the cable through my receiver without a seperate cable box or tuner.

My concern is some of the feedback here. Just how slow is the channel changing? Does this freeze up a lot causing you to reboot the system? Will this pick up all the channels from my cable and local broadcast that my TV tuner does?

Any feedback is appreciated.

Why do you need to run component through your reciever? For HDMI out to your tv? Or do you mean for audio (DD 5.1)?

No freeze up problems that I have ever experienced. All tuners are slightly different in what they will pick up, but yes you "should" get all OTA & QAM cable you are currently getting. Remember this is a QAM tuner not a cable box.

Program and ch data: Channel ID, Program Description, Program Lineup
OTA should have all of these, though it depends on the broadcaster.
QAM data, beyond basic ch ID, is generally not available via QAM.

Im considering purchasing this tuner so I can run a component to my receiver. I currently have a 58pz700u with onboard tuner that works perfectly, but there is no way to route the cable through my receiver without a seperate cable box or tuner.

My concern is some of the feedback here. Just how slow is the channel changing? Does this freeze up a lot causing you to reboot the system? Will this pick up all the channels from my cable and local broadcast that my TV tuner does?

Any feedback is appreciated.

I have two 42pz77u's and the Samsung DTB-H269F tuner and pay for analog cable through a local provider. The two plasma TVs pick up 3 extra digital video/audio stations and 53 digital music stations that the Samsung misses. The plasmas and the STB pick up all the other digital stations that are "in the clear". The tuner in the Samsung is not as good as the tuner in the 77 series plasma. I don't know if the tuner in the 77 series is the same as the one in the 700 series.

Why do you need to run component through your reciever? For HDMI out to your tv? Or do you mean for audio (DD 5.1)?

No freeze up problems that I have ever experienced. All tuners are slightly different in what they will pick up, but yes you "should" get all OTA & QAM cable you are currently getting. Remember this is a QAM tuner not a cable box.

Program and ch data: Channel ID, Program Description, Program Lineup
OTA should have all of these, though it depends on the broadcaster.
QAM data, beyond basic ch ID, is generally not available via QAM.

Would I be better served just getting an analog cable box to run my video to my receiver? Im looking to run my video through my receiver to upscale the picture to 1080p (receiver is a 3808ci). Only way I can do this is through an external cable box/tuner.

What about the Tv guide function does that run through and display all my cable channels as well?

Would I be better served just getting an analog cable box to run my video to my receiver? Im looking to run my video through my receiver to upscale the picture to 1080p (receiver is a 3808ci). Only way I can do this is through an external cable box/tuner.

What about the Tv guide function does that run through and display all my cable channels as well?

Again, H260f is a QAM tuner, probably little data. Feed your cable directly to your tv (assuming your tv has a QAM tuner) bypassing your cable box or cable card, that's what data you will get from your cable provider using QAM.

Have you tried letting your tv do the upscaling? I'll bet your tv's upscaling abilities are better than any cable stb or AVR, including the H260f. ;)

The tuner in the Samsung is not as good as the tuner in the 77 series plasma. I don't know if the tuner in the 77 series is the same as the one in the 700 series.Apparently Panasonic put some much improved better tuners in their newer models then.

The one in the 600U set I briefly had early last year was waaay worse than my DTB-H260F, and even a lot worse than all my other, 4th gen. ones. It was practically useless and a total piece of crap.

Would I be better served just getting an analog cable box to run my video to my receiver? Im looking to run my video through my receiver to upscale the picture to 1080p (receiver is a 3808ci). Only way I can do this is through an external cable box/tuner.

What about the Tv guide function does that run through and display all my cable channels as well?Since you don't really need to upscale the HD signals, just use a VCR or DVD recorder with an NTSC tuner to run the cable into, and then into the receiver, after first splitting the cable between that and the TV's tuner.

Or - I just though of something else - doesn't the 700u series have A/V composite out? (The 600u series did.) If so, can you loop that into the A/V receiver and back to the TV?

Has anyone found a device code for ONE FOR ALL/Radio Shack remote controls like the Cinema 7 or 15-1994 that partially works for the DTB-H260F? Doesn't matter if it's DVD, TV, VCR, Cable/Sat whatever, just that the Samsung responds in some way. I've been trying this manually but there are too many built in codes to test.

If I could just hit on a device code it recognizes, then I would test all 256 EFCs within the code and manually program the functions via advanced codes and would share the info here.

Thanks for any help! Next step of course is JP1 but with advanced codes building the cable wouldn't be necessary.

Would I be better served just getting an analog cable box to run my video to my receiver? Im looking to run my video through my receiver to upscale the picture to 1080p (receiver is a 3808ci). Only way I can do this is through an external cable box/tuner.

What about the Tv guide function does that run through and display all my cable channels as well?

tvmack,
I'm surprised you're even considering an analog cable box. The Samsung box is digital-only and allows you to get HD channels for free, either over the air (ATSC) or sometimes through your cable company (QAM). A 58 inch 1080p tv deserves HD!:) Does your receiver have digital audio inputs, or just analog?

The cheapest way to try out HD is to get the HD-capable cable box. The cable companies usually give you a good introductory price. Then you can decide whether you want to keep it or buy the Samsung box (or set up an antenna and get your local channels that way).

Has anyone found a device code for ONE FOR ALL/Radio Shack remote controls like the Cinema 7 or 15-1994 that partially works for the DTB-H260F? Doesn't matter if it's DVD, TV, VCR, Cable/Sat whatever, just that the Samsung responds in some way. I've been trying this manually but there are too many built in codes to test.

If I could just hit on a device code it recognizes, then I would test all 256 EFCs within the code and manually program the functions via advanced codes and would share the info here.

Thanks for any help! Next step of course is JP1 but with advanced codes building the cable wouldn't be necessary.

Don't think there are any codes. I had to use a Samsung Plasma TV universal remote but even that did not have all the functions. I just bought the OEM remote from thepartstore.com.

I think I've seen something about this somewhere on this monster thread, but now I can't find it. I believe I've read somewhere that the 260 has a amplified passthru? Does this mean that I have to always have the 260 powered on in order to get a signal to passthru without greatly attenuating the signal?
Reason I ask is because I'm currently only using the 260 to feed a line input of a DVDR. I have only been turning it on when I was doing a recording. Well I started to have problems with both digital and analog reception on my TV, which is fed thru the 260. Just by mistake I noticed my passthru got much better when the 260 was on. When it was off it looked much worse, even worse that bypassing the 260 all together.
So in my case do I need to leave the 260 on all the time, even when watching TV through my TV's built in tuner?
Sure I could just use a splitter before the 260 and not use the passthru(losing 3db in the process), but IMO the 260 is a poor design. I've used DVDR's and VCR's for years, having as many as 5 daisy chained together with no problems. None have ever had to be ON to passthru signal.
I don't notice that the signal is better passing thru the 260 when it's on vs. bypassing it. It's just noticeably worse when in line and off.

It will pass thru the 260 without being powered on, but the 260 has an internal amp that makes up for its losses when the 260 is powered on. Take it for what it's worth.

I can understand the principal of the amp, but has anyone else noticed it greatly attenuates when turned off, or is there maybe something wrong with mine? I guess I can live with having it ON all the time, I'd just like to know if there's a problem with mine.:)

yes, i noticed attenuation when off, enough to make a weak analog station unwatchable with pass-through to the TV.

yes, i noticed attenuation when off, enough to make a weak analog station unwatchable with pass-through to the TV.

Likewise!

Has anyone found a device code for ONE FOR ALL/Radio Shack remote controls like the Cinema 7 or 15-1994 that partially works for the DTB-H260F? Doesn't matter if it's DVD, TV, VCR, Cable/Sat whatever, just that the Samsung responds in some way. I've been trying this manually but there are too many built in codes to test.

If I could just hit on a device code it recognizes, then I would test all 256 EFCs within the code and manually program the functions via advanced codes and would share the info here.

Thanks for any help! Next step of course is JP1 but with advanced codes building the cable wouldn't be necessary.
That's what CODE SEARCH function is for:
http://www.remotecentral.com/features/r-urc7800.htm
http://www.remotecentral.com/features/r-151994.htm
CODE READOUT function will display the code number(s) once
they're found. If it's even in the R/C to begin with.....

Surely there aren't that many keys you REALLY need if you
have to resort to learning mode....

That's what CODE SEARCH function is for:
http://www.remotecentral.com/features/r-urc7800.htm
http://www.remotecentral.com/features/r-151994.htm
CODE READOUT function will display the code number(s) once
they're found. If it's even in the R/C to begin with.....

Surely there aren't that many keys you REALLY need if you
have to resort to learning mode....

Only took about 5 minutes to program all the needed buttons onto my AVR remote via learn. The only buttons I did not program were the numbers as I only use the H260f for OTA which is only six stations, so channel up & down is all I needed.

Of course, this is assuming you have a remote to learn from. ;)

Could you regulars look this over and suggest any additions, deletions, notes, or exceptions to the data that can be displayed with the H260f? I'm sure it will be a common question in the coming months. Once this is complete maybe we can get DrBri99 to add it to his excellent FAQ. :cool:

A = OTA = Over The Air (ATSC)
Q = QAM (no cable box, free use)
B = Basic Cable (no cable box, minimal cost)

Data Available:
Channel / Station ID: A / Q / B
Program Description Info: A / B
Program Guide: A / B

Assuming the broadcaster is sending the proper data (and they don't always send data) OTA and Basic generally carry all data. QAM generally will only display station ID.

yes, i noticed attenuation when off, enough to make a weak analog station unwatchable with pass-through to the TV.
Thanks guys, just wanted to make sure it wasn't just my box. Took me a couple hours of swapping cables :confused:to figure out why some of my TV stations weren't coming in anymore. Finally by chance I turned the 260 on and "wala" clear again. I guess I'll leave the 260 on all the time, no big deal.

Thanks guys, just wanted to make sure it wasn't just my box. Took me a couple hours of swapping cables :confused:to figure out why some of my TV stations weren't coming in anymore. Finally by chance I turned the 260 on and "wala" clear again. I guess I'll leave the 260 on all the time, no big deal.

You better hope Al Gore doesn't see this post! Leave on all the time??? :eek::eek::eek:

Then again, he may well have invented the H260f. :D

Yes it kinda does go against my grain, and I suppose if I redid all my RF cabling, making the 260 the last in the chain(B4 the TV) I would remember to turn it on when needed. Problem is I have several DVDR's after the 260 and wouldn't want to forget to turn the 260 on before scheduled recordings.
Now I'll get going to work in my Prius.......:D

I wonder if anyone's hooked up a DTB-H260F to a "Kill-A-Watt" or similar device to see what its power draw is when "ON" and when in "STANDBY." I've been noticing some quirks with my Harmony remote getting the DTB-H260F to consistently power on and off, and if the power consumption delta isn't too large, I might be inclined to just leave it on all the time.

Kill-A-Watt says <1 watt off, 9 watts/16VA on.
A little more than I would have thought, but I guess it won't break the bank.

That's what CODE SEARCH function is for:
http://www.remotecentral.com/features/r-urc7800.htm
http://www.remotecentral.com/features/r-151994.htm
CODE READOUT function will display the code number(s) once
they're found. If it's even in the R/C to begin with.....

Surely there aren't that many keys you REALLY need if you
have to resort to learning mode....

I did try this the other day but code search's failing in this case is it assumes that when you "walk" through all the existing codes, if you happen to hit one that could work - the power button is actually assigned to the OFA/RS's power button. Of course that's unlikely as I found out when I went through each stored code (hundreds) with no luck.

I have questions placed at OFA, UEIC and hifi-remote.com, maybe something will turn up. At hifi-remote there is a JP1 protocol for the DTB-H260F and I loaded it into the keymap master spreadsheet to examine it. It does give the advanced codes/EFCs and a device code of 2000 but I don't know if this translates into a device code stored into the Cinema 7, etc.

In case anyone is interested here's what KM reveals:

Remote: URC-7200
Device Type: Cable
Setup Code: 2000

Button Function EFC OBC Hex
0 num 0 142 009 90
1 num 1 018 000 00
2 num 2 014 001 80
3 num 3 016 002 40
4 num 4 012 003 C0
5 num 5 019 004 20
6 num 6 015 005 A0
7 num 7 017 006 60
8 num 8 013 007 E0
9 num 9 146 008 10
vol up vol up 144 010 50
vol down vol down 140 011 D0
mute mute 242 032 04
channel up channel up 147 012 30
channeldown channeldown 143 013 B0
power power 209 030 78
enter - (dash) 172 059 DC
tv/vcr ANTENNA 174 057 9C
prev ch PRE CH 050 048 0C
menu MENU 239 037 A4
guide GUIDE 141 015 F0
up arrow up arrow 082 016 08
down arrow down arrow 078 017 88
left arrow left arrow 080 018 48
right arrow right arrow 076 019 C8
select enter 083 020 28
display INFO 238 033 84
exit EXIT 079 021 A8

This is just a general FYI for anyone who may have wondered into our little forum looking for a basic DTV converter.
In short, you have come to the WRONG forum. :D But we are a friendly bunch and we will be happy to answer any questions.

Typical DTV converter box:
Insignia - Digital-to-Analog Converter for Analog TVs
Model: NS-DXA1
$ 60.00
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8624081&type=product&id=1199495190393

Features:
1) RF INPUT (coax from OTA antenna)
2) RF OUT (coax to tv)
3) Analog Video Out (composite video)
4) Audio Out (L&R RCA)
5) Video Output Resolution = 480i
6) Designed for Analog (480i) tv’s

Samsung - HDTV Digital Terrestrial Receiver (ATSC HD and QAM HD Tuner)
Model: DTB-H260f
$ 170.00
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8102796&productCategoryId=abcat0104000&type=product&tab=1&id=1161734592183#productdetail

There is a reason the H260f costs $100 more. ;)
The Samsung H260f is a completely different box designed for HDTV’s with 16:9 screens supporting HD resolutions.
The H260f has all of the IN/OUT features of the above basic converter box PLUS:
- Addl. Composite Video Out
- S-video Out
- Addl. L&R Audio Out
- Component Video Out (HD resolutions)
- HDMI Out (HD video resolutions, 2 ch PCM Audio, Dolby ProLogic 2 ch, Dolby Digital 5.1)
- Toslink Optical Digital Out (Dolby ProLogic 2 ch, Dolby Digital 5.1)
- Video Output Resolution = 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i
- Addl. Tuner: QAM Tuner

Note: The H260f Analog Video Output has aspect ratio issues with a 4:3 analog tv and is NOT recommended for use as a DTV converter.

most coupon eligible converter boxes (CECB) can output to 16x9, and are a good choice for those with an old analog set.

The tuners are great on the insignia/zenith boxes, and they don't crop the image like the H260F does with the SD outputs.

If you want HD, the samsung is the way to go. If you just need SD the CECB is the way to go.

Kill-A-Watt says <1 watt off, 9 watts/16VA on.
A little more than I would have thought, but I guess it won't break the bank.

Thanks for the info -- it does look like leaving my DTB-H260F 'always on' is a viable option, if I can't get it to reliably power toggle w/ my Harmony.

if I can't get it to reliably power toggle w/ my Harmony.

Try putting a small convex lens on the front of the IR sensor on the 260. Glass is ideal but plastic should work. Just make sure the lens isn't an IR filter! :)

Hi
First post! But lots of scanning and great info and help throughout the boards; learned about Paradigm speakers, Hsu subwoofers, Monoprice, Oppo, and Pioneer plasmas, on the boards.
Now onto the tuner issue.
The reports about QAM problems with the 260 should not be dismissed; they are true (at least in my instance) and I can confirm the issues that others have reported.
Specifically:
I have Charter cable. My Pioneer plasma has a QAM tuner in it and gets all of the cableco clear QAM channels just fine (FOX, CBS, NBC, etc. but not the encrypted ones like ESPN, Discovery, etc.)
A newly purchased Sammy 260 doesn't pick up any channels whatsoever. I hooked the 260 up to another cable in the house first, and then when that didn't work, I took disconnected instead the cable that was running to the plamsa from the Pioneer and connected it instead straight into the 260 and still no QAM channels on a scan were received.
Scans on STD and IRC and HRC picked up no channels at all.
When connected instead to an antenna, the Sammy 260 picks up OTA channels fine, through the ATSC tuner.
I then thought it was a bad 260 unit with a bad QAM tuneer. So I returned it and got another one.
Identical behavior was observed with the second box as well...

The QAM channels are in the clear for sure; I don't have a cable card or even a cable box whatsoever anywhere, and never have. The signal strength is fine, since I have been tuning in and watching all of the clear QAM channels (my locals that Charter carries) for almost a year now continuously with no problem with the Pioneer plasma QAM tuner. When Charter added a few new channels a while ago, a rescan of the QAM tuner on the Pioneer 6070 found them just fine. The clear channels appear at 101.9, 104.1, etc. etc, as they should, on the Pioneer.
The Samsung 260, however, can not find a single channel through its QAM tuner. Yes I am plugging in the cable into the "antenna in" rf input on the Sammy and there are no filters in the line, etc.

This is the second 260 box I have had in two weeks, and they both act identically.

Several other reports (out of these 2000+ posts in this thread) have described the identical situation, which poster replies have ascribed to maybe weak signals, not plugging the cable into the right input, or QAM being encrypted. It is not that. This is a real issue. One poster even thought that there were different versions of the firmware in different 260's, because a swap for a new box fixed that poster's problems but not mine.
I may try to swap for a third box and see again what happens.
If anyone however knows what's going on, and wants to post help, it would always be appreciated.
There really are some compatibility issues with the QAM tuners at least in two such units out of two...
Help?

Samsung - HDTV Digital Terrestrial Receiver (ATSC HD and QAM HD Tuner)
Model: DTB-H260f

my guess this is the box for all the people who bought early HD ready tvs with out the HD tunner built in?

Hi
First post! But lots of scanning and great info and help throughout the boards; learned about Paradigm speakers, Hsu subwoofers, Monoprice, Oppo, and Pioneer plasmas, on the boards.
Now onto the tuner issue.
The reports about QAM problems with the 260 should not be dismissed; they are true (at least in my instance) and I can confirm the issues that others have reported.
Specifically:
I have Charter cable. My Pioneer plasma has a QAM tuner in it and gets all of the cableco clear QAM channels just fine (FOX, CBS, NBC, etc. but not the encrypted ones like ESPN, Discovery, etc.)
A newly purchased Sammy 260 doesn't pick up any channels whatsoever. I hooked the 260 up to another cable in the house first, and then when that didn't work, I took disconnected instead the cable that was running to the plamsa from the Pioneer and connected it instead straight into the 260 and still no QAM channels on a scan were received.
Scans on STD and IRC and HRC picked up no channels at all.
When connected instead to an antenna, the Sammy 260 picks up OTA channels fine, through the ATSC tuner.
I then thought it was a bad 260 unit with a bad QAM tuneer. So I returned it and got another one.
Identical behavior was observed with the second box as well...

The QAM channels are in the clear for sure; I don't have a cable card or even a cable box whatsoever anywhere, and never have. The signal strength is fine, since I have been tuning in and watching all of the clear QAM channels (my locals that Charter carries) for almost a year now continuously with no problem with the Pioneer plasma QAM tuner. When Charter added a few new channels a while ago, a rescan of the QAM tuner on the Pioneer 6070 found them just fine. The clear channels appear at 101.9, 104.1, etc. etc, as they should, on the Pioneer.
The Samsung 260, however, can not find a single channel through its QAM tuner. Yes I am plugging in the cable into the "antenna in" rf input on the Sammy and there are no filters in the line, etc.

This is the second 260 box I have had in two weeks, and they both act identically.

Several other reports (out of these 2000+ posts in this thread) have described the identical situation, which poster replies have ascribed to maybe weak signals, not plugging the cable into the right input, or QAM being encrypted. It is not that. This is a real issue. One poster even thought that there were different versions of the firmware in different 260's, because a swap for a new box fixed that poster's problems but not mine.
I may try to swap for a third box and see again what happens.
If anyone however knows what's going on, and wants to post help, it would always be appreciated.
There really are some compatibility issues with the QAM tuners at least in two such units out of two...
Help?

When switching between antenna and cable you need to press the "Antenna" button on the remote control. That is most likely the reason you don't see any channels after scanning for QAM.

Samsung - HDTV Digital Terrestrial Receiver (ATSC HD and QAM HD Tuner)
Model: DTB-H260f

my guess this is the box for all the people who bought early HD ready tvs with out the HD tunner built in?

There are many reasons, lacking a built in tuner (ATSC and/or QAM) is one reason. Other reasons:

- HDTV Monitors: (lcd, plasma) with no tuners at all including current models
- Tuner Placement: If your HDTV is located on wall ONE and your AV rack and components are on wall TWO, it can become difficult (sometimes impossible) to get DD 5.1 to your AVR if the "tuner" is located inside your tv.
- ATSC and/or QAM tuner(s) are present in your HDTV but are not sensitive enough to pick up all possible channels
- Front Projection TV: no tuners, usually only displays whatever video signal it gets (i.e. no upconverting)
- Older HDTV's: with tuner(s) or not, where it's "upscaling" abilities may be weak/lacking

I'm sure there are other reasons, the above pop into my mind readily. I use the H260f for the first two reasons listed (plasma monitor, on completely different wall than my AV gear). Any/all connections from the AV rack (all hidden within a built in cabinet) to the tv require a 50 ft cable run. All wires from AV rack to wall mounted tv are entirely hidden in walls and through attic (HDMI, composite, component (x2), L&R audio to tv, surround speaker wires (L-C-R), etc...). Not a single wire is visible (including power) to the tv nor the 5 surround speakers. :D

Having an H260f tuner with DD 5.1 output 2 feet away from my AVR makes this all possible. ;)

No that is not the issue. After the 260 does a channel scan for cable channels (yes with the cable connected to the correct rf input), it reports no channels found (i.e. lists the number zero as channels found on cable). It does count up from 1 to 135 and then back to channel 1 and then channel 2 and then stops, but reports its results then as "0" cable channels found. And the channel listing shows no channels listed whatsoever on cable (it will of course retain the channels found during an OTA scan but you have to reconnect the antenna cable and hit the antenna button to see those channels). Hitting the antenna button after a cable channel scan does not show anything because the unit was already in cable mode while channel scanning, and even if you do that, since there were no channels found in the cable channel scan, none listed in the channel listing for cable, and therefore there are none available to see by hitting the antenna button. Of course, if I reconnect the antenna and hit the antenna button, then I see all fo the ATSC channels that were identified in an ATSC channel scan previously and were retained by the 260 (of course you have to get to the ATSC channel listing to select them that way but just hitting the channel up/down keys on the remote slews through them as well).
It really really is a QAM tuner issue apparently. This is a late-model (12/07) manufactured H260 unit (so was the last one I tried, from a different store entirely; one was CC and this one is now from BB).

So I bought the OEM Remote and it came today so I am going to give this tuner another try. The pass through worked but I am still getting washed out colors through HDMI, that is pissing me off.

My TV only does 1080i so I can't try 720p but 480i is fine through HDMI so the problem is 1080i through HDMI.

So I bought the OEM Remote and it came today so I am going to give this tuner another try. The pass through worked but I am still getting washed out colors through HDMI, that is pissing me off.

My TV only does 1080i so I can't try 720p but 480i is fine through HDMI so the problem is 1080i through HDMI.

You can try all the ouput settings, your tv will just convert whatever it receives to it's native resolution. 720 and 1080 look exactly the same on my set. HDMI should not be giving you this color issue.

No that is not the issue. After the 260 does a channel scan for cable channels (yes with the cable connected to the correct rf input), it reports no channels found (i.e. lists the number zero as channels found on cable). It does count up from 1 to 135 and then back to channel 1 and then channel 2 and then stops, but reports its results then as "0" cable channels found. And the channel listing shows no channels listed whatsoever on cable.......

Sorry you are having this trouble, but you are the first I've ever heard of that gets nothing from a QAM scan on all the settings. I've seen others (very few) have trouble tuning a particular station or two, but never a ZERO? :confused: If you had not stated previously that you tried the exact same cable feed from your tv which gets QAM stations with no trouble, I would have guessed you had a bad cable feed or a splitter on the line. But not the case.

Usually it's just the opposite, the H260f usually picks up more ch's than most peoples tv tuners pick up.

Usually it's just the opposite, the H260f usually picks up more ch's than most peoples tv tuners pick up.

Getting a lemon isn't unheard of though. dgrfan: If you haven't done so yet and if it's possible try exchanging it for another unit. Others have returned theirs as defective and exchanged them, after which the problems are no more.

OK I'll try for box number three.
But the first two have behaved identically, in fact.
One more observation: when channel scanning, on ATSC with the OTA antenna connected to the rf input, the channel number flashes when the 260 has tuned into something (as is normal behavior for the unit). During the QAM scans with the cable connected to the rf input, not a single channel number flashes even though it scans from channel 1 to 135 and then to 1 and 2 again before saying nothing is identified in the channel scan. This happens whether the scan is set to cable, or cable+air, or in the cable scan options to use STD or IRC or HRC. The box works fine on ATSC (OTA through the antenna) always though, and tunes in lots of OTA ATSC channels.

If you look back through some of the earlier posts in this thread, you will see some others reporting that they could not tune in anything on their cable system with their QAM's either with the 260.

I have tried unplugging and replugging in the 260 from the wall, with and without the cable connected. Tried scanning on cable and on cable+air. Tried all of the cable options. Gone back and forth between the cable into the 260 and into the plasma. In each case, same result; plasma always gets all the clear QAM channels with no problem, and 260 doesn't tune in a single one whatsoever. This is my second box, one from CC and one from BB, and they have both exhibited identical behavior.

I'm within my 14 day BB return window and will swap it for yet another box and see what happens.

Getting a lemon isn't unheard of though. dgrfan: If you haven't done so yet and if it's possible try exchanging it for another unit. Others have returned theirs as defective and exchanged them, after which the problems are no more.

Yes, very true, but he tried this already.

OK I'll try for box number three.
But the first two have behaved identically, in fact.
One more observation: when channel scanning, on ATSC with the OTA antenna connected to the rf input, the channel number flashes when the 260 has tuned into something (as is normal behavior for the unit). During the QAM scans with the cable connected to the rf input, not a single channel number flashes even though it scans from channel 1 to 135 and then to 1 and 2 again before saying nothing is identified in the channel scan. This happens whether the scan is set to cable, or cable+air, or in the cable scan options to use STD or IRC or HRC. The box works fine on ATSC (OTA through the antenna) always though, and tunes in lots of OTA ATSC channels.

If you look back through some of the earlier posts in this thread, you will see some others reporting that they could not tune in anything on their cable system with their QAM's either with the 260.

I have tried unplugging and replugging in the 260 from the wall, with and without the cable connected. Tried scanning on cable and on cable+air. Tried all of the cable options. Gone back and forth between the cable into the 260 and into the plasma. In each case, same result; plasma always gets all the clear QAM channels with no problem, and 260 doesn't tune in a single one whatsoever. This is my second box, one from CC and one from BB, and they have both exhibited identical behavior.

I'm within my 14 day BB return window and will swap it for yet another box and see what happens.

Hopefully three's the charm. But I doubt it. :( Give number three a quick QAM scan, if no go you may want to look elsewhere. ;)

I'm sure others out there have not been able to get QAM working. But most of the QAM tuning issues in here were eventually resolved with forum member help (cabling, removing splitters, bad cable feed, scan options, etc...). But I'm sure a very small % can never be resolved. :(

OK I'll try for box number three.
But the first two have behaved identically, in fact.
One more observation: when channel scanning, on ATSC with the OTA antenna connected to the rf input, the channel number flashes when the 260 has tuned into something (as is normal behavior for the unit). During the QAM scans with the cable connected to the rf input, not a single channel number flashes even though it scans from channel 1 to 135 and then to 1 and 2 again before saying nothing is identified in the channel scan. This happens whether the scan is set to cable, or cable+air, or in the cable scan options to use STD or IRC or HRC. The box works fine on ATSC (OTA through the antenna) always though, and tunes in lots of OTA ATSC channels.

If you look back through some of the earlier posts in this thread, you will see some others reporting that they could not tune in anything on their cable system with their QAM's either with the 260.

I have tried unplugging and replugging in the 260 from the wall, with and without the cable connected. Tried scanning on cable and on cable+air. Tried all of the cable options. Gone back and forth between the cable into the 260 and into the plasma. In each case, same result; plasma always gets all the clear QAM channels with no problem, and 260 doesn't tune in a single one whatsoever. This is my second box, one from CC and one from BB, and they have both exhibited identical behavior.

I'm within my 14 day BB return window and will swap it for yet another box and see what happens.

I know you said that signal strength is not an issue - but just to be sure, you may want to do your next scan without any splitters if possible.

I'm within my 14 day BB return window and will swap it for yet another box and see what happens.
Probably irrelevant but BB and CC have 30 day return periods on "non computer" related devices. Home video should be 30 days. Computers are 14 days. Good luck on #3:)

No that is not the issue. After the 260 does a channel scan for cable channels (yes with the cable connected to the correct rf input), it reports no channels found (i.e. lists the number zero as channels found on cable). It does count up from 1 to 135 and then back to channel 1 and then channel 2 and then stops, but reports its results then as "0" cable channels found. And the channel listing shows no channels listed whatsoever on cable (it will of course retain the channels found during an OTA scan but you have to reconnect the antenna cable and hit the antenna button to see those channels). Hitting the antenna button after a cable channel scan does not show anything because the unit was already in cable mode while channel scanning, and even if you do that, since there were no channels found in the cable channel scan, none listed in the channel listing for cable, and therefore there are none available to see by hitting the antenna button. Of course, if I reconnect the antenna and hit the antenna button, then I see all fo the ATSC channels that were identified in an ATSC channel scan previously and were retained by the 260 (of course you have to get to the ATSC channel listing to select them that way but just hitting the channel up/down keys on the remote slews through them as well).
It really really is a QAM tuner issue apparently. This is a late-model (12/07) manufactured H260 unit (so was the last one I tried, from a different store entirely; one was CC and this one is now from BB).

I have the same problem. I bought the H260F today, connected to cable, scanned cable channels in all 3 different modes and got nothing:(. When I connect it to antenna it finds 26 digital channels. I have basic service thru Comcast in Rolling Meadows IL. I am getting analog channels 2 - 99 on my TV. I think that Comcast does not send any digital programs thru my cable :(.

I gave up for now with this. Maybe will try another unit later..

Nsimak, a cableco legally has to broadcast any locals on clear QAM that they carry in digital form, if those locals are broadcasting digitally OTA. So if Comcast is indeed carrying your local digital channels (very very probable), then you should be able to see those digital channels using this QAM tuner over your cable connection. In my case, I know that the digital channels are being carried in the clear by my cableco, because I have a second (working) system/HDTV with a built-in QAM tuner that gets these channels just fine over the very same cable line that I can't find them when the 260 is connected instead.
You may have to possibly resort to a similar debugging situation; find any HDTV with a QAM tuner, hook it up, and see that you see the DTV channels. The channels that you are seeing from 2-99 are analog channels over the NTSC tuner; the 260 won't tune those in no matter what. It is supposed to be able to tune in the clear QAM channels, though, which is what I can't get working on my system.

It would be good to verify if you are having the same issues, but the only sure-fire way is to do as above, get a second system with a QAM tuner that does get the channels (something like 101.9, 104.1, etc.) and then swap in the 260 instead and see that it will or won't work.

In my case, it simply, absolutely, doesn't work.

I gave up for now with this. Maybe will try another unit later..

Nsimak, a cableco legally has to broadcast any locals on clear QAM that they carry in digital form, if those locals are broadcasting digitally OTA. So if Comcast is indeed carrying your local digital channels (very very probable), then you should be able to see those digital channels using this QAM tuner over your cable connection. In my case, I know that the digital channels are being carried in the clear by my cableco, because I have a second (working) system/HDTV with a built-in QAM tuner that gets these channels just fine over the very same cable line that I can't find them when the 260 is connected instead.
You may have to possibly resort to a similar debugging situation; find any HDTV with a QAM tuner, hook it up, and see that you see the DTV channels. The channels that you are seeing from 2-99 are analog channels over the NTSC tuner; the 260 won't tune those in no matter what. It is supposed to be able to tune in the clear QAM channels, though, which is what I can't get working on my system.

It would be good to verify if you are having the same issues, but the only sure-fire way is to do as above, get a second system with a QAM tuner that does get the channels (something like 101.9, 104.1, etc.) and then swap in the 260 instead and see that it will or won't work.

In my case, it simply, absolutely, doesn't work.

Looks like I have exactly the same issue with 260. All the symptoms are absolutely matching to what you described in your posts. I am just not sure if I have digital channels in my cable or not. What other QAM tuner would you recommend to try?

any HDTV with a QAM tuner in it should be fine.
There is also an ATSC/QAM tuner with NTSC tuner also available through a web search, but that has no HDMI output (unlike the 260).
Might want to let us all know if indeed you are having the same problem (sounds possible/likely but not confirmed for sure until you use the exact same setup with another QAM tuner and indeed verify that unit can tune in clear QAM channels, like I have done).

Looks like I have exactly the same issue with 260. All the symptoms are absolutely matching to what you described in your posts. I am just not sure if I have digital channels in my cable or not. What other QAM tuner would you recommend to try?

Some QAM scanning troubleshooting reminders:

- QAM tuner direct cable connection (no cable stb or cable card in path)
- Remove any splitters in the line (if initial scans are unsuccessful)
- If using another tv to compare QAM ch's, again no cable stb or cable card
- If the tv used for comparison is getting cable ch program info and/or show listings this is probably not Clear QAM (some cable co's do provide QAM PSIP (data) but this is very rare.
- Some cable QAM signals are simply not compatible with some tv/stb tuners.
- Make sure your tv or stb tuner *specifically* states QAM as one of it's tuners, a digital tuner (i.e. cable ready tuner) does not necessarily mean it is capable of QAM reception.

I don't think these apply to dgrfan or nsimak, but good reminders anyway.

Some cable systems require a stb or cable card for even BASIC service.

I know that this may be a YMMV type of thing, but I was just hoping to get a general idea. I just purchased a Samsung DTB-H260F from e-bay. I believe it's refurbished. They offered a 1-year warranty to go with it (additional to a manufacturer's warranty, if the refurbished one even has one) for an additional $12. But what's the odds of one of these even needing any work? I know you can have a bad one out of a bunch, but has there been a problem with them, at all? At least enough to purchase a warranty. I know $12 doesn't sound like much to some, but I'm on a very tight budget (it took me a week to convince my wife that we could afford the tuner in the first place).

From my experience with most electronic equipment if their going to fail, 75% of the time they will fail out of the box. 20% of the time they will fail in the first 3 months. Seems like very little 5%? will fail after that.
I'm just totally guessing on numbers, going more off things like DVDR's. Personally my 260's <1 month old with no problems. So at least I'm over the first big hurdle:D
Hopefully someone who's had there's longer will chime in, but personally I'd save the 12 bucks. Should be good for 3 gallons or so of gas:(

Hopefully someone who's had there's longer will chime in, but personally I'd save the 12 bucks. Should be good for 3 gallons or so of gas:(


I'll chime. I bought my 260 at Best Buy as an open box item. It's worked flawlessly since day one, about 9 months ago. My bet is that most 260's are returned because the user wasn't satisfied with the amount of channels they could get or quality of reception, when it really wasn't the tuners fault, but the antenna set-up. Many of those returned units probably end up being sold as refurbs, since they can't be sold as new.

$12 bought me 3.59 gallons of gas last night at Costco! :(

I've had my H260F for over a year, and it's never had any problems.

Nov 06

You can try all the ouput settings, your tv will just convert whatever it receives to it's native resolution. 720 and 1080 look exactly the same on my set. HDMI should not be giving you this color issue.

My TV does not convert 720p, it shows it as 3 separate images side by side. It can only output 1080i.

My TV does not convert 720p, it shows it as 3 separate images side by side. It can only output 1080i.

So your tv cannot display 480i, 480p, 720p input? Is your tv a front projector? Most any HDTV should be able to perform basic video processing (upconvert, downconvert, deinterlace) from the broadcast and DVD standards of 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i.

Older sets, usually CRTs will only accept 480i/p and 1080i. I have a three year old set that will not accept 720p. It can however decode and upscale 720p broadcasts received on the internal tuner.

Older sets, usually CRTs will only accept 480i/p and 1080i. I have a three year old set that will not accept 720p. It can however decode and upscale 720p broadcasts received on the internal tuner.

Ahh! ;)

Sorry for the confusion, like the poster above me my TV can only show 480 i/p and 1080i. It cannot display 720p.

I'll chime. I bought my 260 at Best Buy as an open box item.

I did the same thing. Got an open box unit for $149, and the BB guy said it had the same return warranty as a new one. Lucky me, as it was the only one they had on the shelf.

-Z

First post here (second if you count my response to Whidbey.) I have read this entire thread. Took me two days, but I did it. :D

At the moment, I have a Comcast HD DVR (Motorola unit) that is, well, a piece of garbage. The DVR and timeshift features keep locking out button presses (hit fast forward to skip over a commercial, and occasionally hitting play does nothing.) It also has a habit of ignoring remote commands (hit a button, it does nothing. Hit the button again, it still does nothing. 30 seconds later it processes both button presses.) I have complained numerous times but all I get is either a box swap, which does nothing, or "yeah we know it's busted, but we have no control over the firmware." Add to that the ridiculous price Comcast charges for their Digital cable packages (they are, after all, the only cable choice in this area) and I'm just plain fed up. We tried satellite years ago, but the trees surrounding us kill the signal, and I got tired of going out in the dead of winter to brush a foot of snow off the dish. OTA is, from everything I have been told, a lost cause without erecting a giant antenna tower in my back yard. The only affiliates in the area are ABC (WMUR Manchester, which is so strong you could pick it up using a fork for an antenna) and maybe PBS out of Durham on a good day. All the other channels come out of Boston, some 50-60 miles away.

I have a Mits WS-55819, circa 2000, which is HD Ready. It has an NTSC tuner but that's it, so whatever I do is going to involve a set top box. All the reviews I read on the DTB-H260F were very positive, so I figured I would give it a shot. As luck would have it, the Manchester Best Buy had one left, and it was an open box model, so I got it for $149. All the parts were there (including the much-hallowed remote!) Since my EyeTV Hybrid doesn't do HD tuners, I had to take the Comcast box off my set and replace it with the 260F.

Well, it does work... :) The picture quality is good (as good as it is going to get anyway, given Comcast's compression) and I was able to get all the major networks in both HD and SD. I'm going to have to sit down and compare what I got with a channel lineup I got from Stardust.com, and write them all down so we can keep track of them. Unfortunately I am in the same boat as others - I simply cannot get a program guide from this thing. I asked on the Comcast Forum on both their site and DSLReports, but the only response I have so far is that it won't receive a guide from QAM. Don't know how true that is, as it has worked for other people.

I'm not too worried about the NTSC side for now - I can switch to the tuner on my Mits and get those channels. I do have to "wife-proof" the setup though. I have a Harmony Remote, and will have to program it to seamlessly switch between HD and SD so my wife isn't calling me at work asking how to watch Masterpiece Theater. :)

Couple questions on it though...

1. Has anyone actually found a way to get a guide from Comcast QAM?

2. Does anyone know what the difference is between the three cable types? I scanned on STD, HRC, and INC, and saw no difference in the channel lineup.

3. I am assuming that HD versions of channels like Discovery, HGTV and SciFi will never be clear QAM. Any thoughts on those, short of sticking with Comcast's box? (I keep hearing rumors that they have a new one available, but they are reserving them for new customers.)

4. What is the best way of hooking up a DVR to the 260? I gather from other posts that the SVIDEO output is SD only, so there is no way to record HD broadcasts. (Or is there?)

-Z

Couple questions on it though...

1. Has anyone actually found a way to get a guide from Comcast QAM?

2. Does anyone know what the difference is between the three cable types? I scanned on STD, HRC, and INC, and saw no difference in the channel lineup.

3. I am assuming that HD versions of channels like Discovery, HGTV and SciFi will never be clear QAM. Any thoughts on those, short of sticking with Comcast's box? (I keep hearing rumors that they have a new one available, but they are reserving them for new customers.)

4. What is the best way of hooking up a DVR to the 260? I gather from other posts that the SVIDEO output is SD only, so there is no way to record HD broadcasts. (Or is there?)

-Z

1. Most cable co's do not provide data in QAM, they want your $$$ for that. :) And I don't blame them.
2. Same with mine, all three bring in the exact same ch's. Maybe on certain cable systems it does matter. :confused:
3. Probably not, those are premiums. Again, I don't blame them.
4. No clue on DVR, the USB on the H260f is for service only, so any DVR would have to be S-video or composite I'd guess (i.e. no HD recording).

What is your goal here for the H260f? OTA? QAM? You could run both stb's (H260f & Comcast) with either two different inputs into tv or a video switch. At least you would then have OTA and full cable. Cable box with QAM is rather redundant (which is why I don't bother with QAM).

I'll address #4(and assume? by DVR you meant DVDR?)- All DVDR's will record SD so S-video is the best you will get. I actually get quite a good PQ recording from S-out to my DVDR's line in. If I record a HD broadcast I get quite a good picture. I would call it HD lite.
Note the picture will get is squished 16x9, that will be recorded to DVD. When you play the DVD back you will want to have your player set to "stretch 4x3 to fit 16x9 screen" when you do this everything will look fine. It will be full screen 16x9.
Note if you play this DVD on a 4x3 TV you will get tall skinny people. The whole 16x9 frame is "squeezed" into the 4x3 frame. You could also choose to record letter box mode, but I prefer to get full screen 16x9, instead of having to Zoom the postage stamp to fill my 16x9 screen.

I'll address #4(and assume? by DVR you meant DVDR?)

It doesn't have to be DVD. It can be a hard drive model that just lets us record a broadcast, watch it, then nuke it.

-Z

Thanks for all the replies, so far. I know I didn't get an extended warranty on a DVD recorder I bought a few years ago. I ended up having nothing but trouble out of it (after paying about $300 for it). I mainly used it to play DivX files on my TV, and only recorded one thing on it. It broke within 6 months. When I sent it in to get it fixed, they charged me about $60, then sent it back with it not powering on at all. I had to send it back, again, and this time they finally fixed it. I used it maybe once or twice more, and it broke again. By that time, it had been a year, and they refused to fix it. I figured I knew what it was, so the other day (about a year and a half after it broke the second time), I decided to take it apart myself and found out that it was just a broken band in the DVD tray. But now I think I messed up the DVD recorder or I would just try and find another band to fix it. I know that's a bit off topic, but really that's been the only problem I've had with electronics. But it did have moveable parts. I didn't think that a tuner would have much go wrong with it, but I wanted to see what everyone else thought.

P.S. I might see if I can find some info about that DVD recorder on here when I get the chance. Since I don't typically like the search function, here, where would be the best place to look (or any other site as well)? Sorry to get off subject, here, but the talk about electronics typically not breaking reminded me of that. I can about agree with that statement, since I've only had this one instance out of all the electronic equipment I've bought.

Then if that DVR has component or HDMI inputs you're OK, otherwise YES you will only get SD from the S- or composite outputs. But like I said though, the PQ I get recording to a DVD (or HDD on a DVD recorder so equipped with one) is quite good. Not HD, but not bad.

OBIDAWSN-well then just jump on over the the DVD recorder forum, right here on AVS!
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=106

Then if that DVR has component or HDMI inputs you're OK, otherwise YES you will only get SD from the S- or composite outputs. But like I said though, the PQ I get recording to a DVD (or HDD on a DVD recorder so equipped with one) is quite good. Not HD, but not bad.

But even if your DVR has component or HDMI input you cannot watch another ch on the H260f while you are recording from the H260f, no? For that matter, can you even watch the program being recorded if your selected HD output is going to the DVR?

It doesn't have to be DVD. It can be a hard drive model that just lets us record a broadcast, watch it, then nuke it.

-Z

Like this: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=972197

What is your goal here for the H260f? OTA? QAM?

OTA is out. Just not possible here. I'm looking to ditch Comcast's expensive digital package, which means losing the HD box, and just pulling the HD channels off QAM.

Cable box with QAM is rather redundant (which is why I don't bother with QAM).

Exactly. My original intent was to lose the box entirely, but the more I go over this the more it seems like that is just not going to be an option.

But even if your DVR has component or HDMI input you cannot watch another ch on the H260f while you are recording from the H260f, no? For that matter, can you even watch the program being recorded if your selected HD output is going to the DVR?

Single tuner in the 260, so no record-one-watch-another unless you've got another tuner.

You can always watch the SD output. Otherwise if the DVR can "passthrough" the HD signal but I haven't heard that spoken of before.

OTA is out. Just not possible here. I'm looking to ditch Comcast's expensive digital package, which means losing the HD box, and just pulling the HD channels off QAM.



Exactly. My original intent was to lose the box entirely, but the more I go over this the more it seems like that is just not going to be an option.

Yeah, QAM can be very limiting. The cable co's, rightfully so, want to make QAM as simplistic and featureless as is possible, offering only what is required by the FCC, so that people pony up the $$$ to get more ch's, data, lineups, guides, etc...

Single tuner in the 260, so no record-one-watch-another unless you've got another tuner.

You can always watch the SD output. Otherwise if the DVR can "passthrough" the HD signal but I haven't heard that spoken of before.

That's what I suspected. I just didn't want the OP to think he could do so like a cable DVR.

OK I'll try for box number three.
But the first two have behaved identically, in fact.
One more observation: when channel scanning, on ATSC with the OTA antenna connected to the rf input, the channel number flashes when the 260 has tuned into something (as is normal behavior for the unit). During the QAM scans with the cable connected to the rf input, not a single channel number flashes even though it scans from channel 1 to 135 and then to 1 and 2 again before saying nothing is identified in the channel scan. This happens whether the scan is set to cable, or cable+air, or in the cable scan options to use STD or IRC or HRC. The box works fine on ATSC (OTA through the antenna) always though, and tunes in lots of OTA ATSC channels.

If you look back through some of the earlier posts in this thread, you will see some others reporting that they could not tune in anything on their cable system with their QAM's either with the 260.

I have tried unplugging and replugging in the 260 from the wall, with and without the cable connected. Tried scanning on cable and on cable+air. Tried all of the cable options. Gone back and forth between the cable into the 260 and into the plasma. In each case, same result; plasma always gets all the clear QAM channels with no problem, and 260 doesn't tune in a single one whatsoever. This is my second box, one from CC and one from BB, and they have both exhibited identical behavior.

I'm within my 14 day BB return window and will swap it for yet another box and see what happens.

Your Plasma doesn't happen to have a cable card in it?

Your plasma should have had the same selection for cable, Auto, standard, HRC or IRC. Use the same one for the STB.

From my observations, whether the Samsung STB Antenna is initially on DTV Air (ATSC) or DTV Cable (Unencrypted QAM), when you go to the scan to select Scan Air, Cable or Air & Cable, the antenna switch occurs automatically, so that's not the issue.

To have 0 DTV Cable, rather than 100 or more, is unusual, as the unit will scan and detect both unencrypted and all encrypted QAM channels. It just doesn't decode encrypted QAM channels. But all detected channels will show up in the channel manager list.

As long as the cable source is of good level, same as the plasma (if you plasma has an NTSC tuner, are the upper analog channels as snow free as the lower analog channels?), feed directly from cable, cable center pin long enough (about 1/8" out of F, not 1/4" into F), maybe the third one will be the charm...

I'm not sure where to post this or of anyone cares but here goes.

When I turn on my HT gear, I have to be sure the tuner gets turned on last. I have a Harmony 550 programmed to do that job. If I do it in any other sequence, the tuner's audio or its video or both do not make it through the rest of the system. I'm not sure how I figured out that the sequence makes a difference but surely it does.

I'm not sure where to post this or of anyone cares but here goes.

When I turn on my HT gear, I have to be sure the tuner gets turned on last. I have a Harmony 550 programmed to do that job. If I do it in any other sequence, the tuner's audio or its video or both do not make it through the rest of the system. I'm not sure how I figured out that the sequence makes a difference but surely it does.


I've found the same -- I have to power up my projector and A/V receiver before the DTB-H260F.

Not to drift too far OT, but...
Question for you: I also have the Harmony 550, and I've been having trouble getting it to consistently power the DTB-H260F on and off. I tried moving it to the front of my power sequence, which didn't seem to do the trick. I tried leaving it on all the time, but then I get no audio after power cycling my A/V receiver. I just can't seem to figure it out. Could you share what your settings are for the DTB (delays, which command it uses for power toggling, etc)?

I have the Harmony 880 and programmed it to leave the tuner on all the time. This way I do not have to wait for the guide to load.

I've found the same -- I have to power up my projector and A/V receiver before the DTB-H260F.

Not to drift too far OT, but...
Question for you: I also have the Harmony 550, and I've been having trouble getting it to consistently power the DTB-H260F on and off. I tried moving it to the front of my power sequence, which didn't seem to do the trick. I tried leaving it on all the time, but then I get no audio after power cycling my A/V receiver. I just can't seem to figure it out. Could you share what your settings are for the DTB (delays, which command it uses for power toggling, etc)?

I am using the default delays, etc. I would have to research what those values are, as I have not changed them from the defaults provided by Logitech.

I am using the default delays, etc. I would have to research what those values are, as I have not changed them from the defaults provided by Logitech.

Has anyone tried a small convex lens on the IR receiver of the 260 to see if that alleviates the few remote issues?

I have not yet. My 260 is in a rack behind my screen wall, and I have an IR extender setup. There is an emitter right on the 260's receiver, which could complicate adding a lens.

Plus, my 260 responds perfectly to all other commands... just not power toggles. That's the most confusing part; the fact that it doesn't have problems with any other commands.

I have not yet. My 260 is in a rack behind my screen wall, and I have an IR extender setup. There is an emitter right on the 260's receiver, which could complicate adding a lens.

Plus, my 260 responds perfectly to all other commands... just not power toggles. That's the most confusing part; the fact that it doesn't have problems with any other commands.

No for your setup a lens wouldn't help. Maybe the IR blast for power is confusing your repeater somehow though?

Anyone know if this is the Best box available for HDTV Tuner with QAM?

Yes if you have a TV with component or HDMI inputs the 260 will work just fine. I have a HDTV with built in tuner and the 260 fed to my TV's HDMI in. It is very comparable to the built in tuner.
The guide is a full channel PCIP and using it OTA it goes out as far as your local channels broadcast. In my area from 12hrs to about 3 days out. Can't specifically comment on QAM since I'm only OTA but people with QAM say it gets all the "in the clear" QAM channels just fine.

Yes if you have a TV with component or HDMI inputs the 260 will work just fine. I have a HDTV with built in tuner and the 260 fed to my TV's HDMI in. It is very comparable to the built in tuner.
The guide is a full channel PCIP and using it OTA it goes out as far as your local channels broadcast. In my area from 12hrs to about 3 days out. Can't specifically comment on QAM since I'm only OTA but people with QAM say it gets all the "in the clear" QAM channels just fine.

Thanks for the quick reply. Any other boxes which could be cheaper with the same quality as the Samsung?

Not that I could find. I mainly bought mine to record the SD picture to my analog DVDR and I haven't bought a SD CECB yet to compare the PQ for that use. As far real HD the Sammy's the way to go. Not cheap, but a nice unit. Note to use the Sammy like I am you should really have a TV with component or HDMI input, since you really need it to setup/change settings on the box. No OSD's are outputted to S or composite outputs.
The Sammy 260 was the only box of it's type I could find in my area. Searching the internet it looked like there was a predicser to the 260, but wasn't much cheaper so I bought the 260 locally.

Not that I could find. I mainly bought mine to record the SD picture to my analog DVDR and I haven't bought a SD CECB yet to compare the PQ for that use.

I have both the DTB-H260F and the Insignia CECB hooked up to my TV. Even with my SDTV, the Samsung clearly has better PQ, but it may be because I use it's component outs. For recording, I'd give the CECB a slight edge since does a better job cropping than the Samsung. No 4:3 image framed by a black box, which for me makes up for any loss in PQ from the composite outs.

Actually the 4x3 squished 16x9 output of my 260 is exactly what I want. I record widescreen material to DVD, then use my DVD player to stretch the 4x3 format to fit my 16x9 screen and I have full screen 16x9. Works great. Note the DVD must be played on a 16x9 tv, unless you don't mind tall skinny people on your 4x3 TV. I use the S-out of my 260 to the S-in of my DVDR. So far very few CECB's seem to support S video. I'll be looking for one that does when my coupons arrive.
I believe the Insignia has the squished 4x3 output, but no S-out, from what I've read.

I record from my Samsung as well. Unlike you though, I use a VCR. My DVDr died a while back. My TV, a Sony Wega, has the ability to compress the image vertically, so recorded material from the Samsung looks correct. Still has the black frame when recording 4:3 content from a 16:9 broadcast though. Oh well.

Changing topics, here's a couple of things I've noticed that the Sammy does NOT do as well as my CECB:
* The clock and DST. Why does the Samsung have to be told when to go to DST? Why not just get the time from the signals? I thought all my locals had neglected to change their clocks until I noticed that my CECB had the correct time... No DST toggle on my CECB that I have noticed, yet it's clock is correct.
* The program description does not stay around very long on the Samsung. If you look for it at the top of the hour, you might see it, you might not. Again, I blamed my local stations for this until I got my CECB, which always displays the program info, no matter what time it is.

Circuit City has the cheapest price Ive seen on this box. $169.99 - 10% coupon and Chase Freedom CC has a 5% rebate promo on Circuit City.

So it looks like Ill be getting this box tomorrow after work.

The thing is, isnt this box old already? Has been on the market for a long time. And the price while a good deal isnt really a blowout price. Im having second thoughts.

The thing is, isnt this box old already? Has been on the market for a long time. And the price while a good deal isnt really a blowout price. Im having second thoughts.

There's a small market for these boxes, therefore not much incentive for a competitor to come release a product that challenges the Samsung. Also, since the box works so well as is, there's no reason for Samsung to update it.

I agree that the small market means little opportunity for other products of this type.

I helped a friend who is trying to extend the life of a Sony HD-ready 4:3 36" CRT set by adding a Samsung 260 in front of it. Unfortunately, the lack of decent support for 4:3 display (no letterbox and no pan and scan) resulted in returning the Samsung and replacing it with a PrimeDTV PHD-205, which at least gave him a letterboxed 16:9 picture at 1080i.

So, as many have said here, the Samsung unit is very good for a 16:9 screen, but not so good (not even tolerable for us) with a 1080i 4:3 screen.

The PrimeDTV unit does not have the build quality of the Samsung, and the remote is not that great. But the HD picture, viewable in proper aspect ratio on the 4:3 screen, makes the limitations tolerable.

Hi, new poster to this thread, I have read through much of it, but really haven't seen much discussion about PQ or video processing performance....

If anyone can comment or provide an opinion, I would sincerely appreciate...

I am not that familiar with STB tuners, as I just purchased my first HD plasma TV (pio 6010) I decided to go OTA, blu-ray and apple TV for sources - no monthly fees :)

my issue is, although the 6010 pulls in all my local HD signals perfectly (I'm only 18mi from the tower sending all stations), I have to send audio back from the TV to my denon AVR, is anyone else doing this?

I did not put digital optical in my wall, so all I can send back is analog 2ch RCA, and I am seeing a definite audio lag (audio behind video) so I can not compensate with the denon audio delay. I have run a 25ft optical across the floor and that does seem to aleviate the issue (although on some TV shows I still see the lag) - i am also wondering if much of the lag issue is source and I can never really (solve) this?? comments?

So I picked up the 260 to consider that option and have it connected in to the denon via HDMI, everything works perfectly, all my channels show signal strength 10, and everthing appears to work well, so I am now going back and forth between the 6010 tuner and the 260 comparing video quality and it seems really close, since I am not sure how much video processing takes place in the tuner, maybe someone can offer up some info on if this tuner is as good as the pioneer TV tuner, although its not cheap at $180, the unit itself is small & light, so there's not much to it, would I expect the same amount/quality of electronics in my 6010 plasma tuner or other TV tuners?

I don't want to use this and find out I am extremely worse off in PQ than the built in tuner - its hard to try to compare every viewing situation (motion, prime time, sports, movies, etc)

thanks in advance for comments/feedback

On my Panasonic 720p LCD I noticed the same PQ using the Sammy 260 via HDMI to my TV, as tuning the TV channel direct on my Panny. I was quite happy with this. It tells me the tuner in the Sammy is quite good. You will NOT find this the case with with SD CECB's or DVDR's, they both look much worse than the internal tuner or Sammy.
Note I do seem to get a slightly worse PQ if I select 720p for the output of my 260 instead of 1080i. Not sure why since my TV is only 720p(768 native) but I just select 1080i and am happy with it.
Note if you are using the RF passthru feature of the Sammy you will notice that when the box is OFF your passthru signal will be attenuated. Especially noticeable on marginal analog signals. I tend to leave the Sammy ON all the time for this reason. With it ON it actually amplifies the passthru slightly. Somewhere on this forum I posted the energy usage of the 260 when it's on and it's not too bad. <15 watts I think.

On my Panasonic 720p LCD I noticed the same PQ using the Sammy 260 via HDMI to my TV, as tuning the TV channel direct on my Panny. I was quite happy with this. It tells me the tuner in the Sammy is quite good. You will NOT find this the case with with SD CECB's or DVDR's, they both look much worse than the internal tuner or Sammy.
Note I do seem to get a slightly worse PQ if I select 720p for the output of my 260 instead of 1080i. Not sure why since my TV is only 720p(768 native) but I just select 1080i and am happy with it.
Note if you are using the RF passthru feature of the Sammy you will notice that when the box is OFF your passthru signal will be attenuated. Especially noticeable on marginal analog signals. I tend to leave the Sammy ON all the time for this reason. With it ON it actually amplifies the passthru slightly. Somewhere on this forum I posted the energy usage of the 260 when it's on and it's not too bad. <15 watts I think.
thanks jjeff,

I was under the understanding that the output resolution switch on the back was only for component video out and is not a factor for HDMI (similar to my blu-ray player)

is that your understanding, its not completely clear in the manual, bt i think it indicaes that

No I only watch via HDMI and the switch also effects that output, at least in my case. My TV seems to prefer downconverting 1080i output vs. upconverting 720 output to 768.
My DVDR's also let me select HDMI output, or else leave in AUTO which somehow selects the highest output that your TV will accept. In my case 1080i, not 1080p. I guess my TV is not capable of handling 1080p, not sure if this is the case with all 720p TV's.

On my Panasonic 720p LCD I noticed the same PQ using the Sammy 260 via HDMI to my TV, as tuning the TV channel direct on my Panny. I was quite happy with this. It tells me the tuner in the Sammy is quite good. You will NOT find this the case with with SD CECB's or DVDR's, they both look much worse than the internal tuner or Sammy.
Note I do seem to get a slightly worse PQ if I select 720p for the output of my 260 instead of 1080i. Not sure why since my TV is only 720p(768 native) but I just select 1080i and am happy with it.
Note if you are using the RF passthru feature of the Sammy you will notice that when the box is OFF your passthru signal will be attenuated. Especially noticeable on marginal analog signals. I tend to leave the Sammy ON all the time for this reason. With it ON it actually amplifies the passthru slightly. Somewhere on this forum I posted the energy usage of the 260 when it's on and it's not too bad. <15 watts I think.
It appears that the 1080I to 720P down converting is better quality in your display then the internal downconverting in the Samsung. Now for 720P broadcasts there is no conversion needed just when there is a 1080I broadcasts your Samsung or display needs to convert it to 720P.

And my TV doesn't deal well with 1080i over HDMI, although it is fine with it coming in via component. I see blue people with 1080i HDMI. Everybody is different.

Now for 720P broadcasts there is no conversion needed just when there is a 1080I broadcasts your Samsung or display needs to convert it to 720P.
Actually I think if I select 720 output then my TV needs to upconvert to it's native 768 resolution. I just leave the switch on 1080i and things look best, at least in my situation, but as Scooper said, "Everybody is different." And I guess it's a better world for it.:D

I've had my H260F since they first started shipping. I love the picture quality for OTA signals.

I picked up a Tivo-HD for recording. I'd have to give the edge to the Samsung for quality by a small margin.

BUT - the Tivo has the ability to output (HDMI or component) in Native mode, where it merely passes on the signal instead of converting it. The Samsung appears to convert everything whether HDMI or component to a single fixed output rate.

This means that SD programs in 480i get upscaled to 1080i, which messes up my video scaler.

I could have sworn that the HDMI passed signals on in native mode, and that the Component out was what was scaled. Am I missing something?

The 260 has 2 switches on the back. One selecting the DTV output to either go to the Component's or the HDMI and the other switch selecting the format of the output. Either 480i, 480p, 720p or 1080i. It doesn't matter the native resolution of what is tuned, everything will be scaled to whatever you have the output selector switch set to.
I agree at times I would like the box to just pass on the signal that it receives, but sadly it does not have that option, at least that I have found.

So the M$ question then seems to be, which is the 260 better at scaling a 1080i signal to 720p or scaling a 720p to 1080i

Like the rest of you I wish it would just pass along the signal as my denon can do, but it seems you have indicated it doesn't

I don't plan on having any 480i or 480p signals, and my 6010 will convert everything to 1080p

I am guessing with no real basis that the 1080i setting would be best, sounds like that's what your experience is, I will have to look closely at a 720p channel in that setting and see if it is as good, better or worse than my 6010 tuner on the same channel

And my TV doesn't deal well with 1080i over HDMI, although it is fine with it coming in via component. I see blue people with 1080i HDMI. Everybody is different.

I also get :eek:"Smurf Vision":eek: over HDMI... had to use components for 1080i.

And my TV doesn't deal well with 1080i over HDMI, although it is fine with it coming in via component. I see blue people with 1080i HDMI. Everybody is different.

I don't get blue people, I get washed out colors and gray people.

So the M$ question then seems to be, which is the 260 better at scaling a 1080i signal to 720p or scaling a 720p to 1080i

Like the rest of you I wish it would just pass along the signal as my denon can do, but it seems you have indicated it doesn't

I don't plan on having any 480i or 480p signals, and my 6010 will convert everything to 1080p

I am guessing with no real basis that the 1080i setting would be best, sounds like that's what your experience is, I will have to look closely at a 720p channel in that setting and see if it is as good, better or worse than my 6010 tuner on the same channel

Unless you are feeding a rear projector tv or older 16:9 HDTV your tv's own scaler will (should) do a better job at upconverting than a $170 STB or an AVR. If you cannot send a raw video signal it is best to process the signal once and feed the tv a signal as close to it's native resolution as is possible.

TV = 768p NR set to 720p
TV = 1080p NR set to 1080i

My H260f is feeding a 768p plasma and there is no discernible PQ difference whether I set the H260f to 1080i or 720p. There may be a PQ difference feeding 720p to a 1080i set, I dunno. There is very little (if any) PQ difference between 720p and 1080i at a normal viewing distance, obviously your mileage may vary. ;) 1080p is a whole other story!

And I certainly agree, a simple passthrough option would have been a handy feature for most of us, allowing our tv's superior video processing to handle any/all deinterlacing & upscaling. :)

I also get :eek:"Smurf Vision":eek: over HDMI... had to use components for 1080i.

This may or may not have any relevance to the blue or washed out colors via HDMI from your H260f's, but something to consider:

Most HDTV's have either individual and separate video settings for each input type OR different memory settings for different input types (sometimes both). If your tv was calibrated/adjusted a while ago for an analog input, now you introduce a digital input like HDMI, you could well have blue or washed out colors.

A typical (albeit extreme) example would be adjusting your tv to look good with an s-video or composite video input (analog cable box or dvr). These initial settings and adjustments are now either universal to all inputs or the other inputs are simply not adjusted yet. You could easily save your current settings to Memory 1 then adjust your HDMI input and save it to Memory 2. If you muck it up just revert back to Memory 1. Hopefully your tv has individual settings for each input so you won't have to mess with switching Memories when you switch inputs. :)

I can tell you that HDMI from my H260f to my plasma renders a stunning picture (OTA only) so I doubt it's the H260f's problem, but it is possible you have a bad HDMI out. :eek:

Anyway, it's just something to consider. Then again, Smurf's are cute. :)

toby10 - I appreciate what you're trying to say, but I don't think you're grasping the problem here.

On the HDMI input, If I select 480i, 480p, or 720p on the Samsung, all colors are perfectly normal. It's only when I select 1080i on the Samsung that I get "smurf vision", and other colors look to be off too. There is no color shift problem when I use the component outputs on the Samsung, regardless of the output setting.

This may or may not have any relevance to the blue or washed out colors via HDMI from your H260f's, but something to consider:

Most HDTV's have either individual and separate video settings for each input type OR different memory settings for different input types (sometimes both). If your tv was calibrated/adjusted a while ago for an analog input, now you introduce a digital input like HDMI, you could well have blue or washed out colors.

A typical (albeit extreme) example would be adjusting your tv to look good with an s-video or composite video input (analog cable box or dvr). These initial settings and adjustments are now either universal to all inputs or the other inputs are simply not adjusted yet. You could easily save your current settings to Memory 1 then adjust your HDMI input and save it to Memory 2. If you muck it up just revert back to Memory 1. Hopefully your tv has individual settings for each input so you won't have to mess with switching Memories when you switch inputs. :)

I can tell you that HDMI from my H260f to my plasma renders a stunning picture (OTA only) so I doubt it's the H260f's problem, but it is possible you have a bad HDMI out. :eek:

Anyway, it's just something to consider. Then again, Smurf's are cute. :)

I can run the H260F switched to 720p through HDMI, but 1080i is definitely a "no go".

It's not washed out colors, but incorrect colors. I don't even pretend to understand why it works on the 720p setting and not 1080i (perhaps a HDMI handshake issue?)

Anyway, since my HDTV's native resolution is 1080i (Hitachi 57F59) I've got the H260F going through component at 1080i rather than HDMI at 720p. No up-conversion and for my eyes looks better.

toby10 - I appreciate what you're trying to say, but I don't think you're grasping the problem here.

On the HDMI input, If I select 480i, 480p, or 720p on the Samsung, all colors are perfectly normal. It's only when I select 1080i on the Samsung that I get "smurf vision", and other colors look to be off too. There is no color shift problem when I use the component outputs on the Samsung, regardless of the output setting.

Wado, Junglerock, Scooper: Yeah, I hear ya. I just thought I'd throw that out there as a potential fix. :)

It's one of those simple things that can easily get overlooked. ;)

As far as a PQ difference of HDMI vs Component, just as you are experiencing, there should not be any real noticeable PQ difference between the two in this scenario. HDMI just offers the convenience of a single cable for audio & video. I don't know about 1080p over component though, isn't there some bandwidth limitation? :confused:

HDMI offers other benefits (digital bit-streaming, etc..) but just like 1080p over component, that doesn't apply here. :)

Something's not right somewhere. There's no huge, noticable difference in color or contrast between any of the outputs or resolutions with the Sammy to my 1140HD.

Something's not right somewhere. There's no huge, noticable difference in color or contrast between any of the outputs or resolutions with the Sammy to my 1140HD.

Yeah, same here, that's why I was thinking input/memory settings. But not so. :confused:

I can run the H260F switched to 720p through HDMI, but 1080i is definitely a "no go".

It's not washed out colors, but incorrect colors. I don't even pretend to understand why it works on the 720p setting and not 1080i (perhaps a HDMI handshake issue?)

Anyway, since my HDTV's native resolution is 1080i (Hitachi 57F59) I've got the H260F going through component at 1080i rather than HDMI at 720p. No up-conversion and for my eyes looks better.

Same problem same tv for me.

Does H260F simultaneous outputs for component out and S-video out? I would like to watch HD channel and also record in Panasonic Recorder.

Defiantly does. Just won't do Component and HDMI at the same time.
I use HDMI to my TV and S-video to my Panny DVDR. Makes great WS recordings from the Sammy.

Thanks jjeff. I will buy H260F.

I just picked up one of these DTB-H260F's. I was going to drop cable and and just try to pick up OTA but then I changed my mind and decided to go with a digital tuner.

So I got it today and hooked it up to my cable service and to my LCD HD-ready monitor. Works great; I receive my local HD broadcasts and several other channels. Superb PQ.

The only problem is that the channels keep changing. For example, the Cartoon Network is on channel 80-2 and then ten minutes later I find Cartoon Network on channel 90-6 and nothing on 80-2. Plus, I can't find a few SciFi network at all, which I really want.

And I'm trying to figure out how to record shows on my DVR with this new STB utilizing the S-Video output.

If it's not your local broadcast channels - call yourself lucky that they aren't encrypted.

Second, your CATV company probably does NOT re-broadcast ALL of your local OTA channels. You would be very surprised what you could receive with an outdoor TV antenna and this box.

By law, the cable company cannot encrypt OTA channels. If they are, it's time to call them and tell them it's illegal.

By law, the cable company cannot encrypt OTA channels. If they are, it's time to call them and tell them it's illegal.

Yes, but they can encrypt locals in HD if they so choose (though few if any do this) as long as they provide the local ch's in analog (like via clear QAM). The cable co's "mandate" for providing free local ch's applies only to analog.

Hi, I just got one of these off ebay for cheap. But no remote. :( Can anyone point me to the weblink for the OEM remote for this?

Hi, I just got one of these off ebay for cheap. But no remote. :( Can anyone point me to the weblink for the OEM remote for this?

Search this thread for "remote", it's in here. :)

Yes, but they can encrypt locals in HD if they so choose (though few if any do this) as long as they provide the local ch's in analog (like via clear QAM). The cable co's "mandate" for providing free local ch's applies only to analog.

This is contrary to what I have read in the past, but I cannot find a reference right now.

Search this thread for "remote", it's in here. :)

Actually I did (and for 'oem') but found no direct link. But a google search did the trick.

Anyway, I just remembered I've got a One For All URC-6012 remote with JP1 connector. So if I get a JP1 -> PC cable can I easily upload the setup into it? I was reading somewhere that the 6012 had some memory limitations. What do I do with the "Samsung_DTB-H260F_ATSC_tuner.txt" file that was mentioned earlier in this post? I've looked at the interface software, but it looks like .txt files are not used to program JP1 compatible remotes.

Actually I did (and for 'oem') but found no direct link. But a google search did the trick.

Anyway, I just remembered I've got a One For All URC-6012 remote with JP1 connector. So if I get a JP1 -> PC cable can I easily upload the setup into it? I was reading somewhere that the 6012 had some memory limitations. What do I do with the "Samsung_DTB-H260F_ATSC_tuner.txt" file that was mentioned earlier in this post? I've looked at the interface software, but it looks like .txt files are not used to program JP1 compatible remotes.


http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=13321174&postcount=2594

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=13024356&postcount=2509

This is contrary to what I have read in the past, but I cannot find a reference right now.

I to remember something about "cable co's must carry HD locals via clear QAM if the locals are broadcasting HD via OTA". *shrug*

But then that would seem to contradict the dtv.gov site and FAQ's. It's govt, so it's confusing. :)

http://www.dtv.gov/consumercorner.html#faq13

"Your cable system decides when and whether to carry programming on a digital tier, which may mean that you will need digital equipment. However, all of your local stations will continue to be available in analog format for as long as your cable system offers any analog service. "

"The current requirement to switch from analog to digital only applies to full-power broadcast TV stations, which use the public airwaves to provide free over-the-air programming. However, as cable providers convert to digital transmissions over their systems, you may need to subscribe to their digital tier to continue to receive this non-broadcast programming."

"It is important to understand that the DTV transition is a transition from analog broadcasting to digital broadcasting. It is not a transition from analog broadcasting to High Definition broadcasting. Digital broadcasting allows for High Definition broadcasts, but High Definition is not required, and you do not need to buy a HDTV to watch digital TV"

---end DTV link info---

Cable operators could send all analog if they chose to do so. They have been switching to digital (including HD) for purely business & competetive reasons. Better PQ, better compression, more ch's, wider variety, more choices to consumer, keeping up with cable competitors, compete with digital sat providers, etc....

In fact, the FCC recently mandated cable operators to continue analog transmissions for locals to (something like) 2014.

Actually I did (and for 'oem') but found no direct link. But a google search did the trick.

Anyway, I just remembered I've got a One For All URC-6012 remote with JP1 connector. So if I get a JP1 -> PC cable can I easily upload the setup into it? I was reading somewhere that the 6012 had some memory limitations. What do I do with the "Samsung_DTB-H260F_ATSC_tuner.txt" file that was mentioned earlier in this post? I've looked at the interface software, but it looks like .txt files are not used to program JP1 compatible remotes.

hifi-remote.com does have a protocol file for the DTB-H260F so go there to see how JP1 works. First, make sure your URC-6012 actually has the the JP1 pins (not pads) and an EEPROM for storing the protocols. IIRC, that's a Wal-Mart model which only has the solder pads and no ROM. Check to be sure.

If you do have a true JP1 remote, plan on investing a lot of time as there is a hefty learning curve to it. Really, figuring in the cost of the JP1 cable you wouldn't need much more to buy the Samsung MF59-00291B OEM remote. If you're handy with a soldering iron you can make your own JP1 cable which is what I did.