I want to receive free over-the-air HDTV programming, with digital video and digital audio, in my home theater, and see the picture on my BENQ PE7700 projector.

So I mounted a UHF antenna on my roof, and ran the wire down to my home theater. My projector has no tuner, so I shopped around. Every store in the state of Utah is out of stock. Amazon is out of stock, too. And these things cost $180, too. Ouch!

I found one on ebay, a Samsung SIR-TS360, for $60 after shipping. Wahoo! I just now got it, plugged it in, and am trying to set it up. Apparently there is a menu item that lets me tell it that I have no dish (it's some sort of directv thing). But in order to get to that menu, it needs to have an access card. There is no access card in the slot.

Does anyone know where to get an access card? I called all the shops in town, and everyone tells me one of the following stories:
1. Call DirecTV and sign up for their service to get an access card (NOT!)
2. You can buy one on ebay, but it won't work.
3. I got 'em for $100. Why so much? Because people use them to steal channels.

I even tried calling DirecTV, and they said they can't sell me a card without the service. I don't want their crummy service, I just want my FREE high-def TV channels!

I'm thinking I should just buy one on ebay and roll the dice. What are my chances? It looks like there are different kinds of cards, the ones for sale are "P5", whatever that means. One auction says "unactivated". Do I need an unactivated card? Has anyone experienced any of this mess?

On top of that, the silly tuner from ebay didn't come with a remote control. *sob*

I just wanna watch Heroes in HDTV!

It looks like maybe you could get OTA channels to work with a dish Perhaps you could buy a satellite dish and aim it at 101W (101 degrees west latitude, 26,000 miles into the air). I think Winegard sells 'em, or you could ask a neighbor for a spare dish they might have. Homes that have HD hookups by satellite will have a better chance of having one.

Kids, this thread explains the reason not to buy an OTA tuner off eSuck. Be patient and digilant with the new ones that are sold now, or wait for a DVD recorder with an HD tuner built-in. They're coming sooner than you think.

If wad4ever starts similar threads in the appropriate sub-forums at DBSTalk and SatelliteGuys, they will be seen by a large audience of dealers and videophiles who are sufficiently familiar with his product and others to be able to definitively say whether that model needs a "valid card" which has also been "married" to the receiver, as well as a subscription. DirecTV won't sell new cards to non-customers, and I think new customers must commit to at least one year of service, possible two years. If DirecTV has to create an account to marry the new card to the receiver, then this receiver will not be worth the cost of enabling its internal tuner to this user.

I've bought between 40 and 50 ordinary DirecTV receivers from eBay for about ten bucks each, which I furnish to existing customers as replacements for broken receivers, and all but a couple worked as good as new ones, and if ever needed an off-air ATSC tuner but it didn't have to be new, I'd consider eBay, but when I looked there a year ago, the price differential between the used products being sold there and new ones in stores was typically about $50 to $70, so it wasn't worth buying used to save that amount.

It looks like maybe you could get OTA channels to work with a dish Perhaps you could buy a satellite dish

Huh? I don't have a satellite dish, and I don't want one. What do the OTA channels have to do with satellites?

Kids, this thread explains the reason not to buy an OTA tuner off eSuck. Be patient and digilant with the new ones that are sold now, or wait for a DVD recorder with an HD tuner built-in. They're coming sooner than you think.

Currently, there are no HDTV tuners sold in the state I live in, that I have been able to locate. And I don't want a DVD recorder, either. I just want to watch the free HDTV broadcast programming.

You are right, the buyer needs to be very careful when buying stuff off ebay. The Samsung SIR-TS360 costs $150 on amazon, and I got one for $60 on ebay. I figured I was getting a good deal. What I didn't notice was that the remote control was not included in the ebay auction. And I didn't know about the access card requirement at all. Buyer beware! That seller is going to get negative feedback unless he can make me happy somehow.

Does anyone have information on what kind of access card I need to locate? Will a P5 work? Does it have to be a new one, unactivated? I'm sure someone else is in the same situation that I am in.

FWIW...
http://www.satelliteguys.us/showthread.php?t=59156

FWIW... (URL)

Awesome, Ratman! Looks like I just need a card of some sort.

If wad4ever starts similar threads in the appropriate sub-forums at DBSTalk and SatelliteGuys...

I'm looking over there now, too. Thanks!

Huh? I don't have a satellite dish, and I don't want one. What do the OTA channels have to do with satellites?
I remember reading on AVSForum that to get the OTA channels, a hookup to a 101W satellite by a random D* dish re-activates the OTA tuner, and stays reactivated as long as that link remains established, so rain fade may be an issue. I'm not sure if an access card is needed, but perhaps it doesn't have to be. Sorry, I forgot the link to where I learned that stuff.

Perhaps you don't want a DVD recorder, but if you get one with an OTA tuner built in, at least you'll have the tuner to work with. Besides, with the DVD recorder part, you can always record Heroes episodes for later viewing.

I'm sorry that I really don't know much more, if anything, on this topic. As you can see, there are others that can help you more than I can with the tuner that you have.

If all you want is a set-top box capable of tuning in HDTV signals for $150, I suggest the PrimeDTV PHD200. Available on-line, works well, no frills, just a 3-way tuner. Get an antenna and have at it!

If all you want is a set-top box capable of tuning in HDTV signals for $150, I suggest the PrimeDTV PHD200. Available on-line...

PHD-200 is currently sold out by strong demand. (http://www.epvision.com/index.htm)

Well maybe I'll be laughed out of town for saying this, but what about a VOOM receiver? I just bought one off of EBay and it works great...$65

Currently, there are no HDTV tuners sold in the state I live in, that I have been able to locate. And I don't want a DVD recorder, either. I just want to watch the free HDTV broadcast programming.

.
Guess what? Next month you'll be able to go down to the corner electronics retailer and get your self a digital tuner......




.....in the form of a DVDr.



And guess what else? You'll be able to return it if it doesn't work out.



And one more guess? You'll be able to get it for around the same price as the currently available stand alone tuners ($150). You never have to use the DVD part. ;)

Guess what? Next month you'll be able to go down to the corner electronics retailer and get your self a digital tuner......

.....in the form of a DVDr.

And guess what else? You'll be able to return it if it doesn't work out.

And one more guess? You'll be able to get it for around the same price as the currently available stand alone tuners ($150). You never have to use the DVD part.


Can you provide details (manufacturer/model) and will these have the latest (front what I understand 5th) generation tuner?

I'm about to try and get a Samsung DTB-H260F, but perhaps I should wait?

Can you provide details (manufacturer/model) and will these have the latest (front what I understand 5th) generation tuner?

I'm about to try and get a Samsung DTB-H260F, but perhaps I should wait?
You should wait - Samsung, Philips, Panasonic announced models (being pre-sold at JR.com) - look in the DVDr threads. Details won't be known till people actually get them but I'd assume that they all will have the latest gen tuners (maybe even 6th gen).