I'm probably picking up a good condition Philips 30" HD set (30PW8402). For only $200, but the coax input is broken. Not a problem for my PS2 (and hopefully soon to have ps3), but is a problem for cable (straight from the wall, no digital or box), and ostensibly for an HD antenna as well (some looking around leads me to believe they all have coax output). It would be easy enough to hook the cable through a VCR, but I'd lose the HD capability. Also, Im pretty sure I can get the HD channels through the cable by typing in 100-x, or something like that. So how am I supposed to get around this? It's a hell of a deal, and I'm hoping there's an easy work-around. Thanks for your help.

If you have more then 2 component outputs then you can use one of them. If you have only one you can get a component switcher from monorprice. If you are not interested in HD you can use the S-video output or the composite(yellow) output from you cable box to your tv,

Please re-read my post, my cable is coming straight from the wall, no box.

I do believe there is a converter that you can hook your coaxial into that has composite outputs but most cable companies will allow you to get their hd box for a nominal fee and then you can use your component inputs and get HD along with the analog stations. Comcast in my area allows you to get the HD box for only 5 dollars if you have their basic analog package.

I'm on a college campus and we have ****** service. No digital service. I'm thinking about organizing my house getting Directv and splitting the bill. we got 2 (soon to be 3 with me) guys with HD sets, and I'm sure there are enough other guys that would like HBO etc.

A coax to composite box wouldnt help anyway because I wouldn't be able to get HD broadcasts.

Check ebay for a ATSC tuner. Depending on your location, you might be able to receive local HD channels over the air. Voom boxes can be had for very little and can double as a off air tuner. Don't feel bad. When I was in school all we had was a tv room with only 4 stations.
Good luck.

http://www.housing.cmu.edu/hdtv.htm
That is what I specifically want to hook up to, which is a coax cable coming from the wall. Sounds like I need a QAM tuner.

Go on ebay and google LG-LST3510A . It is a Qam tuner, OTA tuner and a great upconverting dvd player. Good luck and enjoy the HD.

looks like for roughly the same price of the broken tv plus tuner, I can get a 27" lcd with tuner. thanks for the help though.

hmmm another thought. what about a usb qam hdtv tuner for my laptop and then run the dvi output on my laptop to the tv? those usb tuners are about $150 it looks like, but I don't know which one I should get.