Am having difficulty and would appreciate some advice ! :confused:

Situation 1:

I have a VHF/UHF/FM Rad Shack Antenna, which is cabled into the house.
I have a standard NTSC (only) TV, which has “F” Antenna connector, and the (Y/W/R) Video/Audio Inputs (selectable)(TV - Video1- Video2 etc).

What I want to do is:

Get a STB, that will receive the signals from the VHF/UHF Antenna where I can (with it’s remote control) select Ch 2.1 thru 69.5, and input that via “F” connector Coax or Yellow/White/Red Cable, into the NTSC TV.

In other words, I want to watch the programming (HD/SD) that usually is received by an ATSC Receiver, but have the Box make it NTSC for my older TV.
And I don’t care if it actually shows Ch 2.1, it can display any number, as long as it displays the HD and SD Channels.

Is this possible, and if yes, just what is that STB called ?


Situation 2:

I have TWC Digital Value, and the same NTSC TV. I need a STB that will convert the Digital Signals (Ch 100 & up, unencrypted), and input the signal into the “F” connector or Y/W/R inputs into that NTSC TV.

Is this possible, and if so, what is that STB called?
(I’m looking for a answer, other than, “Get a TWC Box” :) )


Other Info:
I can connect my VHF/UHF Antenna directly up to the TV, and it works good (Ch 2-69)
I can connect TWC Cable directly up to the TV, and it works good (Ch 2-99)
I can connect TWC Cable up through their Box, and it works good (Ch 2-800 or so)
I have tested the Antenna with an ATSC tuner, and get many channels from 2.1 thru 69.5.

What I’m saying is, the Antenna, Cable, Box and TV are all working,

I have tried to do the above, with a Samsung DTB-H260F STB Receiver, in place of the TWC Box, and it will not do what I want, in Situaton 2, as described above.
Have checked, and double checked connections, all correct according to Ops Manual.

When I replace the Samsung Tuner into where the TWC Box is, nothing happens.
Blank screen, with an occasional “flash” (not full screen), and nothing more.

My suspicions:
The Samsung H260 Tuner, is the wrong one to do either of the above.
It will receive VHF/UHF Antenna Signals, but, puts them out in ATSC, which is not compatible with my TV.
It is NOT designed to receive TWC Digital Cable Signals.
It appears that it is designed, to combine Ch 2- 69 and Ch 2.1- 69.5 into one signal, for one ATSC Tuner.

Is there one STB which will fulfill both situations above ? (2 inputs - 1 out to TV)

I would greatly appreciate your comments/advice/directions, and have included a link to the Samsung Specifications below, for the H260 and T451 if you think that the T451 would do the job described above.


Have a good Day ! :)

Samsung Specs References:

Samsung, DTB-H260F HD Terrestrial Tuner (then click on Specifications)
http://www.samsung.com/Products/DigitalSetTopBox/HDTVTuners/DTB_H260FXAA.asp (http://)

Samsung, SIR-T451, ATSC & QAM, FTA & OTA HDTV Receiver (then click on Specifications)
http://www.samsung.com/Products/DigitalSetTopBox/HDTVTuners/SIR_T451XAA.asp (http://)

Most STBs have the ability to output over RF on channel 3 or 4 which means you would always tune your TV to that channel and change the channel on your STB.
Also many STBs have the capability to output over S-video and R&W audio which works the same way and you can get a S-video to Y RCA connector for a couple of bucks at Radio Shack

I don't have a specific answer to your final question but I'll try to clear up a few misconceptions. NTSC and ATSC are the types of tuners used for receiving two different types of over the air (OTA) broadcasts. Once the tuner has decoded the signal, the outputs of the tuners can be the same type of video and audio such as 480i composite video (yellow RCA connector) and stereo audio (red and white RCA connector).........In other words, I want to watch the programming (HD/SD) that usually is received by an ATSC Receiver, but have the Box make it NTSC for my older TV.
And I don’t care if it actually shows Ch 2.1, it can display any number, as long as it displays the HD and SD Channels......As I mentioned above, its the output of the box that must be compatible with your set.
............I have tried to do the above, with a Samsung DTB-H260F STB Receiver, in place of the TWC Box, and it will not do what I want, in Situaton 2, as described above.
Have checked, and double checked connections, all correct according to Ops Manual.

When I replace the Samsung Tuner into where the TWC Box is, nothing happens.
Blank screen, with an occasional “flash” (not full screen), and nothing more.
I don't have the Samsung but I believe your problem is occuring because the Samsung DTB-H260F only displays the operating menu when the output is set to an HD resolution (1080i/720p). When the output resolution is set to 480i (which is compatible with your SD set), the menu can not be seen, so you have no way of scanning for channels. [EDIT: After reviewing the manual, it appears that this statement is incorrect. The manual indicates that the DTB-H260F provides the menu, or OSD, on the component and HDMI outputs only, but it may actually allow 480i to be selected for the output.]
..............It will receive VHF/UHF Antenna Signals, but, puts them out in ATSC, which is not compatible with my TV.
It is NOT designed to receive TWC Digital Cable Signals.
It appears that it is designed, to combine Ch 2- 69 and Ch 2.1- 69.5 into one signal, for one ATSC Tuner.The DTB-H260F is very likely compatible with TWC but without an HD set to view the menus, it may not work for you.

walford, raouliii,

Thank you both for your replies ! :)

I had my NTSC Standard set hooked up to the Antenna "F" connector (tried Ch 3 & 4), and to the Video-Audio Y/W/R (RCA) jacks too (desperate attempt) and changed between those two inputs, no combination would display.

The H260 does have a slide switch (1080i-720p-480p-480i) with the last (480i) identified as "Analog". Additionally, there's another slide switch, marked "DTV Out Select" which selects the H260 output between R/G/B component out and HDMI out.

IF I'm interpreting the second slide swith properly, it just changes the output from the R/G/B (component) RCA jacks, to the HDMI out connector, neither of which are being used.

I think a good choice to (reattempt) would be the 480i/analog. I'm going to set the TV on the correct Video-Audio RCA source inputs (Y/W/R), and focus on trying to get it to display there, using the common outputs on the H260.

However, the second switch (DTV Out) has me worried, could that mean to a DTV set only? And if so, why does the resolution switch say 480i Analog !? :confused:

The Ops Manual gives SO many alternatives, and is very confusing. I'm relatively new at HD, and totally new at QAM, and between the Channel, Source, Resolution and output, there are SO many combinations, this is almost scheduled to fail ! :eek:
But, I'll try again !

If either of you, or anyone has any other suggestions, PLEASE post them, and I would definitely be interested in seeing your comments, evaluating which of the two Samsung units might be better choice (from my first post).

Thank you again.

Have a good Day ! :)

Well Fellas, I FINALLY got it to work ! :rolleyes:

HOWEVER:
It just would not work with my NTSC (old) TV, regardless of the connections or settings.
So, I took it over to my new HDTV, tried the NTSC, ATSC and V/A connectors = nothing !
So desperately, I went out and bought a HDMI Cable (cheep only $50) and FINALLY, the menu came up !
(It really ticked me off, that they didn’t furnish a HDMI cable)

Did a Auto Scans in STD, HRC and IRC, and got about six/eight Channels, that worked. Settled on STD, I just didn't want to leave any stone unturned.
Those were the HD/SD I was getting on my VHF/UHF Antenna anyway.
After each Auto Scan, it would show that it recognized over 200 Channels, but…
All the others were pixelizing, halting, sputtered sound, Scrambled or Weak Signal msg with no picture.
Had to set the sound to PCM, couldn’t use Dolby Dig.
But the Music Chs came in just fine (pic & sound).

Conclusions:
Paying $180 for the H260, is NOT worth it !
But, paying $80 (thru Ebay/other) for another brand just might, for the Music Chs only.
Using the HDMI was better, I didn’t want to give up my ATSC Antenna connection, and loose the 15+ HD/SD I was getting OTA, so I’ll be returning the unit and get my money back.

Please keep in mind, these results were acquired with my local TWC, and my hardware, I don't know that you may have better results.

So in my opinion:
TWC = “1”
Samsung H260F = “0”

Hope this helps your viewing, time, state of mind and pocketbook !

Have a good Day ! :)

This has been gone over in the 260 thread many times.
The menus and channel #'s only display through the hdmi and component outputs.
If you use the "F" or composite out connections to your SDTV you will get picture.
Many people in Your situation have connected the green component out on the STB to the yellow composite in on there SDTV.
In this way you can access menus to do your setup and scan for channel's.
Then just use the F" or composite out connections from the STB as normal.
You will have no idea what channels you are watching but it will work.

Hound,

THANK YOU very much for the tip on the H260 !

I apologize for not finding the (no doubt) extensive thread/posts on this issue, but with a Dial Up connection, and overwhelmed with desperation, I just posted something to get some help, any way I could !

I just CAN’T believe this ! I’ve read the Ops Manual over and over, seeing at least four clear references in it, where they say to use the Y/W/R-RCA NTSC/Analog connections. And before I bought the unit, I insisted on looking at the Ops Manual, finding the first one of the “can use on analog” messages, on Page 6, and thought it was ok.

After getting it home, I did notice several other comments in it, where they said one would not be able to access the “Menus”. But I thought they were referring to Program Guides and the other nice stuff, NOT that I wouldn’t get ANY opening screen ! I am bewildered and amazed, that they would refer to analog SO many times, and find that you can’t get ANYTHING to come up.

The reason I bought the H260 was because Samsung said it WOULD work on analog, my thinking was to be able to bring up my older (several rooms) sets to be able to access the subscribed channels, without having to spend a LOT of money, renting several of the TWC boxes.

I’m very sorry it looked like I wasn’t doing my homework on this issue. My belief in what Samsung was saying in the Manual, trusting them, only emphasized my stubbornness in attempt to resolve the issue.

You just don’t know how stupid and embarrassed I felt, having several of our good members here, advising me, thinking I couldn’t read, or make a few simple connections, and make it work! I am REALLY ticked off at Samsung, and they have NOT herd the last of this ! :mad:

I sincerely want to thank you, and the others, who have responded to this problem.
Not soon forgotten.

Have a good Day ! :)

Didn't mean for it to sound that way.
I should have said there is a lot of discusion on this issue in the 260 thread.
:)

Hound,

No reason to clarify that, I didn't take anything you said, wrong. :)

My rather disgruntled comments, were due to and directed at, the lack of Samsung's clarity about how the H260 installed.

I have nothing but the most sincere appreciation, for you, and many others here, who give their valuable time and experience, to help me and others.

It's hard to put emotions in words, guess that's why they put those Emoticons on the sides of the Post area. I'll try to use those a little more.

Thanks for your directions.

Have a good Day ! :)