Whew, lot of acronyms there.....

So, I'm fed up with my local cable's HD offerings. The HD feed regularly skips, drops audio, freezes, pixellates, etc. I'm going to call and complain again, but don't really expect them to change. I'm considering moving to DirecTV, but I don't think that's going to be cheaper and screws up my cable Internet, too.

I was thinking about looking into getting an HD tuner that I could hook up to my TV, an older Samsung HDTV (4663 or something like that?). I don't see much on the websites like Newegg, or the big box stores. Ebay has a bunch, at least it looks like that, but it looks like I've got to shell out $100+, too. Is that really what these things are going for?

I also run a homebuilt MCE 2005 box with a dual tuner card for standard cable. Would I be able to get a PCI HD tuner card and get OTA HD signals from that? Are there recommended cards for something like that that work with MCE *and* aren't super expensive?

Dang it, I wish our cable didn't suck so bad. Thanks for any info!

The newer DVD recorders have ATSC tuners. Since they run around $200 (at my local Frys), they seem like a better deal than STBs. I haven't investigated how feature rich they are compared with conventional STBs, but it would seem to be the way to go. Plus, you get a DVD recorder thrown in for free.

Ernie

Has anyone tried this STB for $134.99?
http://www.a1components.com/itemdisplayn.aspx?item=11522

Steve

I'm considering moving to DirecTV, but I don't think that's going to be cheaper and screws up my cable Internet, too. Why would it screw up your internet service? I'm running DirecTV and about to add my second HD receiver. It does not interfer with my Comcast high speed internet service at all. They are two completely separate systems.

-Robert

Why would it screw up your internet service? I'm running DirecTV and about to add my second HD receiver. It does not interfer with my Comcast high speed internet service at all. They are two completely separate systems.

-Robert

Well, technically it wouldn't interfere....that wasn't really what I meant. I meant that I need cable internet without cable TV plus satellite TV (with a package comparable to HD digital cable) to be less than or equal to cable internet with HD digital cable. :-)

The newer DVD recorders have ATSC tuners.

But you can't use them to watch HDTV. They can receive HD signals, but they always down-convert to SD, both for viewing and for recording. Some of the next generation units may pass HD through for viewing at least. Next year, maybe.

I think the only currently-available choices for standalone HD receivers are the Samsung DTB-H260F which is available at Circuit City and Best Buy, the PrimeDTV PHD-205 which is available only on line as far as I know, and maybe a unit from Coby that someone mentioned here a while ago. Otherwise you have to look for a discontinued unit on eBay or somewhere.

All new HDTVs have tuners built in now, so external HD receivers are a small niche market with high prices.

You can find the Samsung open box for under $100 in eBay; I'm happy with it except the remote response was a bit slow. With an amplified indoor antenna, I've no problem pickup solid HD signals from 60 miles away.

I also run a homebuilt MCE 2005 box with a dual tuner card for standard cable. Would I be able to get a PCI HD tuner card and get OTA HD signals from that? Are there recommended cards for something like that that work with MCE *and* aren't super expensive?

Dang it, I wish our cable didn't suck so bad. Thanks for any info!

AIUI - in the US you should be able to add a Digital OTA tuner card to an existing analogue dual tuner system running MCE. (In Europe we can't for various reasons to do with EPG line-ups)

I'm not an expert on US OTA tuner cards - the key thing is that the tuner - whether USB, PCI or Firewire, has Media Center compatible BDA drivers.

In Europe, using DVB-T OTA, I've never had a problem with Hauppauge or Terratec products. Dvico have a reasonable name as well - but check MCE compatibility prior to purchase.

Also - MPEG2 HD replay needs a bit more grunt in processor and video card terms - so check that your current MCE system can cope?

I'm very happy with my MCE + XBox 360 system - provides a neat and usable system. Not as good as Tivo in some areas - but better picture quality than the European Series 1 Tivos we got over here.

Whew, lot of acronyms there.....

So, I'm fed up with my local cable's HD offerings. The HD feed regularly skips, drops audio, freezes, pixellates, etc. I'm going to call and complain again, but don't really expect them to change. I'm considering moving to DirecTV, but I don't think that's going to be cheaper and screws up my cable Internet, too.

I was thinking about looking into getting an HD tuner that I could hook up to my TV, an older Samsung HDTV (4663 or something like that?). I don't see much on the websites like Newegg, or the big box stores. Ebay has a bunch, at least it looks like that, but it looks like I've got to shell out $100+, too. Is that really what these things are going for?

I also run a homebuilt MCE 2005 box with a dual tuner card for standard cable. Would I be able to get a PCI HD tuner card and get OTA HD signals from that? Are there recommended cards for something like that that work with MCE *and* aren't super expensive?

Dang it, I wish our cable didn't suck so bad. Thanks for any info!
I use the AVerTV Hybrid Ultra USB (Media Center Upgrade Kit) in my homebuilt Core 2 Duo PC with Vista Ultimate Media Center to record HD programs.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a21/jogiba/JeapordyHD.jpg

http://www.aver.com/mpd/hybrid_ultra_usb_mce.pdf

http://www.buy.com/prod/avertv-hybrid-ultra-usb-media-center-upgrade-kit/q/loc/101/204356099.html

I also run a homebuilt MCE 2005 box with a dual tuner card for standard cable. Would I be able to get a PCI HD tuner card and get OTA HD signals from that? Are there recommended cards for something like that that work with MCE *and* aren't super expensive?

If you already use that box for viewing standard cable and are happy with it, it's not a big reach to use it for OTA as long as it's powerful enough to play HD. Check your stations at antennaweb.org to see what kind/size antenna you may need. Can get a very nice one for $50 or less, assuming your HD channels are all in the UHF spectrum.

If you don't want to do a lot of research, an almost failsafe bet is the Hauppage 1600. Circuit City has been putting it on sale for $60 after rebate. Has OTA and cable. Some programs may not let you use both hookups, however. I don't know if it's 100% compatible with MCE since I've only used the free programs out there, but it should work with pretty much everything since it's so popular (due to name recognition if nothing else.)

Otherwise, yeah, seems like ebay is the way to go most of the time for a deal on an STB. If you're in need of a new TV, could get one of those with a tuner, too.

jtbell, ATSC recorders downconvert even for viewing? Good to know.

Ugh... MCE is something I prefer to avoid. It's got a sloppy interface... it only supports MPEG2 and WMV7-9 (not 10). I'm not gonna go into it... get a MacMini and covert it into a Media Center. With frontrow, it already has a great interface. It's easy to connect to an HDTV... there are guides and such...

BTW why would you want to watch TV on a PC screen? Unless your stuck in a dorm?

Ugh... MCE is something I prefer to avoid. It's got a sloppy interface... it only supports MPEG2 and WMV7-9 (not 10). I'm not gonna go into it... get a MacMini and covert it into a Media Center. With frontrow, it already has a great interface. It's easy to connect to an HDTV... there are guides and such...

BTW why would you want to watch TV on a PC screen? Unless your stuck in a dorm?

Media Center on a PC happily supports all codecs installed on the PC that work in Windows Media Player - Divx, Xvid etc. are no problem. (I'm happily running them) If you want Media Center Extender support for these codecs then you have to use a transcoding application which converts on-the-fly to a codec that the extender will play.

If you install a MacMini then why not install a MacMini with Vista or XP Media Center under Bootcamp (you may have to create your own installation DVD because the MacMini doesn't have an eject button to allow for a disc swap with XP MCE, though Vista is fine) - you have the best of both worlds...

The current non-Leopard Front Row implementation is a bit mickey mouse compared to MCE though. The new Leopard Front Row is based on the AppleTV front-end and is much better, particularly for music navigation.

However the major limiting factor for the Mac is lack of built in TV recording (SD and HD) support, and no integrated recording and EPG applications. Sure you can bolt on EyeTV but it isn't as neatly integrated.

If you are looking for a Music solution - then the AppleTV or a MacMini with Leopard Front Row are great.

If you are looking for a Live TV viewing and recording solution - then a Windows MCE solution is probably more suitable for you - though of course this can run on a MacMini!

Hey all, thanks for the info! I actually was thinking about it last night and am going to look into the OTA HD cards for my MCE box. I'm thinking if I dropped digital cable (which we don't really watch anyway other than the HD stuff, which btw has been dropping out a lot, too), I could just watch the basic cable and OTA HD all from MCE. The guide in MCE is much better, too.

No worries about watching on a computer monitor; it's hooked up in the living room to the big TV, so it's nice. I still need a wireless mouse and keyboard, though :-).

Thanks again!

Hey all, thanks for the info! I actually was thinking about it last night and am going to look into the OTA HD cards for my MCE box. I'm thinking if I dropped digital cable (which we don't really watch anyway other than the HD stuff, which btw has been dropping out a lot, too), I could just watch the basic cable and OTA HD all from MCE. The guide in MCE is much better, too.

No worries about watching on a computer monitor; it's hooked up in the living room to the big TV, so it's nice. I still need a wireless mouse and keyboard, though :-).

Thanks again!

Does XP MCE or Vista MC (either flavour) handle Clear-QAM cable as well as OTA 8VSB - ISTR that this was an issue in times gone by.

So, I'm fed up with my local cable's HD offerings. The HD feed regularly skips, drops audio, freezes, pixellates, etc. I'm going to call and complain again, but don't really expect them to change.
Have they checked your signal strength? Have all the coax lines been replaced with RG6?

ATSC recorders downconvert even for viewing?Yes - all the current models do. Many will "upscale" to 1080p over HDMI, but it still won't be true HD.

I know, the wording they use in the descriptions can be misleading - like "HD-quality" or "compatible with an HD display", etc.

'Course, if you get a model with a good tuner and scaler, it can look pretty darned good otherwise. From a little distance, you'd be hard-pressed to tell the difference with some of the best HD material.

Still, a standalone HD tuner or card is generally cheaper.

Have they checked your signal strength? Have all the coax lines been replaced with RG6?

They came out earlier this week, and the signal strength supposedly is good enough, but they said HD is really sensitive. They didn't jump at the suggestion to try a signal booster, though. They determined that there must be a problem further up the line or something, outside of my house (at the plant? I don't follow a lot of their jargon), but I haven't heard back from them. The house is ~15 years old, but replacing the coax in the house isn't really an option.

I'm thinking if I dropped digital cable... I could just watch the basic cable...

Some STB's, including the Samsung DTB-H260F, have a QAM tuner. You may be able to use it to get some free HD content (legally) from your basic cable service.

James