The Official AVS HDTV STB Synopsis - Winter 2010!

[Ken H]

Over The Air DTV/HDTV/Cable Clear QAM

Available Now:
· Centronics ZAT502 HD $100 ATSC, Clear QAM (also known as RTC DTA1100HD, Digiwave DTV5000HD) ( http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1136626 )
· Winegard RC-1010 $190 ATSC ( http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=800287 )
· Coby DTV-140 $139 ATSC ( http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=882632 )
· PrimeDTV PHD-205LE $139 ATSC, Clear QAM (also known as Firebird-Systems DCT612) ( http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=638769 )

HD DVR
· Dish DTVPal DVR $249 ATSC, 30 Hours HD recording ( http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1099071 )
· TiVo HD DVR $299, ATSC, CableCARD, Clear QAM, NTSC, subscription fee required. ( http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=879469 )
· TiVo HD XL DVR $599 ATSC CableCARD, Clear QAM, NTSC, subscription fee required. ( http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=879469 )

Custom Install
· Contemporary Research 232-ATSC $1050 ATSC, NTSC, Clear QAM, RS-232 control

No Dolby Digital Output
· Grandtec TUN-5000 $249 ATSC (analog audio only; no DD output)
· KWORLD SA290-Q LE $100 ATSC, Clear QAM (analog audio only; no DD output)


Coming Soon:
PrimeDTV PHD-8VX $250 ATSC, Clear QAM, NTSC $249, available Q1 2010
1080p upconversion for all inputs, 3 HDMI inputs, 1 component video input, 1 S-Video input, 1 VGA input, input switching.
http://www.epvision.com/HDTVSTB/phd8vxpre.htm

Coming, But When?
PrimeDTV HD DVR


May still be available:
· Samsung DTB-H260F $179 ATSC, Clear QAM
· Tivax LX1000 $90 ATSC, Clear QAM
· AV Tool ATSC-100 $199 / Choice Select CHO4006 $239 ATSC (analog audio only; no DD output)


Discontinued:
· Centronics ZAT501 HD $229
· PrimeDTV PHD-205 $149 ATSC, Clear QAM, NTSC
· Pro-Brand / Digital Stream HD3150 $199
· CE Labs HD100AQ $240 ATSC
· CaptiveWorks CW-3000HD $470 ATSC, FTA, Clear QAM, (Linux PC)
· Digital Stream HD 5150 $219 ATSC (was it ever available?)
· Winegard / Zinwell ZAT-600HD
· PrimeDTV PHD-101 $159 Clear QAM
· PrimeDTV PHD-200 $159 Clear QAM
· Ezneo TR-100 $189
· Sylvania 6900DTE $329
· Hisense / USDTV $199
· Radio Shack's Accurian 16-3499
· Motorola HDT101 $299
· Samsung SIR-T451 $249 Clear QAM (Up to ch 125 only)
· RCA ATSC11 $449
· RCA ATSC21 $499
· Digital Stream DST-HD 1150 $279
· Humax HFA100 $229
· Viewsonic NextVision HD10 $350
· Viewsonic NextVision HD12 $399
· Vizio Bravo HD1 $350
· Mitsubishi HD6000 $2199 PVR CableCARD, Clear QAM, Firewire
· Key Digital KD-FIRE1080P $2999 Firewire
· JVC HM-DT100 $1499 D-VHS, Firewire
· MIT MDR-200 $279 Firewire, NTSC
· Contemporary Research IP-HDVR $1799, PVR, Clear QAM, Firewire
· Accurian HTS6000 $250
· Sony DHG-HDD500 $1000 DVR ATSC, CableCARD, Clear QAM, NTSC
· Sony DHG-HDD250 $800 DVR ATSC, CableCARD, Clear QAM, NTSC
· LG LST-4200A $349 QAM in the clear
· LG LST-3410A $699 QAM in the clear, Firewire, PVR
· LG LST-3510A $399 QAM in the clear, DVD
· LG LST-3100A $399 QAM in the clear
· Mitsubishi HD5000 $1699 For use with specific Mitsu HDTV's Firewire, Clear QAM
· Motorola HDT100 $349
· Samsung SIR-T351 $499
· Sylvania SRZ3000/6900DTD $349
· Zenith HDR-230 $999
· Mitsubishi Promise Module $999 For use with specific Mitsu HDTV's Firewire QAM
· Panasonic TU-DST52 $399
· Samsung SIR-T165 $699 Firewire
· Zenith HDV-420 $399
· AllSatLink HD7000 $495
· Sensory Science/Loewe HDT-100 $1600
· Integra IT910 $699
· Samsung SIR-T150 (aka PRL-3100) $499
· Panasonic TU-DST50 $1699 Firewire
· Panasonic TU-DST51 $1199 Firewire
· Zenith IQADTV1W $5995
· Mitsubishi HD-1080 $3000 For use with specific Mitsu HDTV Monitors
· Sharp TU-DTV1000 $2000
· Pioneer SH-D505 $2,700
· Pioneer SH-D09 $2,400 For use with specific Pioneer HDTV Monitors
· Princeton Graphics HDT-2000 $899
· MIT MDR-100 $649
· Unity Motion HDR-1000A $2495 (aka Integra HD815)
· Sony DTR-HD1 $1599
· VOOM DSR-550 $449 Note that not all Voom STB's will work for OTA, they must have been activated and functional when Voom went off the air. Also note that TVGOS data will crash the box, rendering it useless for viewing the DTV channel TVGOS is on, in most cases a CBS or PBS station.
· LG ProSelect LST-4600A (MPI use)



Cable HDTV

Available Now:
· Motorola
BMC-9012 PVR Moxi
DCH-3200
DCH-6200
DCH-3416 DVR
DCH-6416 DVR
DCT-3400
DCT-3412
DCT-6200
DCT-6400
DCT-6208 DVR
DCT-6412 DVR
QIP-6200
QIP-6414
QIP-6416
RG3000C Quest
VIP-1200
VIP-1216
Etc.

· Pace
DC551HD
DC757X
DC755HD
TDC779X
TDC778X
TDC775X
Etc.

· Scientific Atlanta
Explorer 8300HD DVR
Explorer 8300HD Multi-Room
Explorer 8300HDC DVR
Explorer 8240HDC DVR
Explorer 8000HD DVR
Explorer 4250HDC
Explorer 4240HDC
Explorer 4250HD
Explorer 4200HD
Explorer 3270HD
Explorer 3250HD
Explorer 3170HD
Explorer 3100HD
Etc.

· Samsung
SMT-H3050 HD-STB
SMT-H3090 HD-DVR
SMT-H3260 HD-STB
SMT-H3270 HD-DVR
Etc.

· TiVo HD DVR $299, ATSC CableCARD, Clear QAM, NTSC, subscription fee required. (Available for retail purchase)
· TiVo HD XL DVR $599 ATSC CableCARD, Clear QAM, NTSC, subscription fee required. (Available for retail purchase)
· Moxi HD DVR $799, CableCARD, no subscription fee. (Available for retail purchase)

Discontinued:
· Pioneer Voyager 3510HD
· Pioneer Voyager 4000 DVR
· Sony DHG-M55 Firewire
· TiVo Series 3 ATSC, CABLECard, Clear QAM
· Mitsubishi HD6000 $2199 PVR DTV CableCARD
· Sony DHG-HDD500 $1000 DVR ATSC, CableCARD, Clear QAM, NTSC
· Sony DHG-HDD250 $800 DVR ATSC, CableCARD, Clear QAM, NTSC
· Motorola DCT-2000 & HDD200
· Scientific Atlanta 2000HD
· Motorola DCT-5100



DirecTV & Over The Air DTV/HDTV

Available now:
· DirecTV H21 MPEG4 compatable, requires 5 LNB dish. No DTV (ATSC) tuner.
· DirecTV HR21 DVR MPEG4 compatable, requires 5 LNB dish. No DTV (ATSC) tuner. (AM-21 outboard DTV tuner available)
· DirecTV HR22 DVR MPEG4 compatable, requires 5 LNB dish. No DTV (ATSC) tuner. (AM-21 outboard DTV tuner available)
· DirecTV HR23 DVR MPEG4 compatable, requires 5 LNB dish. No DTV (ATSC) tuner. (AM-21 outboard DTV tuner available)
· DirecTV H20 MPEG4 compatable, requires 5 LNB dish.
· DirecTV HR20 DVR MPEG4 compatable, requires 5 LNB dish.


Discontinued, and not compatable with MPEG4 programming:
· DirecTV HR10-250 DVR TiVo $599
· DirecTV H10 $299
· Samsung SIR-TS360 $599
· Hughes HTL-HD $499
· LG LSS-3200A $699
· Toshiba DST-3100 $699
· RCA DTC-210 $599
· Sony SAT-HD300 $750
· Samsung SIR-TS160 $699
· Hughes HIRD-E86 $599
· Zenith HD-SAT520 $799
· Sony SAT-HD200 $899
· RCA DTC-100 $549
· Toshiba DST-3000 $699
· Mitsubishi SR-HD5 $799
· Zenith DTV-1080 $799
· Philips DSHD800 $849
· Sony SAT-HD100 $799
· Panasonic TU-HDS20 $999
· ProScan PSH-D105 $549



Dish Network & Over The Air DTV/HDTV

Available Now:
· Dish ViP 211 MPEG4 compatable, requires HD dish(s). (DVR upgrade available w/USB hard drive)
· Dish ViP 222 MPEG4 compatable, requires HD dish(s).
· Dish ViP 612 DVR MPEG4 compatable, requires HD dish(s).
· Dish ViP 622 DVR MPEG4 compatable, requires HD dish(s).
· Dish ViP 722 DVR MPEG4 compatable, requires HD dish(s).

Discontinued:
· Dish 411 MPEG4 compatable
Discontinued, and not compatable with MPEG4 programming:
· Dish 942 $749 PVR
· Dish 811 $399
· Dish PVR 921 $549 HDTV PVR
· Dish 6000 w/8PSK Adapter & optional DTV Adapter $648
· Dish 5000 w/HD Modulator (Not a Dish HD receiver, but DTV modulated Dish HDTV output). Deactivated 2/11/04.
· JVC TU6000RU w/8PSK Adapter & optional DTV Adapter $648
· RCA HD 6000 $492 (No DTV tuner)



C/Ku Band / FTA / Over The Air DTV/HDTV
www.4dtvforum.com

Available Now:
· Motorola 4DTV (DSR 920, DSR 922, DSR 905, DSR 410) & HDD200
It has been confirmed by Motorola the HDD 200/201 will be the last HD decoder for C/Ku Band for the foreseeable future.
· Integra IT912 DTV, FTA C/Ku reception
· Quali-TV QS1080IR $700, FTA HDTV C/Ku reception
· CaptiveWorks CW-3000HD $470 ATSC, FTA, Clear QAM (Linux PC)
· Viewsat 9000 HD
· SonicView 8000 HD
· Pansat 9200 HD
· Captain 8000 HD
· Coolsat 8100 HD PVR
· Etc.

Discontinued:
· Unity Motion HDR-1000A $2495 (aka Integra HD815)
· Integra IT910

[Ken H]

Latest update complete.

Corrections, additions, etc. are welcome. As added to the topic, it will be pruned to keep things concise.

Thanks to all the AVS Members over the years for their contributions; this topic would not exist without them.


Notes:
Digital TV Converter Boxes are not included in The Synopsis, due to not being HD compatible.
Coupon Eligible Converter Box (CECB) Forum: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=186

[QZ1]

Centronics has listed the ZAT502 HD for $100 since at least 3 Sept.; mentioned then by someone in the relevant thread.

[Ken H]

Originally Posted by QZ1

Centronics has listed the ZAT502 HD for $100 since at least 3 Sept.; mentioned then by someone in the relevant thread.

Got it.

[homcom]

For Motorola they now have the DCX series 3200 and 3400. Pace now makes the RNG 110 for HD.

[jjeff]

Ken, not sure if you want to incorporate the information from this bfdtv post, but it breaks down some of the Dish DVRs AFA installed OTA tuners. Similar to what you've done in this thread for DirecTV DVRs.

[Ken H]

Comcast AVC HD boxes:

Samsung RNG 100. All digital box supports both MPEG-2 and MPEG-4/H.264 AVCs.

Panasonic RNG 200. Support OCAP, will decode both MPEG-2 and H.264, along with having HDTV tuners.

Pace RNG 110

Cisco RNG 150

[tom.green@iwon.com]

Originally Posted by Ken H

Comcast AVC HD boxes:

Samsung RNG 100. All digital box supports both MPEG-2 and MPEG-4/H.264 AVCs.

Panasonic RNG 200. Support OCAP, will decode both MPEG-2 and H.264, along with having HDTV tuners.

Pace RNG 110

Cisco RNG 150

Forgive my ignorance but...what is a(an) RNG?

[Dmon4u]

Motorola Slims Down HD Set-Tops: http://www.multichannel.com/article/...D_Set_Tops.php

By Todd Spangler -- Multichannel News, 10/27/2009 1:00:26 PM

Denver — Motorola will be showing off an all-digital, non-DVR high-definition cable set-top box designed to be less expensive for operators to deploy en masse by eliminating the analog tuner, among a smorgasbord of other wares at SCTE's Cable-Tec Expo here this week.

"Our service providers are feeling the pressure on capex," said Buddy Snow, senior director of solutions marketing for Broadband Home Solutions in Motorola's Home and Networks Mobility unit.

Motorola DCX700Motorola is targeting the first quarter of 2010 to ship the DCX700 to operators, Snow said. He declined to provide pricing information or indicate how much less expensive the unit, which is built in a single 1-GHz tuner, would be relative to other models.

A separate forthcoming set-top model, the DCX3300, has a dual tuner and DVR capabilities but doesn't include hard disks. Rather, it connects to an external eSATA storage device. "That's looking toward giving the operators more options about how and when they spend capital," Snow said.

Both set-tops support MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 HD, as well as CableLabs' tru2way specification. The units also include an option for Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA) home networking and CableCard support for U.S. operators.

...
- - - -

[afish4u]

this list is always great reference. my dtc210 died and now I"m looking at DirecTV HR20 do I need to subscribe in order to record ota? These new ones don't require a dish to be hooked up to them correct? please direct me to the right area if I posted in the wrong spot here.

[Rammitinski]

Originally Posted by Dmon4u

Motorola Slims Down HD Set-Tops:

And how much does anyone wanna bet that they eliminate the timer/reminder feature?

Probably won't be able to be controlled by a standard IR blaster code from all the old DVD/HDD/VHS recorders, either.

[weaver6]

Originally Posted by afish4u

this list is always great reference. my dtc210 died and now I"m looking at DirecTV HR20 do I need to subscribe in order to record ota? These new ones don't require a dish to be hooked up to them correct? please direct me to the right area if I posted in the wrong spot here.

The HR20 needs a subscription, and needs to be hooked to a dish. The HR21 and up also need an AM-21 to receive OTA.

[Dmon4u]

I suspect Motorola is using the new Broadcom Chip: BCM7125

http://www.broadcom.com/products/Cab...utions/BCM7125

[jaado]

I am planning to buy a TV Tuner box to watch OTA (local channels.. NFL games in my projector by connecting it through a A/V Onkyo 606 receiver. I already have the HD Antenna that I use for my tv.

Can anyone suggest me a cheap TV Tuner box, that will solve my purpose?

Please let me know if I need to post in any other threads.

thanks.

[jtbell]

See the first section of the list in the first post of this thread.

[jaado]

thanks. Will look into one of those.

[rekd0514]

Is it possible to use one of the STB not on the very top just for the tuner that is inside them?

[jtbell]

The question "Can I use a Dish/DirecTV receiver for OTA only without a subscription?" comes up often enough that you might consider adding a note addressing it to the Dish and DirecTV sections of the synopsis.

As I recall, some can be used this way, some need to have a dish hooked up although not necessarily with a subscription, and some need a subscription in order to use them at all.

[Ken H]

Originally Posted by tom.green@iwon.com

Forgive my ignorance but...what is a(an) RNG?

Stands for 'Real Next Generation'. They are made for Comcast by a number of different companies and have different capabilities, depending on the model number. Some are standard HD boxes, some are HD DVR's.

[Otto Pylot]

I have an LG LST-4200A that has served me well for the last few years. It's starting to have some issues so I'd like to think about a replacement. Our Sony HDTV-ready tv fine so I don't need to (or am ready to) replace that. What is left out there that would be a comparable replacement? Thanks.

[zenoicus]

Originally Posted by Otto Pylot

...an LG LST-4200A....It's starting to have some issues...

I'm curious: what issues?

[Otto Pylot]

About a week ago, late at night, I was unable to receive any video, only audio, from any of the OTA HDTV stations that I can receive (which is quite a few) with the LG. I have two other Insignia STB's for my 2 other analog tv's and the video and audio reception was fine. It only lasted for a little while. Yesterday, the same thing happened in the late afternoon. Again, for only a couple of minutes. We have a very active HDTV OTA message board here in the Bay Area. Quite a few tv engineers participate and no one reported any transmission problems so it had to of been the LG. The LG has been rock-solid and trouble-free since I bought it a few years ago so if it is starting to show age, I just wanted to know if there are any comparable boxes still being manufactured.

[jtbell]

See the first post in this thread. The boxes listed at the top, starting at "Available Now" and ending at "Coming Soon," are the currently-available models. Note the links to threads that discuss individual boxes.

[Rammitinski]

Originally Posted by Otto Pylot

The LG has been rock-solid and trouble-free since I bought it a few years ago so if it is starting to show age, I just wanted to know if there are any comparable boxes still being manufactured.

Overall?

Hell, no - not even close.

[snidely]

We have had 3 Comcast DVRs for years in our two homes. (I know, overkill.) What I want now is to hook up a "box" in a bedroom that will output HD. I don't need DVR, guide, on demand etc. Just want the box to feed HD signals to an LCD HD panel.
Unfortunately, I just learned that some flat screens come with a cable card slot that you get for "free" when you pay Comcast their $7.50/more outlet fee. So, my question is: what type of the numerous boxes listed at the top of this thread do I want? I assume there is a box out there that will take a "cable card" and feed an HD signal via HDMI and or component to the flat panel screen. (I didn't even know about cable cards.) Don't see them on Comcast's site. They want to rent you a non-DVR box for about $6 or $7 a month. Only $2 less than the DVR they rent.

...mike

[Ken H]

Originally Posted by snidely

We have had 3 Comcast DVRs for years in our two homes. (I know, overkill.) What I want now is to hook up a "box" in a bedroom that will output HD. I don't need DVR, guide, on demand etc. Just want the box to feed HD signals to an LCD HD panel.
Unfortunately, I just learned that some flat screens come with a cable card slot that you get for "free" when you pay Comcast their $7.50/more outlet fee. So, my question is: what type of the numerous boxes listed at the top of this thread do I want? I assume there is a box out there that will take a "cable card" and feed an HD signal via HDMI and or component to the flat panel screen. (I didn't even know about cable cards.) Don't see them on Comcast's site. They want to rent you a non-DVR box for about $6 or $7 a month. Only $2 less than the DVR they rent.

...mike

For cable, customer owned boxes fall into two catagories; CableCARD & clear QAM.

At this time, there are only two CableCARD boxes; TiVo HD & Moxi. Both use CableCARD, both are DVR's, both will get all the channels you subscribe to. See this link for a compairson chart: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showp...66&postcount=2

Clear QAM boxes do not use CableCARD, and will only receive the local HD channels your cableco carries (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, PBS, etc.). None of the other subscribed channels, SD or HD, will be available (ESPN, USA, Discovery, TNT, etc.). The list in the first post of this topic has all of the current and previous clear QAM STB's.

[snidely]

Originally Posted by Ken H

For cable, customer owned boxes fall into two catagories; CableCARD & clear QAM.

At this time, there are only two CableCARD boxes; TiVo HD & Moxi. Both use CableCARD, both are DVR's, both will get all the channels you subscribe to. See this link for a compairson chart: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showp...66&postcount=2

Clear QAM boxes do not use CableCARD, and will only receive the local HD channels your cableco carries (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, PBS, etc.). None of the other subscribed channels, SD or HD, will be available (ESPN, USA, Discovery, TNT, etc.). The list in the first post of this topic has all of the current and previous clear QAM STB's.

Ken -
Looks like I screwed up<G>. I should have bought a TV that accepted a cable card. I don't need the DVR function - and the cost w. Moxie and Tivo would both be a lot more than what Comcast would charge.
Could I buy a Tivo or Moxie, used, where the DVR function is broken and still get the HD channels w. a cable card- or would I still need to pay Tivo or Moxie to get the HD channels to work?
One would think someone would make a simple HD cable card box. Comcast wants, I think, about $7/mo for it. (Just a couple dollars less than their DVR box.). I would think buying a plain box should not be more than $100 - if one existed.


...mike

[easyflow04]

Does anyone know of any stores who still sell the set top boxes (not online)? I live in Philadelphia and I am amazed that not one store still has these on the shelves.

[Ken H]

Originally Posted by snidely

Could I buy a Tivo or Moxie, used, where the DVR function is broken and still get the HD channels w. a cable card- or would I still need to pay Tivo or Moxie to get the HD channels to work?

Nope, you'll still need to pay for the service.

One would think someone would make a simple HD cable card box.

Yes, one would think. But, apparently it's not as easy as it sounds.

The FCC's recent thoughts on the matter: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1203204

tru2way (next gen CableCARD): http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=893485

[xtwister161]

Does anyone know any boxes that does both clear qam and analog cable?
My tv doesn't have a qam tuner AND it's coaxial plug broke off.

Any assistance would be appreciated!

So far I know the ZAT502 doesnt do analog.

From looking at the description, the PHD-200 does analog and digital, correct? Problem is that they dont sell em. Do the PHD-205 and PHD-205LE do analog?