I don't know how long this clearance sale will last but the Radio Shack 16-3499, the Accurain HST 6000, is on sale for less than $90. Picked one up about one hour ago and so far much better than the Sammy SIR-T351.
Yes, a BIG THANKS, Moxie, for your original post. I then posted the info to the website of the TV/DTV DXing group I belong to, and as of this morning I believe close to 20 members have bought this unit from RS stores across the country. Several of these receivers have already been compared to other STBs in side-by-side tests, and the early reviews are quite positive about the RS Accurian.
I just finished testing the one I purchased this week next to the LG LST-3100A and the new Humax HFA100, using some weak out-of-town stations from Cincinnati, OH @ 100-101 miles, thanks to some nice area tropospheric enhancement this morning. I connected the RS variable attenuator to the main cable line which was feeding all three units simultaneously. As I began reducing the signal level into the 3 STBs, the first unit to drop out was the LG, then the Accurian and finally the Humax. As for holding (decoding) and not pixellizing much on a very weak signal, I've never seen anything like this Humax in my recent tests over the past few weeks since I bought it. However, it cost twice the amount the Accurian did. The LGs have been some of the best around, but according to the early tests, along with some from my fellow DXers around the country, we are quite encouraged by the results from the clearance-priced Accurian. If you are still thinking or looking for an inexpensive, but yet good DTV/HDTV OTA receiver, I would highly recommend this receiver, if you can still find one! They are going very fast.
Thanks again, Moxie. I hope you own stock in the Tandy Corp. !!
Your welcome. Don't own stock in Tandy but happy I was able to contribute to the forum.
Even happier that I am able to enjoy HDTV for less than $100.
Since there was no news about 5th gen STB's coming out soon, I was getting ready to pull the trigger on one of the current models, especially with the news that the LG 4200's had disappeared from the market. In the past few months the price on this box was lowered from $249 to $199. I just checked to see if the price came down again since it, as well as the Humax had the HDMI output vs the WalMart US Digital Box. I didn't believe what I saw. It was a no brainer esp since it had the regular 30 day return. It's a great receiver for me. I did relocate the antenna to 2nd floor and now get all my locals that broadcast HD. I couldn't be happier.
Thanks Moxie - I too have been contemplating purchasing a STB as my cable HD feeds only consist of ABC and NBC (No CBS, Fox, UPN or WB) and at this price I couldn't pass it up. I hooked it up yesterday, and with a Phillips Amplified Indoor Antanna, I'm getting the ABC, CBS, and Fox feeds in HD! I think the UPN might be off-air (Hurricane Katrina) so I'm happy for now. I can probably even improve my reception with a better antenna
I've had this unit for a few days. The problem is that every once in a while the picture freezes and the audio starts 'stuttering.' Powering off and up cures it everytime. It doesn't appear to be a signal issue. For example, Strength 86, S/N 30. Thoughts?
The unit I picked up exhibits similar behavior. Actually, the audio is fine, but every 5-10 minutes, the picture suffers a split-second breakup. So far, the disruptions have been benign (though annoying), and I haven't had to cycle power. This happens on quite a few ATSC channels, so I'm wondering if my rooftop antenna isn't up to the task, or maybe that antenna-line amplifier is overloading the RF/tuner. The US Digital (Hisense) box works better in my setup.
I have a question about the closed-caption support. When I watch using the S-video connection (VCR), I don't see any closed-captions. The RCA DTC-100 (with latest firmware) and US Digital both re-encode the ATSC closed-captions into NTSC format (for proper decoding with the TV's CC decoder.)
Is there a way to turn on the NTSC closed-captions, without actually burning them into the screen (like DVD subtitles)?
Most likely, I will be returning this unit (due to the intermittent picture disruptions) and holding on to the US Digital box.
Has anyone had success using a universal remote and Pioneer cable box codes? My One-For-All 8811 lists two codes for Pioneer cable boxes, neither seem to work. I also went through the code search and came up empty.
no luck here either. pre-programmed codes have only gotten me as far as maybe a power on. I had to learn each button one at at time to a URC-200 but even then the reliability is very shody. Learning was very painful requiring multiple attempts for each button and response has been terrible oftentimes requiring 2 or 3 button pushes to get a response from the tuner.
the stock remote seems to be slow to respond to but at least it responds after 1 button push. I've tested 2 units and found both to have consistent poor IR performance/response. Other than the remote I am fairly happy with the PQ, channel changing speed, GUi, etc
In the meantime I've also done hours of testing and tweaking trying to get a replaytv 5000 series to IR blast the accurian tuner but again the only thing i've been able to get to work is the power on during setup.
As far as I know the only HD tuner that will work with the replaytv IRblaster are the Samsung units. Anyone know of any other OTA STB that will listen to replaytv?
The main reason I've stayed away from the Samsung are the gray horizontal bars, but I might just need to just accept it one of these days.
I just ran down to the local Rat Shack and picked one up. I was out the door for $150 with the box, Terk HDTVa antenna, and 50ft of coax. I've got the antenna out on the porch right now and I am pulling in all the local stations and a few from Boston which are about 60 miles away. I'm very excited to watch Agassi-Federer in HD!
Just purchased the stb and a new optical cable. The optical cable seems real loose in the baxk of the stb and comes unplugged if I move other connected components too much.
Any one else noticing a loose optical cable connection?
I created a JP1 remote device upgrade that works on my OFA 8811. If you have a JP1 remote and cable along with Remote Master and IR, you can use the upgrade file to program your remote. Send me an email if you'd like the file: jerry[at]fath.us
"is their away using the accurion set top box to determine the image resolution of the ota display,that is 480 720 or 1080. "
Yes, if you hit "SEL" on the remote it says HDTV if the station is being broadcasted in 720p or 1080i. On page 43 of the book, and you pick which one you want(720p or 1080i) based on what you have the switch on the back set to. Also, this tuner seems to be on the sensitive side, NBC24 which is out of toledo ohio, on my antenna would not come in, or would with lots of dropouts. But when i rotated the antenna about 5 degrees I had it perfectly with a 10-15 percent increase in signal.
Has anyone had success using a universal remote and Pioneer cable box codes? My One-For-All 8811 lists two codes for Pioneer cable boxes, neither seem to work. I also went through the code search and came up empty.
I have a channel master rotor remote and the codes for the numbers are the same as the RS remote. The channel up/down are the same as the up/down on the RS. In fact if I hit CH3 for instance on the ChannelMaster rotor the rotor turns and the RS channel changes. The strange thing is it The RS doesnt change the rotor.
Quote:
Originally Posted by sullly11 /forum/post/0
Just purchased the stb and a new optical cable. The optical cable seems real loose in the baxk of the stb and comes unplugged if I move other connected components too much.
Any one else noticing a loose optical cable connection?
I have had the same problem. When I first set up the unit I did not get any audio. After jamming the optical connector in, audio came up. When I moved the unit, the plug got loose in the jack again. It is very sensitive.
By the way, watched Dolphins/Broncos game, the tennis in HD. Nice picture.
I found an extra long 12 foot GE optical cable at Target for $15. That's cheaper than most 3 and 6 foot cables. I don't have to worry about it slipping out when I move it.
Thanks, moxie, for the info. This STB is so much better than the Samsung SIR-T351 I had just gotten off eBay a couple weeks ago. I just sold it for what I paid for the Accurian.
I watched all the NFL games and the US Open, and they looked and sounded great.
I've had this unit for a few days. The problem is that every once in a while the picture freezes and the audio starts 'stuttering.' Powering off and up cures it everytime. It doesn't appear to be a signal issue. For example, Strength 86, S/N 30. Thoughts?
Just bought one for my dad and his unit has the same problem with two channels. Every single time I change to those two channels, the unit will lock up and the audio "stutters". The only way to stop this is to power down and change the channel quickly, before it locks into the signal.
This happens all the time with these two Fox channels. Could it be a bad unit? I believe that the one we got was a returned unit, since the bag holding the hardware was a ziplock bag and it was all wrinkled. If it was a new unit, the bag shouldn't be that way! I will adjust the outside antenna and see if this solves the problem. Else, it is going back for an exchange.
Also, I can not get the component connection working with the TV. I know that the Toshiba Rear Projection supports 480p and that I moved the switch on the back to 480p, but there is no picture on the TV? On the DVD player, I connected the 480p component video out and it works, so the TV can handle this signal. It is just that the STB, with 480p settings gives no picture. At this moment, I have it connected via composite and this works.
Other than these two problems and the remote being real weak, the picture is great (even with composite video!).
Thanks Klyde but I think I moved the switch to all three positions and there was still no picture. Do I need to power down the STB before moving the switch?
Quote:
Originally Posted by The4thDoctor /forum/post/0
Just bought one for my dad and his unit has the same problem with two channels. Every single time I change to those two channels, the unit will lock up and the audio "stutters". The only way to stop this is to power down and change the channel quickly, before it locks into the signal.
This happens all the time with these two Fox channels. Could it be a bad unit? I believe that the one we got was a returned unit, since the bag holding the hardware was a ziplock bag and it was all wrinkled. If it was a new unit, the bag shouldn't be that way! I will adjust the outside antenna and see if this solves the problem. Else, it is going back for an exchange.
Also, I can not get the component connection working with the TV. I know that the Toshiba Rear Projection supports 480p and that I moved the switch on the back to 480p, but there is no picture on the TV? On the DVD player, I connected the 480p component video out and it works, so the TV can handle this signal. It is just that the STB, with 480p settings gives no picture. At this moment, I have it connected via composite and this works.
Other than these two problems and the remote being real weak, the picture is great (even with composite video!).
I don't know where you live, but here in South Florida with Fox on 29 it happens exactly as you described. I have found that very careful antenna orientation will solve the problem. Just like you I show plenty of signal strength and after I reoriented the antenna I did not show any more signal strenth but the picture and audio were solid. Just my .02.
I don't know where you live, but here in South Florida with Fox on 29 it happens exactly as you described. I have found that very careful antenna orientation will solve the problem. Just like you I show plenty of signal strength and after I reoriented the antenna I did not show any more signal strenth but the picture and audio were solid. Just my .02.
Quote:
Originally Posted by The4thDoctor /forum/post/0
Thanks Klyde but I think I moved the switch to all three positions and there was still no picture. Do I need to power down the STB before moving the switch?
What Toshiba model do you have? I have a TN61X81. Its native resolution on the componet inputs is 1080I.
Make sure that you have the cables in the correct order, make sure that you have selected the proper Video Input. There are 3 video inputs and 2 conponet inputs. If the cable order is incorrect you wont get a picture, if you have the wrong input selected, same problem. Have you ever seen a HD picture on this set with another HD source? Sorry for the basic questions, but we need a place to start.
Just wondering: Does this STB tune in analog cable channels as well? I understand that it doesn't seem to decode QAM, but I'm trying to decide on either a commercial or consumer Panny PDP, and this may help the decision...
I've had it for a week and it works fine except FOX. For some reason, I don't get audio. The meter shows that I'm getting between 75-80 and 23-28db of audio. I would appreciate if somebody can help me out.
Nope, only ATSC/8VSB, no analog cable, no digital cable, no NTSC OTA analog.
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