Centronics ZAT 502 HD / RTC DTA1100HD / Digiwave DTV5000HD - Page 3

Well, it finally worked out, setting my AVR source to 'TV/CBL', it uses the HDMI for Video and Optical for Audio.

Are you guys putting the 502 into standby mode everyday or just leaving it on always?

I left it on for nearly 24 hours, and the box is the same temp., as it is after a few hours of use, which is what I figured.

I keep my DVR on all the time, as it is actually better for the HDD. However, this being essentially just a tuner card, I am thinking it doesn't matter either way, probably the only the benefit is power saving, as it isn't power-cycling anyway.

I probably won't be using it that often, so, probably will just put it in standby, if isn't worse for it, as I think it isn't.

Hi,
I ordered one yesterday...They said: I got your order and you are good to go. I should have these either late today or first thing Monday. I will ship yours as soon as I enter them in.

Thanks, Centronics, Inc. 800.638.0741

I have a master light switch that shuts off all power in the room. I don't like leaving electronics running when I'm not using them. Cost and wear/tear.

Can anyone please tell me if the component video output on the 502 can be fixed to 480i or not ? i.e. everything other than 480i (480p, 720i/p, 1080i/p) will get downconverted to 480i.
Thanks!

It saves $, sure; however, power cycling electronics causes much more 'wear and tear' on them than leaving them on standby power (or full power). I've decided to leave the 502 on standby power.

I think you just need to press the SD/HD button on the remote to toggle to SD, and it should always be 480i. I am not sure if there is a menu setting for that; I don't think there is.

That picture appears to show two inputs to the tuner. How are they handled?
Can one be set up for OTA and the other to cable?
is it easy to switch between inputs?

BTW that empty connector socket in the upper right hand corner looks an awful lot like a USB port. I wonder what it is there for.

One type F connector on the tuner has the label ANT IN where you connect an antenna (for 8vsb) or cable (for QAM). The other has the label TV OUT which sends RF on channel 3 or 4 to your tv tuner.

The socket could be for USB, I don't really know what it is for.

There is an error in the manual in the illustration of the rear panel. The CH 3/4 switch has the correct label but the table calls it "Connection to a serial port to update the software."

Damn. I was really hoping for two inputs.

Can this remote be controlled with a Logitech 880? My Sammy 260 is not pulling in all of the channels since the digital switch. Hopefully this one will do better. Has anyone compared the two?

anyone know if this outputs RGB or YpRpB through the HDMI output? My monitor (Dell UltraSharp 3008WFP) will overscan if it sees anything other than RGB on its inputs (I figured this out with the PS3, menus would not overscan, but blurays would until I forced it to output RGB mode all the time.)

I just looked at all the other tuners listed. The Contemporary Research 232-ATSC has two inputs, and can output RGB to the HDMI, but it only has a signal strength monitoring, not signal quality, and cost 10 times as much. All the other options are worse.

Forget about HDMI; get a DTV tuner with an RGB output. IIRC, there were at least a few units with RGB output.

Or, maybe easier, use whatever you want and get a component video to RGB transcoder.

http://www.ramelectronics.net/audio-.../prod9A65.html

In general, how do you hook up something like this to a TV with an existing ATSC tuner? I'm a little unclear on this.

Would you attach the 502's antenna out to the TV's DTV antenna in or use the TV's regular antenna/cable in?

or..

Would you use the HDMI or component inputs on the TV, and would component pass 720p?

My TV is from 2006 and is 720p native and has a marginal older generation ATSC tuner. Everything I get is OTA. I do not have subscription TV of any sort.

Funny thing about that monitor I have: the RGB input is the only one that can't handle interlace. This monitor has a composite, S-Video, component, RGB, two dual link DVI-D, HDMI, and DisplayPort inputs. All of those inputs handle interlaced inputs except the RGB input.

That and the many inconsistent, inconvenient behaviors of the firmware on this monitor make me believe that the firmware was implemented by Samsung. It was so annoying, I bought a IOGear GCS1204 4 input dual link DVI KVM to switch inputs (that works great, much better than the Belken RGB KVM I had on my old monitor).

I also already have two component to RGB translators. I used them for converting the Samsung Sir-T165 component to RGB on my old monitor and the Component to RGB on my PS3 on my old monitor. Remember that the Samsung tuner already has an RGB output, but I had to use the component because Samsung decided that their DRM would not allow upconverted component inputs from my PS2 to be output on the RGB port, only DVI and component outputs. I could not use the PS2 through the component to RGB translator directly, because my old monitor could not handle 480i inputs. The other thing I learned with this experience is that my old monitor could not handle the timing of component 1080p converted to RGB (sync pulse is too short).

You would hook both the antenna out and the HDMI to your TV. This way when the box was off, you could use your TV as it is now (the box passes the cable through when it is off), and when the box is on, you would use the HDMI or component input on your monitor (the box only outputs analog TV on one channel when it is on)
Yes, you can get 720P or 1080i through component

Thank you. I hope I don't have to buy a new tuner, but it's nice to know I can easily hook one up. Explaining this to the family will be fun: "No, to watch TV you push the HDMI button." At that point, I guess I'll just need to get a good universal remote. The one that came with the TV is supposed to be universal...HA!

Can anyone comment on 502's ability to adjust the aspect ratios when outputting over HDMI? Specifically, if I'm watching a sub-channel that is in 480i (and thus 4:3) I want to make sure I can force the box to display it in 4:3. My Vizio VP505VXT's internal tuner displays digital 480i signals in 16:9 and won't allow me to pillarbox them, which drives me nuts.

I moved some cables and input settings around, and then when I reconnected the HDMI and Optical, the 'TV/CBL' input label started using the HDMI audio by default, just like the other input labels had been. However, I now see there is indeed a setting to have it use the 'Digital' (Optical in this case) audio, rather than the 'HDMI' (PCM in this case) audio.

Most online retailers are out of stock at the moment.

By the looks of what I'm reading here, this is the HD OTA box to have. I have a Zenith DTT901 SD CECB box that has the best tuner I have ever seen for weak signal reception. Does anyone know how this ZAT-502 compares to the DTT901? Same amount of weak signal sensitivity?? Same weak signal detection???

I like to DX, and the one thing I like about the Zenith is the ability to show signal way way below the ability to lock onto it. This lets you know there is a signal out there. Most of the receivers I have tried do not. The DTV PAL PLUS I had for a short time would only show signal if it was strong enough to lock. Same with my sat rx boxes. Does this 502 show weak signal indication (bars) for signals below the lock level like the 901?

I plan on getting one (or two if I like it) when they are back in stock. I have two older HD monitors that need receivers. I plan on ditching the sat receivers to save money.

Thanks!

Phil

Hi everyone, longtime lurker, first time poster.

I just got off the phone with a guy at Centronics Customer Service. He couldn't have been nicer in accepting a pre-order for the ZAT502 HD.

Since this is my first post, I can't post clickable URLs. copy and paste this: centronics.com/product.php?id=48 (lowest price I could find, also, they'll have it first)

He pretty much admitted to me that they were caught with their pants down on this item during the DTV transition. He was laughing about how last year, they could barely give these boxes away! Now, it's a hot item. He also said that he owns one of these boxes personally, and it's good for him. I told him that I heard about it here on the AVS forums, and he said to say thanks to everyone for talking this box up.

We ended the conversation with the info that the box *SHOULD* be in and ready to ship within the next 2 weeks, hopefully and possibly sooner. He said that he just got confirmation from the manufacturing plant that all the units were ready, and were just waiting on boxing/packaging, so definitely soon.

Cheers

The tuner in the Zenith is designed by LG, the ATSC patent holder for Digital TV reception. It's generally noted as being one of the best DTV tuners ever available. Unfortunately, I don't know that anyone has ever directly compared the 502 to the 901, and this topic has all the info on the 502 that's known at this time.

I guess we'll wait until you compare them.

I've scanned thru the thread a bit, and noted that it'd gotten hard to find the Centronics ZAT 502 HD.

Is there anyplace where you CAN order them now?

Read the post just above mine. It's available to order, and will ship in about 10 days.

I bought a STB that is exactly like this one but the model number on the back of the User Manual says DTA1100HD. I don't see Centronics ZAT502HD written anywhere. I bought it from RTC Electronics in Mississauga Ontario Canada.

The 502 manual actually doesn't have a brand name or model number on it anywhere. The model number only shows on the bottom of the tuner itself, on a sticker. I bet your manual cover looks LIKE THIS.

I don't have that sticker on the bottom of mine. My remote didn't work. So I was looking for information on model DTA1100HD because it didn't have a manufacturer name or info to claim the 90-day warranty in the manual. I'm glad I found RTC's receipt because it had a 7 day refund/exchange.

BTW RTC sells the product as DTA1100HD. I guess they didn't know that ZAT502HD is the more popular model name for it. Or maybe they got theirs direct from the manufacturing plant?

If it's no trouble can someone post a picture of the box it came in?

The box is generic too, with no mention of a brand name or model number.

Centronics does not manufacturer this product. They buy it from the factory, just like RTC does.