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Do FTA Satellite Boxes have NTSC OTA Tuners?

post #1 of 14
1/9/11 at 8:30pm
Thread Starter 
I am in need of a digital tuner box to get free OTA programming. It's not real clear what options I have. I had a Samsung model that just died. It got the job done to get free HDTV but it was very slow and sometimes lost signal.

So I'm trying to find a better replacement and I don't understand what the right models are. I have found many FTA satellite receiver boxes but it is not clear if they have NTSC tuners built-in. It would also be nice to have PVR so I was looking at the Coolsat 7100 but have also stumbled upon the Sonicview models.

Will this give me what I need since I am only using an antenna not a satellite? Any other recommendations?

Thanks!
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post #2 of 14
1/9/11 at 8:50pm
What country are you in?
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post #3 of 14
1/9/11 at 9:18pm
Thread Starter 
Usa
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post #4 of 14
1/9/11 at 11:56pm
You don't want an NTSC tuner. NTSC tuners are for analog. You want an ATSC tuner.
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post #5 of 14
1/10/11 at 3:57am
I've never heard of a product that tunes both ATSC and FTA. You might query over at satelliteguys.us in their FTA section and ask there.

I see that the Coolsat 7100 sells pretty cheap. Probably that and a Channel Master DVR will be the cheapest and most convenient way to go.
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post #6 of 14
1/10/11 at 5:12am
The Sonicview HD8000 will do what you want
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post #7 of 14
1/10/11 at 6:18am
Thread Starter 
ATSC is what I meant. Good clarification. I need an ATSC tuner! Thanks for the help all!
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post #8 of 14
1/10/11 at 7:11am
FTA tuners are for DVB-S and DVB-S2 free satellite channels used by some non USA satellite services.
With just an antenna in the USA you want an OTA ATSC tuner.

If you want the unit to also be a PVR then I suggest the following:

http://www.channelmasterstore.com/HD...cm-7000pal.htm

Here are some other possible units:

http://www.hdtvsupply.com/desktophdtuner1.html
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post #9 of 14
1/10/11 at 7:47am
Quote:
Originally Posted by walford View Post
FTA tuners are for DVB-S and DVB-S2 free satellite channels used by some non USA satellite services.
With just an antenna in the USA you want an OTA ATSC tuner.

If you want the unit to also be a PVR then I suggest the following:

http://www.channelmasterstore.com/HD...cm-7000pal.htm

Here are some other possible units:

http://www.hdtvsupply.com/desktophdtuner1.html
There several Free to Air C/Ku-band satellites for US/North American Satellites, you just have to know where to look..

Rob
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post #10 of 14
1/10/11 at 9:33am
Quote:
Originally Posted by AntAltMike View Post
I've never heard of a product that tunes both ATSC and FTA. .
Coolsat 8000 /8100.. tho discontinued..and the Pansat 9000/9200.. and there are a few others such as the SonicViews.

http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trk...All-Categories
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post #11 of 14
1/10/11 at 10:09am
To the OP:
Do you really need/want an FTA (Free to Air/Satellite) receiver or do you just need an ATSC receiver to get local HD programming with an antenna?
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post #12 of 14
1/10/11 at 12:55pm
If I am not mistaken the Sonicview HD8000 will be the cheapest route to get the OTA and PVR with HD recording in one simple package. Can be had new for $179

I personally use 2 of them to record OTA.

I use USB hard drives. So basically unlimited capacity.
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post #13 of 14
1/10/11 at 1:34pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ratman View Post

To the OP:
Do you really need/want an FTA (Free to Air/Satellite) receiver or do you just need an ATSC receiver to get local HD programming with an antenna?

Good clarification. I really only need OTA, not FTA satellite but thought it would be nice to have PVR. It seemed hard to find an OTA ATSC tuner with PVR that didn't have a FTA satellite tuner. I will look at some of the suggestions above.

Thanks

Shea
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post #14 of 14
1/10/11 at 2:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by sheadaniel View Post

Good clarification. I really only need OTA...

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=179095
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