Samsung DTB-H260F ATSC tuner - Page 2

Yes, it was at Brentwood. The price was $179. To be honest, I was looking for any OTA HDTV tuner (to watch the Cardinals play tonight in HD), and that's what they had. Certainly wasn't disappointed with any aspects of it. I ran 720p out to my Sony HS-10 using the cheapo component cables that came with the tuner, and the picture quality was stunning.

How's the reception? How does it compare with any other tuners you've used? Thanks.

This is my first experience with OTA HDTV, so I can't compare to other tuners. I'm < 10 miles from all the towers in town, but I'm using a small, cheap indoor antenna on the first floor of a solid masonry house, with another solid masonry house between me and the towers. I can get 9 channels, but have occasional dropouts -- maybe one half-second freeze per minute -- on most of them. I haven't played with antenna types or placement (much), but hope that will improve things. Sorry for the low-tech content. If there are any specific questions about the unit, I'll do my best to answer.

Does this model have the gray sidebars (that Samsung is famous for), and if so, can you change them to black?

I have two other receivers with fifth generation tuners and this Samsung is not nearly as good as those. The LG-made DirecTV H20 and Fusion USB HDTV receivers are far better.

What made the difference? I understood all three used LGs 5th tuner.

Where were you able to get your hands on a Samsung DTB-H260F? Best Buy?

Hi Joe,
Does the remote give you the ability to add a decimal point ? My older unit leaves me in the dark as far as what the exact channel number is.

thanks........Pete

Evidently only some BB stores are carrying the DTB-H260F for some reason. I went to my local BB store in Mass. and was told that it appeared that only some stores have the product. I called a BB in CA and was told that they do not do phone orders or store transfers. Therefore, it looks like unless you live in an area where BB has it, you are out of luck.

That being said, anyone who's local store is selling one, is will to buy it, ship it to me, and have me pay them via check/MO/PayPal please PM me; thanks!

Purely reception capability. I tested all of them using the same antenna and cable. There were weak signals that both the DirecTV box and Fusion receiver could lock that the Samsung displayed "Weak or No Signal" on.

I seriously doubt this thing has the LG 5th gen because it doesn't measure up.

I got mine at Best Buy. It was the only one they had -- on a shelf in a corner with no sign.

//hdtvexpert.com/pages_b/h260f.html What do you think?

That review talked me into buying it. I've got a bunch of tuners here, but wanted one with a 5th gen LG chip that doesn't require you to put in zip codes/channel scans and subscription to get stations (like the DirecTV receiver does) and doesn't require a computer (like the Fusion does.)

When I got the Samsung home, I compared with those two receivers and an Accurian and RCA ATSC11 receiver. I hooked all of them to the same antenna lead with the antenna in the same direction, checking signal on one, then hooking up to another receiver on three different fringe stations using a Zenith Silver Sensor.

With this test, the RCA was slightly better than the new Samsung. The Accurian was about the same as the Samsung. The RCA and Accurian aren't bad receivers by any stretch, but the Samsung was disappointing given the hype.

If the Samsung has the 5th gen LG chip, they've done something to make it not work as well as other receivers with that chip IMHO.

That's disappointing. Thanks.

How well does the guide work? On my current two Samsung boxes it's virtually worthless. Doesn't display until you tune the channel in question. If you have to tune to each station to get the guide data, might as well just flip channels to find what I want to watch.

I didn't check the guide. I was so disappointed in its reception that I boxed it up for return.

Thanks saw that but I was also hoping someone knew if this new one had firewire. Any suggestion of one with firewire? Seems most have some sort of problem or another.....just like my TV!

I picked up one at a Houston TX area store today. I think there might be two more left in the Houston area. I will try it tonight and let you know my impressions.


Mike

Best Buy is pissing me off ...I called and couldn't get anybody in their TV department so I left a message...a few hours later when I didn't get a call back, I called again and left another message...still no one picking up the phone. Then I called customer service and they put me on hold for 20 minutes and never once asked me if I wanted to continue to hold or if they could assist me. So I hung up and called back...all the lady said was that they were busy and that she would go look for me...knowing that she probably doesn't even know what a HD tuner is, let alone what one looks like(she asked me if it had something to do with satellite radio ) ...she said she would look it up in her computer. She said that the location carries them but they don't have anymore in stock. I told her that they were just released but all she could say is that they might or might not be getting more and that they are the only BB store in the area that carries them

And I have a $50.00 gift card that I wanted to use cuz after that, no more BB since they suck!

Samsung no firewire. Did you see post 19 this thread? I think it's an 04 model.

It's hooked up and working awesome! I'm in Zip code 77584 and have no problems picking up Digital channels that are strong! I've experienced NO drop out.

I use a large outdoor style antenna pointed in the right direction and just laying in the attic of my two story home.

The picture is very clear and the Dolby digital sound through optical out sound great!
The Guide is awesome. Feels like I have satelite. It sometimes takes a while to load info for all the channels, but seams to be doing fine. You can select the channel/program from the guide of all channels and it will go straight to it.

The tuner is faster than the one built in to my Syntax Olivia 37" LCD TV.

I love this thing so far. I can't imagine taking it back.

I am sending the signal to my Panasonic AE900U Front Projector via Component video cables that are about 35' long. No problems here.

I wish the remote was lighted but it is not.

Bye for now, I've got to go watch TV. Heros will be on at 8pm.

Mike
Pearland, TX

Can you tell me the distance to your towers and topography. Reception quality =dropouts etc . More comparison to your previous tuner(s)? Your antenna? Amps? Lenth of cable to STB and any splitters.

I'm 11 miles from the towers.
My antenna cable is about 45' long with one splitter in it.
No amplifier in line.

Reception was great while watching Hero's tonight and now during CSI Miami.
The color is crazy unreal on CSI. Is that show always so pumped on color? It looks cool just too intense.

I'm loving this HDTV tuner!

I previously sent an analog signal for tv channels from a standard VCR as my tuner. This HDTV is obviously a world of diference from that Std def tuner. Sorry I don't have any side by side comparison with another hdtv tuner/

Mike F.

Yeah, CSI can be intense. Thanks for the info.

I don't think this question has been answered yet -- could someone shed some light here please? Thanks ...

Just how gray are the bars?
Is it that distracting?

I did not notice any grey bars. I will have to check to night. Do you mean when the aspect ratio is changed to pillar box?

Most of the channels that where sending out HD signal but had a 4:3 program running appeared to have black side bars. Exception was the Fox network which uses a dark color, maybe blue, with their logo in it?

It is interesting watching tv now days. The aspect ration of tv changes so much. Every commercial is different. Some are 4:3 and others are 16:9 inside of a 4:3 screen so that they end up with black all around. I can't wait until standard def tv is gone!

I also noticed the sound of some comercials is so bad. With the digital out these commercials sound like there is way to much treble. Very hissy. Sounds like digital clipping?

But the shows sound great. I switch the sound input from PCM to Dolby digital on the set top box and my Onkyo receiver came to life! My son looked at me and said "cool". It was very nice and expanded the sound in a very realistic way.

I'm running 7 in ceiling speakers and a powered sub woofer.

Mike F.

If anyone has a link to an online retailer I would appreciate it. I just spent some time looking at all the usual suspects and none have it available.

Robert

Went to BoxBusters today. No luck, but the sales guy was familiar with the unit and had seen it at a Philadelphia store. According to the inventory, none are in this area yet.

I called some Best Buy stores in the Denver area and found a receiver in Broomfield. But the clerk said they only had the one and it was their display model. He checked the warehouse supply and found zero. But because they have a display model, he supposed they'd have some within the next week or two.

Today, I dropped in at the Best Buy, Circuit City and Ultimate on Colorado Blvd. to see if any of them might have it. They didn't. Generally, they all said the same thing, that they should have some in the next couple of weeks. But, I also got that familiar feeling they weren't entirely sure what it was I was talking about.