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What do I need to watch digital channels on my HD projector?

post #1 of 10
9/30/07 at 6:44am
Thread Starter 
What hdtv box do I need to watch the clear digital channels from cable on my HD projector? My digital TV can show quite a few of the clear digital channels plus the pay-per-view movies. I'd like to view the same channels on my HD projector which has HDMI, VGA, RGB and video inputs. I also want to hook this box to the surround sound system so the box should have digital audio output.

Thanks in advance.
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post #2 of 10
9/30/07 at 8:03am
Maybe I'm reading this wrong but you should just need a HD cable box from your cable company.
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post #3 of 10
9/30/07 at 10:04am
If you don't want to pay for a cable box from the cable company, a dvd recorder with an atsc tuner might work.

Otherwise, i know lots of folks use HTPCs with HD Tuner cards in them (that's what I use).
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post #4 of 10
9/30/07 at 3:57pm
Be careful about the DVD recorders... even though they now include a Digital Tuner, its only because they can't sell the old style tuners anymore. These are NOT HDTV tuners! New Samsung HDTV tuners have a handshake problem with 1.3a HDMI but they will work just frustratingly.

I use a SIR 160 samsung direct tv receiver, because I own it already and it has a very decent HDTV over-the-air tuner. Outputs via DVI (easy convert to HDMI). They are more then reasonable on the used market. It has a built in cable tuner as well but I do not know if my model will do 'clear' HDTV via the cable, sorry.
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post #5 of 10
10/1/07 at 7:47am
Since you are accessing the signal off Cable, you need a QAM capable HDTV tuner, not just ATSC.
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post #6 of 10
10/1/07 at 8:11am
Quote:
Originally Posted by reconlabtech View Post

Since you are accessing the signal off Cable, you need a QAM capable HDTV tuner, not just ATSC.

Yes, you need a QAM tuner. I used a LG LST-4200 for a while and it worked fine except it required a stronger signal than the cable box, so I had to add an amp ($20-30). You will only clear analog and digital channels. PPV and premium channels will not show.
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post #7 of 10
10/1/07 at 4:07pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by CheapB View Post

Yes, you need a QAM tuner. I used a LG LST-4200 for a while and it worked fine except it required a stronger signal than the cable box, so I had to add an amp ($20-30). You will only clear analog and digital channels. PPV and premium channels will not show.

I do have an amplifier but I do want to see the PPV. I think you need a bidirectional amplifier in order to see PPV? Is your amplifier bidirectional?

I know that you need a QAM but some of those QAM machines like DVRs require the use of SmartCard (which I don't like). Thanks a lot for your and others' input!
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post #8 of 10
10/4/07 at 6:57pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by CheapB View Post

Yes, you need a QAM tuner. I used a LG LST-4200 for a while and it worked fine except it required a stronger signal than the cable box, so I had to add an amp ($20-30). You will only clear analog and digital channels. PPV and premium channels will not show.

Well, I ended up getting a Samsung SIR-T451. It does not have the analog tuner, only digital tuner though. DVI ---> HDMI, optical audio output, up to 1080i, no PIP though. Oh well, as a starter.......
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post #9 of 10
10/5/07 at 1:44am
Quote:
Originally Posted by chillllllllli View Post

I do have an amplifier but I do want to see the PPV. I think you need a bidirectional amplifier in order to see PPV? Is your amplifier bidirectional?

I know that you need a QAM but some of those QAM machines like DVRs require the use of SmartCard (which I don't like). Thanks a lot for your and others' input!

That would be stealing and against rules both legally and here..
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post #10 of 10
10/15/07 at 8:10pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by danieloneil01 View Post

That would be stealing and against rules both legally and here..

What are you talking about? You call people watching clear channels on cable stealing? Give me a break. Why do I need a smartcard to receive free channels mandated by the government?
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