[northbear]

Hello,


Just purchased a used 32 HD-ready TV set (Sony KV32HS420). This is a 4:3 aspect ratio CRT with one HDMI and two HD Composite inputs. Was looking at what my options were for receiving OTA ATSC signals. After reading up here I am narrowing in on a couple of options but am open to any suggestions


Option 1: Keep my current Channel Master CM-7000 (not a HD box) which actually produces a quite good picture via s-video.

---Obviously this is the most cost effective option but probably the lowest PQ


Option 2: Purchase a Hisense USDTV db2010 Digital Tuner from ebay for around $45

---Good price, HD outputs, but older tuner and defunct company. But updated software located here



Option 3: Purchase a Samsung DTB-H260F. Cost Approx. $110 - $180

---Seems like the most mainstream OTA STB out there but seems to have its own issues

and if I am going to own a box with issues I would rather it be cheaper then this.


Secondary options -


Option 4: DTVPal DVR. Cost $250

---Again seems to have some issues, cost is fairly high and I don't care to own bleeding edge hardware.


Option 5: Buy a computer tuner Card. Cost: Around $90 (plus computer)

---I like the idea of setting up a MythTV box but not sure I will get to it soon enough


Right now I am kind of leaning towards the Hisense


Any thoughts or suggestions?


Thanks for the help!

 

[nybbler]

KWorld also makes a box (SA290-Q) for $60 (Component only) or $100 (with DVI), and they are still in business.

 

[northbear]



Quote:
Originally Posted by nybbler /forum/post/15479740


KWorld also makes a box (SA290-Q) for $60 (Component only) or $100 (with DVI), and they are still in business.

I saw that one but it does not have Dolby Digital out and I thought that would be nice if I am upgrading to a HD tuner.


Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[Ken H]



Quote:
Originally Posted by northbear /forum/post/15477959


Hello,



Option 1: Keep my current Channel Master CM-7000 (not a HD box) which actually produces a quite good picture via s-video.

---Obviously this is the most cost effective option but probably the lowest PQ

Not a good option. Dramatic difference between SD & HD.

Quote:
Option 2: Purchase a Hisense USDTV db2010 Digital Tuner from ebay for around $45


Option 3: Purchase a Samsung DTB-H260F. Cost Approx. $110 - $180

The HDTV STB Synopsis, at the top of this forum, has the following list of HD tuners, minus the ones that don't fit your requirements:


Available Now:

· Centronics ZAT502 HD $70 ATSC, Clear QAM

· Coby DTV-140 $139 ATSC

· Tivax LX1000 $90 ATSC


I would try one of these, before the Hisense.

 

[northbear]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken H /forum/post/15480197


Not a good option. Dramatic difference between SD & HD.


The HDTV STB Synopsis, at the top of this forum, has the following list of HD tuners, minus the ones that don't fit your requirements:


Available Now:

· Centronics ZAT502 HD $70 ATSC, Clear QAM

· Coby DTV-140 $139 ATSC

· Tivax LX1000 $90 ATSC


I would try one of these, before the Hisense.

Sounds like it would be worth investing in a real HD STB rather then the CM-7000. Thanks for that advice.


I was actually working from that list and and the three you mention seem to all have mediocre to poor reviews here and elsewhere online and so I had already dismissed them.


Thanks for your input on the Hisense The reason I was considering is because of the price. But I looked at it again on e-bay and they are selling around $55 with shipping and the guy who is selling them no longer is including the original remote and is now including a universal remote

... I don't think so!


So by process of elimination maybe I should start looking for a good price on the Samsung, unless there are other worthwhile used equipment options available.


Thanks!

 

[Scooper]

Most people with the Samsung are happy with it, but most of them also have 16:9 displays.

 

[Rammitinski]

The Hisense is a good box, and $45.00 is a good deal, even with that remote, but only if distance and multipath aren't big issues for you. It's only a 4th generation tuner.


Otherwise, it has utterly fantastic PQ and a great zoom mode, with no real visible loss of sharpness.

 

[kousikb]

Another hisense supporter here. My hisense performs better than my Olevia's inbuilt tuner at 33 miles with indoor antenna. Lot of times multipath issuess and distance issues can be eliminated by selecting a good antenna. If I were you, I'd consider the samsung only if it's available for less than $100. These days, you can get a decent 37" LCD TV for $600 and even 46" for $700 if you look hard. So why bother spending $200 for a STB.

Getting a 6th gen tuner makes sense, only if you are in a fringe scenario (1Edge, 2Edge) or if you are too close to the transmitter with lots of building nearby. And the Samsung STB is not a 6th gen tuner, so your best bet would be to get a recent release TV (which may have the 6th gen ATSC tuner chip)

 

[northbear]

Thanks to all for responses.


kousikb

I agree completely with your comments about cost of TV's and not dropping $100 plus on a box. I actually purchased this TV because what I really want is a high end 46" LCD TV but don't want to pay the >$1000 for it! So I figured for the time being I could get away with a HD-ready box and a STB for a few years. Also I figured the PQ from this CRT would be better then a cheap LCD (But have not done extensive looking at cheap LCD's)


I actually am not planning on using the remote for whatever box I get as I am planning on using a Universal Remote so maybe a non-original remote is OK. But I do like to have the original (or something that has all the functions) so I can teach my universal remote.


Rammitinski

My antenna is mounted in the attic and I am approx. 23 miles from the towers. My CM-7000 signal meter is typically pegged at 100% but then again it is said to have good sensitivity. I am guessing the Hisence would pick up my signals without too much problem.


See attached TVFool info for my location (if interested)

 

[Rammitinski]



Quote:
Originally Posted by northbear /forum/post/15486094


Rammitinski

My antenna is mounted in the attic and I am approx. 23 miles from the towers. My CM-7000 signal meter is typically pegged at 100% but then again it is said to have good sensitivity. I am guessing the Hisence would pick up my signals without too much problem.

As long as that 100% is stable, and the meter never bounces up and down on any of the channels (indicating multipath), you should be fine with the Hisense then.


The CM-7000 does tend to exaggerate on the signal strength a bit (I know - I have one myself), but if it's stable, then there should be no problem. But the CM is ultra-sensitive compared to the Hisense - so don't expect the SS to register so high, or to pick up any of those "tropo" channels on the TVFool list very often, if ever. 23 miles is normally no problem for the Hisense, though. Even for a first generation tuner.


For a universal remote, get yourself something like a Harmony, and they *should* have the code for the Hisense in their database that will work all the functions (I doubt if the one they give you won't already, though).

 

[BVfan]

I'm using two of my older Directv HD tuners that have ASTC tuners built-in for HD. Just go through the setup and select "no dish".


Maybe find someone who has upgraded selling one of those. I know there are some on ebay, etc. Probably get into one for less than $100.00. But it would be used, no warranty.

 

[northbear]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Rammitinski /forum/post/15486421


As long as that 100% is stable, and the meter never bounces up and down on any of the channels (indicating multipath), you should be fine with the Hisense then.


The CM-7000 does tend to exaggerate on the signal strength a bit (I know - I have one myself), but if it's stable, then there should be no problem. But the CM is ultra-sensitive compared to the Hisense - so don't expect the SS to register so high, or to pick up any of those "tropo" channels on the TVFool list very often, if ever. 23 miles is normally no problem for the Hisense, though. Even for a first generation tuner.


For a universal remote, get yourself something like a Harmony, and they *should* have the code for the Hisense in their database that will work all the functions (I doubt if the one they give you won't already, though).

Not sure if it is 100% **all** the time, but whenever I randomly check the station (just for fun) it is at 100%. Last summer I had a station that was problematic and the signal was bouncing around, but I haven't had any issues for as long as I can remember. It may have been a weather related thing, I don't remember. Maybe I will check all my stations again tonight.


I don't (and do not care about trying to) pickup any channels other then the LOC (in the green) channels.


My universal remote is a Sony RM-VL600. I will check to see if it has a Hisence code.


Thanks again!

 

[northbear]



Quote:
Originally Posted by BVfan /forum/post/15486986


I'm using two of my older Directv HD tuners that have ASTC tuners built-in for HD. Just go through the setup and select "no dish".


Maybe find someone who has upgraded selling one of those. I know there are some on ebay, etc. Probably get into one for less than $100.00. But it would be used, no warranty.

Interesting option. For this type of option it would have to be cheap for me to bite!

 

[Ken H]



Quote:
Originally Posted by northbear /forum/post/15489007


Interesting option. For this type of option it would have to be cheap for me to bite!

Some of the older DirecTV HD receivers still are pretty good at OTA reception. I always liked the LG LSS-3200a. The Hughes HTL-HD, Sony SAT-HD300, DirecTV H10 were also Ok.

 

[northbear]

Well I decided to take a chance on the hisense box. I will let you know what I think of it.


PS I think it is cool that it runs a version of Linux

 

[evanland]

Just the thread that I needed! I just bought an HR20-700 off Craigslist. According to the seller, he bought it from the previous owner who leased the box (instead of purchased) from DirecTV, and now DirecTV will not activate it. Fine by me. He also took out the hard drive to use in a PC. The Smart card is still in the slot.

SO.

It powers up, but after a half hour, it's still stuck on "Step 1 of 2: Checking Satellite settings..."


Can someone point me to a resource on how to use this as an OTA HD set top box only?

I've tried to find info on my own, but all I've found deals with when the tuners in this model were activated back in Dec. 2006.


Thanks!

Erik

 

[evanland]

bump

 

[Ken H]

See if you can get it out of set up mode, and into non-DBS reception.

 

[evanland]

Thanks for the reply, Ken.


I installed a hard disk, and now it gets a little farther, but still no joy. It completes the boot process, but gets stuck on:


Searching for signal on Satellite In

1 & 2...(771)


It's not connected to a dish, so of course it can't find anything. I can push the Menu button, but the only available option is "Signal Strength." I can go into the signal strength menu, but I can't seem to come out on the other side of that process. I can go through a few screens and eventually get to a screen that tells me it found zero satellites, and gives me three options:


Repeat Satellite Setup

Test Signal Strength

Continue; Fix Later


I select Continue; Fix Later, and it tries to download the program guide data, (again, with no dish, that ain't gonna happen) and the progress bar sits at 0%. There's no option to move past that screen, and that seems to be the end of the options.


I found this online:
http://www.sbcatest.com/DTV-MD-0058-...llers-V2.2.pdf

And tried to do some of the Key combos (Active+Up, Active+Right) but they didn't have any effect. The pdf says, "The shortcut keys may not work if user interface graphics are on the screen instead of video," and I can't get to a point where the UI isn't on the screen.


Thanks for any help. My wife'll think I'm a jeen-yus if I can get this to work.

 

[northbear]

Thought I note on this thread that I have posted my thoughts on this box here:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...7#post15594997