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draganm
Joined: 08 Mar 2006
Posts: 8990
Location: Colorado
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| Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 7:40 pm Post subject: I just swtiched to DTV! |
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Like most other America's i've been putting this off, scared of all the doom and gloom predictions about no reception, bad reception, need for new expensive antenna's, etc. Well last week I got the $40. coupon and went to Target (sold out) . Great thought I, they're all gone. So instead of walmart went to K-mart and found a Zenith for $50. yay!
So after $14. out of pocket I bring this thing home and expect the worst. Was I surprised when I hooked it up and had it look for channels through my Rabbit ear antenna. It found 20 high quality channels, over 3 times what I had before and ALL were 100% improved in pic and sound  Most of these also appear to be high def 1080i so i'm getting a really nice picture on my new to me (Craigslist used $160.) Samsung HD picture tube TV.
I can't believe it, for once a government program has brought benefit to my house for only $14. out of my pocket. We have 4 times as many PBS shows and even a weather channel for free. This set-up replaced my 15 year old 27" sony pic tube which died 2 months ago. So if your waiting till the last minute, and your in area not obstructed by mountains, get out there and make the switch. IT's worth every penny.
BTW, While at target I looked at some of the new 1080P $1000. LCD TV's. All I can say is I feel sorry for anyone stupid enought to buy one. the pic i'm getting is so mcuh better for $174.
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Clarence
Joined: 08 Mar 2006
Posts: 3827
Location: Smith Mtn Lake, VA
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| Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 7:58 pm Post subject: |
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My mom did the same thing (used the gov voucher for a DTV box on her rabbit ears TV). She reported the same results... lots of channels received, lots of subchannels, crystal clear images.
I told her to wait until she saw the picture on a HDTV. (She has seen HDTV in my HT and loves it, but my parents enjoy being thrifty with SDTV and rabbit ears).
She sent in for additional vouchers using other friends and family member's addresses...they all have cable/sat so she's going to use their free DTV converter on her other TVs.
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AnalogRocks
Forum Moderator
Joined: 08 Mar 2006
Posts: 26706
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
TV/Projector: Sony 1252Q, AMPRO 4000G
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| Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 8:00 pm Post subject: |
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Excellent! The Zenith isn't a highdef tuner. I have one here. BUT it does have a nice picture for sure. What model Samsung TV did you buy? YOu know you can get a Samsung HD tuner at best buy for about $170. It's a nice tuner, had component and HDMI output and one of it's best featuers is the 1 week tv listings. I bought one for my GF's D50. She loves it.
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ecrabb
Forum Moderator
Joined: 13 Mar 2006
Posts: 15909
Location: Utah
TV/Projector: JVC RS40, Epson 5010
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| Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 8:33 pm Post subject: |
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Wait, I'm confused... Dragan, you mean this is the first time you've had a way to receive OTA HD in your house? Really?
If you've got a Samsung tube HDTV, you should at LEAST get a real HD OTA box for it, not a stupid SD coupon eligible box. Even on a softer tube TV, I bet true HD would look really nice compared to HD down-converted to SD.
You can get a nice, used OTA HD tuner for <$50, now. The tuner probably isn't quite as good as in the Zenith you bought, but the PQ should be far superior.
SC
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Clarence
Joined: 08 Mar 2006
Posts: 3827
Location: Smith Mtn Lake, VA
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| Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 9:00 pm Post subject: |
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| ecrabb wrote: | | You can get a nice, used OTA HD tuner for <$50, now. The tuner probably isn't quite as good as in the Zenith you bought, but the PQ should be far superior. |
I was going to get this one for my mom when we visit at Easter...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815260022
$59
http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Atsc-HDtv-Tuner-Receiver/dp/B001IWOB36/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1233175424&sr=1-9
Component and VGA outputs at 1080i
Plus, I like the "USB photo frame" feature...
"Transform your monitor into a television or give your old NTSC a new lease on life with the Kworld SA290-Q LE external TVBox. This external tuner turns your display into a digital television as it receives both the new over-the-air broadcast digital High Definition video as well as being able to display unencrypted digital cable signals without a set-top box. No computer is required to view images in up to 1080i resolution in 4:3 or widescreen 16:9 aspect ratios.
Connect to your monitor with the VGA output or to a television through the Composite or Component video outputs. Switch between PC, VGA and TV outputs with the flick of a switch. Turn your display into a digital photo frame and display still JPG images on your screen or play MP3 files through the speakers using the USB input. A 36-button infrared remote control is included for your convenience and the Power Smart feature acts as a sleep timer. "
decent reviews: "I live in Toledo Ohio and I was getting just the local tv stations (18 in all), but with the K-world tuner hooked up I am pulling stations in from as far as Detroit Mich, and Windsor Canada which is about 60 miles away. In all I am now getting a total of 62 hdtv stations "
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Tom.W
Joined: 09 Mar 2006
Posts: 6635
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| Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 9:15 pm Post subject: |
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Can you use the DTV converter coupons on these and if so where ?
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AnalogRocks
Forum Moderator
Joined: 08 Mar 2006
Posts: 26706
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
TV/Projector: Sony 1252Q, AMPRO 4000G
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| Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 9:18 pm Post subject: |
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| Tom.W wrote: | | Can you use the DTV converter coupons on these and if so where ? |
Nope. Nothing that outputs high def is coupon eligible.
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WanMan
Joined: 19 Mar 2006
Posts: 10270
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| Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 10:28 am Post subject: |
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| AnalogRocks wrote: | | Tom.W wrote: | | Can you use the DTV converter coupons on these and if so where ? |
Nope. Nothing that outputs high def is coupon eligible. |
Which is just stupid, illustrating the waste of federal monies (our tax dollars) on another terrible welfare program.
I feel bad for those old farts with youngins on this board who wouldn't spend the money on them for true HDTV. 
Of course, my parents are dead. 
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AnalogRocks
Forum Moderator
Joined: 08 Mar 2006
Posts: 26706
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
TV/Projector: Sony 1252Q, AMPRO 4000G
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| Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 4:15 pm Post subject: |
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| WanMan wrote: | | AnalogRocks wrote: | | Tom.W wrote: | | Can you use the DTV converter coupons on these and if so where ? |
Nope. Nothing that outputs high def is coupon eligible. |
Which is just stupid, illustrating the waste of federal monies (our tax dollars) on another terrible welfare program.
I feel bad for those old farts with youngins on this board who wouldn't spend the money on them for true HDTV.
Of course, my parents are dead. |
That last line just makes you the "good son"
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draganm
Joined: 08 Mar 2006
Posts: 8990
Location: Colorado
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| Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 7:29 pm Post subject: |
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| ecrabb wrote: | | Wait, I'm confused... Dragan, you mean this is the first time you've had a way to receive OTA HD in your house? Really?SC |
well I guess not, oops 
The picture was so clear compared to the analog signal I jsut assumed it was HD 1080i, but I guess according to you guys its' down converting everything to 480i? Can it really be 480i, it looks better than that.
I might try the Box Clarence linked to, Sounds pretty promising for $59. and it should pick up more channels too right?
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AnalogRocks
Forum Moderator
Joined: 08 Mar 2006
Posts: 26706
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
TV/Projector: Sony 1252Q, AMPRO 4000G
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| Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 12:41 am Post subject: |
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No same channels just in HD. Check the reviews on that box before you buy. Or just wait like we all do for CLarence to buy one and get his nod. 
Of couse only the channels that are broadcast in HD will be HD
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Clarence
Joined: 08 Mar 2006
Posts: 3827
Location: Smith Mtn Lake, VA
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| Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 1:21 am Post subject: |
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I'm tempted to buy one to play with. We have 2 HDTVs hooked up to cable, but without cable boxes/DVRs, so they only get SD basic cable. But with this, I could feed it QAM (we're too far to get decent OTA) and get 1080i for at least the network channels.
From what I saw, the biggest limitation was that the audio was 2 channel only.
There's another KWORLD model that adds DVI-D for $20 more.
It's a shame that the gov't voucher isn't good for HD boxes... why should they care if you apply $40 towards a $49 SD box or a $59 HD box? Actually, I think the voucher program is stupid and mismanaged... billions of dollars spent and 90% of the people still don't realize it doesn't affect cable/sat users... only rabbit-ear TVs. And the recent extension is even stupider... at least turn it off for 24 hours on the planned date, then have ads in the paper that day that say "if your TV doesn't work today, you need a converter box" and have TV commercials the next day that say "if your TV didn't work yesterday, you need a converter box."
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AnalogRocks
Forum Moderator
Joined: 08 Mar 2006
Posts: 26706
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
TV/Projector: Sony 1252Q, AMPRO 4000G
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| Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 1:31 am Post subject: |
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Ohhh they extended it eh? Interesting I didn't hear about that.
Yeah when I was buying the Samsung HD box at Best Buy I tried the coupon. The system wouldn't recognize the SKU for the HD box and that was that.
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HD done right!
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Clarence
Joined: 08 Mar 2006
Posts: 3827
Location: Smith Mtn Lake, VA
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| Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 2:49 am Post subject: |
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| AnalogRocks wrote: | | Ohhh they extended it eh? Interesting I didn't hear about that. |
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/01/27/digital.tv.transition.delay/index.html
| cnn.com wrote: | Senate OKs delay of digital TV transition
Overcoming partisan divisions, the Senate on Monday night unanimously voted to delay the digital television transition until June 12.
Senate Republicans earlier this month blocked a bill to delay the national switch from analog television broadcasting to digital broadcasting, which was originally scheduled for February 17.
The so-called DTV Delay Act, though, was brought back to the Senate floor after Democrats and Republicans in the Senate reached a compromise.
The approved bill would allow television stations to switch to digital signals before the June 12 deadline if they are ready, for the vacated spectrum to be allocated to public safety services.
The coupon program to subsidize digital converter boxes is also extended under the legislation, allowing consumers with expired coupons to apply for new ones.
Since the coupon program ran out of money, hundreds of thousands of consumers have been waiting for a coupon.
"I firmly believe that our nation is not yet ready to make this transition at this time," said Sen. John Rockefeller (D-West Virginia), chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.
"The Senate acted responsibly to give the Obama administration time to attempt to bring order to a mismanaged process."
The House Energy and Commerce Committee is scheduled to review its own version of the digital TV delay bill Tuesday morning. |
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WanMan
Joined: 19 Mar 2006
Posts: 10270
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| Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 12:38 pm Post subject: |
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Actually they did not. The Senate voted in favor of a[nother] delay, but the House of Reps did not.
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