Hd Converter Needed

[Bighasse]

HELLO,

LAST YEAR I PURCHASED A MITSUBISHI WS48413 WIDE SCREEN TELEVISION FOR MY WIFE. THE TELEVISION IS HD READY BUT DOES NOT HAVE THE TUNER WHICH CAN RECEIVE THE HD SIGNAL.

WE DO NOT HAVE A DISH OR CABLE SYSTEM AS WE LIVE OUT IN THE COUNTRY. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO GET A TUNER THAT WILL WORK WITH MY EXISTING TV CONTROLLER. MY MOTHER IN LAW HAS 3 CONTROLLERS TO WATCH ONE TV SET.

I WENT TO YOUR LOCAL TELEVISION STORE AND THEY HAD 2 UNITS AVAILABLE: 1-RCA DISCH NETWORK BOX FOR $300.00 2-LG UNIT THAT WAS A DVD / HD TUNER FOR $350.00.

IS IT WORTH WHILE TO PURCHASE A COMBO UNIT OR SHOULD ONE STICK TO HAVING SINGLE UNITS?

I AM LOOKING FOR ANY SUGGESTIONS ON WHAT KIND OF TUNER TO BUY AND WHERE TO BUY?

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!

SINCERELY,

BIGHASSE :cheers:

[DOORZ]

I would at least check in your area to see what channels are being broadcast OTA. Once you get a tuner, you will also need an antenna to pick up these channels. As there were only 2 channels (CBS and FOX) that my cable company didn't carry, I went and bought an indoor antenna that works great for picking up ALL of my local OTA HD channels.

I can't make and suggestions as for which tuner to get, as my TV has a built in tuner. I prefer individual pieces of equipment, rather than combo units, but that's just me.

[kevinw]

When you say country, do you mean, over 50 miles from a major broadcast area? IS there HD availble over the air (OTA)?
Check www.antennaweb.org for stations. If you can not get a reliable signal no need in buying an OTA only receiver.
Dish will give you a free HD tuner with subscription.

[mjones73]

Check antennaweb.org and see what channels are in your area broadcasting digitally. Post the results back here. The LG combo unit isn't a bad choice if you need a DVD player also, the LG 4200A is another tuner to look at, it's just a stand alone OTA tuner.

[Bighasse]

Thanks for the questions.

I am located approximately 30 miles from Madison Wisconsin and Rockford Illinois which are the local stations for my area.

I have installed a Winegard MS-2000 antenna so I am ready for HD, I just need to get a receiver.

Anymore suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Todd :patriot:

[Bighasse]

Here is the list of the local HD television stations for my area:

STATION CHANNEL LOCATION MILES
uhf WISC-DT 3.1 CBS MADISON WI 11° 31.7 50
uhf WKOW-DT 27.1 ABC MADISON WI 11° 31.7 26
uhf WHA-DT 21.1 PBS MADISON WI 11° 31.7 20
uhf WMTV-DT 15.1 NBC MADISON WI 15° 31.9 19
vhf WMSN-DT 47.1 FOX MADISON WI 11° 31.7 11

Thanks again,

Todd

[kevinw]

Thanks for the questions.

I am located approximately 30 miles from Madison Wisconsin and Rockford Illinois which are the local stations for my area.

I have installed a Winegard MS-2000 antenna so I am ready for HD, I just need to get a receiver.

Anymore suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Todd :patriot:
Are you between Rockford and Madsion? Either way if you want both cities you will need an a rotator. I would consider the Samsung SIR-T351. They have been about 2-250 at Circuit City. Orf Ebay http://search.ebay.com/Samsung-SIR-T351_Consumer-Electronics_W0QQcatrefZC6QQfcclZ1QQfclZ3QQfromZR10QQfrppZ50QQfsooZ2QQfsopZ2QQftrtZ1QQftrvZ1QQsacatZ293QQsatitleZSamsungQ20SIRQ2dT351QQsbrftogZ1QQsofocusZbs

[mjones73]

The LG 4200A is also worth checking out.

[D.Russell]

You can pickup a Refurbished Samsung T-351 for $169.00 ( Free Shipping)

http://7e4.com/

Have had mine for awhile now,works good !

[Rich]

I think the LG is superior to the Samsung, and less buggy. Just my opinion.

[kevinw]

I think the LG is superior to the Samsung, and less buggy. Just my opinion.
Less buggy how? I personly don't care but just to enhance my knowledge. What bugs does the Samsung have and which issues does the LG have.

[Rich]

I can't remember the specifics of the Sammy ota tuner problems, except for issues with the optical audio connections. However, I know there have been many threads with people complaining about the Sammy ota receivers, and firmware corrections for problems, etc. A search here or on avs forum would probably turn up quite a few. I also remember complaints on Circuit City's customer feedback site, though I cant rembember what they were. I ended up mail ordering the LG because I did not trust the Sammys. The only LG tuner bug I can remember is that units like my 3100A sometimes "locked up" when presented with subchannels on QAM. I do not think the 4200A has this problem.

[Rich]

Ok, just checked out the stb part of this forum. Currently there seems to be a persistent audio synch problem of some kind with the Sammy t-351. This is the kind of thing I remember reading about often over the past year or so. For some reason, they seem to have a lot of little problems with their boxes.

[kevinw]

Thanks, RIch

I had one for about a month with no issues/ BUT I did not use it much, I still had the 811. I questioned it , because I sold the Box to a friend who has never mentioned a word about it being a problem.

Good recomendations about the LG. Even newer technology..than the Samsung

[Rich]

Your buddy probably never had a problem. Your old stb may have been fine, or he may have never used the features with the problems. I do not know if my 3100A will lock up in QAM because I do not have any QAM channels at present. I do not know if its surround sound works because I do not have a SS receiver. I do not know if the dvi output works on the 3100A or if the dvi input works on the tv because I never hooked it up, etc. Jeesh! Here I am going on about the stb and the tv and I do not even know if half of it works! Grain of salt indeed.