View Full Version : Ota Hdtv
tycush1
02-24-2002, 11:27 AM
If I install an antenna to receive local OTA HD, do I still need the set-top-box? I don't have sat. service and don't want it right now. If the answer is yes, I need one, is there one that does not require directtv service? Thank You.... (I have a Hitachi 53 widescreen)
kevinw
02-24-2002, 01:27 PM
Like me I do not have a need for satelite. Samsung offers the only current Stb on the market with out a connection to Dish/Direct. Pioneer/Sharp made one a couple of years back but it has been discontinued.. So yes to get HD over the air you will need a STB and an antenna.
AdminJoe
02-24-2002, 08:15 PM
Samsunt sirt150 receives OTA only.
Thats what you need.
zarlor
02-25-2002, 10:49 AM
I do believe you need a STB, but it actually depends ont eh model fo TV you have. I THING you have an HD-Ready TV, not an HDTV with internal tuner, but if you did have one with an internal tuner you would not need a STB. What is the Model Number of your set so we could find out for certain?
tycush1
02-25-2002, 11:37 AM
Thanks for the posts... My widescreen is HD ready - does not have internal tuner. Looks like I'll need a STB. Does anyone know where I can fing the Samsung 150 for a good price (or the one that does not require directTV)? Thank You - again!
kevinw
02-25-2002, 11:58 AM
Best I have seen so far is Best Buy for- 600.00.
It seems that the price of boxes are going up. Most Reatilers do not seem to have any in stock.:mad:
zarlor
02-25-2002, 12:05 PM
I've never looked at the price of those. The RCA DTC-100 can usually be found for around US $500. You don't NEED DirecTV to use it as an OTA tuner. It will just work as a DirecTV tuner if you were to decide to go that route at some point in time. I would have guessed that some other strictly OTA tuners would be cheaper, but most of the ones I've seen don't run for less than $600. Go figure.
I just did a quick search on the net, though and found thisSIRT150 (http://www.lgdsuperstore.com/sirt150.html) for $515. I can't speak for the company, though, that was just one that come up. Then again I just found a DTC100 here (http://www.spectravox.com/dtc100.html) for $423.
Just use a search engine, like Google, and put in the model number of the item you are looking for. The deals will just smack you in the face within the first five pages of a search. Of course you can't always trust the reputability of the companies you're buying from, so caveat emptor.
Good luck!
stovetop
02-25-2002, 12:14 PM
http://shop.store.yahoo.com/emartus/samsirhddec.html
Has the samsung for 499.00. It's a *generic* store though.. so as always, beware.
I'm really looking into a HDTV receiver, too.. the samsung seems like something I'd really like. I don't plan on getting sattellite any time soon.. How much are you guys paying for the Sattellite service??
zarlor
02-25-2002, 12:22 PM
I use Bell ExpressVu out of Canada because none of the locals here in New Orleans are broadcasting digitally yet and I can get US network programming through them. My sat service costs were the costs for a reciever and normal 18" dish (BEV has only one satellite for all their programming), approx. $50/yr to a Canadian Adress broker, who orders my service and passes teh BEV chages to my credit card, and the Service itself, which comes out to around US $20/month for the package I have.
DirecTV and StarChoice tend to be a bit more expensive but do offer, generally, a bit better variety of programming. I'd love to get HDO-HD and HDNet, but BEV doesn't have those (and I can't get a clear line-of-site to the US satellites from my apartment). They do get some of it, though (like The Sopranos in HD and Band of Brothers in HD.) Although if you are a big Hockey fan you just can't beat those Canadian companies. Oh, and you wouldn't be able to order any of their PPV programming since you must keep your phone line disconnected from the reciever. (One of those Canadian laws...)
