Wait and use only OTA only STB for now???

[r8ed3x]

Hello all! Real quick here....as I sit here staring out my window (the new tv is scheduled to be here any minute:D ) I'm trying to decide what to do in terms of HD programming. Because I think my local cable provider (comcast) is "supposed" to have HD programming coming soon, and the fact that I really don't want to buy any Dish/Direc hardware that might need switched because of a possible merger, do all you with the higher knowledge of all this think going with an OTA only STB makes sense for at least the time being? If so......do I really have any options in that market? All I hear about is the Samsung T150 (I think thats the model???)......and I thought I remember reading that it didn't have very good reviews (although I could be wrong there)??? Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!!!

[Ratman]

Food for thought.

In regard to HD,
With Scumcast... have to sub to digital service @$50+ per month.
Then add another ~$11 per month to rent the HD sidecar (or buy it for $300).
If you want Showtime or HBO, add another $16 per month.
Comcrap total... ~$80 per month for ABC and NBC (least amount of HD) NO CBS (most HD), and perhaps a PBS station and perhaps some Sportsnet.

Satellite...
No locals in HD (Maybe CBS with Dish). Basic sub approx. $40 per month. Add HBO or Showtime $13. Total = ~$50

OTA...
Buy a receiver (one time cost at ~$399), buy an antenna ~$50 (one time cost). Get all DC and perhaps Balt digital broadcasts.

STB (OTA and Satellite)...
Buy a receiver $399 and up (open box at CC or BB may be cheaper). Get OTA right away... satellite down the road (need to buy an satellite dish). Best of both worlds! If you want HBO or Showtime.

[r8ed3x]

I agree......"scumcast" (as you call it) was my last choice......I had planned on waiting to see whatever happened with this merger thing??? I know they share satellites now, but are they going to combine into one service and create all new hardware for people to buy??? I would hate to go spend 400-500 on a receiver and have to buy another one if/when that goes through. Of course I want HD NOW!!! After spending $2000 for the set I want to use the dang thing.....so at the very least I'll be getting an OTA receiver. Is it worth it to spend the extra couple hundred on a receiver that is Direc and OTA now? or should I wait to see what happens with those services and go for the OTA only? Thanks again Ratman! - Rob

P.s. just to clarify - I wasn't meaning you were "harsh" as in mean, I was just stating that I appreciate the direct, straight-up, non-politcally correct, non-sugarcoated advice! :D

[Ratman]

r8,
Truthfully, I don't think anyone knows for sure what the outcome will be with the proposed merger! I have have read stuff that predicts conflicting information. So, it's up in the air still.

My thought is this... unless you have a real need to get HBO/Showtime, then go with a Samsung OTA only receiver. It will at least allow you to get OTA today and the foreseeable future with more programming than satellite or cable.

Then, if you decide to go to satellite in the future (if and when more HD programming is added and the merger is completed) or do cable, you can always sell the Sammy (for a few hundred bucks) and upgrade to a new/compatible satellite STB or use the cable STB that you rent (and keep the Sammy as a 'backup').

I can't see paying either provider over $50 per month for a few HD programs. And... pay for HBO/Showtime that plays the same movies that you can rent on DVD. True... DVD isn't HD, but pretty darn nice!

[kevinw]

I concur.. OTA is a wise choice..If your not a premuim channel person now, HD is not going to change your habits. Well you may watch some bad shows just to see what they look like in hd but that's something else.

Outside of Hdnet. The rest have no appeal. I like DVD's and the flexibility of watching when you want to not based on a program schedule.

I have OTA only tuner and I am also waiting for all the transition and eventual competition from cable and satelite to wash out.

[r8ed3x]

1.)Thanks guys......thats probably what I'll do for now. Is there only one Samsung model, or do I need to do some research on the different ones they make?
2.)Also, just got the tv yesterday (50HDX82) which is my first RPTV......so I turned all the extras off, did the 9 pt convergence (which seems to be a joke.....I'm anxious to get to the 56), and dropped everything down to 50% for now (I have AVIA ordered and on its way)....is that all I should do until I get about 100 hours viewing time?
3.)Any recomendations on a couple good DVD's (on an SD-5109) to watch to see picture quality??? I went and rented Star Wars Ep. 1 last night figuring I couldn't go wrong w/George Lucas quality and was very impressed! Any others with "stunning" visuals?

Thanks again for the assistance!!! :D

p.s. I'm just fine with cables and wires and stuff.....but don't have alot of experience as a "handyman", so how difficult is it to run an antenna cable (which I'm assuming is just reg RG6?) from an attic of a multilevel house to the basement??? :(

(hey Kev......5 days till "doomsday"......you sweatin yet?????):cool:

[JoeInBH]

That is exactly what I did - got a Samsung SIR-T151 (after playing around with the T150 model for several months) - and am waiting on my cable company to catch up with HD. I (well, mostly my fiancee) would appriciate HBO HD, but I didn't want to choose between the satellite companies and end up locking myself in with at least a year contract. Once my cable company has my basic local stations and HBO in HD, I'll sell my T151 on eBay and go with cable.

Regarding the Samsung boxes, I posted a review awhile back on here you might want to look for, but the T150 is the older model, while the T151, is a newer, although lower-end model. You can get either for $350-$400. The T151 has a more sensitive tuner, although the T150 still beats any other box on the market. Other than that, they're pretty similar boxes - and I'd recommend going with whatever you can get cheaper, unless you think you're really going to want that little bit of extra sensitivity (on the fringe for getting reception or easy indoor reception) in which case the T151 is better.

Joe