George

>
>
I was thinking about buying a HDTV receiver in the near future , they were
>pushing the Toshiba DTS3000 at my local stereo store. Would like to hear any
>PRO's and CON's about this unit.
>
>Tnks
>George

Hook n Mouth

I bought this stb about 2 weeks ago. Overall, I would say it is good, the picture quality for OTA HDTV is excellent. Here's what I don't like about it. When you watch a 16:9 broadcast on a 4:3 set, the bars on the top and bottom are grey, and you can't change them to black. To me, grey is too bright and they are hard to ignore. Second, the set up menu is kind of hidden, you have to hit the guide button twice, there is no menu button. Once you know this it is not a problem, but it just seems stupid. When you use component inputs, I only get the option for 1080i, when I change it I lose the picture, I am assuming that either my TV or the receiver doesn't support the other resolution, but there are only 2 supported resolutions, I know other receivers have more. It has digital audio out, component out, S-video out, so it is pretty good there. The grey bar thing is the only thing that really bothers me...

TubeTester

I received my DST3000 yesterday. I hooked it up to my Toshiba 36HF71 and also found the DST3000's menu system a little confusing. This unit is a DirecTV receiver with the ability to process OTA signals. This DTV menu system is the confusing part and it's with all the DTV systems I have used. I do not have the 3LNB Oval dish required to get the two HD channels from DTV so I am going with the OTA for now. I stopped by the RadioShach to get a UHF antenna but they only had the set top bow tie [$17.95]. I hooked it up at 10:30PM last night and did a little surfing with the indoor antenna. I was able to capture 2 digitial signals but I do not think they were using a HD product. The signal was not good inside of my alumn sided home. I will need to get an external antenna this weekend so I can get the WOW.....
I did notice the grey bands around the picture and the jury is still out on that issue...
****

nogascans

I own the DTS3000 set top box which is hooked up to a Pioneer SD-533HD5 Hd ready DTV. I am using the Elipitical Dish with 2 DLNB's. I live in Virginia Beach, Virginia and currnetly pick up 2 local terresteral HDTV broadcasts, Channel 10-1 (31) Wavy TV-10 which operates 24/7 with only Tonight Show so far having been seen in HDTV (gorgeous) and Channel 43-1 (29) WVBT-Fox 43 which is still in testing mode and not transmitting 24/7 yet. Both stations reception is at 100% using DTS3000 with a Terk TV-55 "bar style antenna" mounted on an outside privacy fence. I also receive HD programming thru DirectTV and watch HBO, SHowtime and HD-net, which is a great Channel for HD Broadcasts. The signal strength is not great ( 25-35% ) but usually reception is without artifacts unless there is alot of wind. I might be suffering from interference from a tree ( though DIrectTV LNB1 is 99% ). I am very happy with receiver and especially like the channel layout that is contineous from 3-DirectTV without having to change any buttons. Locally we should be seeing the addition of channels 3, 13, 15 , 27, and 33 very soon as they are all sharing the same transmitting tower for HD broadcasts and are finalizing transmitter setups (see http://www.whro-pbs.org/inside/tower.shtml ) for more information

Fredtheblacklab

When using my stb-3000 with a Toshiba HDTV and
watching a show that is 1080i, the menus ALWAYS
show 480i ONLY...it never changes! True, I do have
the component cables in use and not the S-video
cable. Does this seem to be a software glitch?

RadioDave

You have to manually change it from 480i to 1080i by c******* on the option.

Fredtheblacklab

When I amke a manual adjustment from 480 to 1080,
my set goes into an off channel mode - nothing
but static. Seems rather silly but it makes no
sense. All Toshiba says is that the shows that
are 1080 are automatically converted.

yankeefan

I could be a very simple problem. You mentioned that you are using component cables, which I assume run through a different video input on your TV than your cable or DBS. With my Sony TV when I switched to 1080i mode I then had to hit the video button to get to the right input. That might do the trick

Fredtheblacklab

Nope - I've tried every switch, combination, etc that I could find. The tv is a Toshiba 50hx81 HDTV model, so one would think there'd be no
compatibility problems...Another thing, no dealer
in the D.C./Baltimore/Annapolis area which sells
the tv also sells the DTS3000! And none apparently
has a Directv hookup for demos!...Oh well, such is
life. You can bet your butt that if I somehow
make this work, I'll never tell Toshiba. It's
more annoying if anything. I'll just assume that
in fact the show is 1080i, even if the DTS won't
depict it.