Newbie Question about buying a STB for OTA

[charlie]

I am insterested in purchasing an HDTV receiver for OTA reception.

All the models available at Best Buy say they require activation and Caller ID within a certain number of days. If I do not plan or using it for Satellite reception, can I still use the receiver without activation?

I have been looking at the Samsung SIR-TS160 receiver.

Charlie

[CANDY76MAN]

the ota reception will work fine...the activation is only for directv service, not ota.

you can get hdtv ota only recievers....but they are not very common from what I've seen and cost about as much as the ones that include a directtv tuner so you really get more for your money with the combo units.

[jaymer]

i'd read up on these here:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=179095

[charlie]

I have read all the reviews, owner's manuals, and specifications for the receivers and still think that the best solution for me is the Samsung SIR TS-160. It allows for connection of an off-the-air antenna, a dish, and cable. It receives all 8 hdtv channels and also provides Dolby 5.1 decoding. I also has a 15 pin output so that it can be connected to a computer monitor. It has scaling so that I can format the 4:3 for display on a 16:9 or 16:9 display on a 4:3 screen. It has a lot of features that make it worth the additional $200 over the T-351 terrestrial only receiver. However, neither Best Buy or Circuit City will sell the receiver without a contract to Direct TV. Here are their reasons:

1. We would need to charge you $150 more without the Direct TV contract and we would need to register your credit card. This is to prevent you from using a pirated card.
2. If you don't connect to Direct TV the unit would not work after 30 days even for off-the-air reception.
3. The 15 pin connector on the back of the receiver is not compatable with a computer monitor.

I believe both stores a not being truthful with me. The Samsung site states that a computer monitor can be used. The stores state that only a monitor that is HDTV ready would work. What is the correct answer to this?

Would the unit be totally disabled after 30 days without a Direct TV subscription?

I would like to be able to see hdtv on my existing Sony Multiscan E200 computer monitor using off-the-air signals. I live in South Tampa and the signals are strong so OTA should be easy. I know the monitor is small but I have not decided on a large monitor and this would work for me now. I would like to be able to purchase a receiver that has the capability of being used with a dish and with ota signals. In the future, I would like to use it and a dish on the RV and then I will purchase Direct TV, not now.

As for a large monitor, I have not decided on LCD, Plasma, rear or front projection. I want to view all the above examples and compare cost, features, and quality before I make a final decision.

Any help you can provide, especially on the above questions, would be greatly appreciated.

Charlie

[CANDY76MAN]

I would be willing to bet that it will work just fine for ota after 30 days...a limitation like that would be foolish if samsung wants to sell the things.

The requirement to activate the directv card before you can purchase it could end up being a problem though....you will have to pay the extra 150 if you don't agree to a direct tv contract though, thats for sure.

and it will work just fine with a computer monitor so long as it has vga outputs...even cheap computer monitors are capable of much higher resolutions than 1080i.

crt rptv's are by far the best value...maybe not the coolest or slimmest but they have lcd and plasma beat hands down for value...and picture quality...some of the high end (6 grand +) plasma's are getting there but they still can't match the black level of even a cheap crt rptv.

[HDCrazed]

I see that Charlie was asking about the OTA signal not being functional after discontinuing with a service provider. Does anyone know if this is true.

I have the Sam SIR-TS160 and wanted to use it just to decode the OTA HD signals. I have a Hughes for the Direct TV connection.

My real problem is that I have a Pioneer DVR with TIVO and I can't watch HD programming and record to the TIVO (standard defintion) due to only having one source hooked up. If the Samsung could be used to pull the OTA signals and the Hughes for the Direct TV programming maybe I could watch and record at the same time.

Anyone that can provide some insight, it would be much appreciated.

p.s. Do I have to activate the Samsung to get the OTA decoder to work as it won't work now. This is brand new out of the box. ???? 8O

[GlennS]

Charlie,

I have a TS160 for sale on ebay. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5701262229&sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT&rd=1 I am local to Brandon so you don't have to wait for FedEx to deliver! It also does not need to be activated either.

Let me know if your interested.

Glenn Sheridan
prontoglenn@aol.com

[HDCrazed]

Hello GlennS

Am I hearing you correctly....The Sam. 160 doesn't have to be activated to use the OTA capabilities?

[LonghornXP]

Well my Zenith SAT520 manual says I can use it for OTA and DirecTV HD programming as well as OTA only but it did say that if I use it for OTA only I would not get the guide data but if I left it hooked up to my dish and didn't take it down maybe I still would get the guide data but I'm not sure on that. I think the Samsung is the same.

But to put it short yes you can use it for OTA only. But like others said you can't buy it from a store that requires a directv agreement. I would buy it from the other user or I would buy it from the few online places that don't require a 1 year agreement but I don't know what those sites are off the top of my head so someone will have to chime in on that.

[GlennS]

I guess longhorn answered your problem.

[HDCrazed]

Thanks for the reply LonghornXP and GlennS. Hopefully this will resolve my issue with being able to watch HD programming while recording a different program off of my Hughes DirectTV connection at the same time.

My current configuration is via the Hughes HD receiver that uses a diplexer to send the OTA signals and the satallite signals to it. This works fine and does provide guide information correctly. Since the DVR is only capable of a SD signal once you switch to HD programming the Hughes receiver stops sending the SD signal. Thus the recording is interrupted. See my situation.

With two sources...one OTA via the Samsung for the HD content and one for DirectTV via the Hughes should resolve the issue, don't you think ????

Any thoughts, please let me know. Thanks again.

[LonghornXP]

Well to get this straight. So you have the Hughes E86 I assume right now which doesn't have both SD and HD outputs hot at the same time. So when you watch HD your DVR can't record SD because the HD box isn't outputting SD. I'm assuming you have either a Replay TV or a stand alone Tivo. So if you used the old Hughes box for HD only and used the Samsung for SD recording I guess that would be fine since the Samsung box has both HD and SD outputs hot. Now are you doing this to allow you to watch OTA HD/DirecTV HD and record SD at the same time. If I got your question right than yes you can do this.

Now is your standalone box a Tivo because it is a Tivo and you don't use HMO and are willing to lose 4.0 features than maybe a switch to a DirecTivo might be in order. Also just so you know that from rumors we DirecTivo users might be getting software 4.0 and HMO by the end of this year. This has been said from a very solid user at TivoCommuntiy. I think Dan something. Can't think right now.

But the DirecTivo would get you two tuners active plus guide data from the SAT instead of phone. You can also record and playback Dolby Digital 5.1 sound from channels that broadcast it such as HBO, SHO and Starz. The current box which does 40 hours costs 100 bucks for both new and existing customers but the DVR fee is 4.99/month per account (not per box) instead of 12.95/month. Now if DirecTV does add HMO and 4.0 software by the end of this year there will be no doubt in my mind that a DirecTivo is better in everyway compared to the SA Tivos.

Now some of this information you may not have wanted but its good to be aware of it incase you didn't know. If you have other questions please ask us.

[HDCrazed]

Thanks for confirmation/info LonghornXP.

I will try these suggestions today and get back with you with the results. This is a great forum to discuss and exchange info on this stuff. It is hard to find a lot of knowledgable folks.

Thanks again for your help.

[Floyd]

I
1. We would need to charge you $150 more without the Direct TV contract and we would need to register your credit card. This is to prevent you from using a pirated card.
They sell the receiver at cost or below, so they need the activation rebate of $150 to get some profit. The credit card is just to insure that they get it.

2. If you don't connect to Direct TV the unit would not work after 30 days even for off-the-air reception.
I have the T-160, and have never activated it with DirecTV. I did have to connect it to a dish to get the guide data and the satellite-delivered updates to the receivers firmware. The guide is great.

Would the unit be totally disabled after 30 days without a Direct TV subscription? No, but that's the time limit for activation to avoid them billing your card the $150.
Charlie
What about the direcTV special where you get a HDTV receiver for $99?

[LonghornXP]

That special is mostly for customers who have at least one premium channel and had their account in good standing for at least two years. They also require a 1 year agreement to any total choice package "AND" their HDTV package at 10.99/month. Now if you want to go with DirecTV I would suggest calling their 800 number and asking for their retention department. Even though you aren't a current customer this department has the ability to offer better deals to get you. Just tell them you won't go with them until they offer a better or no upfront cost or you will stay with your cable provider. I would keep on trying until you get the deal you want. They will most likely log your calls via caller ID so if their computer flags you as really really wanting to go with them over time in most cases they will give you an offer based on the fact that you keep at it. But don't settle for the first offer if you don't like that offer. Just so you know if they give you can offer that you like its very common that they will charge you full price but credit everything out but what you agreed on. This means you will have to provide a credit card and your credit would be applied towards your programming costs. Say they give you a 300 dollar credit. Lets say your programming costs you about 100 bucks a month that credit would be applied in such a way that your first three montly bills would be nothing and your forth bill you would start paying on. So be aware that you need to have the full amount available on credit and your credit card won't be credited back because you won't be paying your first three bills for example. This can confuse many people but this practive is normal. They did this for me for my HD box which would have cost me over 700 bucks. They told me to buy it at a local store and they would give me the credit. They did say they would give the credit right away but I had to buy a box and activate it within 30 days or they would take back the credit until I called again.

[HDCrazed]

Thanks to this forum and Glenn S and LonghornXP I was able to resove my issue with the watching HD and recording SD on my SA Pioneer Tivo. The incorporation of the Samsung 160 along with my Hughes sat receiver did the the trick.

I am using the Samsung for just the OTA HD signals. The trick was making sure that it is configured for "No Dish". Didn't catch that option first time through the setup. Thanks for all the inputs.

Now looking for a better OTA antenea. I have a Terk55. Has worked pretty well but from reading all these posts I don't think I have the best option in place. I live Westchase. Any suggestions would be appreciated and why.

Thanks gang.