Looking for OTA STB - need advice

[chupacabra]

Hello,
First let me say this is a great site, I find it very helpfull.

I am looking for an OTA STB and I am finding that there aren't many choices out there and they seem to be lesser choices as the months go by.

I have a Hitachi 51" with DVI. Most of the OTA STB's have no DVI (except the D* boxes and you have to subscribe for 1 yr of programming).

Is it really worth it to find a STB with DVI or is composite and SVIDEO good enough?
What STB's are the best? I hear good reviews about the Zenith 420, but it has no DVI output.
I live in New Tampa and I think I can get away with an indoor antenna with a good STB.
Please advise.
Thanks!

[jaymer]

(ahh, x-files fan, eh?)

hi,
i would bet your TV has component inputs since it has DVI - so thats all you need to connect an STB from anyone... unless there is something screwy with the Hitachi that i'm not aware of.
You won't get HD via the svideo or composite from any piece of equipment.

Is it really worth it to find a STB with DVI or is composite and SVIDEO good enough?
i remember reading something from someone on AVS that this guy's DVI connection to his new projector was much better than his prior PJ that has to be connected via RGB cable. But I've never seen a HD picture be better when the input was DVI vs. component.
Someone on the forum probably has tested this with their equipment and will comment on this I'm sure.

So, just go out and get a STB and try it... take it back if you don't like it.
Here's a STB Synopsys from AVS (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=179095)

[OccamMD]

My friend just got his DLP RP set running w/DVI from the Bravo and said it was much more crisp than the component.

[chupacabra]

Thanks,
I am latino so we take the chupacabra quite seriously, we think we saw one once in my cousin's backyard! ;)

Anyways, I meant to say component rather than composite, I always get those confused.

I guess I will try the Zenith 420 with component first.

Can anyone here recommend another STB I should look at (especially one with DVI)?

Thanks.

[jaymer]

HA!
I got ya!
Who said anything about the chupacabra?
Not me? So you MUST be an x-files fan to assume that the simple mention of an off-the-air TV show has something to do with you and your "name"... and to be defensive of your Latino heritage ;) ;)

[BrianSteeves]

DVI will give a neglible improvement over component on a CRT based RPTV. Where a DVI connection makes the difference is on fixed pixel displays like LCD, DLP etc..it bypasses any conversion process and is displayed untouched. However with an analog display device such as a CRT RPTV the digital bits must be converted to analog to be displayed. Therefore you are not getting an entirely direct digital connection. Don't get me wrong though, there is a minute difference. I just don't know whether at this point I'd fret over getting a tuner that has the connection

The only real advantage to having a DVI port on your tv is if it has HDCP then should HDCP take off you won't be shut out of programming. That is unless they shut you out via the DVI port!

Damn holywood moneygrubbers!

[chupacabra]

Jaymer - you're good! you got me! or did you? (weird x-file music playing in background).

BrianSteeves,
I was hoping that was the case, I would hate to spend an extra $200-$300 on DVI when it won't make that much of a difference.

I think I will try out the Zenith HDV420 since it has received good reviews ($400.00 at CC).

I will try an indoor antenna first - any recommendations? will I need 2 antennas to get the UHF and VHF stations?

Thanks.

[bdraw]

The only real advantage to having a DVI port on your tv is if it has HDCP then should HDCP take off you won't be shut out of programming. That is unless they shut you out via the DVI port!

Damn holywood moneygrubbers!

Brian
The FCC just released a Statement that says alot of things as well as that Not having DVI will never shut you out of programing.

[OccamMD]

Do you have a link for the FCC statement.

Brian,
I would disagree a bit. The DVI does eliminate the D/A and cable run of component which could cause some degradation/loss/ringing.

[bdraw]

Here is the quote

? Selectable Output Control ? The current use of selectable output controls by all
multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs) is prohibited.

Link to article

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-238850A1.pdf

Related Threads at the avsforum

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=300400

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=298086

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=300363

[tnc9999]

FYI: Sam's Club is selling the Samsung SIR T151 for $286.74. This same unit sells at Best Buy for 399.00. I'm new to all of this so I don't know if the T151 is a good OTA HDTV receiver but the price is GREAT!

[BrianSteeves]

Brian,
I would disagree a bit. The DVI does eliminate the D/A and cable run of component which could cause some degradation/loss/ringing.

So an analog display device such as a CTR displays digital bits directly huh?

DVI is sent to the display device as raw digital information. Any CRT displsy must convert the digital info into RGB so it can be displayed. The only difference you have with DVI and component is that the TV does the D/A conversion rather than the source device. So it's a question of which D/A converter does a better job.

[/quote]

[OccamMD]

No, my point is that you drop the D/A conversion prior to the cable run, as well as the analog run of the cable. This is opposed to the digital transmission over cable from the STB to the D/A conversion at the set.

Basically you drop the error associated with transmitting the analog signal across the cable.

It is not just a question of which converter does a better job. The run of cable from the STB to the CRT can certainly cause issues with impedance matching, etc... as opposed to the few inches the D/A signal may need to travel on the CRT board.