Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Over-the-air HDTV tuner?

Okay, I guess I am in the middle of a shopping spree these days.

Has anybody have an experience with the OTA HDTV receiver (set top box)? Six months after getting the 720p front projector, I am finally getting into the HDTV arena.

I am lucky to live in Dallas, where virtually all OTA digital TV stations are broadcasting from one direction (the Cedar Hill antenna park). My home has excellent signals for all network DTV channels. So, instead of upgrading my satellite dish for HDTV, I just installed an old-fashioned UHF/VHF/FM antenna in the attic -- costed $150 but got one of the best signal levels that the installer said he had ever seen. Most importantly, these DTV signals are absolutely FREE!

So, now I have to buy an OTA HD tuner/receiver. Can't decide between the models from Samsung and Zenith. Any suggestions?

I envy you sushi! New car, new speakers, and now high def!

If you are doing DirecTV now, why not go with a DirecTV high-def receiver? Most of them also do OTA high-def as well. You can then get high-def from your dish if you choose to do so, and OTA.

-curtis

Tell me about it. Next thing you know, he'll have one of these!

I thought he had one already. hehehee

I believe he uses it as a universal remote.

Sony's is cheesy. I prefer this one.

Curtis, I have the Dish Network, but plan to unsubscribe it altogether, except for its TV JAPAN international service, which my wife refuses to abandon. This will save over $40/month. Nevertheless, I will see what are available as Dish/OTA combo. Thanks!

I suggest you buy one of each and do an A/B test. By the way Sushi, we're all looking forward to a full report of the results.

Looked at some Dish/OTA options. The ones that are available now are all overpriced, previous-generation models. However, several promising ones seem to be coming in November -- the Dish 811 at ~$300, and the Dish 921 with TiVo-like HD PVR at ~$1000 (way too much for me anyway).

But the Samsung and Zenith are both available NOW for $300-350. Umm... I am almost clicking the Add To Cart button.

By the way, who's TiVo/Replay addict here? I've never owned one -- is it useful???

TiVo good. Very good. Grunt.

It's extremely useful. No rewinding, fast forwarding tapes, trying to keep track of them, forgetting to tape or watch things when you're out...

That, and you don't have the cultural references to commercials any more.

However, I recommend that you get one with a larger (60 GB or more) HD in it, and then upgrade it when the warranty goes out. I've got a 60, and we're always running out of space.

I could go on, but people who don't have TiVos seem to hate that. ;-)

I am a TiVo addict. I have the DirecTV model. Dual tuners, record two things at the same time while watching a previously recorded show....plus all the TiVo functions. The dual tuners is specific to the DirecTiVo models.

I can not imagine TV with out it now. Picture quality is outstanding with the DirecTV model because it is all done in the digital domain. I actually watch less TV now than before....no channel surfing. And I always have something good for the kids to watch. A hi-def model should be out soon.