Where to begin?

Jeff K · 08-05-2009, 05:22 AM

I never even thought I would have to deal with this, but due to a recent move I ended up out in the country. Nice place to live but no cable.
Anyway...
I have a Panasonic 50" PT50LC14 I always assumed it had a digital tuner but now I find out that it does not.

I figured "no big deal I'll just by a digital tuner"
So, I started reading about converters and tuners. I think I'm getting more confused.

If I get a converter box it it will go d/a and I lose my HD and 1080i?

And digital tuners are scarce?

I am looking at buying a Clearstream 4 antenna and something for a tuner.
But what?
I looked at some DVD players with tuners but some of them say they are NTSC?

Thanks.

O-O · 08-05-2009, 05:35 AM

Hey Jeff, I'm running out the door here but thought I'd give this question a quick shot.

There are converters that are digital-to-analog converter boxes (also known as CECBs), and there are converters that are known as ATSC tuner set top boxes that can output up o 1080p. The CECBs are elgible for coupons, but they do not output any HD signals. The ATSC STBs are not coupon elgible.

Have you thought about the DTVPal DVR? It's an ATSC HD tuner/Digital Video Recorder. There's a big thread on it somewhere in here.

1inxs · 08-05-2009, 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff K

I never even thought I would have to deal with this, but due to a recent move I ended up out in the country. Nice place to live but no cable.
Anyway...
I have a Panasonic 50" PT50LC14 I always assumed it had a digital tuner but now I find out that it does not.

I figured "no big deal I'll just by a digital tuner"
So, I started reading about converters and tuners. I think I'm getting more confused.

If I get a converter box it it will go d/a and I lose my HD and 1080i?

And digital tuners are scarce?

I am looking at buying a Clearstream 4 antenna and something for a tuner.
But what?
I looked at some DVD players with tuners but some of them say they are NTSC?

Thanks.

Jef K, Welcome to the DTVUSA Forum. I would recommend the Dish Network DTVPal DVR for a digital tuner. It also includes a DVR for recording OTA DTV in SD or HD. Here is a link to the DTVPal DVR thread.

Jeff K · 08-05-2009, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by O-O

Hey Jeff, I'm running out the door here but thought I'd give this question a quick shot.

There are converters that are digital-to-analog converter boxes (also known as CECBs), and there are converters that are known as ATSC tuner set top boxes that can output up o 1080p. The CECBs are elgible for coupons, but they do not output any HD signals. The ATSC STBs are not coupon elgible.

Have you thought about the DTVPal DVR? It's an ATSC HD tuner/Digital Video Recorder. There's a big thread on it somewhere in here.

Unfortunately my wife gave our coupon away because we were sure we would never need it.

So, I'm up for what ever seems to be the best solution.

O-O · 08-05-2009, 05:57 AM

btw, I just wanted to correct what I wrote and say even though I called the ATSC tuner set top box a converter, technically that isn't correct because it doesn't down converter digital-to-analog.

If you don't have a coupon, take a look at the ATSC STBs. There are a few threads on them here.

1inxs · 08-05-2009, 06:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff K

Unfortunately my wife gave our coupon away because we were sure we would never need it.

So, I'm up for what ever seems to be the best solution.

The CECB coupon wouldn't do you any good when purchasing a HD tuner any way. The coupons were only good for a digital to analog converter. The CECBs convert the HD digital signal to SD analog signal.


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