Good replacement for tv? Ok I've read the product description and the reviews for this quite a bit and I still can't figure it out so hopefully somebody can help me. Let's say I just want to watch the free digital channels (NBC, CBS affiliates) on my PC, would this be all I need? Good replacement for tv? Ok I've read the product description and the reviews for this quite a bit and I still can't figure it out so hopefully somebody can help me. Let's say I just... » Read More Good replacement for tv? Ok I've read the product description and the reviews for this quite a bit and I still can't figure it out so hopefully somebody can help me. Let's say I just want to watch the free digital channels (NBC, CBS affiliates) on my PC, would this be all I need? « Show Less
1055331
Yes, we use it in Las Vegas all of the time. And if you use the Elegato software instead you can stream the video to an iOS device (with an free app of course) and watch it on your AppleTV.
1055332
usni, have you bought it? I'm looking for a TV tuner that can record TV and where I can convert the video to different formats for my mobile devices and was wondering if this does that.Thanks :)
1055333
yes, it can pick up the digital channels (NBC, CBS, ABC) over the air with the included antenna in my area in PA. The big question is can your computer handle it? On my Dell Inspiron it freezes up badly. The Dell Dimension is a bit better but not great. Analog channels come through fine but we are on limited time for the analogs.
1055334
That depends on where you are. At home I get all the networks with the antenna. At my parents I only get PBS. If you have cable and a strong computer (see system requirements) it will do what you want. It is no good on my netbook, great on my notebook and desktop. I prefer to use Windows Media Center with it because of the Electronic Program Guide (EPG), but WinTV works okay when paired with TitanTV (google it).
1055335
I've been working with TV on PC's for some time. Suggestions for performance:1. Defrag your hard drive. This can make a big difference. See windows help for instructions.2. Make sure your video card is up to the task. Everybody focuses on CPU, but the video card is really important and where the bandwidth is needed. 3. Turn down the resolution. This reduces bandwidth considerably. Don't get carried away, or you'll lose quality. 4. A fresh reboot and closing unnecessary applications. This frees up RAM and helps with overall performance. Lots of things run in the notification area (by the clock) that can be closed to free up resources. Rebooting will bring them back.Hope that helps some peop's. I've been working with TV on PC's for some time. Suggestions for performance:1. Defrag your hard drive. This can make a big difference. See windows help for instructions.2. Make sure your video card is up to the task. Everybody focuses on CPU, but the video card is really important and where the bandwidth is needed. 3. Turn down the resolution. This reduces bandwidth considerably. Don't get carried away, or you'll lose quality. 4. A fresh reboot and closing unnecessary applications. This frees up RAM and helps with overall performance. Lots of things run in the... » Read More I've been working with TV on PC's for some time. Suggestions for performance:1. Defrag your hard drive. This can make a big difference. See windows help for instructions.2. Make sure your video card is up to the task. Everybody focuses on CPU, but the video card is really important and where the bandwidth is needed. 3. Turn down the resolution. This reduces bandwidth considerably. Don't get carried away, or you'll lose quality. 4. A fresh reboot and closing unnecessary applications. This frees up RAM and helps with overall performance. Lots of things run in the notification area (by the clock) that can be closed to free up resources. Rebooting will bring them back.Hope that helps some peop's. « Show Less
1055336
I connected it to my indoor OTA Antenna and received numerous channels but I experimented a bit by connecting it to my internet cable. I no longer have cable TV, but I do receive some channels with the tuner connected to my internet cable. The QAM Tuner finds a number of channels, which I did not have when I was paying for cable every month. I have several movie channels which I can watch live or just record to my computer hard drive to watch later. It may not work for you but it is worth checking out. I do not receive ABC CBS or NBC this way, but I do receive them using my OTA Antenna.
735523
I said in my earlier post that I did everything I could which meant I rescanned and also tried the newly purchased more powerful antenna. I received all the stations clearly but not the digital signals. I am in a metropolis city. This tv evidently does not pick up digital signals. I did get over the air signals from the first day I bought it but the question was if it would pick up digital signals after Feb. 17. Even after recanning the test today proved to me that with or without an antenna the tv does not pick up digital signals in a big metropolis area with many tv stations.
2220310
thank you for your response- I found a discussion on yahoo yesterday that explained the antenna pretty well- basically that the so called "HD antenna the retailers are selling is hype and not really needed .
1483984
honestly you may consider another option... spend less money than you would on a blu-ray player and build a barebones PC specifically to play computer formats via the TV, using a DVI-to-HDMI cable. I have one of these set up and it works very well... so when i get a blu-ray player i am only worrying about its use as a blu-ray player specifically.not feasible for everyone, i know, but something to consider.
1550478
You only need a HD antenna to pick up any free HD channels in your viewing area but this won't get paid channels for free only HD channels of local digital over the air content Hope this helped I used to be confused about what free HD meant too
1331963
I too have both-- but the HD Homerun... is a network product I can watch or record up to three different channels on my Desktop , laptop or laptop outp[ut to a TV. On the other hand the Samsung unit is essentially a good replacement with 1080P output replacement for a set top caable box, but with added smart TV features added ( hulu, vudu, netflix-etc.) I bought these to replace teh small HD box Comcast supplies for $2 qa month , but have only 1080i (and coax analog through put) I have nto seen where you can recieve it's signal through your ethernet -- the LAN connection is only to gain streaming feeds - as far as I Have experienced so far. nice unit- one of first I have seen sold to consumers to replace Cable company units and add smart TV features - hope to see more on the market since ComCrap has chosen to force all reception to require a decoder box- making everyone's internal QAM tuners wasted money and unusable.
410293
I have placed an order through MacMall for $760 (after $40 shipping mail-in rebate). They do not have it in stock but gave me ETA of 1st week or March. I do not have any type of cable service currently. How does this tv display OTA TV channels? I plan to use it for OTA that will be digital soon and DVD and w/portable video player.
1764092
@radar363: thank for the information. I kept getting multiple information from vayring sources who should have known the correct response, including the manufacturer of my Television Set. Finally I ordered the cable just to have it on hand when I started setting up and quickly discovered that all but one of my sources was incorrect (and the correct one was NOT the manufacturer of my TV) and I didn't need it at all. Live and learn. But, I appreciate you help. Judi
1812169
Dear B. Cameron There are at least two reasons why you might want a DVD recorder with a built in tuner. 1. In my case, I don't have a TV with a digital (ATSC) tuner. I have a 2003 HD television with an analog (NTSC) tuner, and I receive my TV signal over-the-air via an outdoor antenna. When the digital transition occurred earlier this year, I had a limited number of choices if I wanted to keep my current TV and free OTA set-up: I could buy a converter box and have the digital signal converted to analog for my TV; I could buy an external digital tuner; or I could buy a DVD player with a built in digital tuner and get the best possible picture with a DVD player/recorder thrown in to boot. I chose the last option and bought the Toshiba DR560. My set-up has some drawbacks... like, if the DVD player breaks I get no TV signal while it's in the shop, and I can't record one program and watch another at the same time; but over all I'm happy with it because it is just what I need and no more. If you have a similar set-up and have questions of a more specific nature, I'd be glad to respond. 2. The QAM tuner should allow you to receive and record unscrambled digital cable channels directly, without renting a set-top box. Cable providers don't advertise this, and some may even insist that it isn't true; but they are required by the FCC to provide rebroadcasts of locally broadcast programs in analog, or in unencrypted HD digital format, so that customers are not forced to rent their digital-to-analog set top boxes. You will only receive unscrambled signals of locally broadcast programs in this way, and these may vary from locale to locale. I do not have any personal experience with this set-up, but if you are interested, there is a more in depth description at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QAM_tuner. There may be other advantages to having a tuner included in the DVD recorder/player, but I wouldn't know `cause I'm not that well versed in the technology. Hope this was helpful.
1861869
Thanks, Vee. My husband looked at the pdf manual yesterday afternoon and wrote this from work: "This is their page, and on the `support` tab you can see the entire manual in pdf form. I glanced at it, it does not have a headphone socket, but it has a digital audio output socket. You can get digital audio headphones for about $25-30.?"So I think we are getting somewhere now. We are going to look at the actual television at a local store, talk with the salespeople, then probably come back to purchase from Amazon, which has the lowest price.My husband is not an electronics expert, so going to see for ourselves will be the best confirmation, yet. Thanks, again, Vee. Thanks, Vee. My husband looked at the pdf manual yesterday afternoon and wrote this from work: "This is their page, and on the `support` tab you can see the entire manual in pdf form. I glanced at it, it does not have a headphone socket, but it has a digital audio output socket. You can get digital audio headphones for about $25-30.?"So I think we are getting somewhere now. We are going to look at the actual television at a local store, talk with the salespeople, then probably come back to purchase from Amazon, which has the lowest price.My husband is not... » Read More Thanks, Vee. My husband looked at the pdf manual yesterday afternoon and wrote this from work: "This is their page, and on the `support` tab you can see the entire manual in pdf form. I glanced at it, it does not have a headphone socket, but it has a digital audio output socket. You can get digital audio headphones for about $25-30.?"So I think we are getting somewhere now. We are going to look at the actual television at a local store, talk with the salespeople, then probably come back to purchase from Amazon, which has the lowest price.My husband is not an electronics expert, so going to see for ourselves will be the best confirmation, yet. Thanks, again, Vee. « Show Less
4815
What is analog? Lol Welcome to digital era. All TV broadcast is digital. You need s good antenna like this and a post 2000 era TV or an after market TV tuner
1506742
I hope you can answer this for me. I'm planning on getting this tv due to the awesome reviews, but am curious about connecting it to my PC. My PC tower has the plug for what I'm thinking is called a VGA. It is blue and has 15 pin holes, 3 rows of five. Now, I figure I will have to purchase a special cord to use this tv as a monitor. I'm confused about which is VGA, DVI, and HDMI. What cord do I need to purchase so this will work as a monitor for me? Thanks in advance!
246129
Try mediamall's playon. I prefer it to tversity. Trial download works for 14 days. After that, wait patiently while they send you coupons after coupons to make your purchase it. Finally buy when the price is right. I bought it for 14.99 and via the provided options and all the plugins available on their website, i now have access to the following - netflix, hulu, cnn, cbs, espn, comedy central, pandora, national geography, discover, animal planet, the indian channel ZEE TV etc...there are close to 74 more plugins that provide additional viewing options. All in all - $14.99 well spent.
1882442
It is a good substitute for cable. However, not for the premium channels. Most of the premium show eventually make it to Roku after about a year. Roku does a tremendous job in their own programing developing very good shows. Also Roku has a tremendous group of channels that one can choose from. I have both cable and Roku and I'm considering discontinuing cable and using Roku.
57468
You can watch the free digital channels over the air. Not good quality for analog channels. It is use mostly for digital recording like a recorder.
2277950
The fundamental problem is that digital broadcast signals are WEAK and intolerant of any interference unlike the "old" analog signals...Another bright idea from Washington where the consumer gets screwed and has to spend money to get what was formerly free.As far as I am concerned OTA Digital TV is a BUST.
781049
I kind of thought that that was the situation. I just got a new HDTV and am a little worried, that in a few days I will be loosing two of my channels (CBS, NBC). My hope is that what I have heard is true, that they will be boosting the signals when they no longer need to carry the analog channels. I have been waiting to purchase a new antenna untill after the conversion.