I just wanted everyone to know that Radio Shack's Accurion HDTV receiver box model HTS-6000 is on sale at Radio Shack for 89.99 (regularly 249.00) until the end of he month. I bought one yesterday and am really amazed at the results using my 27" Zenith analog stereo TV from 1997. The receiver's reception is very good, particularly using an outdoor or attic antenna. From my location 4 miles east of Providence, RI, all of the local TV stations in Providence (chs. 6 (ABC); 10 (NBC) 12 (CBS); 28 (UPN/WB) ; 36 (PBS); 64 (FOX); and Block Island's 69 (PAX) are crystal clear - but even more impressive and just as clear are all of the TV stations in the Boston area of MA - chs. 2 (PBS); 4 (CBS); 5 (ABC); 7 (NBC); 25 (FOX); 38 (UPN); 44 (PBS); 56 (WB); 68 (PAX); and Worcester, MA's ch. 27 (UNI); 66 (FUT). By tinkering with my antenna I can also receive TV stations from Southern New Hampshire and Eastern Connecticut. And the sound is powerful in Dolby sound. The program guide is excellent, too. Anyone have experience with this receiver?
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HDTV set top box receiver at Radio Shack
- Thread starter alg2468
- Start date
J
Joseph_Gallant
Guest
If they keep the price at around $90, instead of the price going back up when the sale ends, it would be a great deal.
Moderately-priced decoder boxes to translate digital and HDTV signals for existing analog sets need to be made available; otherwise, the transition to digital will take a lot more years to complete.
Moderately-priced decoder boxes to translate digital and HDTV signals for existing analog sets need to be made available; otherwise, the transition to digital will take a lot more years to complete.
K
KML0224
Guest
Hoes does a station's HDTV signal look on a standard TV? Is is watchable at all? (With my digital cable, I only get the sound when tuned to an HD channel.)
C
ccmfan
Guest
> If they keep the price at around $90, instead of the price
> going back up when the sale ends, it would be a great deal.
>
> Moderately-priced decoder boxes to translate digital and
> HDTV signals for existing analog sets need to be made
> available; otherwise, the transition to digital will take a
> lot more years to complete.
>
Wal Mart has had an HDTV tuner from USD for the past year that ran for $200.00. Maybe this willmake them bring their price down.
> going back up when the sale ends, it would be a great deal.
>
> Moderately-priced decoder boxes to translate digital and
> HDTV signals for existing analog sets need to be made
> available; otherwise, the transition to digital will take a
> lot more years to complete.
>
Wal Mart has had an HDTV tuner from USD for the past year that ran for $200.00. Maybe this willmake them bring their price down.
M
Mark_Ericson
Guest
> Hoes does a station's HDTV signal look on a standard TV? Is
> is watchable at all? (With my digital cable, I only get the
> sound when tuned to an HD channel.)
It's very watchable! I downconvert all HD to 480i (analog) with my box and then letterbox any HD so that the black bars are at the top and bottom. Even on my 19" CRT, the improvement in quality is very noticable.
I would have no use for analog if:
1- my PBS station's digital was on a channel that was usable (channel 3)
2- my UPN would get their act together and put their digital on from its new tower
- Trip<P ID="signature">______________
Visit my website, www.rabbitears.info! It's eventually going to be your one resource for television info! Digital television, histories, and technical information for the entire USA from one source!</P>
> is watchable at all? (With my digital cable, I only get the
> sound when tuned to an HD channel.)
It's very watchable! I downconvert all HD to 480i (analog) with my box and then letterbox any HD so that the black bars are at the top and bottom. Even on my 19" CRT, the improvement in quality is very noticable.
I would have no use for analog if:
1- my PBS station's digital was on a channel that was usable (channel 3)
2- my UPN would get their act together and put their digital on from its new tower
- Trip<P ID="signature">______________
Visit my website, www.rabbitears.info! It's eventually going to be your one resource for television info! Digital television, histories, and technical information for the entire USA from one source!</P>
T
TXengineer
Guest
KML, you're a lucky man...
> Hoes does a station's HDTV signal look on a standard TV? Is
> is watchable at all? (With my digital cable, I only get the
> sound when tuned to an HD channel.)
>
KML, you're a lucky man.
Hartford, CT. has some of the best looking digital stations.
However remember that in order to watch CPTV in digital, you will need to pull in 45 from Norwich or 52 from Bridgeport.
Also don't forget when you select an antenna, that all but two stations local to you are now on UHF.
03 WFSB is 33
30 WVIT is 35
61 WTIC is 31
59 WCTX is 39
26 WHPX is 34
VHF Hi DTV: 8 WTNH is 10, and 20 WTXX is 12.
> Hoes does a station's HDTV signal look on a standard TV? Is
> is watchable at all? (With my digital cable, I only get the
> sound when tuned to an HD channel.)
>
KML, you're a lucky man.
Hartford, CT. has some of the best looking digital stations.
However remember that in order to watch CPTV in digital, you will need to pull in 45 from Norwich or 52 from Bridgeport.
Also don't forget when you select an antenna, that all but two stations local to you are now on UHF.
03 WFSB is 33
30 WVIT is 35
61 WTIC is 31
59 WCTX is 39
26 WHPX is 34
VHF Hi DTV: 8 WTNH is 10, and 20 WTXX is 12.
K
KML0224
Guest
> Wal-Mart has had an HDTV tuner from USD for the past year
> that ran for $200. Maybe this will make them bring their
> price down.
>
As of one week ago, the Wal-Mart I work at was still charging that price.
> that ran for $200. Maybe this will make them bring their
> price down.
>
As of one week ago, the Wal-Mart I work at was still charging that price.
K
KML0224
Guest
Re: KML, you're a lucky man...MAYBE!
At work we've got a basic amplified antenna attached to a 50" projection HDTV -capable TV. It gets WFSB-DT (channel 33) and WTIC-DT (channel 31) in the best. WVIT-DT (channel 35) depends on which way the antenna is pointing. (When I adjust it for WVIT-DT, WFSB-TV and WTIC-DT both go downhill. The highest signal strength I've seen inside was 86% with WFSB-DT. WFSB-DT comes off of Avon Mountain, which is strange, since you can easily see the towers for both WVIT-TV 30/D 35 and WTIC-TV 61/D 31 from our store's front entrance. I can't see the WFSB-TV/DT tower from there.
On a side note, the HD signal on this TV seems to be of little difference to the analog channel. Sure, WFSB-DT 33.1 blows away WFSB-DT 33.2 (Merideth Broadcasting's "CBS 3" feed to the Springfield, MA area). However, the TV picture always looks dull and dark compared to the other TVs surrounding it. I've even put the brightness and/or contrast controls to maximum with little help. Could it be the TV and/or the lighting inside the store?
Moving on, we can't get VHF inside for the TVs for some strange reason. Even in the break room, which is much closer to the outside wall, the analog TV in there gets no channel 3 and a fuzzy channel 8 (from New Haven) at best.
Lastly, my coworker owns a Samsung HDTV-ready set. He says that his picture with the local HDTV signals blows away the one in the store. However, he has yet to pick up ABC in HD at all. He can't get WTNH-DT (ABC) channel 10 from New Haven (low-power perhaps?) or WGGB-DT (ABC) channel 55 from Springfield, MA. Other than that, he tells me how the NFL games look on CBS and FOX.
At work we've got a basic amplified antenna attached to a 50" projection HDTV -capable TV. It gets WFSB-DT (channel 33) and WTIC-DT (channel 31) in the best. WVIT-DT (channel 35) depends on which way the antenna is pointing. (When I adjust it for WVIT-DT, WFSB-TV and WTIC-DT both go downhill. The highest signal strength I've seen inside was 86% with WFSB-DT. WFSB-DT comes off of Avon Mountain, which is strange, since you can easily see the towers for both WVIT-TV 30/D 35 and WTIC-TV 61/D 31 from our store's front entrance. I can't see the WFSB-TV/DT tower from there.
On a side note, the HD signal on this TV seems to be of little difference to the analog channel. Sure, WFSB-DT 33.1 blows away WFSB-DT 33.2 (Merideth Broadcasting's "CBS 3" feed to the Springfield, MA area). However, the TV picture always looks dull and dark compared to the other TVs surrounding it. I've even put the brightness and/or contrast controls to maximum with little help. Could it be the TV and/or the lighting inside the store?
Moving on, we can't get VHF inside for the TVs for some strange reason. Even in the break room, which is much closer to the outside wall, the analog TV in there gets no channel 3 and a fuzzy channel 8 (from New Haven) at best.
Lastly, my coworker owns a Samsung HDTV-ready set. He says that his picture with the local HDTV signals blows away the one in the store. However, he has yet to pick up ABC in HD at all. He can't get WTNH-DT (ABC) channel 10 from New Haven (low-power perhaps?) or WGGB-DT (ABC) channel 55 from Springfield, MA. Other than that, he tells me how the NFL games look on CBS and FOX.
Two observations:
1. This set top box deal has been public knowledge for several days now, based on posts at two DBS sites. Where I live in Western WA, based on radioshack.com, there are none of these receivers to be found - and I'm getting one if I can, though I hear the remote is a pain.
and B: Gallant's point is well taken. Someone needs to step up and manufacture a sub-$100 box in major quantities if the critical mass is to be reached. Loads of "monitors" out there, but where are those stupid boxes? They sure aren't found in the local Best Buy, Costco or Fry's - at least not anywhere I've looked.
And it doesn't help to have every last TV set up to show a store feed of some sort. At least one TV, preferably all of them, should be on an antenna to show what off-air channels you can get in that area.
The campaign's got to step up and step up now. 2009 will be here sooner than you think - only 40 1/2 months left.
(BTW: Only 100 days until Christmas - gasp!)
1. This set top box deal has been public knowledge for several days now, based on posts at two DBS sites. Where I live in Western WA, based on radioshack.com, there are none of these receivers to be found - and I'm getting one if I can, though I hear the remote is a pain.
and B: Gallant's point is well taken. Someone needs to step up and manufacture a sub-$100 box in major quantities if the critical mass is to be reached. Loads of "monitors" out there, but where are those stupid boxes? They sure aren't found in the local Best Buy, Costco or Fry's - at least not anywhere I've looked.
And it doesn't help to have every last TV set up to show a store feed of some sort. At least one TV, preferably all of them, should be on an antenna to show what off-air channels you can get in that area.
The campaign's got to step up and step up now. 2009 will be here sooner than you think - only 40 1/2 months left.
(BTW: Only 100 days until Christmas - gasp!)
> Two observations:
>
> 1. This set top box deal has been public knowledge for
> several days now, based on posts at two DBS sites. Where I
> live in Western WA, based on radioshack.com, there are none
> of these receivers to be found - and I'm getting one if I
> can, though I hear the remote is a pain.
>
> and B: Gallant's point is well taken. Someone needs to step
> up and manufacture a sub-$100 box in major quantities if the
> critical mass is to be reached. Loads of "monitors" out
> there, but where are those stupid boxes? They sure aren't
> found in the local Best Buy, Costco or Fry's - at least not
> anywhere I've looked.
>
> And it doesn't help to have every last TV set up to show a
> store feed of some sort. At least one TV, preferably all of
> them, should be on an antenna to show what off-air channels
> you can get in that area.
>
> The campaign's got to step up and step up now. 2009 will be
> here sooner than you think - only 40 1/2 months left.
>
> (BTW: Only 100 days until Christmas - gasp!)
>
I live in the chicago area and they are in staock in every store. Also it doesn't say if it has a Svideo jack. that is the only way i can recieve HD thru my TV. It says it has to be HD TV ready. My TV isnt. Who has this thing and can verify if this works on an analog TV
>
> 1. This set top box deal has been public knowledge for
> several days now, based on posts at two DBS sites. Where I
> live in Western WA, based on radioshack.com, there are none
> of these receivers to be found - and I'm getting one if I
> can, though I hear the remote is a pain.
>
> and B: Gallant's point is well taken. Someone needs to step
> up and manufacture a sub-$100 box in major quantities if the
> critical mass is to be reached. Loads of "monitors" out
> there, but where are those stupid boxes? They sure aren't
> found in the local Best Buy, Costco or Fry's - at least not
> anywhere I've looked.
>
> And it doesn't help to have every last TV set up to show a
> store feed of some sort. At least one TV, preferably all of
> them, should be on an antenna to show what off-air channels
> you can get in that area.
>
> The campaign's got to step up and step up now. 2009 will be
> here sooner than you think - only 40 1/2 months left.
>
> (BTW: Only 100 days until Christmas - gasp!)
>
I live in the chicago area and they are in staock in every store. Also it doesn't say if it has a Svideo jack. that is the only way i can recieve HD thru my TV. It says it has to be HD TV ready. My TV isnt. Who has this thing and can verify if this works on an analog TV
> Thanks for the tip - I'm picking one up tonight on my way
> home from work. Most of the stores I called only have floor
> models, but that's OK with me.
>
Yes I got mine last night. It's relatively easy to set up, and comes with low grade component cables for HD sets. For analog sets you'll need to purchase a composite cable (which runs around $10 or so). I was pulling in all the Boston stations with a cheap, broken down antenna. I'm hoping to upgrade my antenna because I would like to do some DXing.
> home from work. Most of the stores I called only have floor
> models, but that's OK with me.
>
Yes I got mine last night. It's relatively easy to set up, and comes with low grade component cables for HD sets. For analog sets you'll need to purchase a composite cable (which runs around $10 or so). I was pulling in all the Boston stations with a cheap, broken down antenna. I'm hoping to upgrade my antenna because I would like to do some DXing.
> As of one week ago, the Wal-Mart I work at was still
> charging that price.
Do you know if that's still an official Wal-Mart stock item? Our local store had them for quite awhile, but last time I was there the only DTV box they had was a DirecTV box with terrestrial DTV built-in. (I do think it was the same $200 price. Not sure whether the terrestrial DTV works without a DirecTV subscription.)
> charging that price.
Do you know if that's still an official Wal-Mart stock item? Our local store had them for quite awhile, but last time I was there the only DTV box they had was a DirecTV box with terrestrial DTV built-in. (I do think it was the same $200 price. Not sure whether the terrestrial DTV works without a DirecTV subscription.)
Some stores may not know that it's supposed to be available for that price. (or may not know what it is!) I would recommend bringing a printout of the page with the box with you.
> I live in the chicago area and they are in staock in every
> store. Also it doesn't say if it has a Svideo jack. that is
> the only way i can recieve HD thru my TV. It says it has to
> be HD TV ready. My TV isnt. Who has this thing and can
> verify if this works on an analog TV
The box *does* have a Svideo jack. It can be connected to an analog TV either through the Svideo output or the composite (same as the output of a VCR) jack; if your analog TV has YPbPr component inputs that works too. You will need to put the little switch on the back in 480i mode, and the box will downconvert high-definition broadcasts to standard-definition. (they'll still look, and sound, awfully good!)
If your analog TV has only an antenna jack then you'll need a "RF modulator". I believe Radio Shack sells these as well, and they're pretty cheap.
To the best of my knowledge you *cannot* do high-definition over a Svideo connector.
> I live in the chicago area and they are in staock in every
> store. Also it doesn't say if it has a Svideo jack. that is
> the only way i can recieve HD thru my TV. It says it has to
> be HD TV ready. My TV isnt. Who has this thing and can
> verify if this works on an analog TV
The box *does* have a Svideo jack. It can be connected to an analog TV either through the Svideo output or the composite (same as the output of a VCR) jack; if your analog TV has YPbPr component inputs that works too. You will need to put the little switch on the back in 480i mode, and the box will downconvert high-definition broadcasts to standard-definition. (they'll still look, and sound, awfully good!)
If your analog TV has only an antenna jack then you'll need a "RF modulator". I believe Radio Shack sells these as well, and they're pretty cheap.
To the best of my knowledge you *cannot* do high-definition over a Svideo connector.
K
KML0224
Guest
As far as I know, the box was still sold at www.walmart.com for that price.
Re: HDTV set top box receiver at Radio Shack -- Recording ???
Once these shows are upconverted is there anyway to record them with a regular VCR.
Most TV I watch I record on my VCR that way I can buzz thru the commercials. <P ID="signature">______________
Once I figured out the meaning of life....Then I forgot to write it down.</P>
Once these shows are upconverted is there anyway to record them with a regular VCR.
Most TV I watch I record on my VCR that way I can buzz thru the commercials. <P ID="signature">______________
Once I figured out the meaning of life....Then I forgot to write it down.</P>
M
Mark_Ericson
Guest
> was there the only DTV box they had was a DirecTV box with
> terrestrial DTV built-in. (I do think it was the same $200
> price. Not sure whether the terrestrial DTV works without a
> DirecTV subscription.)
I got a Samsung TS-160 to work, but you have to know how to set it. You have to put in the card that comes with the box and set it to "No Dish." I don't know if the newer boxes will do this.
- Trip<P ID="signature">______________
Visit my website, www.rabbitears.info! It's eventually going to be your one resource for television info! Digital television, histories, and technical information for the entire USA from one source!</P>
> terrestrial DTV built-in. (I do think it was the same $200
> price. Not sure whether the terrestrial DTV works without a
> DirecTV subscription.)
I got a Samsung TS-160 to work, but you have to know how to set it. You have to put in the card that comes with the box and set it to "No Dish." I don't know if the newer boxes will do this.
- Trip<P ID="signature">______________
Visit my website, www.rabbitears.info! It's eventually going to be your one resource for television info! Digital television, histories, and technical information for the entire USA from one source!</P>
B
brian_marchand
Guest
Re: HDTV set top box receiver at Radio Shack -- Recording ???
I have a Samsung SIR-T151, how does the Radio Shack model compare to that reception wise if anyone knows.
I have a Samsung SIR-T151, how does the Radio Shack model compare to that reception wise if anyone knows.
Re: Recording and SIR T-151
> I have a Samsung SIR-T151, how does the Radio Shack model
> compare to that reception wise if anyone knows.
>
According to the AVS folks, it blows the SIR T-*51 models out of
the water.
To the prior post: yes, you can record a show in 480i, either letterboxed,
cropped or "squeezed". But it will clip off the sides if you record it cropped...in other words, no HD. It will record whatever you see on the screen.
> I have a Samsung SIR-T151, how does the Radio Shack model
> compare to that reception wise if anyone knows.
>
According to the AVS folks, it blows the SIR T-*51 models out of
the water.
To the prior post: yes, you can record a show in 480i, either letterboxed,
cropped or "squeezed". But it will clip off the sides if you record it cropped...in other words, no HD. It will record whatever you see on the screen.
T
toby
Guest
What is up with Radio Shack?
It took me two tries to get one, I gave up on the first store, as they were trying to pressure me into something else. The second store had it, even said it was a good deal, then tried to pressure me in to getting batteries, cables, the extended service plan, and a Radio Shack credit card. Very high pressure! I'll hook it up when I get home and see how it does!
Also, Radio Shack seems to be more consumer electronics driven now, as they seem not to have all sorts of the quirky parts they used to any more.<P ID="signature">______________
WCBS = We're Crazy Buffoons and Schmucks
<a href=http://chuck.spotteddogs.org/tv/>Spotted Dog TV Talk - for all your non-news TV Talk</a></P>
It took me two tries to get one, I gave up on the first store, as they were trying to pressure me into something else. The second store had it, even said it was a good deal, then tried to pressure me in to getting batteries, cables, the extended service plan, and a Radio Shack credit card. Very high pressure! I'll hook it up when I get home and see how it does!
Also, Radio Shack seems to be more consumer electronics driven now, as they seem not to have all sorts of the quirky parts they used to any more.<P ID="signature">______________
WCBS = We're Crazy Buffoons and Schmucks
<a href=http://chuck.spotteddogs.org/tv/>Spotted Dog TV Talk - for all your non-news TV Talk</a></P>
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