I have a perfectly good 27" analog tube TV...... but only has one input....a coaxial input to the tuner.
In order to use this TV for SD digital reception I am looking for a VCR or DVD recorder that has atsc tuner but also has built in RF modulator.
Does anyone know if such units exist that are atsc and can be used on ch 3?
DVD players rarely have modulators because the DVD system was introduced at a time when most new TV receivers had direct-video inputs.
I'd check RadioShack -- they might have an outboard modulator.
You'd be better off getting the DVD/VCR that you like, and adding a modulator.
-- Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens.
I have a Dishnetwork 625. It has a modulator and composite video. It is a dual tuner.
db
I've seen DVD recorders which were functionally identical to common VCRs, including RF modulator. The one I have is obsolete--not just discontinued, but the company no longer exists--but it has a full set of ins/outs, including RF.
jak
Oops.... I forgot to mention I will betting digital off air TV only.... no cable.... no satellite
I would go to any electronics supplier and order a Video/Audio RF modulator. I have seen these at reasonable prices for consumer use.
Jerry G. =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
As far as I know, ALL VCRs have modulators built in, at least all the older ones. You can run a DVD player thru a VCR and to the tv, if you dont want to buy a separate modulator.
Doesn't usually work that well. The copy protection on the DVD kicks in and varies the brightness on the output in cyclic fashion...not pretty.
jak
OK thanks!
Your government is taking care of you. ;-) (I assume you're in the USA).
Got to
The models that qualify for the subsidy are stripped down and only produce NTSC composite and/or RF outputs. There's a page on the web site with a list.
The Zenith DTT900 (that I download the spec. sheet for) has an RF output.
Some units are already out there. I just saw a posting that a qualified Magnavox unit was at somebody's Walmart. (There have been ATSC tuners out there for several years, but it hasn't been worth $350 for me to bother 'till now.)
Mark Zenier snipped-for-privacy@eskimo.com Googleproofaddress(account:mzenier provider:eskimo domain:com)
Really?? I've never had any problems with any of my units except when trying to record. I own 2 JVC's a Sony and a Phillips / Maganovox. The JVC and Phillips are from about 7 years ago. The Sony is about 2 years old.
Mike
A) The Zenith is a re-branded LG. B) A review of the Magnavox unit is at:
C) No retailers with *any* boxes within 50 miles of me.
I wonder...could one hook one of these boxes up to his VCR to record an analog version of a HDTV signal?
-- Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens.
I think of it more that Zenith IS LG. But there's not an LG branded unit in the approved list.
Yea, great stuff there, (but it's a real pain if you're not on broadband). I gather from the threads I read there that a lot of these units use LG's guts.
What are the chances that the government site it really up to date. ;-)
Maybe try the big box companies web sites, or call them on the phone? I'm not sure that would work any better. I went to a Best Buy last week for another reason. That place doesn't have customers, it has victims.
On Sat, 02 Feb 2008 11:06:14 -0800 in sci.electronics.repair, UCLAN wrote,
Same here. Suburb of Los Angeles, CA. Not exactly the middle of nowhere.
Sure, if you can actually get one.
Channel Master's box is due out next month. I'm shopping for a good UHF only antenna in an effort to pick up LA's digital UHF stations. [I'm right on the coast of SD North County, with a clear shot at Mt. Wilson.] I just got a Bravia HDTV. The boxes would be for my VCRs.
Asking availability questions at most local retailers brings on a blank stare from the salespeople. I predict pandemonium in 2009.
-- Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens.
Just for grins, I visited and/or phoned about a dozen local A/V retailers in my area. The result: Few have even heard of the boxes. Those that *had* heard of them had no idea of if/when they would get any.
I wonder if the 80+% penetration by cable/DBS in this area has anything to do with this? [nodding head...]
-- Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens.
nah, just get somebody's broken vcr from freecycle or the like and use it as a modulator.
For years VCR - DVD combo players all had cable jacks on them . Lately that jack has been left out of them .
I own 3 DVD only recorders that have cable jacks . The tuners in these will ot receive off air anymore when ``the change`` happens but they should still recieve ordinary cable ?
The cheap ones have no tuner, thus no need for a RF input. Higher end gear has ATSC/NTSC/QAM capable tuners, and thus the RF *input* has returned. RF *outputs* are still rare because newer TVs all have composite/S-video/component inputs. An output modulator just takes up space and adds to the cost. [I haven't used the RF output in any of my VCRs in a decade. My Mitsubishi VCRs even have the option to turn OFF the output modulator.]
If your cable company offers an analog tier, or if your cable box has a RF output, yes. [By "cable jacks" I assume you mean RF coaxial connections.]
-- Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens.
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