HOT!! HDTV Receiver $199 at WalMart

US Digital HDTV Tuner/Receiver

Description

Delivers free, over-the-air digital television signals to either an HDTV-ready TV or standard analog television set

You'll enjoy DVD-quality television for most of your favorite programs and big TV events in the new digital HDTV format

Delivers theater-quality widescreen pictures and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound on any HDTV-ready TV monitor

Receiver is USDTV-ready, so when USDTV becomes available in your area, you can also get additional cable channels for about half the cost of cable or satellite

Visit USDTV.com for details (USDTV Service is not required to receive local Digital TV broadcasts)

Fully ATSC compliant

Receives 8VSB digital signals

Receives AC3 digital surround sound

Requires a VHF/UHF antenna

Connectors: Component, Composit, S-Video

Sounds like a deal to me!

 

[VaG]

link

 

[Wag]

It's always that price.

 

[A1]

Are there ever deals on these devices? I never see them listed in circulars, though they always advertise the LCD & Plasma TV's as being HDTV-ready.

 

[timswim78]

What kind of inputs do HDTV's use? Is it S-Video, Component Colors, or something else?

 

[A1]

Usually components, but sometimes they take DVI as well.

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

Or HDMI

 

[StormRider]

I heard it uses an ATI chipset and runs Linux. Since we're all computer nerds, let's support both ATI and Linux and every one of else go out and buy one!

 

[imported_fozzybear]

I "heard" that it was made my space aliens, and everyone who buys one will end up as a zombie under their control, lets rebel and not buy one!

 

[thenotebook]

Originally posted by: StormRider
I heard it uses an ATI chipset and runs Linux. Since we're all computer nerds, let's support both ATI and Linux and every one of else go out and buy one!

That's a pretty lame reason to go buy one.

 

[AUGrad]

Originally posted by: StormRider
I heard it uses an ATI chipset and runs Linux. Since we're all computer nerds, let's support both ATI and Linux and every one of else go out and buy one!

I heard that these are the devices required by the DTV subscription over-the-air service, and that they needed activation & only worked in certain areas. If you look on Ebay, you'll see several of these up for auction/buy-it-now, etc. that normally go for $40-$50 because the description says that they must be activated and only work in a few markets that are supported by USDTV.com. While I doubt that Wal-Mart would send these to all of their stores if they only work in certain markets, there is enough confusion surrounding these boxes to make me hold off on a purchase.

I also heard that these particular boxes are useless if your remote goes out, since there are no buttons on the device except for power. Most of the other HDTV receivers have the basic channel and menu stuff on the front of the receiver itsself. This is pretty important to me since I intend to put it directly under my monitor (a Dell 2005FPW with component inputs), and would rather just push a button on it than aim a remote from 10" away.

All hearsay, of course. If someone has better info on these, please enlighten me so I can stop waiting and buy one of the $40 ones off of ebay.

 

[woowoo]

Old chipset
No deal here......

 

[TTM77]

comparing HDTV with FTA (Free to air)

HDTV is about $200
Only local channel if any at all.


FTA is about a little more then $200
Gets All un-encripted channels including PPV/discovery/cartoon network/HBO/etc and all other stuff
sometime gets channel lost
One day it'll go away all together since Satelite provider don't like to give free stuff for nothing
Some other side effect includes too many channels so you can't decide what to watch and become a coach potato.


I don't know what to do!!!!!!!

 

[ICR5]

Originally posted by: TTM77
comparing HDTV with FTA (Free to air)

FTA is about a little more then $200
Gets All un-encripted channels including PPV/discovery/cartoon network/HBO/etc and all other stuff

Satellite signal theft is ILEGAL no matter what device you use.

I thought that discussion was a NO NO here ????????

 

[TTM77]

FTA is legal.

 

[JafCo]

This is actually a pretty good deal for someone who has an HDTV monitor/projector/etc but doesn't sub to HD cable or sat. These things don't have any subscription fee, just get the digital locals with an antenna, but if you get a good antenna, you can have reception from 30-40 miles+.

 

[NorCalSci]

Originally posted by: ICR5

Originally posted by: TTM77
comparing HDTV with FTA (Free to air)

FTA is about a little more then $200
Gets All un-encripted channels including PPV/discovery/cartoon network/HBO/etc and all other stuff

Satellite signal theft is ILEGAL no matter what device you use.

I thought that discussion was a NO NO here ????????

LOL! This kind of ignorance should be illegal...and wannabee moderators attempting to quell legitimate discussions should be a NO NO here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FTA stands for FREE TO AIR. Free means free. Just like standard analog television, AM and FM radio, and even GPS.

Of course it is not illegal to receive any of those signals...no matter what device you use.

Don't be afraid of new three-year old technology just because you don't understand it.

I have read decent things about this USD receiver, even though it is priced quite low. However, I am waiting to update my Samsung until the Generation 5 chipset devices are released (should be early summer.)

If I had no STB, I would consider this one.

I should add that AVSForum and HDTVVoice have specific forums for this type of HDTV receiving equipment. You can learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of different Set-top boxes.

 

[Dulanic]

I would spend the extra $50 and get the sammy, new model, DVI output, QAM. Samsung SIRT451

 

[JohnDoh]

This is for receiving hdtv via antena, do you even know how many channels you can get ? http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/Address.aspx

I dont know I live in a populated area and last year I checked it was 2 hdtv channels

 

[Sepen]

Originally posted by: Dulanic
I would spend the extra $50 and get the sammy, new model, DVI output, QAM. Samsung SIRT451

The Samsung is $249 then minus a $50 reabte for $199 plus tax at CC this week. I saw it in store, rebate prints at the register.

 

[ICR5]

Originally posted by: NorCalSci

Originally posted by: ICR5

Originally posted by: TTM77
comparing HDTV with FTA (Free to air)

FTA is about a little more then $200
Gets All un-encripted channels including PPV/discovery/cartoon network/HBO/etc and all other stuff

Satellite signal theft is ILEGAL no matter what device you use.

I thought that discussion was a NO NO here ????????

LOL! This kind of ignorance should be illegal...and wannabee moderators attempting to quell legitimate discussions should be a NO NO here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FTA stands for FREE TO AIR. Free means free. Just like standard analog television, AM and FM radio, and even GPS.

Of course it is not illegal to receive any of those signals...no matter what device you use.

Don't be afraid of new three-year old technology just because you don't understand it.

Ok, so programming a Pansat 2500a FTA receiver with a modified bin is not ilegal?? Who are you kidding?

I know an FTA receiver is 100% Legal, as long as you receive Free To Air signals only... but once you program it with a hacked firmware then it's no longer Legal.. and Dish Network knows that very well.

All that will end when Nagra 2 becomes 100% operational, and then all those FTA receivers will be really used and considered Free to Air once again like they should be.

 

[50]

Originally posted by: Sepen

Originally posted by: Dulanic
I would spend the extra $50 and get the sammy, new model, DVI output, QAM. Samsung SIRT451

The Samsung is $249 then minus a $50 reabte for $199 plus tax at CC this week. I saw it in store, rebate prints at the register.

A couple weeks ago it was 199 and you could get a 50 dollar gift card with it FYI.

 

[Analog]

has it gone up again?

 

[Superdoopercooper]

Originally posted by: Dulanic
I would spend the extra $50 and get the sammy, new model, DVI output, QAM. Samsung SIRT451

Circuit City had the Sir-T451 recently for $250 - $50 rebate (VISA Giftcard) - 15% (in form of CC gift card)... for a total, after TX tax, of approximately $190-ish.

I took it back b/c the interface was slow, the QAM channel tunning was hokey, and the OTA tuner wasn't much better than my SIR-T151. I really only wanted it for QAM so I could receive our local Fox DTV station (long story), but with all the T451's shortcomings, I figured I'd just go rent the TWC box for $8/month during late Jan/early Feb so I can see the NFC Championship and Superbowl in HD on FOX.

 

[anandtechxhen]

An additional dish antenna is requested.