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Set Top Box (STB) Digital Tuner Reviews
Here's a overview list of the pros/cons of STB Digital Tuners vs. PC Digital Tuners.
PROS
- More stable than PC's in general
- Easy to setup
- Smaller footprint that a PC in general
- Cheaper than a fully configured PC
- Quiter than a PC in general
CONS- No DVR functions such as recording or pause
- Limited Electronic Program Guide (EPG)
- Cannot be enhanced as technology changes
- More expensive than some HDTV PC tuners
COMMENTS:- A over the air (OTA) digital Set Top Box (STB) is the perfect answer for the non-PC person or someone not interested in recording TV. Most larger HDTV are now coming with build-in digital tuners, but the smaller models and many older HDTV's still need a digital tuner to receive digtal/HDTV.
A STB will be required for all old analog TV's in February, 2009 in the U.S for all OTA broadcasts. At that point all analog OTA broadcasts will cease.
COST Around $90-$400+
Here are some of the more reasonably priced digital tuners available.
For analog TV's try one of the new digital converter boxes. Get more information on them
here.
For HDTV's without a tuner try the Samsung DTB-H260F (review
here
)
or the Coby DTV-140 (review
here
)
If you want a DVD recorder/up-converter and digital tuner combo check out the Toshiba DR570 (review
here
)
Or if you need a DVD recorder/up-converter, VHS recorder/player and digital tuner combo check out the Toshiba DR670 (review
here
)
Finally the older out of production but still good LG 3510-A (review
here
)
NOTE:- All of these tuners require an antenna for over the air digital reception or a cable coax connection for QAM (digital cable).
- These are ONLY digital tuners they will NOT tune analog over the air or cable stations.
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