Re: Digital Stream HDTV receiver problems



David wrote:
> "DanR" <dhr22@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:lJqtf.4026$UF3.2066@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> Just bought my first HDTV today, Samsung LNR328W at Best Buy. I needed an
>> HDTV
>> receiver and they had none in stock. They only carry one brand and it was
>> sold
>> out. I searched CompUSA and Circuit City's web sites and only Circuit City
>> had
>> any in stock. So I bought a "Digital Stream" HDTV receiver HD3150 PLUS.
>> My SDTV signal from Direct TV is acceptable with the Samsung. When I
>> hooked up
>> the receiver I was very disappointed in the HD quality. I have a rooftop
>> antenna
>> and the signal strength meter on the receiver is very good on all my local
>> HD
>> channels but they don't look good at all. I am connected via component
>> cables.
>> The HD image is noisy and a bit grainy. It freezes from time to time and
>> stutters. Looks somewhat like Direct TV during a storm. Also looks like
>> bad
>> chroma keying where the whole picture is keyed over something else and not
>> adjusted properly. So I don't know where the problem is. Might this
>> Digital
>> Stream receiver be a piece of junk? Does anyone have experience with this
>> tuner
>> or heard anything about it?
>> I've only messed with it for a few hours and I think the only true HD
>> picture
>> that happened to be on was Conan O'Brian. Is Jay Leno and Letterman
>> broadcast in
>> HD? They looked worse. At least the Conan show looked HD but had the video
>> noise
>> and other problems.
>> I was so thrilled when I first connected the set to find that it looked
>> pretty
>> good with the SD DirecTV signal but now I'm not so happy.
>>
>>
>
> It appears to be a decent receiver, judging from this review:
>
>
http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/article.asp?print_page=y&section_id=3&article_id=847&page_number=1&preview=
>
> I'd double check the configuration menus. What type of antenna do you use
> and what's your general location?

I use a regular TV antenna I bought several years ago. It is typical TV antenna
with VHF and UHF sections. It is really overkill for regular TV in my area. I
checked antennaweb.com and all important DT signals are in one direction and I
do receive a good signal per the signal strength metering in the receiver. The
receiver has a hard switch on the back to set 1080i, 720p or 480p but changing
from one to the other makes no noticeable difference in my picture. There is
also an HDMI output which I am not using. ($100 for a cable)
One thing I'm suspicious about is the fact the remote control was missing from
the package. I didn't realize this until I unpacked the unit at home. And now
that I check the circuitcity web site I see that they are out of stock on this
receiver. So maybe I got a floor sample and they forgot to pack the remote. And
if it was a floor sample I wasn't told. I'm going to drive back to CC and see
what I can do about this.
I live in St. Louis and it seems that there are no HD receivers anywhere in
town. All the Best Buy stores are out. All the CompUSA stores are out. Now all
the Circuit City stores are out. Wal-Mart has none locally but has an RCA unit
to order for $388. Seems like a lot of money. The Digital Stream by Pro Brand
was $230 and various reviews I've read today say it is an "entry level"
receiver. Is this scarcity typical for HD receivers around the US?
I'm really amazed at these prices. I used to think 'how complicated can a TV
tuner be' but I suppose all the scaling they must do makes them technically
complicated and thus not too cheap. (I'm new to HDTV)


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