Digital OTA Tuner for CRT Projector (1 Viewer)

[houndman]

Trying to figure what is the best setup for me to get digital OTA on a Electrohome ECP 4100 CRT projector. I'm a bit dinged up mentally and physically from an injury, so everything is doubly hard.

I have the PJ running off a Dual Head Maxtor analog tuner card in a PC, and debating what to use to get digital on it. I picked up a converter box for my regular analog TV, and was trying to figure if the boxes would run the PJ by itself, without the PC, but don't think they will. I think the box will run the PJ throught the PC tuner card, but the converter box is only 480i, and the dedicated PC I had for it quit, and trying to figure the best way to go, and how best to set it up, for the lowest cost.

Using the same PC to be on line and run the PJ, which I do often because my injury makes that what I do, if watching sports or nature shows, I had a problem with the signal, like it didn't have enough output or something to run the PJ off the PC, and being on line with the PC. I have been thinking about the Samsung HDTV tuner for the PJ, but trying to figure which way is best. I mainly want the PJ for sports and nature shows I can get OTA. I have a progressive DVD/5.1 reciever combo I could run DVD's from, but not sure what the resolution is on that. The PJ is connected to the PC with BNC cables. I thought the PJ had S-Vid, Composite, and Component inputs, but it has been a while, and can't find out easily. Now with the HDMI out and inputs, I'm trying to figure what I can do or have to to get HD to the PJ.

This stuff is extra hard for me. When I first set it up, I had a guy who knew the stuff help me out on line, but lost contact with him. He was seting up his first, but knew what was what, and helped me make sure I got a PJ with the bandwidth to get HD, even if not the best one, something decent at a reasonable price.

Any help would be appreciated, as to what I can do, and the best way to go, or where to look for help.

Vince F

 

[Gregg Loewen]

find an OTA receiver with RBG / VGA outputs...the RCADTC100 comes to mind, but it is now quite old technology. On the plus side it would be cheap to acquire one.

 

[Dennis Nicholls]

I used the RCA DTC100 for inputs to my Electrohome CRT projector back a few years ago. Although sold as a DirecTV receiver it also has an OTA DTV receiver which was pretty good for its day. All you need is a VGA to three BNC connector cable and you are good to go.

 

[houndman]

Is that the only or best option?

what limitations does the tuner have, what resolution? I live in a big city and no problems with the set top box I just got for my old TV. I think reception is pretty strong in my location based on an antenna site for digital.

The PJ does 720p, and 1080i, so imagine it could do that.. I have a VGA to
5 BNC cable for a PC analog TV tuner card I have. Can that be used?

Thanks guys.

Vince F

 

[Dennis Nicholls]

The cable you have should work fine.

The problem is that most OTA DTV tuners output YPrPb component video, not RGBS that your projector needs. I bought a couple of YPrPb to RBGS converter boxes back in the day but you would have to research modern boxes to see what's available now. Those things are expensive since it's a limited market - IIRC about $300. Hence it's cost effective to seek out an old DTC100.

 

[houndman]

found a few DT100's on Ebay. One seller said it wouldn't bring in the New HDTV channels. I wonder if that means on the Direct TV service. Another said he has the Card that came with it, and another said you can get premium cable channels like HBO and others for a long time with his. I imagine you would need a dish and the card to get them.

My sister just switched from one of the dish services to FIOS. Have to see which one. Maybe she has the tuner.

You guys are making this a Lot easier for me than another forum I asked on. I know enough about this stuff to want, but get in trouble when it comes to what will work with what, and with my disabilities, it is pretty hard to think or get things done, but I'm the type who likes to put things together. I was going to try the set top box I picked up for the changeover through the TV card in my pc to see how it looked on the PJ, but that's just 480i. Wondering if I could run the DTC tuner through my PC's TV tuner, and do you limit the resolution when you run through an analog tuner?

Vince F

 

[houndman]

running into some odd sounding things looking up the resolution of the DTC 100. Read it upconverts everything to 1080i, but then read it also has 540p, and the 540 can make things in non HD sources look shorter and wider. I wonder how much is non HD now? I did read that fast action like sports looks better in 720p, opposed to 1080i. Any opinions on these things? The articles were pretty old, like 00' and 02'.

Thanks

Vince F

 

[houndman]

how can I connect a DVD player with the DTC 100 ?

VF