Does my Zenith HDV420 have QAM tuner?

thoekstr

I bought an older Panasonic Tau CRT for my kids to play Wii on and the guy from whom I bought it threw in a Zenith HDV420 tuner box with it. I currently just receive basic (analog) cable through Comcast in MN and am wondering if I should be able to get the locals in HD using that box. I am finding conflicting information on-line as to whether or not that Zenith HDV420 has a QAM tuner or not. Can anyone speak to whether I should or should not be able to receive the local channels in HD using this box and the basic Comcast feed?

Bigloww

From the couple sites I looked at it does......
"Zenith's HDV430 terrestrial high-definition TV/digital TV receiver features a high-performance ATSC tuner for terrestrial HDTV reception--just hook up an aerial antenna and you're in business--as well as a QAM tuner for use with an unscrambled cable HDTV transmission using a direct digital DVI connection".

Not sure why you need to use the DVI connection though.
But the only way to know for sure is to hook your cable coax feed up to the TV and do a scan for digtial/analog channels and see what you get. .

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In Loving Memory of Junkie, The Rizz, Eagle and the Boys.. They are gone (wasted in fact) but not forgotten..

thoekstr

I hooked up my coax analog cable line to the back of the Zenith box and the box to the TV with the component video cables and ran a scan; the result was "no signal". I'm fearing that this means that there is no QAM capabilities to the box, but wanted to check in with the experts on this site in hopes that I am just doing something wrong with the set up.
Also, the instructions for the Zenith box mention a 10db "attenuator" sometimes being needed.........would this make any difference relative to connecting to analog cable?
I am really not knowledgeable on this stuff, and basically was hoping to be able to get football in HD this fall without spending more money!

Loves2Watch

No, an attenuator reduces signal so it would be of no benefit. Evidently your Zenith does not have a QAM tuner.

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Theater 1 - Panasonic TH-85PF12U Plasma TV, 6 Conrad Johnson LP275M Amps, Anthem Statement D-2 Pre/Pro, 6 Thiel SCS4 Speakers, 2 REL T-1 Subs, Infinity Interlude 120S Sub, Simaudio MOON Orbiter Universal Disc Player, ELP Laser Turntable, 2 Dish Network ViP 622 DVR's, Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray Player, Onkyo DV-HD805 HD DVD Player.

Bigloww

I have checked a few sites on the HDV420 and it does state that it has a built in QAM tuner. But the strange thing is that quote next to it that you need to use a "a direct digital DVI connection". I guess that means that you need to use DVI/HDMI to the TV for the QAM to work.

Does you Panny TAU TV have a DVI or HDMI input or just component?

EDIT: You also stated you only receive analog cable service. You need digital cable service to receive "DIGITAL" channels via QAM..

__________________
Commit to the Indian..

In Loving Memory of Junkie, The Rizz, Eagle and the Boys.. They are gone (wasted in fact) but not forgotten..

Rick-F

As Bigglow said a "430" may have a QAM tuner the HDV420 does not.

http://www.audaud.com/audaud/SEP03/E...uip2SEP03.html

thoekstr

Thanks for the replies.
I guess I am screwed, as the TV only has component or S-video inputs.
As far as the cable, I am assuming that it is just basic analog cable, b/c I only pay $13 a month! (no converter box or anything)
I guess I will be picking up an HD-antenna and going that route.
Thanks for your input, though!

Loves2Watch

There is really no such thing as a HD antenna, an antenna is an antenna. It's all just marketing hype to get you to spend more money.

__________________
Theater 1 - Panasonic TH-85PF12U Plasma TV, 6 Conrad Johnson LP275M Amps, Anthem Statement D-2 Pre/Pro, 6 Thiel SCS4 Speakers, 2 REL T-1 Subs, Infinity Interlude 120S Sub, Simaudio MOON Orbiter Universal Disc Player, ELP Laser Turntable, 2 Dish Network ViP 622 DVR's, Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray Player, Onkyo DV-HD805 HD DVD Player.