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OTA Set-Top Boxes (STBs)

Home Theater Satellite HD OTA Set-Top Boxes (STBs)

HDTV and Home Theater Podcast - Podcast #591: HDTV in the Great Outdoors

The Dish ViP211K Tailgater Bundle pairs a 10-pound portable satellite antenna with an HD receiver to deliver live HDTV at campsites, automatically locating DISH satellites within 15 minutes via a single coax cable that also carries power to the antenna. The ViP211K supports DVR functionality through an external USB hard drive (50 GB to 1 TB) for a one-time $40 fee, and Dish offers a Pay-As-You-Go plan with no monthly contract for non-subscribers. For display, options range from lightweight LCD TVs to a portable projector setup such as the Epson 85HD MovieMate ($779), with power sourced from a vehicle inverter, generator, or portable solar panel system.

The HT Guys •
Podcasts
HD DVR Satellite HD OTA Set-Top Boxes (STBs)

DISH Introduces Hopper and Joey -- Next Generation Whole-Home HD DVR Entertainment System

DISH Network's Hopper HD DVR pairs with small Joey set-top boxes to deliver a whole-home HD DVR system capable of recording up to six programs simultaneously, backed by a 2TB hard drive offering up to 250 hours of HD storage. The system runs on a 750 MHz Broadcom processor, distributes signals via MoCA over existing coaxial cable, and includes PrimeTime Anytime, which auto-records all primetime content from ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC for eight days. Households with up to four TVs gain full DVR control in every room without additional main units, making it a practical upgrade for multi-room viewing.

Shane Sturgeon •
Bulletins
OTA Set-Top Boxes (STBs) Streaming HD Smart TVs

HDTV and Home Theater Podcast - Podcast #504: New ways to watch TV

Google's experimental gigabit-per-second fiber-to-home network in Kansas City is the foundation for a potential pay TV service that could launch as soon as 2012, leveraging Google TV software, the Sage TV DVR acquisition, and Motorola set-top box hardware. Apple is separately pursuing a monthly subscription streaming service built on Apple TV hardware, reportedly offering live channels at a fraction of cable costs using an a la carte iTunes-style model. Meanwhile, Boxee is adding a USB tuner dongle to enable free over-the-air HD reception, potentially making a cable subscription unnecessary for budget-conscious viewers.

The HT Guys •
Podcasts
IPTV OTA Set-Top Boxes (STBs)

Industry's First Integrated Wireless Receiver Gives U-verse TV Customers More Freedom to Easily Watch TV Anywhere, in Any Room in the Home

AT&T's U-verse TV Wireless Receiver, manufactured by Cisco, is the first fully-integrated wireless receiver offered by any TV provider, delivering live SD and HD content plus full Total Home DVR functionality over in-home Wi-Fi from a residential gateway access point. Priced at a one-time $49 fee plus $7 per month, the receiver requires only a power outlet and TV connection, eliminating the need for rewiring or dedicated outlet installation. This means customers can place a TV in virtually any room, including kitchens, patios, or guest rooms, without scheduling a technician for outlet work.

Shane Sturgeon •
Bulletins
OTA Set-Top Boxes (STBs) Streaming HD Smart TVs

HDTV Almanac - Hard Times for Logitech; Trouble for Google TV?

Logitech reported a $29.6 million loss in Q1 2011, a swing of more than $49 million compared to the same quarter in 2010, with its Google TV set-top box, the Revue, experiencing more returns than sales. The company slashed the Revue's price from $299 to $99 in an attempt to compete with other network media players, a steep cut that signals weak consumer demand. Google TV's broader rollout also stalled when Google asked licensees to pause new product releases ahead of CES 2011, leaving the platform's future uncertain.

Alfred Poor •
Columns
OTA Set-Top Boxes (STBs) Satellite HD Streaming HD

DISH Network's Enhanced Google TV Solution Now Available to Subscribers for $179

DISH Network launched its Google TV integration in November 2010, offering the Logitech Revue set-top box at $179 (versus $299 MSRP) exclusively to its subscribers, paired with a $4/month DVR integration service. The solution uses a proprietary pairing protocol enabling simultaneous search across Web, DVR, and VOD content, and is compatible with ViP 622, ViP 722, and ViP 722k HD DVR receivers. Subscribers gain a unified interface for live TV, recorded content, and internet browsing from a single device, representing a meaningful convergence of satellite TV and web access at the time.

Shane Sturgeon •
Bulletins
OTA Set-Top Boxes (STBs)

HDTV Expert - How to Watch FOX 5 and My 9 Without Cable

WNYW (FOX 5) and WWOR (My 9) broadcast digital TV signals on physical UHF channels 44 and 38 respectively, meaning a UHF antenna is the minimum hardware required to receive them over the air. TVs manufactured after March 1, 2007 include a built-in digital tuner by law, while older sets require a DTV converter box such as the Radio Shack DTX9950 ($60). Cord-cutting Cablevision subscribers within 10 miles of the Empire State Building can get started with a passive UHF antenna for as little as $12, though amplified or rooftop antennas are recommended beyond that range.

Pete Putman •
Columns
DTV Around the World - How ISDB-T is being Implemented as DTV in Argentina (Part 3)
OTA HD & Antennas OTA Set-Top Boxes (STBs)

DTV Around the World - How ISDB-T is being Implemented as DTV in Argentina (Part 3)

Argentina's ISDB-T digital terrestrial television rollout is underway, with Canal 7 broadcasting on digital channel 23 (527MHz) via a 10kW NEC transmitter covering Buenos Aires up to 30 kilometers, carrying a Transport Stream totaling 18.3Mbps that includes one HD subchannel at 8.8Mbps, two SD subchannels at 3Mbps each, and a 1-seg mobile stream at 340Kbps. Free-distribution set-top boxes include HDMI and component outputs for HD, RCA analog output for legacy sets, plus USB and Ethernet ports with Ginga NCL middleware for future interactivity. Viewers with recently purchased LCD panels will require an external STB, as those displays lack ISDB-T tuners, and some older LCDs cannot handle 1080i/50 HD signals currently being transmitted.

Rodolfo La Maestra •
Articles
3DTV Cable HD OTA Set-Top Boxes (STBs)

HDTV Expert - More updates on Comcast / ESPN 3D

ESPN's 3D World Cup broadcast uses MPEG2 compression at approximately 18 Mb/s, delivered as a 1920x1080i side-by-side frame-compatible signal, a format chosen to avoid transcoding degradation from 1080i/25 to 720p/60. Comcast plans to enable MPEG4 firmware on compatible set-top boxes in August, though current MPEG2-capable HD boxes can already receive the stream. Consumers with older HDMI-equipped HDTVs lacking native 3D processing represent a significant untapped market for outboard 3D converter boxes supporting QAM and VSB modulation.

Pete Putman •
Columns
Politics & Policy DRM OTA Set-Top Boxes (STBs)

HDTV Almanac - FCC Orders Remote Kill Switch

The FCC granted a limited waiver lifting its 2003 ban on selectable output control (SOC), allowing cable and satellite providers to remotely disable unprotected analog output ports on set-top boxes while leaving copy-protection-capable ports such as HDMI unaffected. The waiver restricts SOC activation to a 90-day window per title and mandates a two-year review period before any permanent policy change. For consumers, this means providers can selectively cut off analog outputs on your hardware, though the FCC stopped short of granting the MPAA full control over all output types.

Alfred Poor •
Columns
OTA Set-Top Boxes (STBs)

HDTV Almanac - Fighting Over the Phone

Verizon FiOS has launched a smartphone app for Motorola Droid and HTC Imagio users that turns the handset into a full set-top box remote, supporting channel selection, pause, rewind, fast forward, photo-to-TV transfer, and automatic volume muting during incoming calls. The app leverages the considerable processing power of modern smartphones to replace dedicated universal remotes without additional hardware cost. For FiOS subscribers who already carry a compatible Android device, this consolidation of remote control functionality into an existing device offers a practical and immediate convenience.

Alfred Poor •
Columns
3DTV OTA Set-Top Boxes (STBs) HDMI

CableLabs® Develops 3D Test Support, Opens Laboratory for 3D TV Technology

CableLabs has opened its test facilities to support 3D TV delivery over cable, confirming that many deployed digital set-top boxes can process frame-compatible 3D signals via existing HDMI connections without infrastructure changes. The lab's testing directly influenced updates to the HDMI 3D specification, adding 'Top/Bottom' format support and enabling legacy STBs to signal 3D carriage, while long-term work targets full 1080p60 per-eye resolution. Cable operators can deliver 3D content through VOD and SDV systems with only a fractional bandwidth increase, making near-term 3D TV rollout practical for current subscribers.

Shane Sturgeon •
Bulletins
Home Theater OTA Set-Top Boxes (STBs) Satellite HD

CEDIA 2009 Review: PC Home Theater Integration

PC home theater integration remains elusive in 2009, with Cable Card support inconsistently adopted by local providers and a full IP-based cable transition potentially forcing half the market onto set-top boxes within 5-10 years. Satellite stands out as the most promising universal solution for delivering SD and HD broadcast content to a PC, with both Dish and DirecTV demonstrating working prototypes at CEDIA 2009, though content protection remains the primary obstacle to commercialization. In the meantime, devices like the PS3, Xbox 360, and TiVo are already delivering multimedia directly to the main display, leaving full PC integration largely a pursuit for enthusiasts.

Richard Fisher •
Articles
Corel® WinDVD® Pro 2010 Delivers the Ultimate Blu-ray and DVD Playback Experience on the PC
Blu-ray Home Theater OTA Set-Top Boxes (STBs)

Corel® WinDVD® Pro 2010 Delivers the Ultimate Blu-ray and DVD Playback Experience on the PC

Corel WinDVD Pro 2010 is a Blu-ray and DVD playback application supporting 1080p output, BD-Live interactivity, and audio formats including Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. The release introduces GPU-based SD-to-HD upscaling via Trimension All2HD technology, CPU and GPU optimizations for faster playback, and battery life improvements on Windows Vista and Windows 7. Users gain hands-on control through Windows Touch integration, making this a technically broad upgrade for home theater PC setups.

Shane Sturgeon •
Bulletins
DTV Transition OTA Set-Top Boxes (STBs)

HDTV Almanac - Only Two Days Left!

The U.S. analog-to-digital broadcast transition, completed in June 2009, left only 1.1% of TV households unprepared according to Nielsen data, though that still represents over 1 million homes. The federal coupon program, which issued more than 63 million coupons worth $40 each toward approved digital converter boxes, closes July 31, 2009, with 4.4 million coupons still active. Households with televisions not connected to cable or satellite need a converter box to continue receiving over-the-air digital signals, making this deadline practically significant for multi-TV homes.

Alfred Poor •
Columns