TV Tuner Problem - DVR Options?

[dave1949]

Like others have said, it sounds like your tuner has gone out. We have several DVD records with tuners. They are harder to find with tuners today, but you might try a thrift store for one. Or even an old VCR would do. All you would be using it for is the tuner. If you find one, use the RCA jacks to connect it to your TV. I think that would get you going.

Larro

We have digital cable service. There seems to be some dvd recorders with tuners but I need to check those out in more detail. Some require a card that is provided by the cable company, or permission from the cable company by the sounds of it.

 

[dave1949]

I have a channelmaster digital tuner/DVR for digital OTA signals. no monthly fee, but you can pay to get advanced programming listings. If your cable box is analog output, I just bought on amazon an analog tuner with hdmi output to go between an analog cable box and a new tv that doesn't have coax input. think it was around $40.

More good tips, thanks.

 

[SPIKER]

Contact Samsung, They fixed mine (bought in Mar 2008) and there is a Capacitor problem that takes them about 15 min to replace them, 4 or 5 of them gets un soldered and new replacement put in. I think the number is "1-800-SAM_SUNG" but you can go to their web site and type in the model number and serial number and it will tell you if yours is in for free fixes.

Ours would not turn on every time, it would make the start up chime but then shut right back off, & would occasionally get a line thru it. There is a lot of info on them on line and a good number of youtube videos.

Mark

 

[Bird]

The first time our old 40" Samsung had a problem (very slow to come on and some odd things happening before it would get going), the Best Buy technician replaced a couple of capacitors. That service call, parts, labor, etc. would have been a bit under $200 if we hadn't had the extended warranty. The second time was what looked like some faint clouds on the screen and the same guy replaced the panel. That time it would have been well over $200. The third time the screen looked like it had a smaller screen burned into it. That was the time we got the new TV.

We changed from DirecTV to Charter cable about 3 months ago and they provided the tuner boxes with DVR. But only a month ago they changed to all digital. Of course we already had the right equipment, but they sent lots of notices for those without tuner boxes to come by their office and get one at no cost.

 

[dave1949]

Contact Samsung, They fixed mine (bought in Mar 2008) and there is a Capacitor problem that takes them about 15 min to replace them, 4 or 5 of them gets un soldered and new replacement put in. I think the number is "1-800-SAM_SUNG" but you can go to their web site and type in the model number and serial number and it will tell you if yours is in for free fixes.

Ours would not turn on every time, it would make the start up chime but then shut right back off, & would occasionally get a line thru it. There is a lot of info on them on line and a good number of youtube videos.

Mark

Thanks Mark.

I don't think I have the capacitor problem that you and Bird had. Ours always turns on and plays until we turn it off.

So, I followed SoundGuys advice and did some googling. What a can of worms :laughing:, but there is a lot of info out there. I even found out how to turn off the stupid "melody" power on/off chimes. :laughing:

At this site: TVserviceParts.com | Samsung AA40-00177A Tuner
I could buy a tuner (and watched a YouTube video of that being done somewhere) for $45, or the entire main board, which looks like it includes the tuner, for $175.


CNET has a Samsung TV forum:
Forums Sitemap - CNET.com

I never realized how many different problems people can have with TV sets these days with all the various usage and connection modes.


Thanks everyone for all the good tips. I'm going to need a while to sort through and follow-up on those.

 

[bandaidmd]

Sounds like your going to end up with a new TV or external tuner, Once you add the dvr you will kick yourself for not having one sooner. My wife and i both work early shifts and all the good shows seem to come on at 10pm with a dvr it does not matter we watch on our schedule.

 

[dave1949]

Sounds like your going to end up with a new TV or external tuner, Once you add the dvr you will kick yourself for not having one sooner. My wife and i both work early shifts and all the good shows seem to come on at 10pm with a dvr it does not matter we watch on our schedule.

Yeah, I think it will be one or the other. After watching the YouTube video of replacing the tuner, I can see it is hard soldered on the main board, nothing to come loose there and the coax connector extends from the tuner case out the back of the set, so no intermediate wires there. A new main board gets me over half the price of a new tv when all is said and done. Like a DVR, the on-demand streaming is also good for time management and convenience.

We've been watching this Australian Broadcasting series Phyrne Fisher: Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries : ABC TV streamed from Netflix. And the House Of Cards series, also from Netflix (produced and streamed). House of Cards (U.S. TV series) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Phyrne Fisher is about PG-13. House of Cards is definitely in the R rated zone. So beware of that if you have youngsters.

 

[MossRoad]

Once you get over half the cost of a new TV that's already 5 years old, better to go the other route. Something else will go once you replace the original bad part. Use the repair money towards a DVR with tuner and use the TV for the monitor. It may last for years as just a monitor.

 

[dave1949]

I have a channelmaster digital tuner/DVR for digital OTA signals. no monthly fee, but you can pay to get advanced programming listings. If your cable box is analog output, I just bought on amazon an analog tuner with hdmi output to go between an analog cable box and a new tv that doesn't have coax input. think it was around $40.

That was a good tip.

Channel Master also has this CM7001 hdmi antenna/cable tuner (no dvr). HD Antenna Tuner and Cable HDTV Tuner | CM-7001 - Channel Master Store

I think that would do the job with no monthly subscription. $111 at Amazon with Prime. There are other brands too, none have really good average review numbers. The number of times I would make use of a dvr are really limited, I don't think I would miss it really. Haven't yet.

It's a shame we don't get more over the air signals. Channel Master has an antenna-only tuner/dvr unit that looks nice. The Channel Master utility shows us with five potential channels, and two of the five are duplicates from different locations. In any case, NESN (New England Sports Channel) is cable only, streaming is blacked-out, and I live with a die hard Red Sox fan. High maintenance. :laughing:

 

[Soundguy]

neither would i.

not much inside a new tv anymore. I'd be surprised if there was more than 1 card other than the power supply.... IF that is even seperate...

I would not put money into a 5 year old TV with the advances made today. This is just my perspective, but in this situation I would:

1. Upgrade to a 50 to 60" TV - big is better.
2. If the old TV is a 1080 resolution model, use it as an additional computer monitor. It will be impressive.