Samsung SIR-T451 High Definition Terrestrial Tuner
This tuner makes the chore of finding HDTV stations easier
I have had no problems with this Samsung HDTV tuner.  It is very easy to use and to hook up.  I used the component video cable instead of DVI and I used the coaxial audio output for sound instead of the optical output.<br /><br />The remote is quite small and basic, but it does have a menu feature that I have found useful when setting up the various channels.  Of particular usefulness is the signal strength menu.  This helps me to tune in the station using my recently purchased remote control Channel Master rotor.  I also like the Guide feature which tells me what's going to be on a particular channel during the next few hours.  The Guide will also display program information for all of the channels.  That is, if the individual channels are sending this information along with the signal.  The Guide is similar to the guide that I am more use to on Dish Network.<br /><br />The major problems that I have had with HDTV stations are not with this tuner, but with the stations themselves.  For instance, the bars displayed during some shows are not the tuners fault, but the stations fault.  The bars are an indication that the program is not in HDTV.  I watched Law and Order last night on NBC and the program displayed in full screen (16X9).  Law and Order was in HD and the tuner displayed it correctly.  Immediately after this show was the local news.  The bars were displayed along the sides of the picture.  This show was not in HD.<br /><br />Also, all of the HD stations do not have the same channel numbers that we are used to.  For instance, NBC here is channel 12, but the HD channel is 31.  This can make it difficult to find you local HDTV stations.  Luckily I found a website at [...] to help me out.  And one more feature that this tuner has is that it will change the High Def channel from 31 to 12 so in the future when I want to see NBC, I can punch in 12 like I am used to and it will display the HD version of 12 instead of punching in 31.<br /><br />And finally I discovered that quite a few local stations only broadcast their HD signal at half power.  For instance, my local CBS station in Greensboro does this.  As a result, I cannot receive my local CBS station.  But I can receive the CBS station out of Charlotte because it broadcasts at full power and because I have a huge outdoor antenna.  The website [...] helped me to find a lot of information about HDTV stations in North Carolina and what power they used to broadcast their signal.<br /><br />Receiving free HDTV signals is a learning experience, but the Samsung SIR-T451 made the chore easier.  I am giving this item 5 stars.  The problems that I had with the stations will be overcome with time.  More programs will be in HD eliminating the bars and more stations will begin to send the signal in full power which will add more free HD stations.I discovered that quite a few local stations only broadcast their HD signal at half power.  For instance, my local CBS station in Greensboro does this.  As a result, I cannot receive my local CBS station.  But I can receive the CBS station out of Charlotte because it broadcasts at full power and because I have a huge outdoor antenna.  The website [...] helped me to find a lot of information about HDTV stations in North Carolina and what power they used to broadcast their signal. <br /> <br />Receiving free HDTV signals is a learning experience, but the Samsung SIR-T451 made the chore easier.  I am giving this item 5 stars.  The problems that I had with the stations will be overcome with time.  More programs will be in HD eliminating the bars and more stations will begin to send the signal in full power which will add more free HD stations.