Samsung SIR-T165 HDTV Terrestrial Receiver
The ONLY HD set top box w/Firewire output!!
Samsung already has a couple other HD set top boxes out on the market, and if this one didn't have the Firewire (aka i-Link or IEEEE1394) output I'd say go for one of them or the Zenith HDV420 (if you're not decoding a satellite signal). However, the Firewire output means one crucial thing: linked to the JVC HM-DH30000L DVHS VCR, you can record High Def programs from off the air. Really. Now, there is still not a huge amount of over the air High Def programming out there, but most of the scripted dramas on the big three networks and much PBS content is broadcast in HD. Stick a $... Firewire cable between this and the JVC, and off you go. <br />As a set top box this is a good unit, though not without its imperfections. The picture quality is excellent and the DVI output means that if your HD set has a DVI input you never have to corrupt your signal with an analog conversion--the pure digital signal goes all the way from the broadcast tower to your set without having to be prematurely converted to analog for travel via component output. But the menu/remote is only okay to use, my main gripe being that you have to scroll down to get to a signal strength function (the Zenith gives this function its own button on the remote).<br />One reviewer faulted this unit for not displaying guide information on the channels when the information is still not available from the broadcasters. I hardly see how you can blame a set top box for not displaying information that the broadcasters haven't gotten around to sending out. <br />Again, the biggest plus with this unit is the Firewire output. The Firewire link also allows you to control your DVHS VCR from this unit. This set top box has an onscreen menu that allows you to play, pause, and stop DVHS tapes on your DVHS VCR. The Samsung even allows you to schedule up to six (at least) programs to be taped. You enter the channel, date, and start and end time, and the Samsung will turn on your DVHS VCR to tape the scheduled HD program. No, it's not quite \\"VCR +Plus,\\" but it's a start. <br />So, if you have an HD monitor and want to watch--and tape--HD programs from off the air, this is the only unit for you. Given that the big kids still can't decide on a single format for HD DVD (and recordable HD DVD is even farther out), why wait? My advice: get it before someone pressures makers like Samsung to quit putting Firewire outputs on their equipment.