I don't think you'll find an LG LST-4200a very easily... here's hoping! :)

My Google exercise proved you are right. Why is that?
I can't even find new ones for sale at US Bestbuy, Fry's, Newegg.

LG stopped making them about 1 1/2 years ago. Looks like its a new HDTV for you, or another brand of ATSC tuner.

The problem is the DTB-H260F is intended as a DTV tuner for HDTVs. The composite and S-Video connections are only intended for connecting VCRs and DVD Recorders simultaniously.

Your best best is to wait for SD DTV tuners to come out next year. The US government will start giving out $40 coupons in January for SD DTV tuners and various manufacturers will be making tuners that meet the requirements for this coupon (the DTB-H260F doesn't conform to the requirements).

You are right. I should have read the manual before buying this.
Probably put it on eBay.

Of course, the alternative to getting rid of it or buying a new tv is to get some kind of DVD recorder which has component in or HDMI in and s-video out. Might be cheaper.

You will have better luck finding a DVD recorder with built in ATSC tuner than one with Component or HDMI inputs.

A new TV would solve the technical problem.
But my 30" Sony Trinitron is in excellent condition.
I'm thinking of getting rid of the Samsung DTB_H260FThe Samsung SIR-T451 has OSD through s-video and works great for a 4:3 screen.

Nice suggestion. Casual browsing hints that it is good enough for GTA OTA.
They are available on eBay as well. Just have to be careful that it is a complete set.

A quick browse of the BestBuy US website shows a few DVD recorders with built-in ATSC tuners. (Apparently soon all DVD recorders with TV tuners in the US must have ATSC tuners.)
This is good.

I found 5 models, from Samsung, Philips, LG, Panasonic. Prices run from US$180 to US$250.

Rather than fool around looking for used SIR-T451 or LST-4200a, for me it makes sense to find a DVD recorder with great reviews and pick one up on the next trip south.

sunjwd, before you look into those machines you'd better get caught up on this thread that discusses them:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=56806

We now return to Samsung ATSC Products discussion. :)

i bought a used 260 off ebay. works great, only beef is that it takes so bloody long to boot up and send a signal to the TV! :P haven't counted but it's approx 3-5sec. is that normal? or is mine defective?

I got mine recently from eBay as well and it also takes a few seconds to come up.

hmmm, that's not good. i just checked now that i am home. when i hit the power button, it lights up in a sec. but no signal goes to the tv for about 10secs. :(

this is using the HDMI connection to my TV and the audio is set to PCM.

Normally I would say that a few seconds out of my valuable lifetime are nothing to worry about, but if it involves the recording of a program and the first 10 seconds are lost I'd be pretty annoyed too.

well it's definitely greater than 5 secs before getting any kind of signal to the screen. no i'm not recording, strictly viewing and testing at the moment since i'm new to HD OTA. it's a tad annoying since it's so obvious waiting and staring at a blank grey screen till a picture is on screen, but at least it's working as it should and am getting great PQ.

btw, how the heck do you set the time on the 260? it's slow by a good 5 minutes and i can't for the life of me figure out where to correct it? is it reading the date/time off received digital signals?

Prime PHD 205 tuner
Could you point me to some information on this? I am curious, but have not been able to locate anything.

I don't have that tuner, mines 3 yrs old, but isn't there a setting for auto time?.

Are you talking about delay when switching channels? or just on initial startup? My computer takes about 1-1/2 minutes to start up?
Why would you ever turn it off? power consumed might be about $0.05 per day?

My T-451 takes almost 10 seconds when I first turn it on - it has to boot-up. My BEV sat receiver takes about 3 seconds as well. I assume all digital tuners require a momentary pause before displaying anything - there is a lot of data manipulation taking place. It isn't an analog signal after all.

The time is being sent from the broadcaster and likely is different between broadcasters depending on how well they program their equipment. It also affects your on screen guide.

A forum friend pointed me to this:

Coby DTV140 ATSC HD set top box.
On special at Dell Canada for $79.

Google of "Coby DTV140 review" reveals 2 pages but no real
reviews. Can change any time.

Even B&H Photo doesn't have the specs on that Coby unit, and they're usually quite reliable for that kind of info. So, that DTV140 unit is certainly a gamble for someone to try out but the price sure is low.