Kro,
Have you see this unit anywhere? It appears to be a South Korean company based on the phone number, and doesn't seem to have a tuner. It talks about an optional tuner module which (the t-410 which is ATSC) but this seems like you then have to purchase two separate components as it seems the tuner is proprietary (you can't plug in an existing stb).
See: http://www.tvix.co.kr/Eng/products/tunert430.aspx
If you know anymore about this unit please post it!!!

FrankMac
On page 1 you will see there are a few options available to you:
Lg -3410A (ebay)
Sony DHG-HDD series (100,200,250,and 500), again an ebay item
Tivo 3, and Tivo HD (Tivo requires a subscription for full functionality)
Be aware that there might be potential problems with these units in the future; I'll explain that later.

Alternatively, Echostar is releasing a the TR-50 later this year. See post #94 in earlier in this thread.
_______________

An update to the current info listed here about the TR-50. I have harvested this from different sources on the internet:

New release date is scheduled to be August 2008 (pushed back from July).
Will be marketed by Sling - as in Slingbox
Will have a single rf input (which really burns me personally :( )
Dual tuners are (speculated) to be both NTSC/ATSC/QAM - to be confirmed when the units actually ship
Likely able to upgrade the hard-drive but they will use Echostar's filing system so you cannot put the drive into a PC or or even another Echostar product. The drive is sync'd with the physical unit.
Appears that it will be using Gemstar's new digital TVGOS service for guide data, to be carried on CBS. It will not be using PSIP data - at least that means we in the GTA can conceivably get CFTO's guide data! It should be able to use guide data from any digital CBS station that you can get. However what it also means is that there is a potential conflict for users in Canada. See post # 36 in the official TVGOS thread for more info: http://digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=75057&page=3.

That brings me to the potential problems I mentioned earlier.... The LG and Sony units use guide data from analogue TVGOS. There is rumours that at least LG is trying to develop a firmware update (I guess) that will allow their units to grab the digital TVGOS data stream and remain fully functional, but that appears to be a "wait and see" proposition right now. I have not seen anything that indicates Sony might also be trying to do this.
For the Tivo units the potential problems seem to be far, far, away; if and when cable companies move to Switched Digital Video, and since Canadian cable co's aren't using cablecards anyway I'm not sure what the impact will be, if any.

99gecko:

Trust me, if I had found an LG LST-3410A or a Sony DHG-HDD that shipped to Canada on eBay, I would have bought it. I've been looking for two weeks and they just don't come up. And thanks for all the info on the TR-50. I may just hold off until it comes out.

I'm still interested in hearing from people who have used the Coolsat 8100 for OTA. Anyone?

i am buying the CM4228 and i want to be able to record my shows like i was able to on my rogers HD PVR. my pioneer PDP-R06U says it can be a DVR if a attachment is added and i cant find what it is or where i can get it.

so is it possible to record OTA shows on a DVR or PVR?

I suggest you read through this thread.

There are also PC-based tuners that provide limited PVR functionality. Here are two useful links:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=42094
http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=49381

All things being more or less equal (price, condition, etc), which of the Sony DHG-HDD250 and the LG LST-3410A is considered the better machine? I've never used either and will likely be buying sight unseen from eBay. Any guidance would be most appreciated. Thanks.

Try to identify which ATSC chipset is in them. That LG has a 4th Generation but is an excellent performer, but if the Sony has a 5th Generation chipset I would buy it instead.

Thanks. Will do.
I wasn't even thinking about the tuner; I was more concerned with the functionality of the PVR/TVGOS side of things, but now that you've brought it up I'll keep it in mind. And the research continues...

I am looking for an ATSC DVR and the Pioneer 550/650 seem to fit the bill. I have a Pioneer 543 and I'm very happy with it. Any comments on general "usability" from owners of 550/650?

I occasionally se the LG 3410 on ebay but it doesn't seem to have a DVD burner. Comments?

Any other suggestions?

Thanks

Just received my Philips DVDR3505/37 DVD recorder with SDTV tuner in the mail yesterday. It's a refurbished unit from Factory Direct online.

The unit did not come with a manual, but you can find one on Philips USA website.

I haven't had a chance to test out the record function, my focus last night was mainly on checking the strength of the tuner.

The initial scan for channels picked up both analog stations and digital stations. To switch between analog and digital you have to press the "DTV/TV" button on the remote.

Using my attic installed CM4221 and AP4700 preamp, the tuner held up pretty well in a head-to-head competition with my Samsung SIR-T451. It received all of the channels that I normally receive on the Samsung.

Channel surfing is pretty slow on this unit, as it is on the Samsung (a fact of life with most DTV tuners, I guess?).

Unlike the Samsung, the Philips does not have a signal strength meter, AFAIK.

One advantage the Philips has over the Samsung is that you have direct access to sub channels using the remote (e.g., press "7" + "." + "2" to get channel 7-2, WNGS Buffalo). With the Samsung you must first go to channel 7 ABC and then "channel up" to get to 7-2.

One disadvantage is that you cannot delete a sub-channel without deleting all of the channels on that frequency. For instance, you cannot delete 49-2, which provides identical programming (but in SD) as channel 49-1, without deleting 49-1 as well. The Samsung allows users to delete sub-channels without getting rid of the main channel.

Overall, I would say the Philips is a good tuner for the price. It's an all-in-one, DVD/CD player, DVD recorder and digital tuner. It's an affordable alternative to buying a converter box, DVD player, PVR, etc.

I will post later on the Philips' abilities as a DVD recorder (I will post this in the PVR, STB..." thread. I am posting my thoughts on the tuner portion of the unit in this thread because I thought people might find the Philips to be a viable alternative to a converter box.

I have this unit too and like it as well - at times it out performs the tuner in my Sanyo hdtv. However the best tuner I have had experience w/ so far is the one in the Zenith DTT900. It has the ability to delete sub channels and not the main channel or other sub's. It seems to be the best so far in terms of producing a watchable pic w/ the least amount of signal. I like this one to because it has the manual tune function where you can tune to a station not in memory and tweak your antenna for better signal then add the station to memory. The next box I want to try is the dish network - DTVPal. I ordered this one yesterday with my last gov coupon.

I am in the final process of selecting my components for my new dedicated AV room (almost done and I am so anticipating the results) .. and have decided to go with a commercial plasma display (for several reasons) TH58PH10uka, which also means that in order to get OTA, no I don't want to go cable, I will need a tuner either ext or int ..What I would love to have is a universal tuner (ATSC, NTSC), with all the PVR functions. Unfortunately it appears that those models are not yet on the market (Echostar tr50, Aurora HD Pro + HDD, etc...)

Any suggestions ..how is the Pico Macom hd-atsc,

Thks for the help

Hi everyone, I noticed this unit on the weekend at Sam's club.
It listed ATSC tuner on the features at Sam's it was $228. and some cents.

So I decide to take a closer look... here is a c&p from the JVC America site.

C&P here...
DVD+VHS Recorder with Versatile Compatible Formats including DivX(R), featuring ATSC Digital/NTSC Analog Tuners, HDMI Output with 1080p/720p Up-Conversion (DVD/VHS)


Playable Formats: VHS Hi-Fi, DVD-Video, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD-R, +RW, +R, +R (Dual), CD, SVCD/VCD, CD-R/RW, WMA/MP3/JPEG Digital Still/DivX(R) (CD-R/RW, DVD-R/RW, +R/+RW)
Recordable Formats: VHS Hi-Fi, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD-R, +RW, +R
ATSC (Digital) Tuner: 8 VSB (2-69), Clear QAM (1-135)
NTSC (Analog) Tuner: VHF (2-13), UHF (14-69), CATV (1-135)
Progressive Scan Output

here is the actual link just change the ++ with tt
h++p://av.jvc.com/product.jsp?modelId=MODL028343&pathId=115&page=1 (if the link is a problem feel free to delete it)

Hi everyone, I noticed this unit on the weekend at Sam's club.This unit does not appear to record ATSC/QAM, only NTSC.
Though it's still a good product if that's what you want - watch ATSC, NTSC, DVD or VHS
And record NTSC to DVD or VHS

This unit does not appear to record ATSC/QAM, only NTSC.

Where did you read this? I couldn't find anything about this on the website that teenie provided. I have heard of some VCR/DVD recorders that won't record to VHS with the ATSC tuner (I don't know if this is one of them). Is that what you are thinking of?

Reading the specs, it only mentions NTSC record
"Recording Video Formats NTSC MPEG-2 (DVD) ; NTSC (VHS)"
It may record ATSC and downsample it in the process, but that would be very intensive work for the unit, and doesn't really make sense when it can just be dumped directly to a disc in mpeg-2 format

Reading the specs, it only mentions NTSC record
"Recording Video Formats NTSC MPEG-2 (DVD) ; NTSC (VHS)"

The way it says "NTSC MPEG-2" makes me think that it is just saying that it won't record in PAL and SECAM formats to make disks that are useable elsewhere in the world. Also it is saying that it is the recording "format" not the recording "source." I might be wrong though.

It may record ATSC and downsample it in the process, but that would be very intensive work for the unit, and doesn't really make sense when it can just be dumped directly to a disc in mpeg-2 format

It will almost definatly be downconverting the picture to 480i. Standard DVD's don't support 720p or 1080i.

I was at Wal-Mart yesterday and they received the Magnavox SDTV recorder. It has a DVD recorder and a 80 gig HDD. They sell it for 199$ wich is pretty much the same price as in the US. The clerk told me they should receive other brands before september (He told me a toshiba unit).

That's good news we are finally able to buy a ATSC recorder here in Canada.

That is good news Kro. It will be interesting to see what this Toshiba unit will be. If it is the "new" DR7 (http://www.toshiba.ca/web/product.grp?lg=en&section=2&group=4&product=8310) it doesn't look like it has an ATSC (or SDTV) tuner, only an NTSC tuner.

He told me that they would all have an ATSC tuner. (He actually knew what an ATSC tuner is which surprised me.)

Maybe they are importing an American model. Either that or Toshiba Canada's website is out of date.