What is the best way to connect an HDTV antenna to a projector?

Question

I want to hook an off the air HD antenna up to an HD 720p projector. What is the best way to do this? I want to keep the cost as low as possible without sacrificing 720p HD quality. The antenna has an RF connector. The projector has HDMI inputs, as well as component and vga inputs. I know I could buy a DVR and connect the antenna to it, and then connect the DVR to the projector. But, are there any other options? I would like to do it for less than $50 if possible....the goal is to eventually get an HD capable DVR. Thanks!

Answer 1

Your budget is to low. Just buy a HD Tivo. The price dropped for Christmas, You can get one for as little as $269.99.

And It's New. No bad hard drive. You get a warranty.

You might even go look at Best Buy and see if they are selling the display model. I just bought a Pioneer Elite Blu-Ray player for $399.00 at Best Buy yesterday. DisPlay unit. Perfect condition. This player Retails for $1000.00. You might get lucky.

Answer 2

You know you can use a Directv Receiver with out Service. You should try one of the older one's. Like the Samsung. It's not a DVR but it is a HDTV receiver. But you can use it with out Directv service to watch off air TV.

You could build a DVR using and a computer with Windows XP Media Center. You can buy a ATSC tuner card.

I know you don't want to send much. But if you use it as a computer and a recorder it might break the cost down to something you can afford.

Buy one of those VGA A/B switches. Set it up so you don't have to waste the bulb life of the projector. It could work out for you.

Answer 3

For 50 bucks you can buy a VCR, connect an RF coaxial cable to it, and then connect the VCR to the composite video on your projector giving you 480i.

If you want to pee in the tall grass with the big dogs, (HDTV) you're going to have to come up with more money.

You could get a Panasonic DMR-EZ17S ATSC Tuner from Amazon for $167.00 and use your component video for 720p. This has a built-in DVD burner.

Answer 4

Directv just upgrade their HD DVR's. So your in luck.

The market has been flooded with the older DirecTV DVR's  The Model number is HR-10-250. It has a off air antenna so you can hook it up to your HDTV antenna. It also has a HDMI output. Good news for you. I don't know if you can get Tivo to let you activate it on their service with out using Directv. You might what to call them and ask before buying one. I do know you can get it to pickup local broadcast and pause for up to 30 min. You can't record anything till you find some way to get Tivo to let you start an acount with it. But at least you can watch TV with it.

Look on Ebay. There are many on the site now.

You should even be able to find one in you budget.

Good luck... and let me know how thing turn out.