Samsung SIR-TS360 DirecTV High-Definition Receiver/HDTV Tuner

I bought my Samsung SIR TS360 tuner used for $40 on Craigslist in order to get rid of my Comcast service. It did include an expired Dish card inside so I don't know if you need this when you set it up, some say you do. When I got it home it didn't power up at all but if I put my ear to it, I could hear the faint clicking noise some others have described. I left it plugged-in overnight (the woman I bought it from had left it unplugged for 6 months) and then the next afternoon it finally came on. I was able to change the settings to "No Dish", then it had to reboot and took another day to come on again. Finally I was then able to the watch many over-the-air HD transmissions, the picture quality looks great (I have it connected to a Sony WEGA Trinitron via component cables) and it will output 5.1 sound via an optical cable. For the next few days it would reboot periodically and take awhile to come on, but now it appears to have stabilized and stays on all the time now. I use a Terk HDTVa to get my OTA signal and can get many channels in the Atlanta area. The Public Television feed looks much better than it did when I had Comcast. I had no problems making it work via my Sony Commander Universal remote.
So if you can find one for cheap it might be worth checking out if you need a HD tuner for your T.V. It is odd that Samsung would create such a quirky product though. I would make sure you never unplug it if you get one!

I am a "non HD" subscriber to Directv, and have five receivers, two of which have HD via "over the air" antenna, one of which is the Samsung SIR-TS360. For Directv channels like MSNBC and CNBC et. al. I am getting "non HD" satellite download, but must say I am very impressed with the quality of the Samsung receiver output via DVI cable to an HDMI capable HDTV. The point is -- the receiver uses 1080i or 720p selectable output direct "digital" to my HDTV, so the "non HD" output from the Directv signal goes to my HDTV digitally, not in analog format. I can't explain the technology, but the picture is VERY clear -- almost HD quality, even thought I do not subscribe to Directv HD. It may be a combination of Directv digital signal transmission down from the satellites, and the receiver which uses DVI to the HDTV, but for whatever reason, I am very impressed with the picture quality using a DVI cable and selectable output (for me, 1080i since that is what my HDTV is capable of, rather than 720pm).

We recently got DirecTV after seeing their ad blitz for 75 HD channels. They brag about their "digital picture and sound," and their great customer service.
The truth is the only way to get digital picture and sound is with a HDTV and an HDMI. Their picture is actually worse than the picture we got with Comcast. Not to mention there is no two year agreement with cable, no picture loss when it rains, you do not have to pay for "leased equipment, and you do not need an ugly dish hanging on your house.
When we purchased our most recent HDTV, we figured we would replace the DVR we had with DirecTV and get an HD DVR to replace it.
DirecTV told us we would have to pay $299 for the privlige of leasing their receiver from them. In addition to this we would have to pay $50 because we were a new customer "and had not established a credit history with them." Also, we would have to pay $20 for shipping and handling and extend our contract for another two years.
Maybe DirecTV thinks it is in the cellphone business because all they want to do is lock you into long-term contracts and make you bleed money to them forever. Their symbol should be a ball and chain because that is what they really are. Cable here I come!

I'm just going to give you my bottom line:
It works as advertised EXCEPT when the HD signal starts to go out. My particular system will HANG if signal is interrupted (say by bad weather), requiring me to reboot the unit.

I also bought this unit used, and got the "clicking" issue.

Hook it up, and (for me) 3 hours later it was cleared up.

I don't even have this hooked up to my directv account, it works standalone with OTA signal. Now THAT'S A NICE FEATURE.

Yes, you need to make sure you choose "No Dish". Get the PDF product manual, its very simple.

But after that, it works well. I have OTA HD signals coming in. And the "option" to add it to my directv account if I choose.

But again, this is a good as any standalone OTA unit I've found.

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