Salvaging an HDTV tuner for use as an external

[Scott_in_Benton_AR]

I have a Samsung UN19F4000AFXZA LED TV with a cracked LCD. If I can't find a replacement screen from salvage, how can I convert the built-in digital tuner into an external digital set top box?* I want to receive ATSC over-the-air digital TV signals for display through the tuner via an HDMI-to-DVI cable to an LCD computer monitor.

*Conceptually similar to the one featured here:
http://www.firebird-systems.com/graphics/dct310/digital-tv-tuner-hdmi-dct310.shtml

Here's a link for the TV, which is still available for sale:
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-nKxWZtiEMfy/p_30519F4000/Samsung-UN19F4000.html

Scott
Benton, AR

 

[(*steve*)]

nowhere in a digital TV is the digital signal converted to a traditional analog signal. This means you need to find a way of converting the decoded digital image to an analog rasterised image.

 

[Harald Kapp]

This means you need to find a way of converting the decoded digital image to an analog rasterised image.

Not necessarily. As Benton states he wants HDMI/DVI, which would be digital.

You're right anyway, Steve.
Conceptually the issue is the same: HDMI/DVI are data formats for transmitting a video signal from a source to a receiver (as is analog e.g. VGA). Within the receiver (the broken TV in this case) this format is converted to an internal representation which is suitable for processing and display by the TV.
The tuner will output a signal in its own format which most probably is neither HDMI nor DVI (sorry, I don't know which one). More likely it is rather near to the internal signal representation of the TV. So you'd have to convert this internal representation into an HDMI or DVI signal. Unless you know the internal signal representation this is next to impossible.

 

[Scott_in_Benton_AR]

Wow. Thanks, Harald. That's depressing.

This TV can also function as a computer monitor. Does that change anything, or does the TV simply take the input from a PC and convert it to "a signal in its own format which most probably is neither HDMI nor DVI?"

If that changes nothing, are there ways (besides calling Samsung directly) to determine the internal signal representation?

Scott

 

[Harald Kapp]

does the TV simply take the input from a PC and convert it to "a signal in its own format which most probably is neither HDMI nor DVI?"

That's the way it is.

If that changes nothing, are there ways (besides calling Samsung directly) to determine the internal signal representation?

Of course, with enough determination you can trace circuits, analyze signals etc. It has been done in similar situations before, but it takes knowledge, determination and time.

 

[Externet]

Hundreds and hundreds of televisions in the market and none has HDMI output. Not even composite output.
I have a TV tuner with HDMI and composite and USB outputs, but will make you no good.

 

[Scott_in_Benton_AR]

Thanks again, Harald, very much.

If that's a lament I'm reading, Externet, I'm with you. So much waste!

Scott

 

[Scott_in_Benton_AR]

P. S. Since I'll probably be in the market for a TV tuner, which one do you use, Externet, and would you recommend it?

 

[Externet]

Yes, I would recommend it, as allows even recording programs on a flash thumb drive, and display on a TV with HDMI input.
But I said "will make you no good"

Here is what I use ----> http://www.x2sat.com/specifications4.html

And many other similar : ----> http://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?SearchText=satellite+receiver+china&opensearch=true

You got lucky: some of these for plain ATSC TV reception have HDMI output !
----> http://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale...160624183242&SearchText=atsc+tv+receiver+hdmi

 

[Scott_in_Benton_AR]

Thanks, Externet! It'll do me good if I forsake the Samsung.