Comment 2T03 Re: Why no TV tuners and HDMI-input?

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Why no TV tuners and HDMI-input? (Score: 3, Interesting)

by evilviper@pipedot.org on 2014-09-17 20:08 (#2SHD)

Why don't tablet makers include HDTV tuners, and HDMI inputs?

For minimal extra cost, your tablet would be much more flexible, and have a vastly longer useful life-span.

Just imagine that your beloved tablet could double as a computer monitor. That would be a killer feature for any techies. Adding that capability to a laptop costs over $300, and people are happy to pay it: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002CLKFTQ/

And once your tablet gets to be a bit out-of-date, instead of throwing it away, you can just mount it on a wall connected to your antenna as a (free) 10" HDTV. And a very "smart" TV it is, at that, able to integrate Netflix/Hulu/etc. streaming without needing an extra $50 Roku/Chromecast box attached to it.

Or if you don't have a need for a small TV, it can go on your desk, doing duty as an LCD computer monitor. Heck, you could use it as a computer monitor right away, and just have the option to use your monitor as a tablet for quick tasks without starting-up your noisy and power-hungry main computer.

And that's not even mentioning the benefit tablet users would get from having a handy HDTV tuner with them all the time. In most cities, an internal antenna is good enough to pick-up several TV channels, so you'd have lots of free content available whenever you wanted to watch, without the need for high-speed internet access for streaming the video. Of course there's always the option of connecting a larger external antenna, even if just a long piece of wire yu scrounged up, in reception-poor areas.

Re: Why no TV tuners and HDMI-input? (Score: 1)

by eviljim@pipedot.org on 2014-09-23 04:52 (#2ST7)

That is a brilliant idea, I wish they would implement this. I've got two android phones with analogue tv tuners, I've been unable to find any of the old VHF tv senders that used to be all over the place so I can make use of them for watching DVR stuff in bed. (non network capable DVR unfortunately)

Re: Why no TV tuners and HDMI-input? (Score: 1)

by evilviper@pipedot.org on 2014-09-23 05:26 (#2ST8)

Re: Why no TV tuners and HDMI-input? (Score: 1)

by eviljim@pipedot.org on 2014-09-23 06:27 (#2STC)

I've actually got a bunch of those, one from a camcorder, and a handfull from old VCR's I'm wondering if the minimal power output would be enough to send a signal from a antenna to 5m away the one I'm thinking of has the same inputs but just an antenna for output.

Re: Why no TV tuners and HDMI-input? (Score: 1)

by evilviper@pipedot.org on 2014-09-23 10:07 (#2STN)

I'd pair it with an amplifier (RCA preamp is only $22) and some big rabbit-ears... Then you should be good to go.

Re: Why no TV tuners and HDMI-input? (Score: 1)

by eviljim@pipedot.org on 2014-09-24 00:58 (#2SVH)

it'd have to be an RF preamp but I'll have a go with straight rabbit ears and see if I can get anything out, otherwise I'd probably have to build an RF amp myself. I've got a circuit diagram for a video sender but I've been unable to locate the correct two transistors and really dont know what the quality would be like with such a simple circuit, probably best using a modulator then amping the output.

Re: Why no TV tuners and HDMI-input? (Score: 1)

by evilviper@pipedot.org on 2014-09-28 11:19 (#2SZW)

I'll have a go with straight rabbit ears and see if I can get anything out
Did you try it? I'd be interested to know how it worked out.

I recall trying the same thing with a VCR probably 20 years ago. Back then, I needed to run it through an amp to get a useful distance out of it, and it was still awfully staticy at that. Of course amps have gotten a lot better, and better ones much cheaper, since then. I still suggest adding an inexpensive RCA Preamp like I mentioned. Pretty sure that'll give you enough gain for decent reception 5m away.

Re: Why no TV tuners and HDMI-input? (Score: 1)

by eviljim@pipedot.org on 2014-09-29 02:01 (#2T03)

I'll let you know when I finally get around to trying it.

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