I have just purchased a Samsung SIR-T165 OTA HDTV receiver (get it the end of this week). I am looking for some insight on how to set the box up.

I want to receive both analog and digital OTA signals. To accomplish this is all I have to do is hook up an antenna into the antenna in jack on the back and the unit will receive both analog and digital channels?

I also want to hook up my dish network receiver into the unit. If I do this how do you switch between the STB and the dish network receiver? Do you just hit the TV/Video button?

Any help is appreciated.

The T165 has a single antenna jack for both analog and DTV stations. If you have antenna problems you can find help at http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ISSUES/erecting_antenna.html .

The T165 provides high-def output via VGA, DVI, IEEE-1394, and Component Video connectors. For 1394 and Component, the T165 will “chain”. That means you can connect another STB to the T165, which means you can avoid buying a video switch if your TV doesn’t have two video inputs. However the T165 has this limitation: It will not chain a _high-def_ STB via Component Video. So if you want to watch Dish Network high-def channels, you might have to buy a video switch. If this is confusing, wait till your box arrives. Help in understanding your cabling options can be found at http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ISSUES/STBs.html .

Ken,

Thanks for the response. Do you know it the standard (480i)non High Def output is always on?

Thanks,

Mark

Ken,

Forgot on other question. If I connect the dish network receiver to the STB via composite or S video how do you switch to it via the set top box? I downloaded the manual and it is not clear on how to do this. I think you do it by using the TV/Video button.

Thanks,

Mark

The T165 is one of the few STBs that will run HD and SD outputs simultaneously. But I think one of those will always have a corrupted aspect. I normally watch HD channels on a 16:9 monitor, which will show black sidebars on SD material such as commercials. In this case the composite output will show sidebars on a 4:3 set when SD material airs.

I think you are right about the TV/Video button, although I have never used this feature. The button is a 4-position toggle: OTA-DVD-AV1-AV2.